Berkeley Review Biology: Metabolic Components

[Paratodoc]

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First, I've searched and found that in general people don't seem to like the Berkeley Review biology books. I had finished the first section and found it to be generally representative of my educational background. I scored an 11 on that first section, which I felt generally comfortable with.

I'm jumping around the books to keep a variety to my studying and just yesterday came back to the bio book. The metabolic component section seems absolutely ridiculous. I should clarify that my biology background is mainly in basic bio, A&P, & microbiology. I don't have a lot of formal background with genetics or hardcore cell bio. Whereas the other Berkeley Review books seem generally representative of the material presented, this book asks question that appear to come from far right field. I tend to average one or two missed questions per passage, or about 20-25 missed questions per 100, but I just got obliterated in a passage about congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP).

Does anyone else find these parts of the Berkeley Review absolutely nuts? I feel as if the questions really are not referencing material taught in the review portion, but that instead the material is referencing a lot of esoteric data for which a background knowledge would be incredibly helpful.

Finally, for those of you doing BR, do you typically complete all 100 questions following a section or do you do most and move on for brevity's sake?

 

[dollarbill]

I do think they are a little overboard but in a good way(also coming from a bio major). I consider bio section my strong point and I get enjoyment from being destroyed by some of the passages. It keeps me on my feet. Also, their bio passages are definitely harder then any practice test bio passage that I have taken. Also, another thing I love about their passages it is very experimentally driven! You have to read and process the data from them. If the rumors are true about how the bio section is slowly converting over to experimental design then it should be a benefit for people to work the passages.

 

[Lsegura83]

I too have being struggling to score decently on the Berkeley section book. I am following Sn2ed's 3 mo schedule. However, I am not incorporating the EK 1001's on any section. With regards to the Bio, I find it extremely challenging(when it feels like it). I say this because it will randomly seem to be over my head. My bio background includes basic bio I & II, general A&P I & II, Biochem I, Cell Bio and Genetics. I think the Genetics on berkeley is fair. Perhaps you should strive to learn the most Genetics you can for the MCAT, especially with regards to pedigree charts, punnett squares and terminology surrounding Mendelian Genetics. which you almost go no exposure to in intro bio courses. Further, I am quite positive the real MCAT will have a passage dedicated to genetics. There is no way I would understand MCAT prep bio without some of the upper level courses Ive done. However, I would like to advise you to get used to these difficult presentations of bio topics. My suggestion is based on the consensus that MCAT bio is unlike any bio you've witnessed in undergrad (if you courses tested memorization skills). From what I understand is that the MCAT will test you on information presented to you that is upper level. It requires basic knowledge of biology, however your basic knowledge must be extremely inclusive of all details in basic bio courses. In light of this, I praise Berkeley MCAT. I feel like I rather be struggling right now to connect convoluted complex passages and get a better and deeper understanding of the topics as opposed to being sucker-punched doing the real deal. Good luck with your prep. To answer your last question. I only do 1/3 of each section and move on. I however dedicate a lot of time learning every detail in answers even for those I get right. I plan to hit up as many questions I can as the exam nears and my content review is over.