Berkeley Review Full Lengths

[FrogE7]

Is any one doing the 6 Berkeley Review full lengths? I just took the first one yesterday. What do you think or what have you heard about them? I know the verbal sucks...but how was the rest of it in general?

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[MediMama23]

Verbal sucks as in it's too easy? Or too hard?

I don't know what to think about the test in general. I took #2 and I did suprisingly well on verbal, which makes me think something is up with the scoring because that's always been my most difficult area. All the other companies whose tests I've seen have had really harsh scoring, much like the AAMC, while Berkeley's looks a bit lenient. If that's the case, then I can't rely on their VR.

How do others feel about TBR VR?

 

[FrogE7]

Verbal sucks as in it's too easy? Or too hard?

I don't know what to think about the test in general. I took #2 and I did suprisingly well on verbal, which makes me think something is up with the scoring because that's always been my most difficult area. All the other companies whose tests I've seen have had really harsh scoring, much like the AAMC, while Berkeley's looks a bit lenient. If that's the case, then I can't rely on their VR.

How do others feel about TBR VR?

Yeah verbal sucks as in it was wayyy too easy. I scored a 10 where I usually score 6s and 7s. So that was totally off. I think I am going to use EK verbal for when I am doing the full lengths.

How were the other sections for you? Are you taking the class? The other sections seemed okay, but I hear that exam 1 is way easier and more comparable to the AAMC then the rest. If you did well on the sciences in exam #2 then its pretty good. I got 8s in the sciences so I am not too thrilled if exam #1 is just like AAMC.

 

[MediMama23]

Yeah, I'm taking the class.

The other sections are the same as what I've gotten in the past (8s and 9s) which is also frustrating because it doesn't feel like I'm improving in that regard. We just started up in physics recently, though, so hopefully with more knowledge comes better scoring. I really don't think I'm up to taking the exam this August. I sure as hell don't want to have to ever take it again. 😱 So we'll see.

 

[frankrizzo18]

Verbal from Exam I was not too bad at all. However, the verbal from Exam II and III are pretty damn difficult. The passages are so detailed and the questions are also so detailed that I have literally decided not to mess with them as full-lengths! However, Exam VI seems to have verbal that looks a little more representative!! I am going to peak at Exam V and see if that verbal exam is also worthwile!

 

[FrogE7]

Verbal from Exam I was not too bad at all. However, the verbal from Exam II and III are pretty damn difficult. The passages are so detailed and the questions are also so detailed that I have literally decided not to mess with them as full-lengths! However, Exam VI seems to have verbal that looks a little more representative!! I am going to peak at Exam V and see if that verbal exam is also worthwile!

How did the other sections for exam 1 go for you? Is exam 1 really easier then the rest of the exams?

 

[frankrizzo18]

I now know personally the Berkeley Review exams have a scoring chart that is not as accurate as AAMC exams! The topics and difficulty of sections are great practice because on the real MCAT you will need to do more reading then the practice stuff! I earned an 11 on verbal exam I although I timed myself one passage at a time. I did the same with some passages from Exam II and Exam III, but those passages were extremely difficult to get through and the questions were so specific! The sciences are great practice though because you need to utilize all your test-taking skills! I do plan on doing all the science sections. However, for verbal, I will be doing verbal from VI and maybe V!! I will be doing all the AAMC exams under timed conditions as my main practice because I want to be completely adapted to those exams come Aug. 20!!

 

[dsh]

Thought you guys might appreciate these.

Greetings One and All,

Hopefully the practice exam went well today (or will go well if you are an
email addict who logs on just before taking practice exams). The experience
should pay dividends and hopefully after grading the exam, you'll realize
you are in better shape than you thought. Most people will find that there
mistakes are either careless errors or centered on one topic they haven't
yet fully reviewed. Just eliminate as many careless mistakes as you can
over the next six weeks, and you'll be in great shape. So anyway, the main
reason I am writing is to offer up a revised curve based on data we received
from students since the last printing of our exam.

