how detailed is the mcat?

[yalla22]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Okay so i just started reviewing for the big test..i started with the nervous system (dont ask why) and im wondering, using it as an example for other topics liek the systems, how in depth we are required to know the info. I mean how tricky do they get with action potentials and the general n.system mechanisms? also do we have to know all the parts of the brain and their general functions?

i'm totally clueless, please help!!

 

[MoosePilot]

If you're studying from textbooks, it's better to pick a reputable test prep company and use their materials. They tend to pare it down to essentials and if you're studying this close to the test you're going to need that.

Yes, there's a good chance details about action potentials will be on there. Parts of the brain and their functions is another subject that is likely. On my test there was a question about someone who had trouble with their coordination and asked what part of their brain was probably damaged.

In the future you should post MCAT questions in the MCAT forum. You'll get more responses if you use the right forums.

 

[(Dirty Version)]

Okay so i just started reviewing for the big test..i started with the nervous system (dont ask why) and im wondering, using it as an example for other topics liek the systems, how in depth we are required to know the info. I mean how tricky do they get with action potentials and the general n.system mechanisms? also do we have to know all the parts of the brain and their general functions?

i'm totally clueless, please help!!

being this close to test date (what, 20 days or so?), and not having reviewd anything, nor not even taken one practice test (im assuming), you might wanna reconsider taking it so soon. you might get WORKED.

 

[futuremsfdoc]

from what i've seen, most of the answers to the tricky questions can be figured out from material in the passage. what you should worry about are the basic scientific trends. for nervous system, for example, know that action potentials are caused by depolarization (ions and pumps involved) and also that conduction speed increases as cross sectional area increases. those are just two examples, but that's the kind of thinking you should do for the mcat.

this close to the mcat your best bet is to not study for details, but for general principles.

 

[futuremsfdoc]

oh, and do make sure to know that depolarization/repolarization graph presented in most textbooks. it seems to be a common topic for the test.

 

[yalla22]

thanks guys! Im actually NOT taking the august mcat-it would be absolutely crazy to start studying now. im going to take it in april but since im not going to have that much time during the year, im starting now.

in the barrons book im using there is a ton of nervous system anatomy-it seems pretty detailed but considering it is in a REVIEW book im assuming that it is more than fair game??

 

[yalla22]

or also, should i know like all the different categories of neurotransmitters? im just trying to grade the level of detail...

 

[futuremsfdoc]

oh, well that changes everything then.

if you're gonna take the test in april, then what i would do is study the general principles (for each section) first until you have a solid grasp on those. then go back and review, this time learning some of the details (like neurotransmitter classes, which actually might be somewhat important on the test).

my general rule of thumb is as long as you have enough time and energy, study anything that is functionally significant and useful in understanding major concepts (neurotransmitters might help you do this, but that kind of detail is 99.99% of the time NEVER going to come up on the test without a passage explaining the differences in NT types). if it's obscure facts like the conduction speed of a neuron or how much insulin is secreted by a beta cell daily (i'm sure these kinds of things are in your textbooks) then don't waste your time memorizing it.

details you should know: na/k pumps (how many ions are transported), what is the threshold for rapid depolarization, what is the maximum level of depolarization, how NTs are released, how NTs act and can be blocked (either by the immune system or drugs), etc.

bottom line, study to improve your understanding. whatever helps you learn the material better will result in a better score on test day. 👍

i hope my rambling helps, but if you need clarification i'll be happy to provide some.

 

[supadupadoc]

another tip: make sure that you use really good test prep books! there is so much possible material covered on the mcat that the wrong books can pretty much screw you over. have you thought about taking a course? expensive, yes, but if financially possible they are a huge help. i recommend princeton review all the way...... (another tip: they give you extra diags if you ask). if ur gonna do it on your own, just make sure that barron's is the way to go.

good luck!

 

[AsianDoc816]

I took the April 2004 MCAT, and was surprised at how many of the questions I never would have been able to study for (especially on the PS section). Even with a respectable review course, you shouldn't expect any of the BS or PS questions to be rote memory questions (okay, maybe 3 or 4 out of the whole test). It really is a reasoning test, and I think the trend has been to present new information to see how well students are able to handle novel problems/situations. I'm not saying that you shouldn't study like crazy (I certainly did), but don't expect all of the questions to be covered in your textbooks or review course material 🙁

 

[Shaz]

it's both a good and a bad thing you're starting to review for the test now...I think you should hold off until at least december because the things you're reviewing now you're probably going to forget by next april (this is from personal experience!). Work your butt off and start reviewing hardcore December 1st.

 

[Kazema]

This early on don't worry about details at all. If you study at all, just make sure you understand all the fundamentals, like futuremsfdoc says. I wouldn't worry about bio just yet, since a lot of it does require detailed knowledge that you'll have to sustain for several months.

My suggestion would be to study physical principles, like E&M, fluids, etc. Just understand everything so that when December rolls around you can really concentrate on learning the formulas without worrying about having to re-learn what it all means. And I would also suggest practicing reading comprehension with stuff like the WSJ and/or academic journals. Get used to reading boring passages about stuff you don't care about and understanding what you read the first time through skimming.

 

[yalla22]

Get used to reading boring passages about stuff you don't care about and understanding what you read the first time through skimming.

yeah i have trouble with this...did you really read academic journals as practice? i mean ive heard read the paper everyday, etc...but not scientific articles...

 

[futuremsfdoc]

i've heard the economist is pretty good practice for those boring passages. plus, it is a good journal with lots of news stuff--in other words, good for general knowledge and interview prep. it's an expensive subscription, so you could read it at your university library.

 

[hnbui]

yeah i have trouble with this...did you really read academic journals as practice? i mean ive heard read the paper everyday, etc...but not scientific articles...

try reading scientific america. That's what i'm doing right now. 😀

 

[Kazema]

i've heard the economist is pretty good practice for those boring passages. plus, it is a good journal with lots of news stuff--in other words, good for general knowledge and interview prep. it's an expensive subscription, so you could read it at your university library.

Yeah, you don't necessarily have to read academic journals, that's just what I did. I'd also suggest The New Yorker for a more general knowledge type of magazine.

 

[Dr Dean]

The MCAT is easy. I ripped it to shreds with my teeth. raWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

 

[wends]

the mcat website has a list of all the concepts that we need to know...i printed it off last year and it was helpful in deciding what things to focus on...go on the aamc website and try to search for it

 

[Kazema]

The MCAT is easy. I ripped it to shreds with my teeth. raWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I wonder what Howard Dean got on his MCAT.