Beginning to study for PCATs.. any advice?

[sashagrl259]

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I'm hoping to take my PCATs around August 2008, and I want to just get a feel for what on it.

Any advice from those who already took their PCATs.....and got a good score? 🙂

I was thinking of taking Kaplan over the summer but I've read a couple posts saying not too. I really want to be as prepared as I can be; do you think I should still back out of the Kaplan review? If so, what should I do instead?

Any good prep. book recommendations?

Thanks!! 🙂

 

[Knickerbocker]

Master your prerequisite courses as you take them. If you do that properly and learn how to pace yourself on the test, you will do well.

 

[fenixtnlfan]

I think the classes are more for people who need help with motivation for studying or need a lot of help with test strategy. They do give you a lot of resources but it you can do fine using various sources and saving money. All the prep books have their own problems, but Kaplan, ARCO, and Cliffs seem to be the most used. I suggest keeping your textbooks from pre-req classes to study.

 

[mustang sally]

I used the Kaplan book supplemented with my old calculus and organic texts and got a 93. My best advice is to figure out what your weakest areas are and concentrate your studying on these areas. If you know you are strong in a particular area, I would not recommend over-studying for it. The material that the PCAT tests is not that hard (if you are strong in that subject) and the questions seem sort of random. Therefore, I think you derive the most benefit from studying the things that you are weak in.

For the actual test day, skip around to do the easiest probelms first, then go back to work on the harder ones. Make sure you bubble in something for every question before time is called!

 

[mustang sally]

I would also recommend paying to take the two practice PCATs on Harcourt's website in the month or two leading up to the exam. Make sure to use timed conditions! These give you the closest representation to what the actual PCAT may be like. Good luck!

 

[ScienceNerd]

My biggest advice: learn the material the first time in class. I didn't study very much for the PCAT, maybe 30 mins/day 4-5 days a week. It has been almost 5 years since I took chem, and I aced it (I had wonderful profs, while they weren't "easy" they definitely made sure you learned the material). I used the Kaplan review book. Review, thats what its for, it is not to be used to learn material for the first time. I took the practice exams in the kaplan book, and used a kitchen timer to time myself. I borrowed someone's Barron's book, but that material does not reflect the difficulty of the actual exam, so I just ended up not using it. Secondly, and almost just as equally important, don't stress about it. Yes, studying a lot can wreak havoc on your schedule, but stressing won't help. The day before, just relax, go out and eat dinner and watch some TV and go to bed. Be confident with yourself, and be prepared, and you should do awesome!

 

[sashagrl259]

Also, I'm hearing that there is microbiology on the PCATs.. do most PCAT prep books cover that material?

I'm a biochemistry major and I don't have to take microbiology.. should I take it over the summer as I'm studying for PCATs? or is it not worth it?

thanks for all the advice!!!!🙂

 

[moolman]

The microbio question on the PCAT was a very random question. Even if you took micro it was a toss up because your teacher would have had to gone over that one specific organism. I think it was an experimental question. Anyway, I don't think micro is necessary to do well on the PCAT, most of the micro questions were very related to General Bio and not enough of them to make any difference.

 

[omnione]

Also, I'm hearing that there is microbiology on the PCATs.. do most PCAT prep books cover that material?

I'm a biochemistry major and I don't have to take microbiology.. should I take it over the summer as I'm studying for PCATs? or is it not worth it?

thanks for all the advice!!!!🙂

Most of the content in a general microbiology is overkill. I did encounter some trivia regarding certain microorganisms (E. coli, Pseudomonas) and their role in humans.

 

[Falokis]

Biology was a very random section. The most random. It was hard for alot of people judging by the comments I've read. It was by far my best score 478 (99%). I wouldn't be suprised if I didn't miss but one or two in the whole bio section, but there were still a few questions that I wouldn't have known had I not graduated in Biology and taken 6 micro classes. General micro will help but the biology section as a whole is rough if you have only had A+P, bio, and micro. Even with a Bio degree there were still a few questions that I had to stop and think about.

 

[Ethyl Methyl]

Also, I'm hearing that there is microbiology on the PCATs.. do most PCAT prep books cover that material?

I'm a biochemistry major and I don't have to take microbiology.. should I take it over the summer as I'm studying for PCATs? or is it not worth it?

thanks for all the advice!!!!🙂

Did you check the pre-req for the schools you are applying to? Microbiology might be one of the pre-reqs. Although you are a biochem major you might still need to take it to fulfill the school's requirements.

 

[azPharmD2B]

Of all the non-required classes for some school I'd say Microbiology is hands down the most interesting and useful for future pharmacists.

++ to learning all the material the first time in class

++ Kaplan class is a waste, but with a caveat. If you did well on the SATs, the Kaplan class won't teach you anything you don't already know. If you never took them or did poorly, it might help. Kaplan doesn't really teach you the material, they teach you how to evaluate the various types of problems you'll face and give you strategies on solving/guessing. If you're generally a poor test taker it may also help as well.