Best Review/Pratice tests for Chem/Physics

[mimi2kul]

Can i get some ideas what what you guys think was the best book for content review and practice test in chemistry and physics?

i need a book that breaks the material in the simplest possible form to understand and have passages that are similar to MCAT.

it was like years since i took chem/physic so i really need a good review book that lays the concepts well and easy to grasp.

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[txprodigal]

NOVA Physics or The Berkeley Review Physics
The Berkeley Review Chemistry

 

[SN2ed]

NOVA Physics or The Berkeley Review Physics
The Berkeley Review Chemistry

Seconded, though I'd go with BR for both subjects. Nova Physics is good, but it doesn't have enough practice passages.

 

[0Complications]

Seconded, though I'd go with BR for both subjects. Nova Physics is good, but it doesn't have enough practice passages.

👍

 

[capn jazz]

I have TPR and Kaplan for Gen Chem/Physics. I also suck at Gen Chem/Physics. Why is TBR better than TPR for phy sci, if it is better?

 

[TheBoondocks]

I have TPR and Kaplan for Gen Chem/Physics. I also suck at Gen Chem/Physics. Why is TBR better than TPR for phy sci, if it is better?

It is better. No questions asked. I have all the TPR stuff and it explains stuff well. However, TBR passages are way harder. They improve your analytical ability. TPR just doesn't really test you about salient points like TBR.

Go to this link, this is just one example of the passages you get with TBR.

http://www.berkeleyreview.com/ Click on home study. Then click on Gen Chem 1 and scroll down to sample passages. Their passages really force you to think about the chem concepts. TBR smokes everyone in Gen Chem. As far as physics text, EK and TPR are strong. However, the passages from TBR are by far the best. You've been here long enough to see Bozz and RRTCO. RRTCO got a 14 PS by using TBR physics and chem books. He just did all the passages in 2 weeks. Moreover, he had been out of college for a few years. So there you go.

 

[capn jazz]

It is better. No questions asked. I have all the TPR stuff and it explains stuff well. However, TBR passages are way harder. They improve your analytical ability. TPR just doesn't really test you about salient points like TBR.

Go to this link, this is just one example of the passages you get with TBR.

http://www.berkeleyreview.com/ Click on home study. Then click on Gen Chem 1 and scroll down to sample passages. Their passages really force you to think about the chem concepts. TBR smokes everyone in Gen Chem. As far as physics text, EK and TPR are strong. However, the passages from TBR are by far the best. You've been here long enough to see Bozz and RRTCO. RRTCO got a 14 PS by using TBR physics and chem books. He just did all the passages in 2 weeks. Moreover, he had been out of college for a few years. So there you go.

Did something change at TBR with the pricing? Didn't it used to be $50 PER volume, making it $100 per subject total? Maybe I'm just crazy.

Anyway, I already have the TPR PhySci review notes, the Kaplan physci review notes, and the TPR science workbork which has ~90 passages for gen chem and ~60 passages for physics... I don't know if I can really afford to spend another $100 on materials (plus shipping).

 

[JasoniusUW]

50 per subject with 2 books per subject...wow 100 per subject would have been insane. Nice to know all passages can be done in 2 weeks. That's how long I have from when the books arrive.

 

[RRTinCO]

BR, BR, BR!!!

Sure the way to purchase the books is archaic, but they are definetly worth it. I hadn't had gen chem for 7 years, so when I started I hardly remembered anything. The passages and questions are amazing, very much like the MCAT I took 1/30. IMHO, it would be a very good investment. Not only do they teach you concepts, but they teach you critical thinking skills when you are not certain of the answer.

I went from getting 9s on practice tests before using them to 12-14s on the more recent ones, and then got a 14 PS on the real deal.

I'm not selling my books yet, I'll post on the classified board when I'm ready 😉

Each chapter, along with doing all of the passages, took anywhere from 4-6 hrs per chapter. There are 100 questions in gen chem, and 70 questions in physics. So to do it in 2 weeks takes 6-10 hrs a day, everyday.

 

[capn jazz]

Alas, I started on my gen chem leg of mcat studying a few days ago, so the tbr books would arrive too late to fit into my schedule.

 

[capn jazz]

Actually, I think I'm going to play around with my schedule and order the TBR phy sci books. Gen Chem definitely, on the fence about physics. I have TPR but I'm not sure I like how it's written. I feel like I'm reading a textbook rather than an MCAT prep book. What is the writing in TBR like? Is there anyway I could see some kind of sample chapter or page or two?

 

[Will Hunting]

Actually, I think I'm going to play around with my schedule and order the TBR phy sci books. Gen Chem definitely, on the fence about physics. I have TPR but I'm not sure I like how it's written. I feel like I'm reading a textbook rather than an MCAT prep book. What is the writing in TBR like? Is there anyway I could see some kind of sample chapter or page or two?

