Exact MCAT Format

[SKaminski]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

So, i have yet to take the MCAT, but i know that it has gone largely electronic. Because i have yet to take the MCAT in a controlled, tested environment, i have a few questions as to what the environment will be like.

Are ALL RESOURCES (passages and questions) on the screen, or is it only the questions that are on the screen? Currently when I do VR, i do mapping (as suggested by kaplan). It doesn't make much sense for Kaplan to recommend mapping if the passages are on the screen. What does this passage look like?

 

[Totle]

It's all on the computer. All you have is a couple of blank pieces of scratch paper, a computer, and pencil.

My suggestion would be start practicing doing the mapping in your head. Start making land marks as you read because you can't map on the computer screen.

Well, I suppose you could, but then you'd have pencil marks on your screen and you might get kicked out.

Also, I HIGHLY suggest taking a practice exam so you get used to it.

 

[BABSstudent]

You can still map, but you have to use scratch paper.

Practice like you play. If you have practice tests that are paper, leave the test blank. Use the scratch paper for everything.

 

[SKaminski]

You can still map, but you have to use scratch paper.

Practice like you play. If you have practice tests that are paper, leave the test blank. Use the scratch paper for everything.

Exactly why i was asking. I'll stop marking up my papers now, and do EVERYTHING on test (side) paper. Thank both of you!

 

[BABSstudent]

Exactly why i was asking. I'll stop marking up my papers now, and do EVERYTHING on test (side) paper. Thank both of you!

No problem.

I do have two suggestions. On the actual test, there is a highlight function. So you can get used to that by using a yellow highlighter when taking the practice tests. Highlight anything you find important in the passage (not the answers or questions). Just don't write notes there.

The actual test also has a strikeout option for answers, so also feel free to cross out wrong answers.

 

[angemon89]

Are questions thrown at you one at a time or all together?

 

[slz1900]

Do you have a periodic table?

 

[hunterjumper14]

Do you have a periodic table?

Yes, you do have access to a periodic table in the science sections.

 

[BABSstudent]

Do you have a periodic table?

Yes. There is a button called exhibit or something like that. You click it and a periodic table opens up.

Are questions thrown at you one at a time or all together?

Kind of both. You have like seven questions at a time.

Go to E-MCAT.com and just look at the free test. Don't actually do it yet. Practice tests are hard to get and you don't want to take one before you are ready to use it. Taking a practice test twice will give you a higher percent correct than you would normally get and will not be an accurate representation of your score.

 

[Josh7]

Is mapping commonly thought of as the best strategy for verbal?

 

[NickNaylor]

Is mapping commonly thought of as the best strategy for verbal?

Use it if it helps. Don't if it doesn't. Personally I never bought into the various strategies people offer that will supposedly be a cure-all for VR performance. Read the passage and answer the questions. If there are certain things that help you do that (be it mapping, reading the questions first, etc.), then go for it.

For what it's worth, I didn't use any of these "strategies" and did well.

 

[Josh7]

Use it if it helps. Don't if it doesn't. Personally I never bought into the various strategies people offer that will supposedly be a cure-all for VR performance. Read the passage and answer the questions. If there are certain things that help you do that (be it mapping, reading the questions first, etc.), then go for it.

For what it's worth, I didn't use any of these "strategies" and did well.

Alright, I'm going to start studying in May. I hear VR requires a lot of practice and I think it will be my weakest section initially.

 

[gettheleadout]

Nick you did a little better than "well" on verbal haha


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile

 

[NickNaylor]

Alright, I'm going to start studying in May. I hear VR requires a lot of practice and I think it will be my weakest section initially.

If you have a long time before your test, I would recommend doing something that requires you to read and analyze articles/literature - that's exactly what you'll be doing in VR. It could be something as simple as a journal club or as involved as taking a class on literary critique. That's not something to do if you're taking the test within the next 3-6 months, but if you have a year or more to go, it might be worth considering.

And GTLO: 😳

 

[gettheleadout]

😉


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile

 

[angemon89]

Kind of both. You have like seven questions at a time.

Go to E-MCAT.com and just look at the free test. Don't actually do it yet. Practice tests are hard to get and you don't want to take one before you are ready to use it. Taking a practice test twice will give you a higher percent correct than you would normally get and will not be an accurate representation of your score.

So is the format: Passage ->(next page) 5 questions -> 1 question (that didn't fit on the previous page)?

I would prefer something where the passage was always showing on a left column, and where you can scroll through every question for a given passage on a right column. The only time you would have to hit "next" is to go onto the next passage.

 

[BABSstudent]

So is the format: Passage ->(next page) 5 questions -> 1 question (that didn't fit on the previous page)?

I would prefer something where the passage was always showing on a left column, and where you can scroll through every question for a given passage on a right column. The only time you would have to hit "next" is to go onto the next passage.

What you described later is what the test is like. Two columns, each with separate scroll functions. If there are questions without a passage, it will fill up the screen with questions.

Seriously, go to e-mcat.com and sign up to see a test. Just don't actually read the test or do it until you are ready. You can view the test as if you were doing it, but just click through it.

 

[angemon89]

Awesome thanks!