As you know, AAMC will throw some question out if they consider them to be
statistically invalid. We did a similar analysis of the results of our
first four exams (not to the same extent in terms of total data points, but
just as rigorous an analysis). After feedback and statistical analysis of
the first few exams, we have some revisions. Just as AAMC tosses certain
questions out after feedback and/or a low percentage of the test taking pool
getting the question correct, we are tossing a few questions. Some
questions are tossed out because they are redundant. We are also modifying
our curve based on recent results. These revisions will hopefully alleviate
some of the stress you may feel... at least a little. Please use these to
get your score. They are pretty good indicators of where you are NOW (not
necessarily where you will be in five weeks, because you'll improve your
techniques in that time.)

Exam 1 PS omit questions 9, 30, 36, and 55 leaving 73 total questions
61-73: 13-15
52-60: 11-12
48-51: 10
44-47: 9
39-43: 8
36-38: 7
31-35: 6
27-30: 5

Exam 1 VR the original curve was too generous
54-60: 13-15
45-53: 11-12
42-44: 10
38-41: 9
36-37: 8
34-35: 7
31-33: 6
27-30: 5

Exam 1 BS omit question 188 leaving 76 total questions
64-76: 13-15
57-63: 11-12
52-56: 10
48-51: 9
44-47: 8
40-43: 7
35-39: 6
31-34: 5

Todd

Hello All,

For those of you who chose to take exam 2 today, here is the revised curve
for it. If you have the time, see what you score would have been without
the careless errors. It should prove to be both eye opening and
inspirational.

Todd

Exam 2 PS omit questions 11, 12, 46, 47, 53, and 72 leaving 71 total
questions
57-71: 13-15
48-56: 11-12
44-47: 10
40-43: 9
35-39: 8
33-34: 7
28-32: 6
24-27: 5

Exam 2 VR the original curve was too harsh
48-60: 13-15
40-47: 11-12
37-39: 10
33-36: 9
28-32: 8
25-27: 7
23-24: 6
21-22: 5

Exam 2 BS no questions to omit
65-77: 13-15
58-64: 11-12
53-57: 10
48-52: 9
44-47: 8
39-43: 7
35-38: 6
31-34: 5

Todd

 

[frankrizzo18]

I am almost done with Exam IV. Man these exams are freaking hard as hell. I get such a headache after I am done with them! The sciences are ridiculously hard, and the verbal is so detailed that it is quite easy to get down on yourself!! Good luck to you all, my hope is to polish these bad boys off, then take AAMC exams. Hopefully, we will never see a real verbal reasoning test as hard as the wretched Berkeley Review verbal exams!! AMEN

 

[Bolo]

Do you guys think the new curves are representative of what really happens on the mcat? I mean..I missed 20 on ps and according to that new scale, with those questions omitted, I have a 13. Then I missed something like 14 on Verbal and got a 12....So confused now

 

[FrogE7]

Do you guys think the new curves are representative of what really happens on the mcat? I mean..I missed 20 on ps and according to that new scale, with those questions omitted, I have a 13. Then I missed something like 14 on Verbal and got a 12....So confused now

Yeah I am skeptical of the curves too. In general I am just going to focus on understanding the passages and answering the questions correctly and on time. I have no idea what to make of the grading system...

But I should say good job on your "scores." Keep up the good work.
Are you practicing from the passages in the book? How many are you doing a day and how many subjects are you doing a day?

 

[Bolo]

Yeah I am skeptical of the curves too. In general I am just going to focus on understanding the passages and answering the questions correctly and on time. I have no idea what to make of the grading system...

But I should say good job on your "scores." Keep up the good work.
Are you practicing from the passages in the book? How many are you doing a day and how many subjects are you doing a day?

Thanks! yea..I started with 9 11 8 for the first test and 13 12 10 on the second one. In the remaining 5 or so weeks we have left before the real thing, I will take 3,4, and 5. Originally..For the first 3 weeks, I read all the books berkeley had to offer, and only did like 6 passages a day. Now I am rethinking my strategy, and plan to dedicate one entire day a week to a subject or my weak areas and do tons of passages...around 12-14..That seems to be what gives people high scores. Seems like you can only know the material so well..then its just up to how 'good' you are at taking the test.