How accurate are Nova physics problems?

[IndianVercetti]

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I just started cracking on Nova physics, I'm up till about ch.5. How "realistic" are the Nova questions compared to the real MCAT? I'm finding it's not too bad, but just wanted to get some general opinions on difficulty level, etc.

 

[bkz]

Not sure if I understand your question, but most people who use Nova need help getting the concepts down. The consensus seems to be that Nova is best for content/conceptual review, with BR having better practice problems/passages. I was under the impression that you weren't supposed to use Nova to simulate actual mcat questions, but hopefully someone can correct this. Are you finding it easier than AAMC tests?

 

[IndianVercetti]

Not sure if I understand your question, but most people who use Nova need help getting the concepts down. The consensus seems to be that Nova is best for content/conceptual review, with BR having better practice problems/passages. I was under the impression that you weren't supposed to use Nova to simulate actual mcat questions, but hopefully someone can correct this. Are you finding it easier than AAMC tests?

Yeah, I'm pretty much doing it for content review, but I was just going through the problems as I went from chapter to chapter. I just started my MCAT review, so I haven't even touched any AAMC tests yet. I figure it isn't worth it yet, since I'm only taking in January.

 

[LoveWalk]

Yeah, I'm pretty much doing it for content review, but I was just going through the problems as I went from chapter to chapter. I just started my MCAT review, so I haven't even touched any AAMC tests yet. I figure it isn't worth it yet, since I'm only taking in January.

It's very accurate as far as I'm concerned

Remember, seemingly difficult problems on the real MCAT are really just simple discretes in disguise

You have to translate---that is, you must figure out what the writer is asking---once you do, it's just a simple problem --a la what you'd find in NOVA

Stick to it! Good luck.

 

[unDRdog]

accurate?----do you mean representitive?...i've heard NOVA passages (not discretes) are more difficult than the real MCAT...read that a few diff times from other ppl...

 

[LoveWalk]

accurate?----do you mean representitive?...i've heard NOVA passages (not discretes) are more difficult than the real MCAT...read that a few diff times from other ppl...

I figured that when the OP said accurate, he meant representative---he/she means to ask whether the NOVA problems are representative---difficulty, format, length, structure etc

I thought the NOVA passages were a little less difficult and certainly more specific---the actual MCAT tests many different concepts with each passage

 

[unDRdog]

I figured that when the OP said accurate, he meant representative---he/she means to ask whether the NOVA problems are representative---difficulty, format, length, structure etc

I thought the NOVA passages were a little less difficult and certainly more specific---the actual MCAT tests many different concepts with each passage

well said...ive heard both but would agree that the passages in NOVA are very specific. They do seem to be more quantitative and less qualitative.

 

[phillips101]

I have no idea about the MCAT, since I'm studying for it myself. But so far, the discretes from NOVA seem to be pretty straight forward, but the passages are a lot more qualitative. In fact, I'm cross studying BR & NOVA, and some of BR's phase I's are pretty similar to NOVA's passages.

 

[Vanguard23]

I like Nova's but I think it can be more difficult. Some of the problems just don't make any sense. For example, turn to page 104(this would be Chapter 7, problem number 8-11). It says the book is pulling torque on point A, which is where the string attaches to the wall. How the hell could it pull torque at that point? It just doesn't make any sense at all.

 

[IndianVercetti]

Yeah, thanks for the responses. Coming to think about it, I feel the questions just 'feel' a tad easier since we generally do the passages after just having read the corresponding section.

I like Nova's but I think it can be more difficult. Some of the problems just don't make any sense. For example, turn to page 104(this would be Chapter 7, problem number 8-11). It says the book is pulling torque on point A, which is where the string attaches to the wall. How the hell could it pull torque at that point? It just doesn't make any sense at all.

I just looked at that problem. I'm assuming you're talking about #9, I also thought it was 0. But the solution does make sense, since in theory, the string should rotate around the hinge where it is attached to the wall. They should have been clearer I think - the problem makes it sound as if the rope is glued to the wall, but I think they meant for it to be a rotating hinge. (at least, based on their answer)

 

[Vanguard23]

Yeah, thanks for the responses. Coming to think about it, I feel the questions just 'feel' a tad easier since we generally do the passages after just having read the corresponding section.



I just looked at that problem. I'm assuming you're talking about #9, I also thought it was 0. But the solution does make sense, since in theory, the string should rotate around the hinge where it is attached to the wall. They should have been clearer I think - the problem makes it sound as if the rope is glued to the wall, but I think they meant for it to be a rotating hinge. (at least, based on their answer)

You know, I just re-read it. It's the way they worded it. They wanted to know what the torque of the book at point B was AT point B. Usually you think of the lever arm rotating about it like normal, but they moved the 'fulcrum' to point B for that question. Silly way to put it, esp. with the fact that it was a string instead of something with more sheer strength.