Dense MCAT CARS Passages

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Hello all,

So I will be applying to medical schools next cycle and be re-taking the MCAT in September. I took it in June, but made the decision to voice because I ran out of time on CARS and was pretty much guessing on all the questions. During that MCAT, I received very dense passages which were very difficult not only to comprehend, but to retain information I did understand after completing the passage?

Any strategies for tackling dense CARS passages? Such as one with a lot of dates, names, and information in general. Those that feel like you are reading a history or political textbook. CARS is my enemy right now and I need to destroy it.

On the practice exams I was averaging around a 507. It could of been higher if I did better on CARS. I have taken about two weeks off studying after I voided the June exam. It was very difficult to get motivated again. But, now, I have 2 solid studying months with only work once a week and really need to destroy this test.

Thanks!!!

 

[wanderingorion]

Practice practice practice.
You will get better at trudging through the denser passages, and familiar with the types of questions asked. Unfortunately, there's no cure-all for CARS ailments.

 

[wutwutwut]

what also helped me on CARS was after I finished a paragraph I would try to sum up the paragraph in my own words (just in my head because writing it down took too long) and then at the end of the passage I would try to summarize the main point of the entire passage. TPR gives you many CARS strategies, but this was the only one I ended up using on test day.

When studying I started by doing this for every passage then by the time I took the MCAT I would only do it for the more difficult passages and it helped me a lot!

ultimately though the number one thing to improve CARS is practice but I think if you use a strategy like this and practice you should be in good shape!

 

[GrayArea]

what also helped me on CARS was after I finished a paragraph I would try to sum up the paragraph in my own words (just in my head because writing it down took too long) and then at the end of the passage I would try to summarize the main point of the entire passage. TPR gives you many CARS strategies, but this was the only one I ended up using on test day.

When studying I started by doing this for every passage then by the time I took the MCAT I would only do it for the more difficult passages and it helped me a lot!

ultimately though the number one thing to improve CARS is practice but I think if you use a strategy like this and practice you should be in good shape!

Thank you. That is a good strategy. I have tried it, but end up taking too much time attempting to summarize it. For the simpler passages, its no problem. But it is the dense passages that I keep getting less than 50% accuracy.

What about highlighting text? Is there certain content that one should limit to highlighting? Obviously if you highlight too much, it is not helpful at all.

 

[wutwutwut]

I am one of those people who accidentally ends up highlighting the entire book so I definitely struggled with not highlighting too much

on the actual MCAT you can highlight individual words by double clicking on them, which helped a little because since it was easier to highlight individual words that is what I ended up doing.

oh and I forgot to mention earlier I also read the questions first before reading the passage (very quickly) so I would highlight the key word(s) in the question and then when I saw those in the passage that is what I would highlight. I would also highlight words like "On the other hand" that indicate either the author making a point or a counter argument.

again though practice what works best for you! but this is just what ended up working for me!