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Anyone that's taken both want to give their opinion on the similarity of the two? I'm finding the BR PS passages pretty easy overall.
BR PS Similarity to Real MCAT?
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Berkeley Review Physical Science
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Lol the first few passages of every chapter are a joke. And the first chapter of BR chem is extremely easy...cause it's the first chapter.
There's a reason their scale is based off ALL 10-15 passages...since the first ones are easy and the later ones are typically a lot harder.
OP I made a thread like this a month ago and most people agreed it was similar
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Thanks 🙂 I've only been through the first 3 chapters and 2/3 of the passages from those chapters.
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If you are skipping the last 1/3, your scaled scores are useless most likely-
If I were you- I would just get in the habit of only missing 1 question at the most per passage, regardless of what it is. You know if you can do that then you are ready...
With BR you can get 4/7 or 5/7 on some passages and still pull an 11-12 on their scale... the AAMC makes it so you can't miss many- so get in the habit of nailing every question no matter what prep you're using.
For example Kaplan's PS is an absolute joke...I got a 13 and I missed like 15 questions. That's just stupid...their tests aren't even that much harder!
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I haven't been giving myself scores really, just looking at how many I miss. I'm not skipping them per se, it's just that the passages are broken into three parts to review them at different points in time. Thanks for the advice, very helpful.
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I'm also using TBR, doing PS. I agree its easier material.. but maybe I just have a longer learning curve, but it's the format of the MCAT style questions that doesn't really allow me to totally destroy every section.
I guess practice, practice, practice..
I guess practice, practice, practice..
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Some passages are pretty easy but then there are some that aren't too easy. I just like the fact there are passages that actually get you in the mode of answering questions based off passages. Good question though I'm really curious if these passages are representative of the question style / difficulty of the real MCAT.
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the comments on this thread crack me up. have any of you taken the real MCAT before? you can't make judgments on how BR compares to the real one without taking your real test first.
while some of the BR passages are easier at the beginning, you have to realize that there are MANY easy passages on the real MCAT. even the easier BR passages are thus similar to the MCAT. the MCAT, like BR, has a mix of easier and harder passages. the hard passages of BR are WAY harder than the hard passages on the real MCAT.
I've made sooo many posts on BR, do a search and you'll find tons of info on this topic. everyone loves BR because it gives the best practice AND much harder practice than the real MCAT. yes, there are some easy questions, and there are even some easier questions on the real MCAT. it's great practice. BR's scaled scores, though, are worthless. don't pay attention to them. the BRteach guy, who works for BR, said the average BR student misses 3/physics passage and 2.5/chem passage and averages 11 on the real PS. I was probably averaging 2 wrong/physics passage and 1.5/chem passage and was getting 13s on all the AAMC PS sections. I haven't gotten my real score yet...
while some of the BR passages are easier at the beginning, you have to realize that there are MANY easy passages on the real MCAT. even the easier BR passages are thus similar to the MCAT. the MCAT, like BR, has a mix of easier and harder passages. the hard passages of BR are WAY harder than the hard passages on the real MCAT.
I've made sooo many posts on BR, do a search and you'll find tons of info on this topic. everyone loves BR because it gives the best practice AND much harder practice than the real MCAT. yes, there are some easy questions, and there are even some easier questions on the real MCAT. it's great practice. BR's scaled scores, though, are worthless. don't pay attention to them. the BRteach guy, who works for BR, said the average BR student misses 3/physics passage and 2.5/chem passage and averages 11 on the real PS. I was probably averaging 2 wrong/physics passage and 1.5/chem passage and was getting 13s on all the AAMC PS sections. I haven't gotten my real score yet...
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Thanks for the reply rocket.
Capn - peyote.
Capn - peyote.
hey guys i just finished the first sections in both chem and physics, and did the respective passages untimed, got 9's on both. my question is, do you guys do all of the passages after reviewing the content, or do you wait to do them?
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I follow the attached pdf. It's best to do phase I soon after you're done reading the section... then wait a week or a bit more, do phase II, then wait till you're done with all of content reviewing and do phase III. That way you can keep refreshing yourself. That's what the "phases" are that people talk about here and there. PDF explains it pretty well.
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I doubt they're timing themselves. TBR phase 1 says not to worry about timing. I time myself. Do I miss a couple more that way, yes? However, it is forcing me to analyze info a lot faster. Second of all, phase 1 says to do a passage and then check it. I do all of them and limit myself to 6-8 minutes. They're easy if you give yourself 9 minutes but if you limit to 6 then it's a different story.
