Are the sections on the new mcat actually shorter than the ones on the old mcat?

[Kemosabe]

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I am doing my first diagnostic test by next step prep and it looks like there are about half as many questions per section as there are on the old test. Is this actually true for the real deal?

 

[KungFuPanda123]

no. there are 59 vs. 52 on PS/BS and 53 vs 40 on the verbal

 

[Levrone]

I am doing my first diagnostic test by next step prep and it looks like there are about half as many questions per section as there are on the old test. Is this actually true for the real deal?

The next step diagnostic is a half-test. So double everything you just did, and you'll get what a real 2015 MCAT test will be like

 

[Kemosabe]

The next step diagnostic is a half-test. So double everything you just did, and you'll get what a real 2015 MCAT test will be like

Very good to know. So basically the 507 I got on it isn't as informative or positive as I thought it would be? I was feeling really good about that score, since I read about it being equivalent to a 30-33 on the new mcat.

 

[Levrone]

Very good to know. So basically the 507 I got on it isn't as informative or positive as I thought it would be? I was feeling really good about that score, since I read about it being equivalent to a 30-33 on the new mcat.

I guess if you think you'd burn out doing 39 consecutive passages, then the score might drop a little. but that's still really good. what were the breakdowns and have you been studying?

 

[Kemosabe]

I guess if you think you'd burn out doing 39 consecutive passages, then the score might drop a little. but that's still really good. what were the breakdowns and have you been studying?

Thanks for your response 🙂. My scores are:
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems: 128 (88 percentile)
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills: 126 (61 percentile)
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems: 128 (88 percentile)
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior: 125 (50 percentile)

I haven't been studying at all yet, and I haven't seen the psych material for 3 years. What are your thoughts on these scores and do you have any recommendations on how to improve in the critical analysis and reasoning skills section?

 

[Levrone]

Thanks for your response 🙂. My scores are:
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems: 128 (88 percentile)
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills: 126 (61 percentile)
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems: 128 (88 percentile)
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior: 125 (50 percentile)

I haven't been studying at all yet, and I haven't seen the psych material for 3 years. What are your thoughts on these scores and do you have any recommendations on how to improve in the critical analysis and reasoning skills section?

It's really good. For CARS, definitely start practicing with EK 101/TPRH Verbal workbook, maybe even TBR verbal if you have extra time. EK's new verbal book gives pretty good advice on how to approach it, but there are many great SDN threads of people sharing their experiences on how they got 12s/13s/14s on verbal, so you should search for those.