i have mcat test in September but i feel two month is not enough time for me to get +30 but i like to try my chance and take the test in September , but if I didn't get my satisfaction score and try for the second time, does it make a bad record for me? or it is not really important to take mcat for two times? or should i kill the mcat for the first time?
doest it really matter to kill the mcat for the first time?
- Thread starter hasam
- Start date
- Joined
- May 17, 2010
- Messages
- 3,431
- Reaction score
- 145
As kehlsh pointed out, a major downside of retaking is that there is always the chance you will do worse (maybe not even on the whole thing, but on certain sections), and that can only hurt you.
- Joined
- May 22, 2008
- Messages
- 17,394
- Reaction score
- 9,146
Retakes should be a last resort option, not something you plan or rely on.
If you go into the MCAT with complete confidence that you have every chance of making it to your target range, go for it. If you don't, pay the 60 dollars, reschedule and wait a few months. If you're taking it in september I'm guessing you aren't applying for med school until at least next year, you have time. Pick a 3-4 month period that you'll have the least outside distractions and use it for MCAT. Check out SN2ed's schedule(s) in the stickies, or make your own schedule.
Its not wrong to retake your MCAT, but I honestly think that it should only happen if you had a bad test day, i.e you got 11's on PS and BS but you got an 7 on verbal even though you were averaging 10 in practices. If your target range was just 30+ for the med school you had your eye on, I think scheduling a retake one month later and spending that month practicing passages and FLs would be well spent, and you could probably shoot past your target range.
Its not wrong to retake your MCAT, but I honestly think that it should only happen if you had a bad test day, i.e you got 11's on PS and BS but you got an 7 on verbal even though you were averaging 10 in practices. If your target range was just 30+ for the med school you had your eye on, I think scheduling a retake one month later and spending that month practicing passages and FLs would be well spent, and you could probably shoot past your target range.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2010
- Messages
- 11,799
- Reaction score
- 2,808
I mean hey, it's only $250.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2011
- Messages
- 56
- Reaction score
- 1
The reality is that content wise the MCAT tests the bare minimums. Like you'll use maybe 50% of what you learned in content review (not saying you shouldnt do it). Take a practice test (like AAMC 3 not a testing companys) and you'll see that most of the test is a reasoning/logic test (particularly BS). The point of content review is that your'e comfortable with the material to apply it.
I think anyone who does a good content review and has decent test taking skills can get a 30. September is plenty of time and the faster you get to the practice tests the better
On another note, The advantage someone gets during the test by having taking upper level sciences is tremendous. I've hardly studied for BS but because I took upperlevel biochem physio and molecular can reason through the BS section fine. I get crushed in physical sci though. I gave my engineering friend the PS test for fun and he got a 13 with no studying. goes to show it really is more a critical reasoning test
I think anyone who does a good content review and has decent test taking skills can get a 30. September is plenty of time and the faster you get to the practice tests the better
On another note, The advantage someone gets during the test by having taking upper level sciences is tremendous. I've hardly studied for BS but because I took upperlevel biochem physio and molecular can reason through the BS section fine. I get crushed in physical sci though. I gave my engineering friend the PS test for fun and he got a 13 with no studying. goes to show it really is more a critical reasoning test
