6 FLs + AAMC SAs vs 12 FLs

[sunflower18]

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Hello everyone,

So I recently began doubting my study plan, which had been to take ~12 FLs, one about every other day, starting next week until my test date of August 15th. However, I had forgotten to factor in the AAMC Self-Assessments, and now I'm thinking about swapping 6 non-AAMC FLs out so that I have more time to devote to taking and reviewing the SAs.

My new schedule would have me taking one SA every other day starting next week, so that I could thoroughly review how I did and then attack SWB/TBR practice problems on my identified weak areas on the in-between days. The SAs and review of weak areas would be done before starting AAMC FLs. My first post-content review FL would be August 2nd.

(Note: I have already taken two AAMCs 🙁 Bad bad bad, I know. Blame my TPR course. I've taken #10 and #3, as a diagnostic and as a halfway point respectively. I've also taken one TPR FL.)

So basically, I'm wondering if it'd be very unwise to only take 6 more FLs, all AAMC, before my test date. It would give me more time to review my weaknesses and review concepts / redo problems accordingly to try and sort those out. However, I've heard that more FLs is better if you can fit it in, so that you get the most practice. Thus, should I instead try and just pack in 12 FLs as well as maybe also cramming in the SAs into the next four weeks for optimal practice?

Thanks!!!

 

[Jepstein30]

Hello everyone,

So I recently began doubting my study plan, which had been to take ~12 FLs, one about every other day, starting next week until my test date of August 15th. However, I had forgotten to factor in the AAMC Self-Assessments, and now I'm thinking about swapping 6 non-AAMC FLs out so that I have more time to devote to taking and reviewing the SAs.

My new schedule would have me taking one SA every other day starting next week, so that I could thoroughly review how I did and then attack SWB/TBR practice problems on my identified weak areas on the in-between days. The SAs and review of weak areas would be done before starting AAMC FLs. My first post-content review FL would be August 2nd.

(Note: I have already taken two AAMCs 🙁 Bad bad bad, I know. Blame my TPR course. I've taken #10 and #3, as a diagnostic and as a halfway point respectively. I've also taken one TPR FL.)

So basically, I'm wondering if it'd be very unwise to only take 6 more FLs, all AAMC, before my test date. It would give me more time to review my weaknesses and review concepts / redo problems accordingly to try and sort those out. However, I've heard that more FLs is better if you can fit it in, so that you get the most practice. Thus, should I instead try and just pack in 12 FLs as well as maybe also cramming in the SAs into the next four weeks for optimal practice?

Thanks!!!

I would do the self-assessments ASAP. They do a good job of telling you which topics you are weak in making it a very valuable study tool that you'll want to have time to take advantage of.

Otherwise, I would set dates now for the remaining AAMCs, especially the later ones. Fit as many as you can in but its not worth skipping the later ones or skipping reviewing some to have time to tkae them all.

If you can do all 6 AAMCs and the SAs, you're better off IMO than 12 FLs. One test every other day is a little rough though as you are not really giving yourself time to work on the weaknesses the FLs and SAs will undoubtedly expose.

You also really want to be able to take a few FL before the last day to reschedule your test (2 weeks before?) as you will have no way of protecting yourself from a low score besides voiding if you discover your content review has not been as successful as you wish. So you really don't want to push yourself further off schedule. The SAs may be able to substitute as that safety guard depending on the score you are looking for.

 

[sunflower18]

I would do the self-assessments ASAP. They do a good job of telling you which topics you are weak in making it a very valuable study tool that you'll want to have time to take advantage of.

Otherwise, I would set dates now for the remaining AAMCs, especially the later ones. Fit as many as you can in but its not worth skipping the later ones or skipping reviewing some to have time to tkae them all.

If you can do all 6 AAMCs and the SAs, you're better off IMO than 12 FLs. One test every other day is a little rough though as you are not really giving yourself time to work on the weaknesses the FLs and SAs will undoubtedly expose.

You also really want to be able to take a few FL before the last day to reschedule your test (2 weeks before?) as you will have no way of protecting yourself from a low score besides voiding if you discover your content review has not been as successful as you wish. So you really don't want to push yourself further off schedule. The SAs may be able to substitute as that safety guard depending on the score you are looking for.

Okay! That makes sense. I am not quite done with content review yet, but I'm scheduled to be finished on Sunday. My tentative plan, assuming I go with 6 FLs + SAs, is to take my first SA on Monday. I think that if I set off at that pace, I should have plenty of time to take all of them and review thoroughly, as well as take all the AAMCs and review them thoroughly. I don't really know because I haven't done it, but I feel like a day and a half to review the practice tests and then do several practice problems targeting my weaknesses should be plenty of time.

