First Timers-How did it go?

[pharmd123]

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This was my first time taking the PCAT. I didn't feel very confident going into the test because I waited a little late to start studying. I felt rushed alot throughout the exam when I probably could have just slowed down a bit. I even considered the "No Score" option at the end of the test. But I figured it wouldn't hurt because they always take the highest score. I'll def retake in Oct!

For anyone else who took it for their first time, or even those who have taken it more than once, what was your first time like?


Thanks

 

[dcz]

eh, it was my second time. I thought it was pretty much the same as usual with the exceptions of the reduced number of questions and increased calculus. I really didnt study at all. I looked over the heart, and that was the extent of my studying. I didnt rush, I took the time to remember questions and study what I didnt know for october. I did take more time to understand the passages in the reading comp, and slowing down in that area really helped me. Aside from all that, I thought it was pretty boring and I wanted to get up in the middle of the test and leave. Not because it was too hard, but because I didnt study and it felt like a waste of time. Well, I guess we will see if it was in 6 weeks.

 

[tiffany88]

I thought math and bio were both really hard. every section was way harder than the Cliffs and other practice tests that i took too. About how many questions did you guys have to guess on in each section?

 

[manutdmax]

oh my god...what diseases you guys saw on the exam, was it related to microbiology..it seems there were many org chem questions....i will take the exam in january and i feeel stress from nowww

 

[swift3260]

I didnt guess at all for the verbal, bio, or reading...but for chem I had to guess on the last 2 because I ran out of time. The math killed me though; I guessed on like 10. There was NO time. Must have been the added calc that sucked it all up 🙂

 

[RxINform]

i was feeling good until the math, but i expected the math to be really hard, everything else i think im ok

 

[CaliRx]

It was my first time taking the test as well. The biology and the math section were both killers and they were suppose to be my strongest sections. Oh well, its all over!

 

[RNtoPharmD]

I don't think any section in the exam is too hard.. The only problem is TIMING! There are lots of chem calculation that I should have done if I had TIME. TIME TIME. I only finished like thirty something questions on EVERY section.

I RAN OUT OF TIME on EVERY SECTION.🙁 I even saw some questions very similar to Kaplan practice tests or previous tests on the exam.......
I was so depressed after exam. I really hate this. Many things I reviewed are on the test. I just could't finish it in time!

Do they allow a timing watch in the exam room (the one that does not beep and disturb other examinee)? I think about bringing it to the test in OCT.

 

[tiffany88]

do you guys know if everyone this time did poorly on the math, does that mean the curve will be higher?

 

[WhiteSnows]

I finish Chem part 10 minutes before the due time, and I am very confident to what i picked. I am familiar with all the questions in Chem, that is why I....

 

[parabolic]

Do they allow a timing watch in the exam room (the one that does not beep and disturb other examinee)? I think about bringing it to the test in OCT.

Watches are allowed if they do not make noise and do not have a calculator built in. My watch was the only reason I was able to keep track of how much time I had left during today's exam! Definitely bring one for October.

 

[WhiteSnows]

do you guys know if everyone this time did poorly on the math, does that mean the curve will be higher?

I am good at maths but this time I did ok. I cant say I did poorly because it depends on the others too. I think most of the people found maths was the hardest section, so dont worry .

 

[nerv12345]

first timer here

i finished every section (except math) with at LEAST a minute or two to spare. i literally guessed on half the math problems.

the math section seemed super hard and i'm really really bad at math....

 

[orangeaya]

i'm a first time taker and i'm usually a really fast problem solver but i felt really rushed in each section. didn't use my studying time wisely so i left out a lot of material in bio. it seems like they put more o chem questions in than i expected, math was a little overwhelming, verbal was..psh~i'm not a native english speaker..so i'd be lucky if i scored anything highter than a 60%...just really happy it's over now....agh..i'll have to deal with it again in january.

 

[manutdmax]

i'm a first time taker and i'm usually a really fast problem solver but i felt really rushed in each section. didn't use my studying time wisely so i left out a lot of material in bio. it seems like they put more o chem questions in than i expected, math was a little overwhelming, verbal was..psh~i'm not a native english speaker..so i'd be lucky if i scored anything highter than a 60%...just really happy it's over now....agh..i'll have to deal with it again in january.

cool am taking it for first time in jan too...i am using kaplan and will read through mcat stuff too

 

[GSP]

I took the test for the first time yesterday. I felt relatively prepared going in. I used Kaplan, REA flashcards, Barrons and O-Chem for Dummies (I havent taken org chem yet).
I Honestly felt like I had blown it after leaving the test. I guessed alot on Quant, the org chem was more detailed than I had prepared for and there were more specific micro bio than I expected. The study materials I used definitely didnt prepare me for the types of questions on the exam. I also took the practice PCATs online from harcourt and felt that they were much easier than the exam yesterday. I scored in the high 80s for bio and low 80s for chem on the practice but didnt feel confident in any of my answers yesterday. I guess I'll see in 6 weeks. I just registered for the forum today because I'm pretty frustrated and needed to vent.😡

 

[AMO69657]

As a first timer, I did not think it was as bad as I thought, but it was hard though. I did not prepared very much, so I think if I had prepared more, I would of done much better. Verbal-most words were ones college students have encounted before, a few were challenging though. Bio-a lot of microbio, know specific diseases, not too bad. Chem-Lots of organic, difficult for me because I have not taken organic (oops). Reading comp-very easy. Math-very hard!!! but I have always been really bad at math.

 

[Falokis]

I took it for the first time back in Jan. I had a few scores that shocked me, good and bad. I wouldn't ever imagine me getting an 87 in verbal, but I did. I thought I only knew cuss words. I wouldn't think I would have made a 68 in math because I have never made less than an A in any math coarse. I ended up with a 91 composite and didn't need to take it this time. You might be suprised what you end up with. Remember, it is based on how well you did vs other test takers back a few years ago. Best of luck.

 

[Crystal Bowen]

To be honest, the test wasn't that hard. All of the sections were relatively easy except for the math (too much calc.). I guess I would have to see how I did in 5 weeks or so. Hope everyone did well!

 

[fenixtnlfan]

The test was about what I expected. I know my first essay was horrible because I don't think I was in testing mode yet...lol. Definitely should have practiced writing something in 30 minutes. The bio was harder than I expected with specific microbe questions; those were either the experimentals or the ones to see who had the best microbio class. The chem was easier than I thought it would be, but I know I didn't study enough for it. If I had I probably would have done well on it. The math was craziness! Not enough time and I wish I had extra room to do some of the problems.