Has anyone used TBR Bio as their sole source of content and practice?

[FollowTheMoney]

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Just wondering. Any amazing success stories....? ...like a 15 in BS lol.

 

[plsfoldthx]

why would you only study bio

 

[ilovemcat]

Just wondering. Any amazing success stories....? ...like a 15 in BS lol.

MCAT Bio is just bogus in general. I studied content very well with 3 different sources (TPRH, EK, and Kaplan) and I can sit here and explain just about every concept there is, yet when it comes to passages, I just have a difficult time getting comprehending what their saying.

 

[FollowTheMoney]

ilovemcat, dude, how have you been man? how's the studying going? keep me updated as to what's going on.

 

[ilovemcat]

ilovemcat, dude, how have you been man? how's the studying going? keep me updated as to what's going on.

Haha, funny you ask. I just wasted the past 3 days procrastinating. I was doing so well until recently when some of my friends came over. Now I have to force myself to start back up tomorrow. arghhhh. How do you plan on tackling the MCAT? You plan on breaking each section into 2 weeks each?

 

[plsfoldthx]

studying too much for bio is dumb. unless you're weak on basics. just know your physiology esp. respiratory system/CO2 and O2 acidity alkalosis, circulatory system, all your basic physio hormones, kidneys, basics of what your other organs do, how antibodies/blood type works, how action potentials work, how neurotransmitters work and are released, basic immunology, know diff between euk and prokaryotic cell, know your organelles, transcription/translation including your 5' to 3' stuff and you're good. maybe some evolutionary bio terms like stabilizing selection, etc.

know this and your sn1/2s and E1/2s you'll get a 16 in bio

rest is reading comprehension and knowing how to interpret experiments

 

[Ahsan]

studying too much for bio is dumb. Unless you're weak on basics. Just know your physiology esp. Respiratory system/co2 and o2 acidity alkalosis, circulatory system, all your basic physio hormones, kidneys, basics of what your other organs do, how antibodies/blood type works, how action potentials work, how neurotransmitters work and are released, basic immunology, know diff between euk and prokaryotic cell, know your organelles, transcription/translation including your 5' to 3' stuff and you're good. Maybe some evolutionary bio terms like stabilizing selection, etc.

Know this and your sn1/2s and e1/2s you'll get a 16 in bio

rest is reading comprehension and knowing how to interpret experiments

breaking all the rules, aren't we?

 

[ready2rumble10]

I barely got through the first Bio book and only got through half of the first Orgo book and was able to score a 10 in BS. As long as you have the patience to get through the dense material the first time (complete 1/3 of the passages afterward) AND the discipline to review the material two more times (while completing the rest of the passages), you'll do very well. I wish I'd done that the first time around, but I am definitely dedicated to doing it this time.

 

[karayraisu]

The MCAT Bio section is really not straight-up memorization of facts as the prep books (especially Kaplan) would lead you to believe. I've taken the 1/30 and the 3/27 and I can tell you that I got fewer than 3 questions on both tests combined on body systems and physiology. If there is physiology, I think it's gradually becoming more and more included directly in the passages for you to figure out after reading the passages, rather than just memorization.

If you need a confidence booster of your facts, go through EK's Bio. Kaplan is excessive, and TBR's passages (and EK's Bio 1001, but not as good as TBR passages) will train you how to think. At the end of the day, it really comes down to what you get on your exam, honestly. >85% of the stuff on the bio section (except the orgo concepts) I have not seen prior to the exam.

 

[ready2rumble10]

The MCAT Bio section is really not straight-up memorization of facts as the prep books (especially Kaplan) would lead you to believe. I've taken the 1/30 and the 3/27 and I can tell you that I got fewer than 3 questions on both tests combined on body systems and physiology. If there is physiology, I think it's gradually becoming more and more included directly in the passages for you to figure out after reading the passages, rather than just memorization.

