BERKELEY REVIEW scores/discussion

[capn jazz]

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Just like the EK Verbal 101 thread, this is a thread to talk about how you're doing with the TBR passages. I don't know how people are generally going through these, but I'm doing Phase I and II after reading the chapter, and saving Phase III for after I finish all content review.

I'm currently working on Gen Chem.

Chapter 1:
Phase I: 27/41 = 66% = 10
Phase II: 10/20 = 50% = 8 (ouch!)

Chapter 2:
Phase I: 29/37 = 78% = 11
Phase II: 28/33 = 85% = 13

So far I LOVE the book. I hated Gen Chem and I'm enjoying reading this and I really feel like it's helping me grasp the topics. Hopefully future chapters will continue this trend...

Now it's up to you guys! Keep this thread alive!

 

[Trayshawn]

Question: Do you guys time the phase 1 passages? If so, like how much time?

Took the Gen Chem stoichiometry passages today. Passage 7 (the one about concentrations) was ROUGH! Honestly, that was probably the toughest PS passage I've ever read. I ended up doing pretty well on it (6/7) but it took like 16 minutes to do!!! It was just really hard for me to get through all of the reasoning the questions required. So funny because the passage couldn't have been an easier read. Overall got 23/27 right.
Did anyone else have difficulty with this one?

The others were fine though. I'm trying to get down to 5.5 minutes per passage but I'm gonna need to do some heavy post analysis on passage 7 in order to make that work.

Format:
chapter: 1st 1/3, 2nd 1/3, last 1/3

Physics
1: 84.6% - 13

Gen Chem
1: 85.2% - 13

 

[Temperature101]

TBR
Format:
chapter: 1st 1/3, 2nd 1/3, last 1/3


Oganic Chemistry:
1: 81%-12, 70%-10
2: 71%-11, 74%-11
3: 75%-11, 68%-10
4: 70%-10, 77%-11

Physics:
1: 62%- 9, 67%-10
2: 71%-11, 62%-9
3: 76%-11, 81%-12
4: 44%- 7, 65%-10

General Chemistry:
1: 78%-12, 70%-10
2: 84%-12, 56%-8
3: 68%-10, 53%-8
4: 83%-12, 81%-12

Biology:
6: 69%-10, 55%-8
7: 67%-10, 33%-5
8: 48%-7, 54%-8

TPRH--ICC VR: 30 passages: 53% (6)...

 

[Sub Rosa]

/

 

[Trayshawn]

BR biology is RIDICULOUS

Yo, truer words have never been spoken.

Just took TBR bio chapter 1 phase 1 today and got destroyed timewise. Took on average 12 MINUTES to complete the passages. Ended up with about 76% (26/34).

I remember reading about people saying TBR Bio is bad. I'm curious why they think so though. If its convincing enough, I might just switch the TPRHL and TPR ICC passages (although, I don't think the 60 or so total passages there will hold me for very long.)

Another option might be to just replace all the phase IIIs with TPR stuff (maybe even the phase IIs as well). What do you guys think?

Anyway, I think I'm gonna do orgo phase I now to make me feel better

Format:
chapter: 1st 1/3, 2nd 1/3, last 1/3

Physics
1: 84.6% - 13

Gen Chem
1: 85.2% - 13

BIology
1: 76.5% - 11

 

[Trayshawn]

took orgo and didn't do nearly as well as I thought I would. I just don't agree with some of the things the passages said and with what some of the answers were. I guess over-familiarity with a subject can be harmful as well.

In any case, I still did alright: 29/36 - 80.6%

Format:
chapter: 1st 1/3, 2nd 1/3, last 1/3

Physics
1: 84.6% - 13

Gen Chem
1: 85.2% - 13

BIology
1: 76.5% - 11

Organic Chemistry
1: 80.5% - 12

 

[Laureatebarrel]

Has anyone done the cellular respiration portion of tbr? I got destroyed by it today...

