Can't seem to break out of the 24-25 range, tips?

[mhm31]

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I have just about 8 weeks left to test time and I already postponed, so I want to figure out what I need to do to get better in these 8 weeks.

Every practice test I'm taking, I can't seem to break a 24 or 25. Here are my stats so far:

12/8/12 AAMC #3 24 (7, 10, 7)
2/16/2013 Kaplan free test 26 (8, 10, 8)
2/21/2013 AAMC #5 25 (8, 11, 6)
3/16/2013 TPR Cracking the MCAT #1 24 (7, 9, 8)

Obviously my verbal isn't the weakness. I work full time so my amount of studying is basically ~4 hours on weeknights and ~8 hours weekend days. I've tried to focus a little more on content review these days because I realized that's a lot of my issue with PS and BS (mainly orgo), but I'm not really seeing much improvement over the last month (my 2/21 test to my 3/16 test). Any advice?

 

[AktionPOTENTIAL]

There seem to be a content gap lurking over your preparation. Have you completed your content review and what are you using as a source. How many practice passages have you done?

 

[Chalupa Batman]

you need to review some more. you have to get to a point where you know every single topic thats tested (you can find the list of topics on the AAMC website) and also know how/when to use equations.

In order to do this most efficiently you got to read/take notes then do practice problems as well as watch videos explaining the subjects you are studying. (the more you expose yourself to the material either through reviewing notes or watching videos or discussing with others the more information youll understand and retain)

This will bring you up to about an 11, if you want to get higher you just got to practice different types of problems and passages. you have to get extremely familiar with the different types of passages and questions they ask to help you get faster and gain more points.

also I would try not to use up your AAMC tests until you have your content down. For practice, kaplan and princeton provide you with tons of practice questions/passages, use those for now.

 

[mhm31]

Thanks for the tips. I'm primarily using TPR and EK audio osmosis for content review. I'm in the process of going through and taking notes with all the audio files. I need to figure out a better way of retaining all the information because I've been through all the content at least once before. I'd always heard it's better to focus on practicing questions and passages, but maybe I should start doing flashcards and stuff like that?

I am using TPR practice questions and passages and tests through a friend's login. Is it possible to buy Kaplan tests separate from a course? I've felt the same way about saving my AAMC tests for later on, but only really have TPR tests to cycle in right now.

 

[AktionPOTENTIAL]

What you should probably do is get the TPRH and do as many passages as possible since you have been through content already. These will highlight weak areas which you should make an attempt to strenghten by reviewing the relevant material.

 

[Chalupa Batman]

well if you have your friends TPR log in then dont worry about spending more money on kaplan. TPR has a ton of online content.
also for content review are you just listening to audio osmosis? you should read a textbook and do problems. if you dont have any prep books then just go to your school library check out some older edition textbooks for physics chem and ochem, they will have much more detail but they will have great problems and you will get a better understanding of difficult concepts from them.

also use this site as a guide http://mcat-review.org its offers a really nice outline to follow when your doing your studying