The chemistry section was my strongest, so I'll tell you how I prepared for it. It had been nearly a decade since I'd taken a chemistry class. I used the Kaplan guide to review the concepts. I don't recall anything in the chemistry section that that guide didn't cover. The MCAT guides are good to review as well, but I'd highly recommend making sure that you are at least very comfortable with every concept covered in the Kaplan guide. [this is for chemistry. . .I wouldn't make the exact same recommendation with the math section!]. Additionally, I bought two small all-purpose in/organic prep books that I reviewed only minimally.
So assuming that you have the material itself covered, here's a strategy similar to the one I used:
As stated above -- repetition. Get a hold of the '5 practice PCATs' by ?Cliffs? [or the Harcourt practice test or other chemistry-specific standardized test on a comparable level]. Work through chemistry test #1 with no time limit. Identify your weak points/knowledge gaps. Review and study those weak points. Work through chemistry test #2 under time pressure. If you only complete 70%, fine. Continue until the test is done. Do this for all 5 tests, each time identifying any obvious areas you can study in between. The Cliffs tests have answer explanations in the back that are VERY worthwhile reviewing. Establish why you missed something, or why it took you a long time to answer. NOW, go back to that test #1. Even though you've already taken it, there have been at least 4 tests since so you'll still have to think about the problems [obviously, when doing this you want to avoid writing on the questions pages!]. Going through these tests again [and again!] accomplishes two things: 1) It cements in your mind some of the concepts you were initially struggling with or slow in answering. 2) It makes you faster at all of the problems. 3) It gives you the under-appreciated feeling of *confidence*.
I'm drawing from memories of a test 4 months ago, but I don't remember using much scratch paper in the chemistry section. There were some problems that stumped me, taking time, but that was because I was wavering between answers. Another quick test tip: Take advantage of the fact that it is a pencil test and not computer-adaptive. Go through the section that you are allowed to work in, skipping any question that you don't think you can quickly pound out an answer to. There is no worse feeling than running out of time, being told to put down your pencil, just as you're looking at an unanswered question you know you could have answered in 2 seconds.
