Discouraged from Practice Tests 8 Weeks Out

[Alpha Centauri]

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Hey guys. I have been taking some practice tests for the sciences. I have been scoring around the 17 and 18 range but I just vary so often. It is really discouraging to me but on the bright side I still have more than a month and a half left of studying to do. I have not started practicing for math reading or PAT yet though. Should I let these lowish scores mess with my confidence or should I keep on studying and not let it phase me? I feel like there are a lot of stupid mistakes I am making because of minor details and not huge lapses in material I have never heard of. I know I have so much time but it is really upsetting seeing super low grades. I am aiming for a 20 TS and a 20 AA.

Was anyone else feeling a similar way when studying? It takes me hours upon hours just to barely get through 3 or 4 pages of Feralis and I still feel like I haven't learned much

 

[DSNCSUN]

On the same boat as you, I don't like Feralis notes format too many facts after each other. Cliffs is an easier read same info. Feralis just added extra facts from destroyer

 

[Graffix]

Hey guys. I have been taking some practice tests for the sciences. I have been scoring around the 17 and 18 range but I just vary so often. It is really discouraging to me but on the bright side I still have more than a month and a half left of studying to do. I have not started practicing for math reading or PAT yet though. Should I let these lowish scores mess with my confidence or should I keep on studying and not let it phase me? I feel like there are a lot of stupid mistakes I am making because of minor details and not huge lapses in material I have never heard of. I know I have so much time but it is really upsetting seeing super low grades. I am aiming for a 20 TS and a 20 AA.

Was anyone else feeling a similar way when studying? It takes me hours upon hours just to barely get through 3 or 4 pages of Feralis and I still feel like I haven't learned much

I think its safe to say most people have some "low" point somwhere in the time they study. You still have a some amount of time left so its good that you noticed this so soon. So don't let these scores discourage you, let them motivate you!

Before diving into full fledged practice tests I spent a lot of time reviewing/relearning all the material. What helped keep it fresh in my mind is that i would review everything days after also with things like CrashCourse and CraigSavage on youtube (which i liked to watch on 2x speed) and making flashcards/anki. I would also try not to waste any of the practice tests and only take them when I felt focused and prepared. When I started doing more hardcore practice, i would make sure i knew why every answer was right/wrong and write them down. Additionally, I would watch biology youtube vids like netflix.

I hope some of these tips help you! Let me know if you need clarification.

 

[FutureDent20]

It's completely normal. Just make sure you are learning from your mistakes. I'm to a point that making mistakes makes me happy because I know I won't be making the same mistake during the actual exam.
Read cliffs then start destroyer (key for this section)

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I think its safe to say most people have some "low" point somwhere in the time they study. You still have a some amount of time left so its good that you noticed this so soon. So don't let these scores discourage you, let them motivate you!

Before diving into full fledged practice tests I spent a lot of time reviewing/relearning all the material. What helped keep it fresh in my mind is that i would review everything days after also with things like CrashCourse and CraigSavage on youtube (which i liked to watch on 2x speed) and making flashcards/anki. I would also try not to waste any of the practice tests and only take them when I felt focused and prepared. When I started doing more hardcore practice, i would make sure i knew why every answer was right/wrong and write them down. Additionally, I would watch biology youtube vids like netflix.

I hope some of these tips help you! Let me know if you need clarification.

Thank you! Its just like for some stuff such as (well actually, especially) taxonomy/biological diversity, there are SO many little details and asides in Feralis that don't seem too important and detract from the overall message. I just find it so hard to progress because I focus on all these little things then end up missing the big picture on the practice tests (say for example which of the following exhibits radial symmetry) because I am too busy focusing on what fungus have segmented hyphae.

 

[Graffix]

Thank you! Its just like for some stuff such as (well actually, especially) taxonomy/biological diversity, there are SO many little details and asides in Feralis that don't seem too important and detract from the overall message. I just find it so hard to progress because I focus on all these little things then end up missing the big picture on the practice tests (say for example which of the following exhibits radial symmetry) because I am too busy focusing on what fungus have segmented hyphae.

Then CraigSavage will help you a TON. Heres the link to his playlists "https://www.youtube.com/user/XsavageXsecretX/playlists" scroll down until animal diversity and plant diversity.

tbh i dont know why they test these things on the DAT. gee wiz "I can tell the salad stuck in my patients mouth is a dicot" hahaha

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Then CraigSavage will help you a TON. Heres the link to his playlists "https://www.youtube.com/user/XsavageXsecretX/playlists" scroll down until animal diversity and plant diversity.

tbh i dont know why they test these things on the DAT. gee wiz "I can tell the salad stuck in my patients mouth is a dicot" hahaha

Ok thanks. Being that I am more than a month and a half out, do you think reaching my goal of 20/20 AA/TS is attainable? I am so freaking nervous I hate this feeling and even though I know the only thing I CAN do is to study more, It's difficult from the nerves. I tend to stress out a lot, especially because I haven't even looked at math or reading yet. PAT as long as I get an 18 or 19 I don't mind, especially since it doesn't affect the AA

 

[Graffix]

Definitely. That should be enough time if you work hard and efficient. Math and Reading are alright.. everyone kind of has a different approach to those sections. For me, I just quickly reviewed math and trig. The QR prep in DAT Bootcamp i found was pretty good for prep. For reading I just got into the habit of reading science articles and the economist. If you think of PAT as a game its not too bad, just practice a little bit ever day!

 

[Ari Rezaei]

8 weeks is a ton of time to improve. Don't take your practice scores too seriously right now, everyone scores lower at the start of their review. The key to success is to spend more time reviewing the test and studying, fixing your mistakes, and filling the gaps in your knowledge. This is how you improve your score, and it’s common to take a while to complete. Just know that with every gap of knowledge you fill and learn the first time around, it's something you won't have to study in detail again, so your studying will begin to get faster as you learn more.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

8 weeks is a ton of time to improve. Don't take your practice scores too seriously right now, everyone scores lower at the start of their review. The key to success is to spend more time reviewing the test and studying, fixing your mistakes, and filling the gaps in your knowledge. This is how you improve your score, and it’s common to take a while to complete. Just know that with every gap of knowledge you fill and learn the first time around, it's something you won't have to study in detail again, so your studying will begin to get faster as you learn more.

Thanks Ari. I have DAT bootcamp and although I do want to start taking practice tests, I don't want to "waste" them because of my 17-18 range of scoring. On the bright side I went through Craig's videos and I think I am SOOOO much more learned in taxonomy than I was this morning. It should be sufficient for now so I'll work on other stuff today besides Bio