HIGH Yield MCAT topics?

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What would you consider to be some of the high-yield MCAT subjects for all non-verbal subjects on the MCAT. I notice people say, "focus more on high yield" topics as opposed to perfecting minor details that often won't show up on the exam.
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In general, I would focus more on ideas and concepts rather than specific facts (this is for BS). You need to know details, yes, but answering questions on passages about something you've never studied before requires inference and broad understanding of concepts.

For PS you need to know how to solve problems and minor details, but the above is still true to some extent.
 
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thats my list so far for Biology, please note: i haven't finished content review yet, so there are going to be many things missing from that list.
 

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The stuff I've seen come up in almost every practice test.

PS: Something with rate law or acid dissociation constant or pH. Also expect at least one question on types of bonding and one question on valence electrons. Molarity/stoichiometry as well. For physics, uniform acceleration always makes it on somehow, as well as work and gravitational potential energy or kinetic energy. Also at least one question either on circuits or electrical fields or both. Magnetic, not so much although I have seen a couple. Also at least one question related to pressure whether it be a Bernoulli's principle, a gas law question, or a piston or something. Probably one or two questions on oxidation numbers/reduction potentials and this question may appear in the form of an electric cell (galvanic, electrolytic, gradient).
Biology: At least 2-3 questions about the cell organelles or the difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. 2-3 questions about hormones. One or more question on the kidney/nephron function. One or more questions on ion balance or channels. One or more questions on arteries/veins and heart and circulatory system. Maybe a question on action potentials and neurons. Somewhere on the test, whether on here or on PS, there WILL be a question on the carbonic acid/bicarbonate equilibrium. Either a question on hemoglobin or one pertaining to the oxygen dissociation curve. Also, probably a question on either myosin/muscle fibers or epithelia. Probably a question on the germ layers as well. In terms of orgo, SN2/SN1 and their elimination counterparts are probably going to be on there, as well as one other type of reaction whether it be decarboxylation, hydrolysis, oxidation/reduction, etc.
 
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"High-yield" means an investment with a high rate of return.

I think that one thing many students neglect is organic chemistry. Some think it is okay to learn just the basics and not focus on the more complex content too much because orgo is "only 25% of the BS content."

However, when 1 question can either increase or decrease your score, it would behoove everyone to know orgo inside and out. 25% of 52 is 13 questions, some of which will certainly be the more difficult/complex orgo concepts. Yet, you can't say that about a single concept in physics, general chemistry, or biology. Meaning, there is no guarantee for a particular type of content in any of these sections. You can't count on circuits, redox, or immunology being on any particular exam, but you can be sure that orgo will be tested in each one.

Now, I understand quite well that orgo is not a "topic," but I think it is an entire category that many people severely neglect.

If you were 2 weeks away from your exam and you had several things that you needed to review and master, I would pick orgo rather than a particular set of physics topics, for example. Why? You could spend a week mastering circuits, redox, and immunology and then have NONE of those topics on your exam. However, if you spent that week mastering orgo, you will do that much better on those 13 or so questions that will definitely be on the exam.

I just wanted to share since I always hear people freaking out about their week topics in a particular subject and then regarding orgo as low yield. Personally, I thoroughly reviewed TBR orgo with a focus on the second book (went through 3 times).

Best of luck to all studying!

Best,
C
 
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catzzz88 said:
"High-yield" means an investment with a high rate of return.

I think that one thing many students neglect is organic chemistry. Some think it is okay to learn just the basics and not focus on the more complex content too much because orgo is "only 25% of the BS content."

However, when 1 question can either increase or decrease your score, it would behoove everyone to know orgo inside and out. 25% of 52 is 13 questions, some of which will certainly be the more difficult/complex orgo concepts. Yet, you can't say that about a single concept in physics, general chemistry, or biology. Meaning, there is no guarantee for a particular type of content in any of these sections. You can't count on circuits, redox, or immunology being on any particular exam, but you can be sure that orgo will be tested in each one.

Now, I understand quite well that orgo is not a "topic," but I think it is an entire category that many people severely neglect.

