Best Study Strategy -- Kaplan Book vs. Working Old Tests

[slatenator]

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So, it's down to crunch time now for the Oct 17 PCAT. I have studied lightly for the last month but alas it is time to bear down.

As I suspected, I get the impression from many of you that the PCAT questions are pretty different and more obtuse/general that the Kaplan book let on about. I just purchased the 2 Pearson Online Practice Tests and they look more weird than Kaplan making me think I am screwed if I just learn Kaplan stuff.

...I think from here on out I'm just going to spend my time working practice tests and if necessary looking back at the Kaplan book for a reference. I'm sure I may not be up to par on a few weird concepts but I ultimately think this will get me a higher score than spending all my time trying to learn the extremely detailed concepts in Kaplan.

Also, I am mad now that I learn that 40% of the Chem section is O-Chem and it is only about 1/12 of Kaplan's Chemistry section.

...Your thoughts on this shotgun strategy?

 

[tiff247]

Im doing the same thing. I am just going to start focusing on practice tests. I am using the Kaplan book, but for the next 3 weeks, I think practice tests are going to be the thing that helps the most. How did you like the pearson practice tests

 

[slatenator]

The Pearson tests definitely looked very different and abstract from what I'd seen on Kaplan. As long as they are similar to the actual test I am fine with them.

One more thing -- In terms of memorizing formulas for chemistry and periodic table stuff, do you know of any guidelines for what formulas and/or constants to remember? (I obviously haven't been over the Chemistry section yet on the Pearson test)

 

[desklamp]

So, it's down to crunch time now for the Oct 17 PCAT. I have studied lightly for the last month but alas it is time to bear down.

As I suspected, I get the impression from many of you that the PCAT questions are pretty different and more obtuse/general that the Kaplan book let on about. I just purchased the 2 Pearson Online Practice Tests and they look more weird than Kaplan making me think I am screwed if I just learn Kaplan stuff.

...I think from here on out I'm just going to spend my time working practice tests and if necessary looking back at the Kaplan book for a reference. I'm sure I may not be up to par on a few weird concepts but I ultimately think this will get me a higher score than spending all my time trying to learn the extremely detailed concepts in Kaplan.

Also, I am mad now that I learn that 40% of the Chem section is O-Chem and it is only about 1/12 of Kaplan's Chemistry section.

...Your thoughts on this shotgun strategy?

kaplan sucks. the biology section is fine, just overly detailed, not that i really went over it, but the math section is decidedly lacking, as is the organic chemistry section. i think the verbal section kind of sucked too. I just used Kaplan's GRE flash card set for vocab. Unfortunately, I don't really have any suggestions in terms of what to use instead, but definitely only use Kaplan as a supplement, not as your only study material.

 

[Isoprop]

Aside from the official ones, where can one purchase good practice tests?

 

[sunflower85]

One more thing -- In terms of memorizing formulas for chemistry and periodic table stuff, do you know of any guidelines for what formulas and/or constants to remember? (I obviously haven't been over the Chemistry section yet on the Pearson test)

I read an older thread giving a very detailed answer for this question. It would be worth your search.

 

[delano2000]

I read an older thread giving a very detailed answer for this question. It would be worth your search.

Yea. Check the thread I started about PCAT Chemistry Section. Someone posted something very detailed in regards to it.

 

[willrocks]

I found that studying didn't help too much for the PCAT. Questions are mostly based on broader concepts rather than specific details. In my opinion, you are either going to know it as a result of doing well if your classes, or you are not. I personally reviewed all four of the major study books (kaplan, barrons, cliffs, mcgraw-hill), and found the mcgraw-hill book to be the most useful. Barrons and kaplan were too specific in most areas and lacking in others. The pearson practice exams were very helpful for an exercise in pacing yourself, but I found both of them to be easier than the real exam. Don't stress out about it, I did and it was not necessary. Pulled off a 97 composite.