AAMC Sample test before or after content review

[levelsands]

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Hi, I was hoping to get some thoughts on how to best use the AAMC official sample test. It looks like some people feel that doing the sample test before content review to guide studying is really effective. I'm worried that doing so would render the sample test useless later on (you would be familiar with the sample test questions) when you're done review and want to test yourself with something representative of the actual MCAT. Would love to hear all your thoughts!

 

[whitemagic]

Why not both? I did mine before I ever did content review, and again after. It was almost 4 months later so I essentially forgot everything.

 

[mcatjelly]

I would recommend taking the Official Guide questions first as a half-length exam, rather than the entire Sample Test.

 

[ElectricNoogie]

Hi, I was hoping to get some thoughts on how to best use the AAMC official sample test. It looks like some people feel that doing the sample test before content review to guide studying is really effective. I'm worried that doing so would render the sample test useless later on (you would be familiar with the sample test questions) when you're done review and want to test yourself with something representative of the actual MCAT. Would love to hear all your thoughts!

One test is not sufficient to guide your MCAT studying. Use the official guide for that. If you are studying over a long period repeating the exam is not a terrible idea but, no matter how long ago you took the test, repeating it means the score will NOT be as useful or predictive than if you had not seen it before. You are not preparing for just the sample test, you are preparing for the MCAT.

 

[BubbleStitch]

I plan on using it near the end of my content review as a benchmark of how effective my studying has been and what areas I should target. I don't think I would forget the questions in a few months, so it would be a waste of the single most effective resource I have to take the test before content review.