If you need a confidence booster of your facts, go through EK's Bio. Kaplan is excessive, and TBR's passages (and EK's Bio 1001, but not as good as TBR passages) will train you how to think. At the end of the day, it really comes down to what you get on your exam, honestly. >85% of the stuff on the bio section (except the orgo concepts) I have not seen prior to the exam.

True. I took the 1/29 MCAT, and there were some bio passages that blew my mind. It does seem like the BS portion of the test is drifting away from the textbook-style physiology passages and towards the genetics/molecular bio-based experiments. One has to be able to analyze results quickly AND be able to extract other pertinent info from the passage. You're right that memorizing facts won't help develop that skill. I guess one would have to practice reading scientific articles and trying to interpret them to get used to this new MCAT.

 

[ilovemcat]

The MCAT Bio section is really not straight-up memorization of facts as the prep books (especially Kaplan) would lead you to believe. I've taken the 1/30 and the 3/27 and I can tell you that I got fewer than 3 questions on both tests combined on body systems and physiology. If there is physiology, I think it's gradually becoming more and more included directly in the passages for you to figure out after reading the passages, rather than just memorization.

If you need a confidence booster of your facts, go through EK's Bio. Kaplan is excessive, and TBR's passages (and EK's Bio 1001, but not as good as TBR passages) will train you how to think. At the end of the day, it really comes down to what you get on your exam, honestly. >85% of the stuff on the bio section (except the orgo concepts) I have not seen prior to the exam.

Why'd you have to go and say that. You just totally ruined my confidence going into this exam. This is exactly why I try to avoid student doctor forums.

 

[FollowTheMoney]

Why'd you have to go and say that. You just totally ruined my confidence going into this exam. This is exactly why I try to avoid student doctor forums.

ilovemcat, dude you are the funniest person I know. Seriously, I love you 😀. Btw, I read EK Bio Chapter 1 and then went to BR Bio Chapter 6 and I swear its like the same thing, except BR has a few more details. Wouldn't be surprised if someone broke some copyright laws .

 

[SN2ed]

I'm sure there are people that have scored 15 BS with BR Bio, Kaplan, TPRH, or EK. If you're committed to the detailed approach TPRH's Bio is best. BR Bio's content review is okay, but I'd go with EK Bio for content review unless you want the detail. BR Bio is great for passage practice. Don't skip those passages.

 

[LostInStudy]

I'm sure there are people that have scored 15 BS

Did that...

TPRH's Bio is best. BR Bio's content review is okay, but I'd go with EK Bio for content review unless you want the detail. BR Bio is great for passage practice. Don't skip those passages.

Using those. Agreed with Sn2ed for like the millionth time. To add on, the passages in the TPR Science workbook were also amazing for bio.

Hope this helps,

-LIS

 

[FollowTheMoney]

Did that...



Using those. Agreed with Sn2ed for like the millionth time. To add on, the passages in the TPR Science workbook were also amazing for bio.

Hope this helps,

-LIS

Did you only use TPR for practice? Which did you focus on more, EK or TPRH, for content? If I don't have access to TPR Science workbook, which is better practice, BR or EK 1001 Bio?

 

[LostInStudy]

Did you only use TPR for practice? Which did you focus on more, EK or TPRH, for content? If I don't have access to TPR Science workbook, which is better practice, BR or EK 1001 Bio?

I did EK 1001 bio then TPR bio passages then TBR bio passages so for me they got progressively harder. As far as content goes, I think between TPRH and EK you have everything you need. I would spend my time reading TPRH and then read through EK as kind of a review. I actually ended up reading EK twice. The thing with EK is that it's short and dense. So while its short, you have to know EVERYTHING in the text, whereas in TPRH, it is longer but they spend time explaining concepts doing examples and asking questions and re-summarizing the info.

If you don't have access to TPR SW, then do both. Seriously practice drilling those concepts because its true that the test really only covers the basics but the test writers do a great job at pushing your understanding of them to the limit. The more times you see the concepts the better. I'll say it again just in case, the more time you see the concepts during your practice the better off you are.

Hope this helps,

-LIS