 

[Sub Rosa]

/

 

[Sub Rosa]

/

 

[Laureatebarrel]

Bio Section 1 1/3: 76%
Physics Section 1 1/3: 82%
Physics Section 2 1/3: 75%
Org Chem Section 1 1/3: 86%
Gen Chem Section 1 1/3: 89%

That's all for this week! Bio is definitely much harder than TPR

 

[AktionPOTENTIAL]

Lecture 1: Nerve and Muscle (BR average: 73%; EK average: 80%)
BR 1/3 - 73% (11) | BR 2/3 - 73% (11) | EK 4 1/2 - 81% (11) | EK 4 2/2 - 80% (11) | EK 8 1/2 - 80% (11)

Lecture 2: Heart and Lung (BR average: 62%; EK average: 81%*)
BR 1/3 - 64% (10) | BR 2/3 - 61% (9) | EK 7 1/2 - 81% (11)

Lecture 3: Gastrointestinal Tract and Kidney (BR average: 72%; EK average: 85%)
BR 1/3 - 82% (12) | BR 2/3 - 61% (9) | EK 6 1/2 - 75% (10) | EK 6 2/2 - 94% (13)

Lecture 4: Reproduction and Development (BR average: 83%; EK average: N/A)
BR 1/3 - 82% (12) | BR 2/3 - 85% (12)

Lecture 5: Immunology and Endocrinology (BR average: 84%; EK average: 83%*)
BR 1/3 - 97% (15) | BR 2/3 - 71% (11) EK 5 1/2 - 83% (12)

Lecture 6: Structure and Function in Cells and Viruses (BR average: 84%; EK average: 83%*)
BR 1/3 - 83% (12) | BR 2/3 - 86% (13) EK 3 1/2 - 83% (12)

*average based on one entry

Tomorrow: BR 7, EK 1

Nice scores. How long does it gently take you to complete each passage?

 

[Sub Rosa]

Nice scores. How long does it gently take you to complete each passage?

Typically each third takes between 42 - 44 minutes to complete; I'm averaging between 6-9 minutes per passage with the occasional passage hitting 10 minutes. I tend to take my time with these passages and focus on accuracy more than timing.

EK is a different story. I can finish ~60 questions between 35 and 60 minutes. EK has discretes in addition to their passage-based questions which helps cut down on minutes per question.

 

[AktionPOTENTIAL]

Typically each third takes between 42 - 44 minutes to complete; I'm averaging between 6-9 minutes per passage with the occasional passage hitting 10 minutes. I tend to take my time with these passages and focus on accuracy more than timing.

EK is a different story. I can finish ~60 questions between 35 and 60 minutes. EK has discretes in addition to their passage-based questions which helps cut down on minutes per question.

I see the rationale. Thank you!

 

[Sub Rosa]

/

 

[Sub Rosa]

I've noticed much of the latter lectures on metabolic pathways are quite detailed for MCAT-based questioning. Are we simply supposed to read them to familiarize ourselves with the types of passages that could come up in a BS section or are we supposed to absorbed the majority of this information?

 

[Meredith92]

Ah did anyone else find the chapter on titration to be really confusing? Its taking me forever to read. Its always been one of my weakest subjects for chemistry...but i'm sort of panicking reading through the chapter. Hopefully itll become more clear once i do phase 1?

 

[Forkit]

Ah did anyone else find the chapter on titration to be really confusing? Its taking me forever to read. Its always been one of my weakest subjects for chemistry...but i'm sort of panicking reading through the chapter. Hopefully itll become more clear once i do phase 1?

I would suggest you absolutely NAIL chapter 4 in order to improve on chapter 5. Lots of rules in the beginning but if you understand them totally then the rest of the chapter becomes much more understandable.

 

[Sub Rosa]

/

 

[Temperature101]

Lecture 1: Nerve and Muscle (BR average: 73%; EK average: 80%)
BR 1/3 - 73% (11) | BR 2/3 - 73% (11) | EK 4 1/2 - 81% (11) | EK 4 2/2 - 80% (11) | EK 8 1/2 - 80% (11)

Lecture 2: Heart and Lung (BR average: 62%; EK average: 81%*)
BR 1/3 - 64% (10) | BR 2/3 - 61% (9) | EK 7 1/2 - 81% (11)

Lecture 3: Gastrointestinal Tract and Kidney (BR average: 72%; EK average: 85%)
BR 1/3 - 82% (12) | BR 2/3 - 61% (9) | EK 6 1/2 - 75% (10) | EK 6 2/2 - 94% (13)

