Examkrackers physics 30-min in class examinations

[MShopes]

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Hi everyone, this is actually my first post in this forum. I have been reading a lot of posts in this forum and never needed to post a topic before. Any ways to be short, I have been a good student in physics (not top) and I got two A's in my physics I and II courses in college. I started using EK material because everyone recommended it. After starting the first lecture of physics, I went and did the 1st 30 min examination for that lecture. I found the questions distruputed in the lecture and in that exam to be relatively difficult to what I have seen in the AAMC tests or kaplan.

I did the first 30 min examination and checked the table to see what my scaled score would be. I found it to be a 10 because I got 16 answers right out of 23. It was under extremely serious and timed condition just like what I would be in the real exam. I was hoping I can shoot for 12+ in the PS section since my verbal skills aren't the best. The good thing for me is PS isn't all physics, it has at least 50 % general chemistry which I'm really good at. So what do you guys consider a 10 in this exam compared to the real exam? Would it be lower in the real exam or higher? I heard everywhere that EK has pretty hard questions but I'm not sure of this fact. Thanks everyone!🙂

 

[FIREitUP]

I got a 13 on physical sciences and I did terrible on those tests. They suck. I taught EK classes and I was fully able to realize how bad the tests were. They're terrible, don't even think twice about your performance on those tests.

 

[MShopes]

Thanks for your input. These exams actually makes me know the subject matter more by filling any gaps that I may have between the concepts. If a person can't be depressed by these tests and can actually use them positively, I believe these exams would make you even stronger in this area of the MCAT. The thing is I understand the passage and its concepts really well but when I encounter some questions, I be like Woahhh what is the question even saying?

You made me feel better knowing that I'm not alone. And congrats on your high score, really impressive. 🙂

 

[FIREitUP]

Thanks for your input. These exams actually makes me know the subject matter more by filling any gaps that I may have between the concepts. If a person can't be depressed by these tests and can actually use them positively, I believe these exams would make you even stronger in this area of the MCAT. The thing is I understand the passage and its concepts really well but when I encounter some questions, I be like Woahhh what is the question even saying?

You made me feel better knowing that I'm not alone. And congrats on your high score, really impressive. 🙂

I agree and disagree with what you said. Some questions really rack your brain and give a greater understanding of the material. However, at least half the questions are "trick" questions, or questions that are either poorly worded or poorly thought out. As you take more of those tests, you'll learn that the frustration is not worth what you get out of it.

 

[raltima07]

Btw, wrong forum

 

[MShopes]

I agree and disagree with what you said. Some questions really rack your brain and give a greater understanding of the material. However, at least half the questions are "trick" questions, or questions that are either poorly worded or poorly thought out. As you take more of those tests, you'll learn that the frustration is not worth what you get out of it.

I actually bought these books for their condensed, to the point, review material not for their 30 min exams. I just take these exams to reinforce my concepts and thought it would be good indicator for my MCAT performance. However, once I'm done with studying, I will do all AAMC exams because they are the best indicators for the MCAT itself. You are right, some questions are very poorly written but the worse is the answer explanations. They are very short and very poorly written. Around half of the questions that I get wrong, I can't understand their right answers and explanations. What do you think about EK with regards to content review though?

 

[MShopes]

Btw, wrong forum

Thanks for your helpful answer. It is my first time to post here, where should that be posted if not in the Pre-medical forum?

 

[raltima07]

Thanks for your helpful answer. It is my first time to post here, where should that be posted if not in the Pre-medical forum?

Well it is helpful. There is a MCAT forum where they talk about all this stuff - that could help you a lot

 

[fiznat]

You just started dude-- give it time. There is absolutely no way you can predict your performance based on a 1st chapter review of a single subject during the first week of preparation. In general though, I found the EK materials to be very helpful in boosting my overall score. It just takes some time (months, not days).

The proper forum is the MCAT forum, by the way...

 

[MShopes]

Well it is helpful. There is a MCAT forum where they talk about all this stuff - that could help you a lot

I didn't mean to be sarcastic by the way, I meant it for real-thank you for letting me know!

 

[MShopes]

You just started dude-- give it time. There is absolutely no way you can predict your performance based on a 1st chapter review of a single subject during the first week of preparation. In general though, I found the EK materials to be very helpful in boosting my overall score. It just takes some time (months, not days).

The proper forum is the MCAT forum, by the way...

Thanks for your input. I asked this question not because EK material and difficulty will determine my future toward medical school. I just asked to see in general if their questions are either relatively difficult or poorly worded. Because if that is the exam, then I don't have to depress myself when I do poor in their material. And I would seek another source for better exams. What you think about the content review though?

 

[fiznat]

I thought the content review was good. ...Although I felt that EK's real strength was in teaching me how to take the MCAT.

Honestly the only thing people agree on when it comes to MCAT prep is that you need to take all of the AAMC practice exams (when you are ready!). They are the closest representation of what you will face on exam day and have the best record of accurately predicting scores. In the meantime, I think EK is a good series even though the content review can be challenging at times.

 

[MShopes]

I thought the content review was good. ...Although I felt that EK's real strength was in teaching me how to take the MCAT.

Honestly the only thing people agree on when it comes to MCAT prep is that you need to take all of the AAMC practice exams (when you are ready!). They are the closest representation of what you will face on exam day and have the best record of accurately predicting scores. In the meantime, I think EK is a good series even though the content review can be challenging at times.

From what I have seen, the content review is good if you have a good grasp of the material and just need a refreshing quick review. However, if you didn't review these material for a long time, then maybe kaplan or princeton review would do the trick. For me, all these sciences are still fresh as I just took them recently, so I needed a quick, good review which EK does a good job at.

 

[gettheleadout]

The MCAT Discussions Forum here on SDN is filled with discussion of prep materials. Reading and posting there on these issues would be most productive.

Moving thread to MCAT Discussions.

 

[Kalamazoo]

I got a 13 on physical sciences and I did terrible on those tests. They suck. I taught EK classes and I was fully able to realize how bad the tests were. They're terrible, don't even think twice about your performance on those tests.

This made me feel a lot better about the EK's 30 min exams. I have been doing ok, but not nearly as well as I hope to on the real thing. I was getting very discouraged and starting to think I wouldn't be able to do well. Thanks for posting this. 👍

 

[Myuu]

I always felt bad giving my students those damned 30m in-class exams. Good thing I never told them I skipped them all and got a 13 anyway...😏

 

[MShopes]

I always felt bad giving my students those damned 30m in-class exams. Good thing I never told them I skipped them all and got a 13 anyway...😏

LOL, so you are kind of saying they are useless to practise on because they are either too hard or not the type of questions on the MCAT? I have skimmed over a practise test without trying to answer any questions but the type of passages are kind of different from EK passages.

 

[ModusProbandi]

I was getting a 12-13 on the 30min physics and chemistry, at no less than a 13 on the AAMC PS. 3 more Days and I get my actual score.

 

[tman5890]

I was getting a 12-13 on the 30min physics and chemistry, at no less than a 13 on the AAMC PS. 3 more Days and I get my actual score.