Oh my gosh, I can't believe I didn't know that you couldn't cancel after a certain point. I knew that you couldn't reschedule after the 2 weeks before date, but I didn't realize you couldn't even cancel beyond that point. Yikes... Thanks so much for informing me!! I'm really hoping for 35+, and I honestly have no clue where I stand right now. So shifting my schedule a bit to take a few FLs before I take a few of the SAs might be a good idea, just to see if I'm anywhere near that goal.

For example:
Day 1: Physics Self-Assessment; review weaknesses
Day 2: Re-read relevant chapters, complete associated practice problems and passages
Day 3: Biology Self Assessment; review weaknesses
Day 4: Re-read relevant chapters, complete associated practice problems and passages
Day 5: GenChem Self Assessment; review weaknesses
Day 6: Re-read relevant chapters, complete associated practice problems and passages
Day 7: AAMC FL #4; review incorrect answers
Day 8: Re-read relevant chapters, complete associated practice problems and passages
Day 9: AAMC FL #5; review incorrect answers
Day 10: Re-read relevant chapters, complete associated practice problems and passages

With Day 10 putting me at August 1st, which is the last day to cancel or push back test date. Would that work?

 

[Jepstein30]

Okay! That makes sense. I am not quite done with content review yet, but I'm scheduled to be finished on Sunday. My tentative plan, assuming I go with 6 FLs + SAs, is to take my first SA on Monday. I think that if I set off at that pace, I should have plenty of time to take all of them and review thoroughly, as well as take all the AAMCs and review them thoroughly. I don't really know because I haven't done it, but I feel like a day and a half to review the practice tests and then do several practice problems targeting my weaknesses should be plenty of time.

Oh my gosh, I can't believe I didn't know that you couldn't cancel after a certain point. I knew that you couldn't reschedule after the 2 weeks before date, but I didn't realize you couldn't even cancel beyond that point. Yikes... Thanks so much for informing me!! I'm really hoping for 35+, and I honestly have no clue where I stand right now. So shifting my schedule a bit to take a few FLs before I take a few of the SAs might be a good idea, just to see if I'm anywhere near that goal.

For example:
Day 1: Physics Self-Assessment; review weaknesses
Day 2: Re-read relevant chapters, complete associated practice problems and passages
Day 3: Biology Self Assessment; review weaknesses
Day 4: Re-read relevant chapters, complete associated practice problems and passages
Day 5: GenChem Self Assessment; review weaknesses
Day 6: Re-read relevant chapters, complete associated practice problems and passages
Day 7: AAMC FL #4; review incorrect answers
Day 8: Re-read relevant chapters, complete associated practice problems and passages
Day 9: AAMC FL #5; review incorrect answers
Day 10: Re-read relevant chapters, complete associated practice problems and passages

With Day 10 putting me at August 1st, which is the last day to cancel or push back test date. Would that work?

Yep. Look to get in the mid-high 80s if you are looking for 35+. You don't have Orgo on there either though.. that can wait until after.

I'd maybe suggest substituting one of those AAMCs for a later one that is more predictive.

If you aren't applying this cycle, pushing your test date off a week or two would be REALLY advantageous because it's a shame to leave practice tests undone.

 

[sunflower18]

Yep. Look to get in the mid-high 80s if you are looking for 35+. You don't have Orgo on there either though.. that can wait until after.

I'd maybe suggest substituting one of those AAMCs for a later one that is more predictive.

If you aren't applying this cycle, pushing your test date off a week or two would be REALLY advantageous because it's a shame to leave practice tests undone.

I'm not applying this cycle, but I've already applied for time off from work -- and I start school again on the 28th. But yes, pushing back until the 22nd is very tempting.... Would you recommend reincorporating TPR and TBR practice tests if I did push the test date back?

Yeah, organic chem and verbal are my strengths, so I was planning on just pushing those SAs till after August 1st (D-Day!). Does that sound like a good plan?

Thanks SO much for your help!!!

 

[Jepstein30]

I'm not applying this cycle, but I've already applied for time off from work -- and I start school again on the 28th. But yes, pushing back until the 22nd is very tempting.... Would you recommend reincorporating TPR and TBR practice tests if I did push the test date back?

Yeah, organic chem and verbal are my strengths, so I was planning on just pushing those SAs till after August 1st (D-Day!). Does that sound like a good plan?

Thanks SO much for your help!!!

I'd push it back.. the extra week can help big time! If you decide not to, not doing those SAs is fine.. main goal is just to not find yourself only hitting high 20s/low 30s if your goal is 35+ when its too late to change anything. Keep in mind that what you hit on 'd-day' is likely to be your real score +/- 2 points. Don't go expecting a miraculous 10 point surge in the 2 weeks before your test.