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Some questions in the passages are pretty damn tough. I just got wrecked in a Phase I physics section (got a 7). Timing defintely makes a difference in some of these passages as well.
my only issue with following the study schedule is that i'm taking the test on july 17th, im done with bio, orgo, and verbal with EK, i'm now just starting with BR stuff for chem and phys since I found EK lacking, should I just keep doing all the passages after reading the content twice, or push the pasages off til later (i have aamc tests as well). thanks.
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You'll have enough time. Read the chapter and do the problems. Then do the phase 1. Review the passages and understand what you missed thoroughly. then reread the chapter. Next day do the same with another chapter. There are 10 chapters in chem and 10 in physics. Rotate subjects. Then when you get to a week after you first did say Chap 1 chem stoichiometry then do phase 2 for that timed and review. Then do phase 1 of that day. So, 20 days you'll be done with phase 1. Also, if you can go all day then on some days you can do both phases for a chem and physics chapter. Say you can do this twice, then this cuts down phase one to 18 days.
June 2 (why?) chem 1 There are 5 tuesdays in June
June 3rd physics 1
June 4th chem 2
june 5th phys 2
junte 6th chem3
june 7th phys 3
june 8th break?
june 9th chem 4 phase 2 of chem 1
june 10 phys 4 phase 2 of physics 1
june 11 chem 5 phase 2 of chem 2
june 12 phys 5 phase 2 of physics 2
june 13 chem 6 phase 2 of chem 3
june 14th phys 6 phase 2 of physics 3
june 15th break
June 16th chem 7 phase 2 of chem 4
June 17th phys 7 phase 2 of phys 4
June 18th chem 8 phase 2 of chem 5
june 19th phys 8 phase 2 physics 5
June 20th chem 9 phase 2 of chem 6
June 21st phys 9 phase 2 of physics 6
June 22nd break maybe? During this time should also be doing a few verbal
June 23rd chem 10 phase 2 chem 7
June 24th phys 10 phase 2 of phys 7
June 25th phase 3 of chem 1 and physics 1 and phase 2 of chem 8 and physics 8
June 26th phase 3 of chem 2 and physics 2 and phase 2 of chem 9 and physics 9
June 27th phase 3 of chem 3 and physics 3 and phase 2 of chem 10 and physics 10
Now take practice tests and complete the remaining phases. I completely agree with the phases. If you do all of them, UNLESS your test date is close it's a waste because you WILL forget. I've been doing the phases and it's great to test yourself one week later because you're stimulating MCAT like and testing your retention and reasoning skills. Doing all these passages WILL get you ready for the PS. You'll have enough time to take the AAMCS and thoroughly review them. Then you can do phase 3 of TBR passages on the PS topics you miss. THe phase 3 are the hardest and best because they test MULTIPLE concepts. Like, in chem they'll have a balloon that tests your understanding of ideal gas law and buoyancy which is why it's great to do these AFTER an AAMC test.
wow, first of all, i can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking your time to both reply to my questions, and also to go as far as to make a schedule, thank you much!
I think I get the picture know that phases are better than simply doing everythign after the test, because I'll admit it took me all of this week to finish all the passages for chem 1 and physics 1. so i think looking at this i will reconsider what i'm doing.
so you're saying phase 1 is basically anyday where you see chem/phys #, you read the chapter once, take the phase 1 passages, and read the chapter one more time, and end of the day. and phase 2 comes exactly a week after, and phase 3 is much later..if my understanding is right, then your right, I should have enough time to finish everything. Also, how many hours a day does this usually take? I'm averaging studyig 3 hours a day, will I need to bump it up more?
i also figured on my off days, i would study the 4 chapters of EK orgo, and the EK bio chapters, kind of to do a refresher, that way I stay sharp. I'm halfway done with EK 101 Verbal, so I am gonna take a test each week until test day (been averaging 10's, before 6's, if anyone has questions just ask me, pm)
so does it sound like thats a good game plan? also thanks again everyone for your input😀
one more thing i just realized, i wont have time to tkae the AAMC's, so maybe i should do those on the off days, intersperse post-game analysis during the week, and do orgo and bio review during the week with the physics and chem. sound good? thanks again guys!
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Hey guys, I will be getting the BR Physics and Gen Chem books this week. Currently registered for the 07/02/09 exam but thinking about switching to 7/17/09 or later? I guess I am in the same boat as SAEbrodel. I have been reviewing with EK physics and chemistry for the past 2 weeks and having a VERY tough time grasping everything. It's been over 3 years since I've had physics and gen chem.