Lecture 4: Reproduction and Development (BR average: 83%; EK average: N/A)
BR 1/3 - 82% (12) | BR 2/3 - 85% (12)

Lecture 5: Immunology and Endocrinology (BR average: 84%; EK average: 83%*)
BR 1/3 - 97% (15) | BR 2/3 - 71% (11) EK 5 1/2 - 83% (12)

Lecture 6: Structure and Function in Cells and Viruses (BR average: 84%; EK average: 83%*)
BR 1/3 - 83% (12) | BR 2/3 - 86% (13) EK 3 1/2 - 83% (12)

Lecture 7: Metabolic Components (BR average: %; EK average: N/A)
BR 1/3 - 79% (12) | BR 2/3 - 78% (12)

Lecture 8: Metabolic Pathways (BR average: %; EK average: 86%*)
BR 1/3 - % () | BR 2/3 - % () EK 1 1/2 - 86 % (12)

BR 8 will be finished tomorrow in addition to BR 9 and EK 9.

Your BR bio scores are excellent!

 

[Laureatebarrel]

I've noticed much of the latter lectures on metabolic pathways are quite detailed for MCAT-based questioning. Are we simply supposed to read them to familiarize ourselves with the types of passages that could come up in a BS section or are we supposed to absorbed the majority of this information?

There is passage on Calvin cycle. I know some of the substrates are the same compared to respiration but come on... I look at the figure and completely bombed

 

[Endure]

Looks like I'll be apart of this as well! I'm scheduled to sit for the exam on 4/27 and have been supplementing BR with EK.

BR Physics:

1 - 14
2 - 13

Just out of curiosity – have you guys been splitting each section into thirds and scaling your score? I just started doing BR physics and each exam is 52 questions long.

 

[Sub Rosa]

Looks like I'll be apart of this as well! I'm scheduled to sit for the exam on 4/27 and have been supplementing BR with EK.

BR Physics:

1 - 14
2 - 13

Just out of curiosity – have you guys been splitting each section into thirds and scaling your score? I just started doing BR physics and each exam is 52 questions long.

I'm not planning on splitting up the sections for physics. I'll most likely do what you're doing and go straight through the 52 questions.

 

[Trayshawn]

Are you guys giving yourself time limits for doing the whole 52 questions in one sitting?

Because I find that it takes me a good bit of time to get through these passages!

 

[Shams al Deen]

There's usually always a passage or two every section that takes me over 10 mins. But then there were also a couple that took under 5 min.

I think I'm burning through passages and not getting the most out of them. What's the average amount of time you should take when reviewing passages. Like if it takes you 24 mins for 3 passages, then how long should I take to review those passages after grading? I find myself really uninterested in reviewing my wrong answers. So if I have a general time frame, then I will just force myself to spend that long even if I'm not feeling it.

 

[AktionPOTENTIAL]

There's usually always a passage or two every section that takes me over 10 mins. But then there were also a couple that took under 5 min.

I think I'm burning through passages and not getting the most out of them. What's the average amount of time you should take when reviewing passages. Like if it takes you 24 mins for 3 passages, then how long should I take to review those passages after grading? I find myself really uninterested in reviewing my wrong answers. So if I have a general time frame, then I will just force myself to spend that long even if I'm not feeling it.

48-72 minutes. It's extremely tedious but I think I learn so much more from post-gaming than actual content review; tricks, trends and question types.

 

[Sub Rosa]

/

 

[Shams al Deen]

48-72 minutes. It's extremely tedious but I think I learn so much more from post-gaming than actual content review; tricks, trends and question types.

Ok if that's the case then I've definitely been doing it wrong. Also I know sn2ed recommended reviewing the passages the day after you take them, but I feel like I forget my thought process and the passage contents by the next day. Is reviewing the day after ideal, of is it better to review right after?

 

[AktionPOTENTIAL]

Ok if that's the case then I've definitely been doing it wrong. Also I know sn2ed recommended reviewing the passages the day after you take them, but I feel like I forget my thought process and the passage contents by the next day. Is reviewing the day after ideal, of is it better to review right after?

Yeah it's better to review them on the same day for the exact reason you mentioned; so that you remember the thought process you applied to the question. I don't have time however so I've modified the schedule to fit that of my other obligations.