My ideal last month/time after content review would go something like:

1) Self-assessments (not verbal though) + review. Try to pinpoint areas of weakness.
2) Take a day or two to review those weaknesses. This means not only going back over your notes/chapter but also doing some extra practice passages from TBR or TPRH SW. Just reading does nothing.. need that practice to make sure you're getting things straight this time around.
3) Start AAMCs/other FLs, keeping the later AAMCs for last. Take a test, chill for a few hours and then go back and review it... every single question.
4) Spend the two days after a FL to finish review and then review weaknesses exposed on a FL.. same as above with extra practice passages. Goal here is to never get a question wrong again in a topic you've spent extra time on. If you aced a test or have extra time, go through the AAMC topic list and pick an area you're unsure about.. and review that with practice passages.

For Verbal, break the self-assessment down into parts and do some of the passages throughout review days.

 

[sunflower18]

I'd push it back.. the extra week can help big time! If you decide not to, not doing those SAs is fine.. main goal is just to not find yourself only hitting high 20s/low 30s if your goal is 35+ when its too late to change anything. Keep in mind that what you hit on 'd-day' is likely to be your real score +/- 2 points. Don't go expecting a miraculous 10 point surge in the 2 weeks before your test.

My ideal last month/time after content review would go something like:

1) Self-assessments (not verbal though) + review. Try to pinpoint areas of weakness.
2) Take a day or two to review those weaknesses. This means not only going back over your notes/chapter but also doing some extra practice passages from TBR or TPRH SW. Just reading does nothing.. need that practice to make sure you're getting things straight this time around.
3) Start AAMCs/other FLs, keeping the later AAMCs for last. Take a test, chill for a few hours and then go back and review it... every single question.
4) Spend the two days after a FL to finish review and then review weaknesses exposed on a FL.. same as above with extra practice passages. Goal here is to never get a question wrong again in a topic you've spent extra time on. If you aced a test or have extra time, go through the AAMC topic list and pick an area you're unsure about.. and review that with practice passages.

For Verbal, break the self-assessment down into parts and do some of the passages throughout review days.

I was planning on doing those SAs regardless -- would you suggest cutting them if I don't push back a week?

That makes sense. For some kind of rough reference, my last practice test was almost three weeks ago, and I got a 30 (8, 12, 10). I have done significant content review and practice problems since that time, and truly feel like I have made huge strides. We'll see if that is reflected... But for example, I hadn't started physiology at all by the time I took that last practice test. I now feel very comfortable with it. Same sorts of strides for gen chem -- not so much physics, but I'm working on that. So hopefully I'm not 10 points away from a 35 at this point!!

As for #2, definitely. When I meant content review and weakness review, I mostly mean quickly reading, maybe watching a video, and then doing like ten passages and twenty discretes on that subject. Your ideal month sounds totally solid though, and that's what I'm hoping to do (other than spending two days after every FL, I'm hoping I can get by with just one day)

Just curious, why do the Verbal differently than the science self assessments?

 

[Jepstein30]

I was planning on doing those SAs regardless -- would you suggest cutting them if I don't push back a week?

That makes sense. For some kind of rough reference, my last practice test was almost three weeks ago, and I got a 30 (8, 12, 10). I have done significant content review and practice problems since that time, and truly feel like I have made huge strides. We'll see if that is reflected... But for example, I hadn't started physiology at all by the time I took that last practice test. I now feel very comfortable with it. Same sorts of strides for gen chem -- not so much physics, but I'm working on that. So hopefully I'm not 10 points away from a 35 at this point!!

As for #2, definitely. When I meant content review and weakness review, I mostly mean quickly reading, maybe watching a video, and then doing like ten passages and twenty discretes on that subject. Your ideal month sounds totally solid though, and that's what I'm hoping to do (other than spending two days after every FL, I'm hoping I can get by with just one day)

Just curious, why do the Verbal differently than the science self assessments?

I value the SAs more than the early AAMCs - definitely do them even if it means never doing AAMC 4 or something. Again, they are AMAZING study tools because they cast a very wide net and can help you pinpoint areas of weakness. A FL, on the other hand, only gives you a slim picture of your weaknesses. Maybe you got lucky on a FL and had no weaknesses exposed.. but that doesn't mean you're golden.

You definitely aren't 10 points away, was just emphasizing that there's a point of no return and you don't want to be on the wrong side of your goals after it. The SAs will help pinpoint more areas of weakness. IMO, 10s across the board means you have good enough content review. Points after that are for great test taking skills or an expert grasp of the topics that happen to show up on your test.

Your review plan sounds good. It's possible to do this all in one day, just don't leave out reviewing some weaknesses b/c of time and don't get too overloaded either. You don't want to burn yourself out at this stage of the game. Obviously if you are doing very well, you'll have less weaknesses to review (so use your extra time to pick topics out of the AAMC topic list you aren't entirely sure of).

I say to treat the verbal SA differently because its pointless as a self-assessment. The SAs are great for pointing out weaknesses in certain topics.. the verbal SA doesn't really do that since.. there are no certain topics to be weak in. You're either good at verbal or not.. so its better IMO to use the OFFICIAL AAMC materials as practice to get good at verbal rather than using it all at once to figure out where you compare to some arbitrary average that AAMC reports.

