Best way to get the most out of TBR Bio

[Hopefuldoc22]

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I'm a retake. I've been using TBR for the past month or so. I feel pretty good about what I'm learning from PS and orgo, but I don't really feel like I'm making a ton of progress with the BIO. What's the best way to use TBR Bio? Btw im following the SN2 schedule.

 

[JLeBling]

Buddy,

I'm doing the SNe2 schedule as well. I've been following the recommended EK content review, followed by corresponding BR passages for the past two "Sections" (i.e. Molecular Biology & Molecular Genetics). I got to say, I am just getting R'ed in the A-hole.

Doing BR bio passages using EK content review is like trying to build a rocket ship using elastic bands, pop bottles and your Nannie's baking soda and vinegar, while handcuffed to a radiator, with a monkey sitting on your shoulders playing the cymbals. I'm talking about scores consistently below 50%. I don't perform that bad on any of the other BR passages.

I am assuming that a biology major's experience would not be as... frustrating. I will ditch the EK content review because it is completely inadequate for the BR passages and stick to BR content review. I am tired of having my self confidence destroyed by these BR passages. ARGHHHGHGHGHGHGGGG

 

[Hopefuldoc22]

Yea it's mostly the BR bio passages. I'm getting wrecked. Thing is, the bio on mine was actually just as hard and at times felt like WTF am I reading. I think I'm going to stick with SN2 schedule for now. It's been highly acclaimed and reading BR bio just doesn't seem like an efficient way to spend my time.

 

[mr chievous]

TPRH Bio passages are 10 times better and more indicative. If you have those, I would recommend using them instead.

 

[Hopefuldoc22]

Really? I do have those. You think I should continue using EK for content and TPRH for passages? I feel kind of bad not using it, but hey if they are better passages then I'll use them. Would like to hear other opinions about TPRH Bio vs. TBR Bio passages before switching though.

 

[JLeBling]

Ok. After finishing content review, TBR bio is actually pretty good. The problem is that the passages touch on subjects that have not yet been covered. Unless you are a bio major (in which case you don't really need to do a content review) I suggest you keep the TBR bio passages for after you have reviewed all the content...

Because the passages are actually wicked gnarley...

 

[Meredith92]

Did you end up doing content review with ek or tbr?

 

[gettheleadout]

Ok. After finishing content review, TBR bio is actually pretty good. The problem is that the passages touch on subjects that have not yet been covered. Unless you are a bio major (in which case you don't really need to do a content review) I suggest you keep the TBR bio passages for after you have reviewed all the content...

Because the passages are actually wicked gnarley...

Uh...

 

[angldrps]

the best thing you can do is stop using TBR for bio, especially for content review.

 

[angldrps]

Really? I do have those. You think I should continue using EK for content and TPRH for passages? I feel kind of bad not using it, but hey if they are better passages then I'll use them. Would like to hear other opinions about TPRH Bio vs. TBR Bio passages before switching though.

Do this! use TBR passages only for those chapters that are your weaknesses.

 

[FlaminHotER]

So would u guys recommend switching to EK Bio or TPR Bio for content review?

I have TBR Bio and its not a efficient use of my time

 

[JLeBling]

So would u guys recommend switching to EK Bio or TPR Bio for content review?

I have TBR Bio and its not a efficient use of my time

Yes!

I switched content review with The Princeton Review Hyperlearning and the Science Workbook. But I suppose EK would be good too. TBR bio doesn't introduce topics sequentially. So you will get a genetics (section IX) or GI & Kidneys (section III) in the first section passages. The answer explanations also assume that you have covered all of the topics. Trying to make sense of them without a fully fleshed out knowledge framework is like trying to hammer in a screw!

The passages are gold though.

 

[AktionPOTENTIAL]

Buddy,

I'm doing the SNe2 schedule as well. I've been following the recommended EK content review, followed by corresponding BR passages for the past two "Sections" (i.e. Molecular Biology & Molecular Genetics). I got to say, I am just getting R'ed in the A-hole.

Doing BR bio passages using EK content review is like trying to build a rocket ship using elastic bands, pop bottles and your Nannie's baking soda and vinegar, while handcuffed to a radiator, with a monkey sitting on your shoulders playing the cymbals. I'm talking about scores consistently below 50%. I don't perform that bad on any of the other BR passages.

I am assuming that a biology major's experience would not be as... frustrating. I will ditch the EK content review because it is completely inadequate for the BR passages and stick to BR content review. I am tired of having my self confidence destroyed by these BR passages. ARGHHHGHGHGHGHGGGG

Hahaha! This is the best explanation ever. I have switched from EK Bio to TBR for content because the two just doesn't match. I am fine with the additional time it may take to complete content review; to each tour own.