 

[Meredith92]

Hey guys
Based on what I've been reading on here I'm thinking about switching to tprh for phase 2 and 3 of sn2's schedule. I'm conflicted though because I feel like I learn a lot from reading the answers of tbr bio, but I don't think the passages are really representative most of the time. Should I stick w tbr for all of the phases or just phase one and do tprh for the rest? The only problem with tprh is I wont know which passages relate to the ek chapters I'm reading.
Thanks!

 

[nabilesmail]

TBR Bio was useless in my opinion- just too hard and impossible- TPRH was a good mix but sometimes too easy

 

[misplacedshadow]

Sorry if this has been posted, but can someone please post the Biology Passages for Phase I, II and III? Like which passages are I, II and III, my edition of the book does not have phases. 🙁

 

[Fifty 3rds]

Is there any/much of a difference between Physics 2009 and the newer Physics books? All of my material is 2009 (last time I took the test).

Thank you in advance for any replies or help.

 

[osprey099]

UPDATE 2-10 .. advancing at snail pace 🙁

TBR Physics
Section 1: 77% (11)
Section 2: 86% (13)
Section 3: 73% (11)
Section 4: 73% (11)
Section 5: 79% (12)
Section 6: 77% (11)
Section 7: 77% (11)
Section 8: 83% (12)
Section 9: 94% (14)
Section 10: procrastinating optics b/c it's my weakest section

TBR General Chemistry
Section 1: 78% (12)
Section 2: 94% (14)
Section 3: 76% (11)
Section 4: 78% (12)
Section 5: 84% (13)
Section 6: 83% (12)
Section 7: 82% (12)
Section 8: 79% (12)
Section 9: 86% (13)
Section 10: 79% (12)

AAMC Self Assessment Biology: 88%
AAMC Self Assessment General Chemistry: 88%

TPRHL Science Workbook: ~30 passages so far, 78% (12)
TPRHL Verbal Workbook: after all 43 practice passages, 80%
TPRHL Verbal Test 1: 35/40 (11) using AAMC 10 scale
Verbal Test 2: 33/40 (10)
Verbal Test 3: 31/40 (9)

 

[janutt345]

Is there any/much of a difference between Physics 2009 and the newer Physics books? All of my material is 2009 (last time I took the test).

Thank you in advance for any replies or help.

Yes there is. I kind of got screwed over by purchasing the older Physics version (blue paperback book with black binding) in summer of 2010, just barely missing the cutoff for the new version. I never took the MCAT back then due to other reasons, but decided to take it for the first time this year having saved all my 2010 TBR books. Then decided to buy the newest version of TBR physics after having the same doubts as you, and there is simply no comparison. The old TBR physics sucks compared to the new ones. The older ones don't even have explanations for the B part problems. How do you not even give answer explanations to questions?

 

[Fifty 3rds]

Yes there is. I kind of got screwed over by purchasing the older Physics version (blue paperback book with black binding) in summer of 2010, just barely missing the cutoff for the new version. I never took the MCAT back then due to other reasons, but decided to take it for the first time this year having saved all my 2010 TBR books. Then decided to buy the newest version of TBR physics after having the same doubts as you, and there is simply no comparison. The old TBR physics sucks compared to the new ones. The older ones don't even have explanations for the B part problems. How do you not even give answer explanations to questions?

Thanks for the reply, I'm disappointed that I have to buy these books again but I must commit to the process.

Thanks for that.

 

[Temperature101]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TBR
Format:
chapter: 1st 1/3, 2nd 1/3, last 1/3

Oganic Chemistry:
1: 81%-12, 70%-10
2: 71%-11, 74%-11
3: 75%-11, 68%-10
4: 70%-10, 77%-11
5: 79%-12, 78%-12

Physics:
1: 62%- 9, 67%-10
2: 71%-11, 62%-9
3: 76%-11, 81%-12
4: 44%- 7, 65%-10
5: 72%-11, 55%-8

General Chemistry:
1: 78%-12, 70%-10
2: 84%-12, 56%-8
3: 68%-10, 53%-8
4: 83%-12, 81%-12
5: 71%-11

Biology:
6: 69%-10, 55%-8
7: 67%-10, 33%-5
8: 48%-7, 54%-8
9: 62%-9, 44%-7
10: 66%-10 (TBR bio chapter 10)

TPRH--ICC VR: 30 passages: 53% (6)...

