Current State on MCAT Prep

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Hi Guys,

I recently finished taking two FLs AAMC 3 and AAMC 4 respectively.

I scored 11PS/10VR/9BS(AAMC 3) and 11PS/9VR/10BS(AAMC 4).

I am scheduled to take the test on August 15th. My goal is for a 36+. The two tests have indicated certain weaknesses in my content review and I am working to rectify these areas by doing more passages from TBR and TPRH SW.

With roughly 3 weeks to go before my exam I'd like some insight into how to bump my score. What would you recommend I do to improve?

Additionally I had a few questions below pertaining to my preparation.

AAMC SA
I am contemplating taking the AAMC SA to identify my weak points. Would it be more conducive to use the AAMC FL's to identify content weaknesses instead? How long do the SAs usually take? Do the benefits attained from the SAs outweigh the costs of forgoing one of the following AAMC tests (5,6,7,8,9)?

Bio section
On the last two tests the orgo section has hurt my score. I got 5 orgo questions incorrect on AAMC 3 and 4 orgo questions incorrect on AAMC 4. How much effort would you guys recommend I put towards the Orgo portion? I have heard that the bio section is cutting back on organic chemistry questions, is this valid?

Current position
And inevitably I do have to ask, in my current position do you see my goal of 36+ as reasonable?


Please feel free to PM me.

 

[The Kraken]

When people say "36+" I dont think they realize what that entails. A 35+ is mastery of every subject, with verbal never catching you off guard. Aamc 3 and 4 are arguably the easiest and worst indicators of actual performance. Yes, study ochem. To get that many wrong is confusing to me, so identify why you got that many wrong and fix it.

Self assessments quickly show what you're bad at, which is exactly what you need for a score you're shooting for. Yes they're long and tedious, but knockout the 100 questions in each and review what you're bad at.

 

[mcrobbit]

Hi Guys,

I recently finished taking two FLs AAMC 3 and AAMC 4 respectively.

I scored 11PS/10VR/9BS(AAMC 3) and 11PS/9VR/10BS(AAMC 4).

I am scheduled to take the test on August 15th. My goal is for a 36+. The two tests have indicated certain weaknesses in my content review and I am working to rectify these areas by doing more passages from TBR and TPRH SW.

With roughly 3 weeks to go before my exam I'd like some insight into how to bump my score. What would you recommend I do to improve?

Additionally I had a few questions below pertaining to my preparation.

AAMC SA
I am contemplating taking the AAMC SA to identify my weak points. Would it be more conducive to use the AAMC FL's to identify content weaknesses instead? How long do the SAs usually take? Do the benefits attained from the SAs outweigh the costs of forgoing one of the following AAMC tests (5,6,7,8,9)?

Bio section
On the last two tests the orgo section has hurt my score. I got 5 orgo questions incorrect on AAMC 3 and 4 orgo questions incorrect on AAMC 4. How much effort would you guys recommend I put towards the Orgo portion? I have heard that the bio section is cutting back on organic chemistry questions, is this valid?

Current position
And inevitably I do have to ask, in my current position do you see my goal of 36+ as reasonable?


Please feel free to PM me.

AAMC 3 and 4 are 20+ year old exams from an era where the test was still on paper and the MCAT relied much more on memorization instead of critical thinking.

While they're certainly useful for content review, don't use them as indicators of your scoring potential. AAMC exams 8-11 are much more indicative of the real thing, with 11 being the closest. I would try and take those 4 exams to get a sense of where you are score wise (though an average of 3-11 is usually the best indicator, not sure you could do all of them and review in 3 weeks).

Verbal sections haven't changed, with the exception of much longer passages on the real thing. The question difficulty is about the same imo.

the AAMC SA's were amazing! To me they were actually better practice than the exams (especially verbal). Try to shoot for an 80% or greater on all 3 assesments, that should be around a 10/11+ per section.

The amount of Orgo varies, some people get orgo heavy and other people don't. It's less of a focus today, that's true, but MCAT orgo is generally just: E1, E2, SN1, SN2, aromatics, molecules of life, lab techniques & bonding theory. Not a long list of topics at all so use your 3 weeks to get it done.

I would not comment on the possibility of a 36+ when you only have AAMC 3 and AAMC 4 tests since those are the ones most unlike the current MCAT. But don't feel it's not possible! Confidence is the first step to success.

Also, sometimes the AAMC tests mean nothing! My AAMC average from 3-11 was a 34, but I ended up getting a 38 (14 PS, 13 VR, 11 BS). A lot of people step up under pressure. Conversely, I had a friend who scored a 27 when his AAMC 3-11 average was a 36. Getting comfortable with the test is the most important thing, above all else.

 

[Jepstein30]

Agree with the above two posts. Great advice!

 

[letsgoblue2015]

When people say "36+" I dont think they realize what that entails. A 35+ is mastery of every subject, with verbal never catching you off guard. Aamc 3 and 4 are arguably the easiest and worst indicators of actual performance. Yes, study ochem. To get that many wrong is confusing to me, so identify why you got that many wrong and fix it.

Self assessments quickly show what you're bad at, which is exactly what you need for a score you're shooting for. Yes they're long and tedious, but knockout the 100 questions in each and review what you're bad at.

Is ochem supposed to be easy? because i find it hard as hell

 

[The Kraken]

Is ochem supposed to be easy? because i find it hard as hell

MCAT organic pales in comparison to many undergrad organic chem courses. Organic for this test is very focused on a few, very logical and straightforward topics

 

[letsgoblue2015]

MCAT organic pales in comparison to many undergrad organic chem courses. Organic for this test is very focused on a few, very logical and straightforward topics

Yea my class was a different kind of Orgo test, but that was because it was all drawing and no MC. This is a different kind of test where naming/thinking fast becomes more important than mechanism. I find that harder, in my opinion.