Thanks Will Hunting for your posts. Very helpful. I am considering using your schedule. I was just wondering, how much time does it take to do a BR lecture comparable to an EK lecture? Because EK lectures with inclass exam takes me close to 5hrs. I ask because I am also studying EK BIO 1001s and EK VR 101 as well and don't know if I will have enough time to do a BR lecture along with EK in the same day. Is it possible to manage the two. I have all the AAMCs and want to take advantage of those as well.
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks Will Hunting for your posts. Very helpful. I am considering using your schedule. I was just wondering, how much time does it take to do a BR lecture comparable to an EK lecture? Because EK lectures with inclass exam takes me close to 5hrs. I ask because I am also studying EK BIO 1001s and EK VR 101 as well and don't know if I will have enough time to do a BR lecture along with EK in the same day. Is it possible to manage the two. I have all the AAMCs and want to take advantage of those as well.
Any advice is appreciated.
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Let me point something out. EK is good. They explain stuff well. What they fail to do is to give examples. This is where the goats say TBR is too much. If you're like me, you like good text and COUNTLESS examples to show how to apply it. TBR text is SIMILAR in length to EK. The difference and I'm sure you'll appreciate this, is that TBR will give 4 examples of how they might test you on the subject.
To illustrate, if you read EK Chapter 4 on solutions, they explain solubility well. Where they fail miserably is that they give one example. Well, TBR gives over 10 examples of the different ways the test makers can ask about solubility. So, yes, I would postpone to either July 17 or July 30.
Finally, applying early is overrated. If you guys have good gpas, ec's, etc, then a strong MCAT is more important. Just make sure to submit your app as early as possible and take care of your LORS. The most important is to be complete which means secondary submitted, fee sent, lors, so you can get interview. HTH.
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Yes, that's exactly it regarding the phases. Yes, 3 hrs isn't enough. Finally, when you read it a second time, just go over the examples. Don't read the text. Read it once thoroughly along with examples which should take 1-2 hrs. Finally, TBR teach says that read only what you need. If you are reading stuff you feel comfortable with then skip it. The key to the PS is doing problems. So go through the examples in each section and make sure you understand them. Then go through the phases and READ AND STUDY the solutions because they will summarize what you should know. So when you read, DON'T read word for word. Skim the text and hone in on the problems. Reading won't help, doing problems and getting them wrong and learning from your mistakes will!
So, you'll skim/read what you need and spend most of the time doing the examples and understanding the logic. If something is too detailed skip it? why, they'll be a question on it in the passage and it'll explain it.
To illustrate, When is a reaction never favorable? Well, enthalpy is positive and entropy is negative. When is it favorable at high temperatures? When enthalpy is positive and entropy is positive? I know this not from memorization but from understanding it conceptually. I can answer it by thinking about it.
This is something lots of kids miss. Why do I have it down cold? I missed a few questions and the explanations explained it. Do they explain it well in the text? Yes, but if you want to be efficient with your time, skim that section and do the examples. If you do this you can get through a chapter in 30 minutes to an hour and a half depending on your familiarity. Then do the passages and try for 6-8 minutes for phase 1. Review them thoroughly and if you feel you're good, no need for 2nd pass through. If you feel a little shaky, then go over in section examples. Rinse, lather and repeat. When you get going we can comment on scores in the official TBR PS section thread.
In closing, the mcat is unlike most tests. For most classes reading is important. Not for the MCAT. Remember, for calculus, physics, and chem, the secret to doing well is massive amounts of problems. Finally, if you moved it back to the 30th, you would have a whole month for practicing after finishing TBR in June and could save the 3rd run from your off days. So, if you guys could I would advise that. If you do this there's no reason not to get 12+ on PS which is important because verbal is variable and bs can be depending on crazy genetics passages or O-chem.
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5hrs is excellent. Here's what I would do. Go through TBR examples. DON'T read the text. If you've read EK then it's redundant. The value of TBR is not the text despite it being quite good. Its value lies in the examples and excellent explanations. So what I would do is skim a TBR chapter, if you like their wording read it. If you prefer EK, read that. However, definitely work through the example problems in the corresponding TBR chapter and do the passages and you'll be golden.
I noticed you said you've been away from 3 years. Well, delay until July 30. RRTCO got a 14 PS using only TBR and he hadn't had chem or physics in 5 years. So, I would suggest you using TBR primarily. Again it's up to you but EK is geared for those who understood the stuff BEFORE and need review. If you're like me and studied to get an A and forgot then EK won't cut it. So, in closing, pick and choose but definitely do all the problems. BTW, for chem the text can compare to TBR but not physics. I'm sorry, I read EK physics and liked it because I'm very strong in physics. However, if you have no knack or forgot it's the worst out there. TBR is much better because it has tons of tricks and diagrams so perhaps that's your problem.