I am also using the TPRH Science WB and I think it compliments TBR ver well, especially for Biology.

 

[FlaminHotER]

Ok I know this has been asked hundreds of times but I see different answers on different threads... I want to make sure I know what I am buying before I switch out to TPR or EK Bio


"Princeton Review Hyper Learning" is passages and questions only, no content review?

The regular PR Bio book at my local bookstore is good for content then use Berkley Review for passages...?

 

[whoknows87]

What I'm doing is EK content review, doing the stand alone questions, definitely looked at some animations for Action Potential , and all of the systems , after I finish then I'll do TBR passages here and there and obviously FL/ Topical Tests, Some TBR passages are doable while some are insane mainly due to some topics not being covered , that's why I'm I'll do more Passages after all Content Review is done , Just for Bio though

 

[MD Odyssey]

I used the BR biology and in hindsight, I'm glad that I did. The statements people make about it not being representative are somewhat true - the BR biology book tends to assume you have a lot of background knowledge which the real thing does not. However, using it really does help you learn how to approach obscure science passages, which the real thing absolutely has. My recommendation would be to keep using what you're using and look at the BR biology passages as preparation and training for the real one.

Don't let your percentages discourage you - I consistently scored in the 50-60% range and I demolished the real thing. I had all of the same negative thoughts and was just as deeply frustrated as you must feel. Keep at it and try to maintain a positive attitude and you'll be glad you did when the real thing is finished.

 

[circulus vitios]

I'd almost recommend getting another set of review books. TBR isn't special. Probably 25% of the PS questions are garbage. The calculations are ridiculous and some of the answers require outside knowledge, or knowledge outside the scope of the MCAT. There is absolutely no value in wasting a fixed amount of study time on doing ridiculous calculations by hand or reading through some convoluted cluster**** of an answer. I was smart enough not to waste my money on the BS books but I'm guessing they are even worse than the PS books.

 

[MedWonk]

I used the BR biology and in hindsight, I'm glad that I did. The statements people make about it not being representative are somewhat true - the BR biology book tends to assume you have a lot of background knowledge which the real thing does not. However, using it really does help you learn how to approach obscure science passages, which the real thing absolutely has. My recommendation would be to keep using what you're using and look at the BR biology passages as preparation and training for the real one.

Don't let your percentages discourage you - I consistently scored in the 50-60% range and I demolished the real thing. I had all of the same negative thoughts and was just as deeply frustrated as you must feel. Keep at it and try to maintain a positive attitude and you'll be glad you did when the real thing is finished.

This. I consistently scored about 50% at the beginning and at the end was scoring 75 to 80%. I consistently got 11s on the AAMC, with a 12 and 13 on the 10 and 11. It sucks going through them, but they give you good practice.

I'd almost recommend getting another set of review books. TBR isn't special. Probably 25% of the PS questions are garbage. The calculations are ridiculous and some of the answers require outside knowledge, or knowledge outside the scope of the MCAT. There is absolutely no value in wasting a fixed amount of study time on doing ridiculous calculations by hand or reading through some convoluted cluster**** of an answer. I was smart enough not to waste my money on the BS books but I'm guessing they are even worse than the PS books.

The MCAT I took had a fairly calculation heavy PS section with a few that forced me to use my scrap paper to figure out. EK 1001 can give you the same practice, but I wouldn't discount TBR because of the difficulty of a few of the questions. Convoluted calculations won't be a common occurrence, but they most certainly can appear on the test. I encountered few, if any, questions in the PS section that required outside knowledge. There were quite a few that required you to think of an analogous concept, but everything you needed to know was in the chapter. I certainly wasn't a physics maestro, either, and in fact, I struggled with my physics classes.

I think there's a lot of overreaction over the difficulty of the material. I felt well-prepared for the test, and I believe it's the only criterion by which any review material should be judged. You should really just find whatever review material you think suits you, and stick with it. As an aside, I think combining EK with TBR passages is a recipe for disaster.

 

[thenykway]

Hey, I'm having the same frustrations with EK Bio for content review and BR Bio for passages. I feel like its really hard to coordinate the two and that the passages are a confidence killer because EK feels very basic. I feel like Bio is the one subject I'm not improving much on (luckily I am a Bio major so its already decent to start).

I made a thread about this issue a few days ago and I basically heard two opinions:
1) Stick it out. Apparently it will get better as time goes and it'll be easier to coordinate EK content with BR passages.
2) Change to TPRH books completely. Apparently those are solid.