Then TBR is for you. I have TPR and like it because it's mathematical. TBR physics is about tricks. I don't want to divulge them for copyright. However, you'll thank me in a couple weeks. So, it would be good for a person like you. Suck it up and buy both. It's basically like 1 or 2 secondary applications. A great MCAT score is INVALUABLE. Finally, you're observant. TPR physics was written by Steve Leduc I believe, and he is very good at math hense the math emphasis.

 

[capn jazz]

Thanks for the info. I'll study OChem until the books get here, hopefully if I mail a money order tomorrow it will be here by the following monday or tuesday. I have an entire box full of MCAT books that I have because people were selling multiple books where I only wanted one or two of the set... I should probably try and sell the ones I don't plan on using.

 

[capn jazz]

Each chapter, along with doing all of the passages, took anywhere from 4-6 hrs per chapter. There are 100 questions in gen chem, and 70 questions in physics. So to do it in 2 weeks takes 6-10 hrs a day, everyday.

Are there in-chapter questions, or just passages/questions at the end of the chapter? When you read through the chapter, did you do the EK method of read once leisurely and skip the questions, read again with a highlighter/note taking and answer the in-lecture Qs? How long did it take to read a given chapter once through?

Sorry for all the questions!

 

[RRTinCO]

There are example questions throughout the chapters, but not many. There are tons of questions/passages at the end of the chapters. I only did a once read through of each of the chapters, and then did the questions at the end using their suggested order and timing methods. Each chapter and questions took 3-6 hrs a piece depending on the length.

 

[seira]

Hi, I just have a question regarding TBR physics. I got hold of this book today because one of my friend lend it to me, and I have like a week that I can keep this book so I plan to do all of the passages, but I don't think i will have time to read the content review. If I already have my content review done, would doing passages out of them be good enough practice? or is the content review of TBR equally valuable? Thanks.

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

Are there in-chapter questions, or just passages/questions at the end of the chapter? When you read through the chapter, did you do the EK method of read once leisurely and skip the questions, read again with a highlighter/note taking and answer the in-lecture Qs? How long did it take to read a given chapter once through?

Sorry for all the questions!

The layout of the BR books is such that you should use the BR method. Skim/read the text section, making sure you do all of the questions within the reading. There are about 18 to 35 questions within the text for each section (10 sections total in physics and 10 sections total in general chemistry). You should take notes based on the questions and not the text itself. For sections you know well (usually sections like periodic trends, equilibrium, and gases for most students) you can skip the reading and just do the test-based questions. Once you've done the text, follow the three phase suggestion at the start of the passage section. There are ten passages and 70 questions following each physics section and about 13 to 15 passages and 100 questions following each general chemistry section. Phase I passages typically focus completely on the topics in that section. Phase II passages are a little more universal and incorporate information from other sections. Phase III passages are the weird ones that mix several subjects and have odd equations, graphs, and and/or diagrams. It is critical that you go through the answer explanations, because they containseveral shortcuts and tricks. Going over your answers is by far the most improtant thing.

Hi, I just have a question regarding TBR physics. I got hold of this book today because one of my friend lend it to me, and I have like a week that I can keep this book so I plan to do all of the passages, but I don't think i will have time to read the content review. If I already have my content review done, would doing passages out of them be good enough practice? or is the content review of TBR equally valuable? Thanks.

If you only have such limited time, then you should focus on the passages. Most of the strategies in the text are repeated in the answer explanations. You might want to look in the margin for the "test-tips" icon and read those though.

 

[capn jazz]

The layout of the BR books is such that you should use the BR method. Skim/read the text section, making sure you do all of the questions within the reading. There are about 18 to 35 questions within the text for each section (10 sections total in physics and 10 sections total in general chemistry). You should take notes based on the questions and not the text itself. For sections you know well (usually sections like periodic trends, equilibrium, and gases for most students) you can skip the reading and just do the test-based questions. Once you've done the text, follow the three phase suggestion at the start of the passage section. There are ten passages and 70 questions following each physics section and about 13 to 15 passages and 100 questions following each general chemistry section. Phase I passages typically focus completely on the topics in that section. Phase II passages are a little more universal and incorporate information from other sections. Phase III passages are the weird ones that mix several subjects and have odd equations, graphs, and and/or diagrams. It is critical that you go through the answer explanations, because they containseveral shortcuts and tricks. Going over your answers is by far the most improtant thing.

So for TBR to be effective, one should do every single passage in every chapter? Is there a time line for when to do phase 1, phase 2, and phase 3? Let's say I'm studying gen chem for the next few weeks, then physics, then a month of full-lengths - am I intended to complete most/all of the passages immediately after reading the chapters? Is it recommended to save some for later on, for practice/to reinforce/remind me of info/techniques?

For instance, for Bio, I've been doing about 50-70% of the 1001 Qs intending on completing the remaining couple of passages/discretes during 'review' days in the month before the test. Should I do this with TBR or will the benefits of the tricks in the chapters be lost if I don't solidify them immediately by completing all the passages for a given chapter at a time?

Sorry for all the questions! I just want to be as effective as possible with TBR.

 

[capn jazz]

bump!