I took AAMC 8 and got a 14 PS. I don't say this to brag but to show you that once you go though TBR and see how they can ask the same question in different ways the chem questions are a joke. Physics was never a problem and I used to shiver at the site of chem questions but no more. I love their mantra, if you study it, it will come
HTH, lets keep in touch and slay this beast
I watch King Arthur tonight and have a man crush on Sir Lancealot. No fear guys, No fear. We're all badasses.
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Thanks for the replies Will Hunting (one of my favorite movies btw). When are you taking the MCAT? I'll definitely concentrate on the passages rather than the text once the BR PS books arrive, and maybe do a little posting on the BR score thread.
No doubt EK books are great. I have been working with them for a couple of weeks now and the review has been comprehensive to say the least. I am a Bio major and EK Biology and EK Ochm seem quite manageable at the moment. However, from EK Physics and EK Chm, while I feel I have gotten the knowledge, I lack a deeper intuitive understanding to apply my knowledge when it comes to passages. That's why I am taking my chance with BR.
I like your schedule you've posted. Do you think it would be possible to supplement it with EK Bio 1001 and EK VR 101? I'm not really sure how long it takes to a "phase." For example, in the second week of the schedule, if I do Chm 4, phase 2 of Chm 1, will I still have enough time in the day to do passages from EK Bio 1001 and EK VR 101? Maybe to BR in the morning and EK in the afternoon?
That way, for the month of June I just practice from EK and BR and then in July I can concentrate on the AAMC tests. Whatcha think?
p.s. Forgive my illiteracy, but what is "HTH"?
No doubt EK books are great. I have been working with them for a couple of weeks now and the review has been comprehensive to say the least. I am a Bio major and EK Biology and EK Ochm seem quite manageable at the moment. However, from EK Physics and EK Chm, while I feel I have gotten the knowledge, I lack a deeper intuitive understanding to apply my knowledge when it comes to passages. That's why I am taking my chance with BR.
I like your schedule you've posted. Do you think it would be possible to supplement it with EK Bio 1001 and EK VR 101? I'm not really sure how long it takes to a "phase." For example, in the second week of the schedule, if I do Chm 4, phase 2 of Chm 1, will I still have enough time in the day to do passages from EK Bio 1001 and EK VR 101? Maybe to BR in the morning and EK in the afternoon?
That way, for the month of June I just practice from EK and BR and then in July I can concentrate on the AAMC tests. Whatcha think?
p.s. Forgive my illiteracy, but what is "HTH"?
I think I may have posted my MCAT experience in another thread, so I'll just give a brief summary my MCAT. First off, as someone pointed out in this thread, the actual MCAT has both easy passages and hard passages. The thing is, the MCAT has passages that are worded in a strange way and they mix many different topics into one passage. That is what I loved about BR materials, especially Phase III passages. I think those were the very best preparation you can get for the actual MCAT. None of the other materials I looked at did this, so that's I think where BR excels.
My personal history is that I did okay in physics and general chemistry in school (about half Bs and half As), but I didn't really learn it very well and was most nervous about this section. I actually took the BR course, so the books sort of came alive for me (the author was my teacher). The test tricks were so helpful because I was worried I wouldn't finish on time. On my real exam I had about ten minutes to spare, even after glossing over the exam once I was done with the questions.
Even though some of the practice passages may seem easy and other made me go "huh?", I am really glad I did them all, because they reflected the range of passage difficulty and weirdness of my actual MCAT. For physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry, BR is perfectly in line with the MCAT. For biology and verbal, I was glad I supplemented it with EK and PR.
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HTH= hope this helps. I would do 3 passages of EK a day as well which is good. Here's the thing, if you delay to July 30th or 31st then you can push back phase 2 a few days. Phase 1 should take you the longest. If you don't read and just study the examples it should take 1 hour for most chapters. Then doing the phase 1 passages should take you 6-8 minutes a passage and there are usually at most 5 or 6. So, at most 50 minutes for that. However, reviewing them should take an hour or 2 so probably 4 hrs. I suggest not rereading. Why? When you do phase 2 and review the passages. You'll get a good review of most of the chapter and you can skim anything you forgot.
Basically, By the end of June you should be done with phase 1 which will give you a good base. When it comes time for phase 2 on my schedule do that and you can delay it by doing EK problems that day. If you delay you should be done with phase 2 by early July. Then in July take a test every other day or every 2 days. On off days you can continue finishing phase 2 and phase 3 passages.