 

[janutt345]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TBR
Format:
chapter: 1st 1/3, 2nd 1/3, last 1/3


Oganic Chemistry:
1: 81%-12, 70%-10
2: 71%-11, 74%-11
3: 75%-11, 68%-10
4: 70%-10, 77%-11

Physics:
1: 62%- 9, 67%-10
2: 71%-11, 62%-9
3: 76%-11, 81%-12
4: 44%- 7, 65%-10

General Chemistry:
1: 78%-12, 70%-10
2: 84%-12, 56%-8
3: 68%-10, 53%-8
4: 83%-12, 81%-12

Biology:
6: 69%-10, 55%-8
7: 67%-10, 33%-5
8: 48%-7, 54%-8
9: 62%-9

TPRH--ICC VR: 30 passages: 53% (6)...

Are your "first 1/3" for the Physics chapters just the 25 question review problems at the end of each chapter?

And your "second 1/3" are half of the 52 question set I assume?

 

[Temperature101]

Are your "first 1/3" for the Physics chapters just the 25 question review problems at the end of each chapter?

And your "second 1/3" are half of the 52 question set I assume?

I have the older edition (2009) of book I, which has 10 passages (7 questions/passage) in each chapter. I usually do the first 3-4 passages, which is first 1/3, then another 3 passages for 2nd 1/3. For book II, which I have not started yet, I have the new edition. I see that it has the 25 questions review then the 52 questions set. I think I will do the 25 questions as first 1/3 and then do 26 and 26 for 2nd and third 1/3. I dont kow if that make sense.

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

Are your "first 1/3" for the Physics chapters just the 25 question review problems at the end of each chapter?

And your "second 1/3" are half of the 52 question set I assume?

Probably best to do the first four passages and the first set of free-standing questions for Phase 2 and then the remaining passages and questions as Phase 3.

 

[Trayshawn]

yeahh, i think im gonna stop tbr and just switch to tprh.
these passages just aren't helping me very much..
i may still refer to them for focused practice though

 

[Meredith92]

Does anyone think that TBR chap 7 of organic chemistry is a bit much?? I'm not sure we'll really need to memorize all the amino acids/ their pKas/ how to calculate the isoelectric point of a peptide chain...

 

[Temperature101]

TBR
Format:
chapter: 1st 1/3, 2nd 1/3, last 1/3

Oganic Chemistry:
1: 81%-12, 70%-10
2: 71%-11, 74%-11
3: 75%-11, 68%-10
4: 70%-10, 77%-11
5: 79%-12, 78%-12

Physics:
1: 62%- 9, 67%-10
2: 71%-11, 62%-9
3: 76%-11, 81%-12
4: 44%- 7, 65%-10
5: 72%-11, 55%-8

General Chemistry:
1: 78%-12, 70%-10
2: 84%-12, 56%-8
3: 68%-10, 53%-8
4: 83%-12, 81%-12
5: 71%-11, 58%-9 (After reviewing, I see that I made a lot of stupid mistakes)

Biology:
6: 69%-10, 55%-8
7: 67%-10, 33%-5
8: 48%-7, 54%-8
9: 62%-9, 53%-8
10: 66%-10, 44%-7

TPRH--ICC VR: 30 passages: 53% (6)...

 

[Sub Rosa]

I've been getting destroyed on general chemistry and verbal (not that it matters since I'm not using BR for VR, but I digress).

 

[janutt345]

Anybody score around 55-60% for physics and still end up with a 10+ on the real thing?

 

[Fifty 3rds]

I'm with most people here, my scores are fluctuating and the biology passages I took that line-up with EKs Ch. 1 obliterated me: 59-60%

Gen Chem ch.1, first 1/3 - 63%
O. Chem ch. 1, first 1/3 - 69%
Physics ch. 1, first 1/3 - 79%

Not really happy with any of those scores but we must start somewhere.

