Berkeley Review physics excessive?

[TehTeddy]

Hello,

I'm currently studying for the mcat in august, mainly using BR, with fl aamc/EK tests to come later. I know that for the current exam physics has been de-emphasized, although there is still a large part devoted to it in the BR series.

Can someone with experience with the BR series say anything about how well it prepared them? Would it be better to use a briefer review such as EK instead?

Thanks!

 

[Wolfpack93]

Would you rather be over prepared or under prepared? TBR is probably the best source available for chem or physics. And although it's "deemphasized" you can still expect 15-20 questions in that section so make sure you know your stuff.

 

[ciruji]

Do content review with EK and practice with TBR. Any concept not clear during passages, read pertaining section in TBR.

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

The newest physics books are written based on the AAMC list of topics, so everything there is necessary for the exam. There is nothing extra in that sense. There are passages that incorporate chemistry, physiology, and electrophoresis. These passages may be the most important ones in the book, so work through them.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the short cuts or the BR ways to answer questions on things like lens, circuits, buoyancy, free fall, and so forth, then I'd suggest go slowly through the material and cut your stress. These tricks are essential for saving time, and can't be found anywhere else. They are more than worth the time to learn and master. Stick with it.

Also, the books may seem thick, but about 40% of the text section are dedicated to sample questions and solutions. Also, about two-thirds of both books is from passages, questions, and answer explanations. You don't need to do every passage, especially if you feel very confident in an area. Do enough until you feel good in a topic. There are 180 passages and 1212 questions, so skipping a few will be fine.

 

[TehTeddy]

Thanks for the responses! I'll stick with the BR books in that case, although maybe not do every passage.

 

[Swagster]

I found that TBR was exactly what I encountered when I took the MCAT. Not the exact questions, but similar the style and difficulty. I would not describe TBR as excessive.

 

[Leumas8]

It seems like the BR passages are well-regarded. Is there any way to get those questions without buying the book?

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

It seems like the BR passages are well-regarded. Is there any way to get those questions without buying the book?

The passages come with the books.

 

[Leumas8]

The passages come with the books.

So I'm assuming you don't sell standalone passages.

 

[Bleu]

So I'm assuming you don't sell standalone passages.

Log on to TBR page. They sell books and tests. As stated above 40% of the books are passages. Also note the psych book is NOT sociology.

 

[OrangeTub]

TBR physics is definitely NOT excessive - I pretty much only used TBR for chem/physics review and got 15 BS/14PS on the old MCAT. You should know everything in that book really well.

I gotta say that TBR organic chemistry/biology are wayyy excessive, though. Verbal also was honestly kind of garbage.

 

[TehTeddy]

TBR physics is definitely NOT excessive - I pretty much only used TBR for chem/physics review and got 15 BS/14PS on the old MCAT. You should know everything in that book really well.

I gotta say that TBR organic chemistry/biology are wayyy excessive, though. Verbal also was honestly kind of garbage.

I was mainly referring to the new test since the changes, but the material to know is the same (just the proportion is different I believe).
And I think the biology content can get more in depth than tested, but I really like the passages. From what I've read it fosters the same type of thought required for the mcat.