EK and PR versus AAMC VERBAL tests

[Research3r]

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My exam is on the 19th and I am still not sure about my verbal section skill. I have been using EK101 and TPR Hyperlearning verbal workbooks along with the PR online verbal. Last year my mcat VR was 6 and after studying for the past 3 months I am currently averaging 10's on the VR section practise tests including PR, BR CBT, and EK101. However, I have just started redoing some aamc tests (as I did all except #11 already last year) and found them to be very much different from EK101 and PR. I just received a AAMC test #8 VR section score of 7.

The problem appears to be that a lot of the cues and clues that are in the EK and PR verbal books are not in the aamc practice tests. For example, usually I have now learned to cross out extreme answers and absolutes, yet these are less frequent in the aamc tests. Also, there are multiple vague answers and sometimes all of the answer choices seem to be vague and "mcat-like correct answers". This seems to oppose the teachings of EK101 to some degree and I am now second guessing everyone's praise about how EK101 is the 'best' preparation for the actual MCAT.... 3 weeks left and it is my second year of mcat studying. Yes I have read mike's verbal guide and the other suggested readings on SDN. Why is there no study material that is close to the actual aamc mcat and how can I get to my desired VR score of 10.

 

[paul411]

EK 101 is good practice for the VR... but in any case, if you want real AAMC-like practice for the VR, find the old paper-based MCAT tests (3R, 4R, 5R, etc.). Those contain 9 passages per test.

 

[blazinfury]

I agree with Research3r. I feel exactly the same way. I guess that for Verbal, unlike the sciences, you have a different person writing questions and it maybe that you have become too acclimated to either the EK and/or PR styles. I do feel that the real MCAT passages are much more difficult (with harder quest) and in some cases, more dense passages. I really did not see as much philosophy in EK.

But I kind of am not sure then how EK is a good resource if you acclimate to their style and that is not how one should approach the MCAT VR, due to a difference in style.

 

[notbobtrustme]

I love EK 101 verbal. I've been doing them for the past couple months and on the 4 official AAMC practice tests I've taken, I haven't scored less than an 11 on them. On the EK 101s, I was scoring between 9 and 11 on most passages.

 

[blazinfury]

@notbobtrustme

Have you been applying EK's strategy to get those scores or have you modified it to suit your needs better?

 

[notbobtrustme]

@notbobtrustme

Have you been applying EK's strategy to get those scores or have you modified it to suit your needs better?

I've pretty much followed what EK outlines in their verbal reasoning book. The one thing I do differently is read a bit slower than my normal in-head reading speed. The information seems to sink in better.