Got sick during my 5//31 MCAT, voided score and now retaking in 3 weeks. Advice?

[doctorwannabe1]

Hi guys,

Thanks in advance for reading. Essentially I got sick the day before my MCAT date 5/31 and I took some medicine hoping it would subside by the time I took the test but it did not. I had to excuse myself to the bathroom over 5 times during the exam and thus I decided it would just be best to void the exam.

My issue is now, the next test date isn't until June 21st. I felt super ready for the 5/31 date (other than physically obviously) and I'm not sure how to make the best use of the time until I retest. I unfortunately have taken every AMCAS exam and have gone through all my MCAT materials (Kaplan and Examkrackers) already so I'm not sure how to make the best use out of the next three weeks to ensure that I stay refreshed on all material without burning out.

Should I re-review everything again? Maybe find some non-AMCAS full lengths to take? Just go through flashcards/hat trick?

I got a 36 on my last full length. Worked very very hard to get there (started with a 28 on my first full length 4 months ago) so I don't want to lose points in these next few weeks.

Any advice/thoughts would be welcome. Thanks!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Vladimir B]

Hi guys,

Thanks in advance for reading. Essentially I got sick the day before my MCAT date 5/31 and I took some medicine hoping it would subside by the time I took the test but it different. I had to excuse myself to the bathroom over 5 times during the exam and thus I decided it would just be best to void the exam.

My issue is now, the next test date isn't until June 21st. I felt super ready for the 5/31 date (other than physically obviously) and I'm not sure how to make the best use of the time until I retest. I unfortunately have taken every AMCAS exam and have gone through all my MCAT materials (Kaplan and Examkrackers) already so I'm not sure how to make the best use out of the next three weeks to ensure that I stay refreshed on all material without burning out.

Should I re-review everything again? Maybe find some non-AMCAS full lengths to take? Just go through flashcards/hat trick?

Any advice/thoughts would be welcome. Thanks!

I will let others tackle most of your question, but I'd like to focus on the bolded area. When you said you got sick, was this essentially from nerves? If so, you must be prepared to make sure this does not happen for the June 21st exam. Perhaps in-between now and then you can find ways to calm your nerves. I remember, the night before I took the MCAT, I took a long walk to calm my nerves down and help me fall asleep.

Regards,
Vlad

 

[doctorwannabe1]

Hi Vlad. I don't think it was nerves. I think it was something worse as it continued long after the test was done. I suspect the Thai food I had for lunch might not have sat well with me. 🙁

 

[jerg]

Hi Vlad. I don't think it was nerves. I think it was something worse as it continued long after the test was done. I suspect the Thai food I had for lunch might not have sat well with me. 🙁

My suggestion would be for you to take a breather for the first upcoming 1 1/2 weeks, work out, take mind off MCAT, eat well. Then do a well-paced refresher over the basics for the second 1 1/2 weeks, just the general background knowledge. Buy your own groceries a week before the MCAT and only eat the things you prep yourself to avoid running the same risks over again.

 

[An MD Hopeful]

I would suggest that if you find any non-AMCAS tests, just study at the same pace that you did before the exam; maybe revise topics that you don't know as well. If you remember any topics/questions that you didn't know on 5/31, then revise those topics. And as the person above suggested, make sure that you only eat food that you have prepared from now to the day of the test.

 

[maybemed2013]

do non amcas test.....review the test and rd on topics you missed.

 

[doctorwannabe1]

Thanks guys! Any reccs for non-AMCAS practice tests? I have access to some Kaplan ones but those tend to be significantly harder and I think I may lose confidence before my exam. Should I try and find some EK ones?

 

[alexrgross]

Thanks guys! Any reccs for non-AMCAS practice tests? I have access to some Kaplan ones but those tend to be significantly harder and I think I may lose confidence before my exam. Should I try and find some EK ones?

You can take a Princeton Review and Gold Standard online for free, those are pretty decent and not too difficult. Firstly, Treat yourself to some reward, after all you deserve that because you sat sick! This is very important, go see a movie and go out with friends.
Next, wait and act as if you are not re-taking. You were super prepared, and your readiness can be refreshed quickly in maybe 6 days.
Starting on Exam day (day 0) -6 take one of those practice exams I suggested. Over the next two days, review your mistakes and do hatricks, maybe looking at some equations. Day -3 take another practice. Day -2 review that, and some hatricks and equations. Day -1 Nothing MCAT.

This exact same thing happened to me, same time line, after I ended up with a 32R and felt I had studied too much after the first voided test.

 

[hope_to_match]

Hi guys,

Thanks in advance for reading. Essentially I got sick the day before my MCAT date 5/31 and I took some medicine hoping it would subside by the time I took the test but it did not. I had to excuse myself to the bathroom over 5 times during the exam and thus I decided it would just be best to void the exam.

My issue is now, the next test date isn't until June 21st. I felt super ready for the 5/31 date (other than physically obviously) and I'm not sure how to make the best use of the time until I retest. I unfortunately have taken every AMCAS exam and have gone through all my MCAT materials (Kaplan and Examkrackers) already so I'm not sure how to make the best use out of the next three weeks to ensure that I stay refreshed on all material without burning out.

Should I re-review everything again? Maybe find some non-AMCAS full lengths to take? Just go through flashcards/hat trick?

I got a 36 on my last full length. Worked very very hard to get there (started with a 28 on my first full length 4 months ago) so I don't want to lose points in these next few weeks.

Any advice/thoughts would be welcome. Thanks!

I heard BR full lengths are really good. Try buying those from their website and doing them instead of AAMCs. Good luck!