Of the three sections (Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, and Biological Sciences), which section do you find the hardest to complete in the allotted time? Where do you feel the crunch?
On the AAMC full-length practice exams, I always found Physical Sciences and Verbal Reasoning to be very tight. Biological Sciences was much more leisurely in pace. Even on my very first practice exam, I finished Bio with time to spare. Even on my very last practice exam, Physical and Verbal were very tight.
If forced to pick one, I would say Physical Sciences is the worst for me. I am slow at arithmetic and algebra, comparatively.
When I actually took the test for real (two days ago), it was a somewhat different story. I freaked out a little bit during Bio, so it was also tight.
Let's also discuss time strategies.
In Physical and Bio, I always answer the discrete questions (the non-passage questions) first. Then I look at each passage for about 20 seconds to determine what it is about. Then I do the easiest passage, then the next easiest, and always save the hardest passage for last.
In Verbal, I always go in order. There are two reasons for this: First, I find it much harder to judge the relative difficulty of the passages, so I don't try. Second, if I am going in order then it is easier to calculate how many minutes per question I have left. A quick mental calculation will tell me if I need to hurry up.
On the AAMC full-length practice exams, I always found Physical Sciences and Verbal Reasoning to be very tight. Biological Sciences was much more leisurely in pace. Even on my very first practice exam, I finished Bio with time to spare. Even on my very last practice exam, Physical and Verbal were very tight.
If forced to pick one, I would say Physical Sciences is the worst for me. I am slow at arithmetic and algebra, comparatively.
When I actually took the test for real (two days ago), it was a somewhat different story. I freaked out a little bit during Bio, so it was also tight.
Let's also discuss time strategies.
In Physical and Bio, I always answer the discrete questions (the non-passage questions) first. Then I look at each passage for about 20 seconds to determine what it is about. Then I do the easiest passage, then the next easiest, and always save the hardest passage for last.
In Verbal, I always go in order. There are two reasons for this: First, I find it much harder to judge the relative difficulty of the passages, so I don't try. Second, if I am going in order then it is easier to calculate how many minutes per question I have left. A quick mental calculation will tell me if I need to hurry up.
