Advice after bootcamp full lengths

[Kreinstein]

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I decided to do all of the bootcamp full lengths a few days earlier than some had recommended. I think I learn the best from seeing mistakes I made and learning to correct them, and wanted to do that rather than just get 5 test scores and have limited time to review them.

With that being said for the last 5 days I took a bootcamp full length each day, reviewing mistakes after I finished and again the next day before I took the next. My areas of concern are clearly the sciences, I averaged 18 in bio, 19 in gen chem, 20 in ochem. PAT, QR and RC are going very well. I know in most circumstances everybody would recommend postponing with science scores in that ballpark, but considering the majority of my learning has ALWAYS come from trial and error/practice tests and evaluating mistakes, do you think I will be alright?

I plan on spending the next 3 days thoroughly reviewing the full length tests with emphasis on the mistakes I've made, and then taking the 2009 on the 4th day, 2 days before my exam. Leaving 1 last day to relax/light review. If I apply this strategy is there hope? What scores should I consider "cutoffs" with the 2009 indicating the need to postpone? I appreciate any help/advice

 

[deleted738762]

Hi -
I think your scores are alright, because people tend to score higher on the actual DAT compared to BC. However, a 18 bio is low, what problems do you get wrong? Focus on them and also if you have time try to read a bio chapter a day if you can in what you're weak in. I read almost everything in cliffs and average mid 20's on Bootcamp, plus you should be able to eliminate some answers for bio as well. GC and OC are pretty easy to improve on so yea just focus on your mistakes. What did you use for QR, I suck at QR lol.

 

[Kreinstein]

Bio mainly consisted of silly mistakes or topics I clearly didn't look into enough, embryology/development and a few others. But again that kinda brings up how I like seeing what mistakes I make so I can direct my attention to the topics associated! I did Chad's videos and now I'm just studying from bootcamp's subject tests. I had all of the extra ones (6-10) mastered before taking the full lengths. I know there'd never be anything I could explain better than Chad but for what it's worth if you wanna shoot me a pm with whatever QR problems you're having trouble with I could do my best to tell you my thought process when I face them, that sometimes helps me out

 

[FeralisExtremum]

IMO, it's a bit of a waste to use full length tests to get a bunch of stuff wrong and then "learn from your mistakes". Don't get me wrong, you absolutely should be keeping track of your errors and learning from them, but the majority of your learning should have come from structured content review ahead of time. There is only so much you can be tested on in practice tests, and the chances of you encountering those same topics/questions again that you learned from your mistakes on are not necessarily high. Thorough content review (and associated quizzes) are the ideal place to learn from your mistakes in my opinion, in advance of full practice tests taken under testing conditions.

Mistakes on BC full length tests should be used to strengthen small holes in your knowledge and identify areas needing more practice, not as the initial jumping off point for learning.