 

[sunflower18]

I value the SAs more than the early AAMCs - definitely do them even if it means never doing AAMC 4 or something. Again, they are AMAZING study tools because they cast a very wide net and can help you pinpoint areas of weakness. A FL, on the other hand, only gives you a slim picture of your weaknesses. Maybe you got lucky on a FL and had no weaknesses exposed.. but that doesn't mean you're golden.

You definitely aren't 10 points away, was just emphasizing that there's a point of no return and you don't want to be on the wrong side of your goals after it. The SAs will help pinpoint more areas of weakness. IMO, 10s across the board means you have good enough content review. Points after that are for great test taking skills or an expert grasp of the topics that happen to show up on your test.

Your review plan sounds good. It's possible to do this all in one day, just don't leave out reviewing some weaknesses b/c of time and don't get too overloaded either. You don't want to burn yourself out at this stage of the game. Obviously if you are doing very well, you'll have less weaknesses to review (so use your extra time to pick topics out of the AAMC topic list you aren't entirely sure of).

I say to treat the verbal SA differently because its pointless as a self-assessment. The SAs are great for pointing out weaknesses in certain topics.. the verbal SA doesn't really do that since.. there are no certain topics to be weak in. You're either good at verbal or not.. so its better IMO to use the OFFICIAL AAMC materials as practice to get good at verbal rather than using it all at once to figure out where you compare to some arbitrary average that AAMC reports.

That definitely makes sense. I will absolutely do all the SAs then!!

Gotcha, yeah. I still haven't hit a 10 in PS, but hopefully I have improved enough by now so that I am at a 10.

Thanks so much!!! You have been extremely helpful, and I now have a much clearer view of what I should do and how I should go about doing it!!! I really appreciate your time and feedback!! 👍👍👍🙂 Thanks!!

 

[sunflower18]

Update -- just got my work schedule, and it looks like I could pretty easily push my test date back a week. Should I do it? If I do, how should I spend those extra 7 days? I could spend more time reviewing each AAMC FL, or I could add in three TPR or TBR FLs before I start the AAMC FLs.

 

[Jepstein30]

Update -- just got my work schedule, and it looks like I could pretty easily push my test date back a week. Should I do it? If I do, how should I spend those extra 7 days? I could spend more time reviewing each AAMC FL, or I could add in three TPR or TBR FLs before I start the AAMC FLs.

I personally would. I mean, what's the downside? 1 week of wages? 1 week less of summer relaxation before school starts?

I dunno.. I'd do it and probably not plan to use the outside FLs. Spend more time reviewing weaknesses. 6 AAMC FLs are more than enough to get comfortable with the testing environment. FLs aren't really very useful for diagnosing weaknesses.. better off just figuring out what your weaknesses are yourself.

 

[sunflower18]

I personally would. I mean, what's the downside? 1 week of wages? 1 week less of summer relaxation before school starts?

I dunno.. I'd do it and probably not plan to use the outside FLs. Spend more time reviewing weaknesses. 6 AAMC FLs are more than enough to get comfortable with the testing environment. FLs aren't really very useful for diagnosing weaknesses.. better off just figuring out what your weaknesses are yourself.

The wages is a non-issue-- I am a scribe and I just don't have any shifts between the 15th and 22nd. One week less of summer is a minor factor. There are only spots available in the city that's 1.5 hours away, but that's not even that big of a deal.

That makes sense. I'll definitely have to consider it long and hard and make a decision in the next few days. Again, thanks for all your help!!!

 

[Jepstein30]

The wages is a non-issue-- I am a scribe and I just don't have any shifts between the 15th and 22nd. One week less of summer is a minor factor. There are only spots available in the city that's 1.5 hours away, but that's not even that big of a deal.

That makes sense. I'll definitely have to consider it long and hard and make a decision in the next few days. Again, thanks for all your help!!!

Maybe consider getting a hotel room in the city so you don't have to drive an hour and a half on test day + get more sleep but yea, sounds like you have a golden opportunity to push things off.

 

[sunflower18]

Maybe consider getting a hotel room in the city so you don't have to drive an hour and a half on test day + get more sleep but yea, sounds like you have a golden opportunity to push things off.

The test on the 22nd is at 1pm 😀 and I will see if my boyfriend can drive me so that I can study and relax in the car. This looks like it'll work out! Wow! I'm really pleased with how this is turning out.

 

[Jepstein30]

The test on the 22nd is at 1pm 😀 and I will see if my boyfriend can drive me so that I can study and relax in the car. This looks like it'll work out! Wow! I'm really pleased with how this is turning out.

Just make sure you don't get a little lazy because you have extra days to study! Good luck.