I think I might just do the latter if this Bio continues to frustrate me for the next week or so.

Does anybody know if there are two seperate books in TPRH for content and passages or are they all under one book? Thanks!

 

[faith hopelove]

Hey, I'm having the same frustrations with EK Bio for content review and BR Bio for passages. I feel like its really hard to coordinate the two and that the passages are a confidence killer because EK feels very basic. I feel like Bio is the one subject I'm not improving much on (luckily I am a Bio major so its already decent to start).

I made a thread about this issue a few days ago and I basically heard two opinions:
1) Stick it out. Apparently it will get better as time goes and it'll be easier to coordinate EK content with BR passages.
2) Change to TPRH books completely. Apparently those are solid.

I think I might just do the latter if this Bio continues to frustrate me for the next week or so.

Does anybody know if there are two seperate books in TPRH for content and passages or are they all under one book? Thanks!

There are 2 different books: a content review one and a passage based science workbook

 

[thenykway]

There are 2 different books: a content review one and a passage based science workbook

Thanks. Are they any good?

 

[FlaminHotER]

Just bought TPR Biology from Barnes and noble. Going to do content review w/ TPR and practice passages w/ TBR


Will report back!

 

[circulus vitios]

The MCAT I took had a fairly calculation heavy PS section with a few that forced me to use my scrap paper to figure out.

Did you do calculations like (208.3)(150+273)/(120+273) where the choices are 219.9, 222.0, 224.2, and 227.6 (Gen Chem Section VI Passage IV Question 23)?

 

[Forkit]

Did you do calculations like (208.3)(150+273)/(120+273) where the choices are 219.9, 222.0, 224.2, and 227.6 (Gen Chem Section VI Passage IV Question 23)?

That was a bad question. Most of the BR math answers are easy to pick out after you round up the numbers and do the calculations

 

[StudyShy]

Buddy,

I'm doing the SNe2 schedule as well. I've been following the recommended EK content review, followed by corresponding BR passages for the past two "Sections" (i.e. Molecular Biology & Molecular Genetics). I got to say, I am just getting R'ed in the A-hole.

Doing BR bio passages using EK content review is like trying to build a rocket ship using elastic bands, pop bottles and your Nannie's baking soda and vinegar, while handcuffed to a radiator, with a monkey sitting on your shoulders playing the cymbals. I'm talking about scores consistently below 50%. I don't perform that bad on any of the other BR passages.

I am assuming that a biology major's experience would not be as... frustrating. I will ditch the EK content review because it is completely inadequate for the BR passages and stick to BR content review. I am tired of having my self confidence destroyed by these BR passages. ARGHHHGHGHGHGHGGGG

lol, this is how I felt. EK Biology is a good starter, but it doesn't have everything that you neeed to do well on the BR biology passages. I ended up starting to read the BR content because that is what I felt like I needed to do in order to do well on the BR passages. Then, my BR review scores went to 70-90% without any problem. I've only completed book one (back in the fall) and chapter one of the second book of BR biology so far. I liked the physiology book a lot, and so far I liked the first chapter of the second book. I have not taken genetics or biochemistry, so I had to supplement the books with some Chad videos. These were very helpful especially Chad's biochemistry section.

Doing some TPR biology passages after doing EK and BR seemed like a breeze...even on the advanced topics! I knew what TPR was going to ask before I even finished the entire question. After this, I hold BR biology in high regard although it is more difficult. If you can get through it, it's so worth it. I figure for biology majors, the BR would be a piece of cake anyway so I don't understand all the complaining about it.

So far, I'd rank in difficulty of biology passages going from hardest to easist: BR>TPR>EK

 

[StudyShy]

I used the BR biology and in hindsight, I'm glad that I did. The statements people make about it not being representative are somewhat true - the BR biology book tends to assume you have a lot of background knowledge which the real thing does not. However, using it really does help you learn how to approach obscure science passages, which the real thing absolutely has. My recommendation would be to keep using what you're using and look at the BR biology passages as preparation and training for the real one.

Don't let your percentages discourage you - I consistently scored in the 50-60% range and I demolished the real thing. I had all of the same negative thoughts and was just as deeply frustrated as you must feel. Keep at it and try to maintain a positive attitude and you'll be glad you did when the real thing is finished.

This totally! 🙂

 

[faith hopelove]

Thanks. Are they any good?

Definitely. I use both of them and TBR and I would definitely recommend them. I am starting to feel like the EK Bio (their books in general) are wack...I do use their questions anyway to make sure I got the basic stuff down pack.