Frequency of MCAT Physics Topics?

[ravupadh]

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Does anyone have a list of topics that will most likely appear on a passage in the MCAT? For example, even though the AAMC states Projectile Motion as an MCAT topic I'm almost certain I've never seen a whole passage devoted to it. Yet I always see a passage on Electricity and Magnetism. Thanks.

 

[apex954]

Does anyone have a list of topics that will most likely appear on a passage in the MCAT? For example, even though the AAMC states Projectile Motion as an MCAT topic I'm almost certain I've never seen a whole passage devoted to it. Yet I always see a passage on Electricity and Magnetism. Thanks.

What do you mean by that? Have u taken multiples real MCAT tests (atleast 70% of all MCAT test administrations) for u to have any remote idea of the topics u 've never seen in a passage format? The beauty of MCAT is it can test whatever topics listed on the aamc regardless of its frequency. If luck has it, ur MCAT might actually have two passages on projectile motion, so be prepared homie!

 

[movax]

Any of the topics are fair game, but from the few FLs I've worked through so far, I'd say light and optics is probably the most infrequent; if it's not in a passage or tangentially mentioned, it may show up as a discrete. Just took FL 6 today, there was 0 lights/optics on it. FL 7 had a random one-off question about planar mirrors.

You have to be ready for anything. I would actually go as far to say that projectile motion / kinematics is one of the most "popular" topics.

 

[justhanging]

Any of the topics are fair game, but from the few FLs I've worked through so far, I'd say light and optics is probably the most infrequent; if it's not in a passage or tangentially mentioned, it may show up as a discrete. Just took FL 6 today, there was 0 lights/optics on it. FL 7 had a random one-off question about planar mirrors.

You have to be ready for anything. I would actually go as far to say that projectile motion / kinematics is one of the most "popular" topics.

What about angular velocity and torque? And also lenz's law and induced currents/magnetic fields?

Ive never seen these topics on any reliable FL.

 

[Catburr]

What about angular velocity and torque? And also lenz's law and induced currents/magnetic fields?

Ive never seen these topics on any reliable FL.

Maybe you're just making this point for funsies, and what I'm about to say is already abundantly clear to you, but I'll say it for others anyway.

Just because a particular topic isn't on ANY current full length doesn't mean it won't be on your actual test.

AAMC practice tests are great practice for the types of questions you'll see, in the sense of how they ask a question, how many steps you might need to go through in your head to get the answer, how you'll need to combine outside knowledge and the passage, etc.

To try and rank topics according to practice test usage and study accordingly is probably a little dangerous. Two of the topics you mentioned above were actually on my recent actual MCAT. Does that mean that now they won't be used for a while? Or are they going to show up on the next 6 administrations? Who knows.

 

[ravupadh]

Well I'm pretty much good with every MCAT topic for orgo, bio, and gen chem. But for physics I'm good with everything EXCEPT energy and angular motion, as well as electricity. I'm using TBR and I still can't get some of the concepts down for conservation of energy, angular motion and electricity. I'm fairly good with magnetism (i.e. F = Bvqsinx with the Right handed rule) and circuits however. But electric fields kill me.

 

[Catburr]

Well I'm pretty much good with every MCAT topic for orgo, bio, and gen chem. But for physics I'm good with everything EXCEPT energy and angular motion, as well as electricity. I'm using TBR and I still can't get some of the concepts down for conservation of energy, angular motion and electricity. I'm fairly good with magnetism (i.e. F = Bvqsinx with the Right handed rule) and circuits however. But electric fields kill me.

Sounds like you're doing great. For the stuff you still feel unsure about, try watching khanacademy.org videos, or reading different texts if you can get your hands on them. Or find problems that you don't quite understand the logic of, and post them on the forums here.

Just finding a different perspective for stuff that was confusing in BR (my main resource) helped me, sometimes. But don't write anything off as "maybe it won't be on my test," it'll just be super frustrating if it is, and the last thing you want is something shaking your confidence in the middle of the first section.