 

[osprey099]

UPDATE 2-27 .. too much practice left to do with so little time

TBR Physics
Section 1: 77% (11)
Section 2: 86% (13)
Section 3: 73% (11)
Section 4: 73% (11)
Section 5: 79% (12)
Section 6: 77% (11)
Section 7: 77% (11)
Section 8: 83% (12)
Section 9: 94% (14)
Section 10: procrastinating optics b/c it's my weakest section

TBR General Chemistry
Section 1: 78% (12)
Section 2: 94% (14)
Section 3: 76% (11)
Section 4: 78% (12)
Section 5: 84% (13)
Section 6: 83% (12)
Section 7: 82% (12)
Section 8: 79% (12)
Section 9: 86% (13)
Section 10: 79% (12)

AAMC Self Assessment Biology: 88%
AAMC Self Assessment General Chemistry: 88%

TPRHL Science Workbook (all regular bio passages): 78%
TPRHL Science Workbook (~60 regular gen chem passages): 80%
TPRHL Verbal Workbook: after all 43 practice passages, 80%
TPRHL Verbal Test 1: 35/40 (11) using AAMC 10 scale
TPRHL Verbal Test 2: 33/40 (10)
TPRHL Verbal Test 3: 31/40 (9)
TPRHL Verbal Test 4: 33/40 (10)

EK101 (old version out of 60 questions):
Test 5: 45/60 (10)
Test 6: 47/60 (10)

Kaplan Section Tests:
BS 1: 43/52 (83%)
BS 2: 33/52 (63%)

AAMC 8: 35 (12PS, 10V, 13BS)
AAMC 9: 36 (13PS, 11V, 12BS)

 

[StudyShy]

I'm with most people here, my scores are fluctuating and the biology passages I took that line-up with EKs Ch. 1 obliterated me: 59-60%

Gen Chem ch.1, first 1/3 - 63%
O. Chem ch. 1, first 1/3 - 69%
Physics ch. 1, first 1/3 - 79%

Not really happy with any of those scores but we must start somewhere.

This is a great start! Keep at it!!!! 🙂

 

[Fifty 3rds]

I'm with most people here, my scores are fluctuating and the biology passages I took that line-up with EKs Ch. 1 obliterated me: 59-60%

Gen Chem ch.1, first 1/3 - 63%: 2/3 - 83.3%
O. Chem ch. 1, first 1/3 - 69%: 2/3 - 73.1%
O. Chem ch. 2, first 1/3 - 71%
Physics ch. 1, first 1/3 - 79%

Not really happy with any of those scores but we must start somewhere.

Another update added. Will finish Ochem and Physics 2/3 by EOD.

 

[Dirty Harry]

Hello Berkeley Reviewers,

I've have taken three practice TBR exams. I am scoring in the mid 20s and my scores are all over the place. I will take AAMC after I finished all seven exams. So far my scores are the following:

CBT1: 7 Physical/ 11 Verbal/ 8 Biological
CBT2: 9 Physical/ 7 Verbal/ 10 Biological
CBT3: 10 Physical/ 7 Verbal/ 8 Biological

The verbal is...blah. I am happy that my physical is getting better. Exam 3 did not feel any harder than the other three, but the biological certainly was tricker. I wonder if I will break a 30 in and an upward trend will be better. I am hopeful that the AAMC will be a better indicator.

 

[Amar2014]

Hey Guys;
I just learned about this thread. I have been using the TBR chapters and passages. I first did 1/2 the passages then started following the 1st 1/3, 2nd 1/3 and 3rd 1/3 for the later chapters. I still have about 4 chapters to go for each subject. I have been scoring ~50% on the chapter passages as well as in the EK 1001 stand alone questions. I started with TPR for verbal and scored (8.5, 9, 10.5) in the first three exams but I screwed up on the EK in class 3D tests (6, 7,7) 🙁 please help me out as I see most of you are scoring much higher and improving in the BR over time. I post game really well and keep a log of the worng answers! I only have the AAMC exams do you suggest I buy the BR ones or TPRH for test practicing? I also have the TPRH workbook and was planning on doing passages from it! All suggestions are appreciated Thanks!

 

[janutt345]

at some of these Electrostatics/Electromagnetism passages. The explanations to at least 3-4 of the first 25 question set problems involve the use of equations that are never even covered in the chapter.