If you were 2 weeks away from your exam and you had several things that you needed to review and master, I would pick orgo rather than a particular set of physics topics, for example. Why? You could spend a week mastering circuits, redox, and immunology and then have NONE of those topics on your exam. However, if you spent that week mastering orgo, you will do that much better on those 13 or so questions that will definitely be on the exam.

I just wanted to share since I always hear people freaking out about their week topics in a particular subject and then regarding orgo as low yield. Personally, I thoroughly reviewed TBR orgo with a focus on the second book (went through 3 times).

Best of luck to all studying!

Best,
C
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Wow... That is what I plan on doing in the last week of my preparation....
 
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After taking the AAMC practice exams one might THINK there are high yield topics... however once you get into the actual mcat you realize that ANYTHING is fair game. On my mcat they hammered on a few topics multiple times in passages that i was really not expecting and would not be considered high yield.

Instead of focusing on a few topics in your last week of prep/ when you get closer to the exam, you should look at everything! I made a one page study guide for each chapter in BR and so then the week before every day i just skimmed over everything. This helped make me feel super confident walking into the exam. Hope that helps!?
 
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Meredith92 said:
After taking the AAMC practice exams one might THINK there are high yield topics... however once you get into the actual mcat you realize that ANYTHING is fair game. On my mcat they hammered on a few topics multiple times in passages that i was really not expecting and would not be considered high yield.

Instead of focusing on a few topics in your last week of prep/ when you get closer to the exam, you should look at everything! I made a one page study guide for each chapter in BR and so then the week before every day i just skimmed over everything. This helped make me feel super confident walking into the exam. Hope that helps!?
Click to expand...

Excellent advice! This is what I did as well. 🙂
Q
 
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Meredith92 said:
After taking the AAMC practice exams one might THINK there are high yield topics... however once you get into the actual mcat you realize that ANYTHING is fair game. On my mcat they hammered on a few topics multiple times in passages that i was really not expecting and would not be considered high yield.

Instead of focusing on a few topics in your last week of prep/ when you get closer to the exam, you should look at everything! I made a one page study guide for each chapter in BR and so then the week before every day i just skimmed over everything. This helped make me feel super confident walking into the exam. Hope that helps!?
Click to expand...

I second the "high yield" of this comment! 🙂

The test writers do an excellent job of keeping people on their toes. Trust the official content outline lists from the people at AAMC and use your common sense as to which topics can appear in multiple ways. For instance, cytstic fibrosis is covered in both genetics class and physiology class, so it is more likely to appear than a topic appearing in just one of those classes.

Making summary sheets as the test gets closer is a brilliant idea. Not a bad idea to make a list following every practice exam you take. Walking in confident is huge!
 
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These are not all the things you should know before you take the MCAT,but I would strongly recommend not walking into the exam room without knowing these;
PS-Solution Chemistry-molarity and other measurements,Acids,Bases,and Salts,Equilibrium constants.For physics,be sure to know pendulums,basic electricity,and the motion equations.
BS-Know NMR/IR,most organic mechanisms-many of them are gimmes if you know what's going on,know the processes behind replication,transcription,translation,etc and the generalities of body systems.
VR-Learn how to read quickly and retain large amounts of information for short bursts of time.Read the questions carefully and PROVE YOUR ANSWERS BASED SOLELY ON THE PASSAGE.
 
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Parthenon89 said:
thats my list so far for Biology, please note: i haven't finished content review yet, so there are going to be many things missing from that list.
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and the small intestine does not have cilia... it has villi and microvilli.

better double check how high your yield really is on that sheet.
 
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Parthenon89 said:
thats my list so far for Biology, please note: i haven't finished content review yet, so there are going to be many things missing from that list.
Click to expand...

aaaand it's the 'complement system'... not the 'complementary system'.

seriously dude. you're doing people a disservice if you post a list with so many obvious errors. i skimmed it in 60 seconds and found those, so no doubt there are more.
 
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mujaman said:
aaaand it's the 'complement system'... not the 'complementary system'.

seriously dude. you're doing people a disservice if you post a list with so many obvious errors. i skimmed it in 60 seconds and found those, so no doubt there are more.
Click to expand...

Well that's not very complimentary of you! :laugh:

Also he posted that in 2010.
 
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