How do you guys review your practice exams?

[Uisa]

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Hey guys, I was wondering what methods you guys used to review your practice exams. I'm trying to weed out my weak points but when I review my exams it usually ends up being pure content review. I want a more comprehensive review of the test taker that I am and perhaps learning more about the way I take the test as oppose to just the content. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Penner]

How about making a word document that lists all of the mistakes you made and notes to yourself (at least, for PS and BS sections).

For verbal though, just see what you did wrong, make a mental note if it's some sort of specific mistake, and move on... Do lots of practice.

 

[SN2ed]

General Guidelines for Reviewing:

- Go over EVERY question. Both the ones you got right and the ones you got wrong.
- Reviewing should take 2-3 times longer than taking the timed practice problems.
- If your tests are fluctuating, it is due to the different topics on the various tests. In other words, you have some glaring weaknesses that when targeted, nail you, badly. You have to find out what those weaknesses are because they are evident by your scores. Do NOT dismiss any wrong answer as a "stupid mistake." You made that error for a reason. Go over your tests again.
- You might want to consider making a log for all of your post test results where you work through the questions below. Doing so, you'll be able to easily notice trends.

Some things to go over when reviewing:

1. Why did you get the question wrong? Why did you get the question right?
2. What question and passage types get you?
3. How is your mindset when facing a particular passage?
4. Are you stressed for time?
5. Where are your mistakes happening the most? Are they front loaded? Are they at the end? All over?
6. What was your thought process for both the questions you got right and the ones you got wrong?
7. For verbal, what was the author's mindset and main idea?
8. Did you eliminate all of the answer choices you could from first glance?
ex. You know an answer should be a positive number so you cross out all of the negative number answer choices.
9. What content areas are you weak in?
10. How can you improve so you don't make the same mistake again?

 

[Doctopus]

Am I the only one who actually utilized the ability with AAMC practice tests to check your answers as you go? I found this feature to be immensely valuable. While it's true that you don't get the "authentic" test taking experience (unfortunately, this feature is definitely not available on the real thing!), I got that experience with my Kaplan full-length practices.

By clicking to see whether I had gotten the questions right (and, if not, seeing what I missed/did wrong), I feel I really "tuned" my brain in a way that I wouldn't have just going over a finished test.

 

[Uisa]

Am I the only one who actually utilized the ability with AAMC practice tests to check your answers as you go? I found this feature to be immensely valuable. While it's true that you don't get the "authentic" test taking experience (unfortunately, this feature is definitely not available on the real thing!), I got that experience with my Kaplan full-length practices.

By clicking to see whether I had gotten the questions right (and, if not, seeing what I missed/did wrong), I feel I really "tuned" my brain in a way that I wouldn't have just going over a finished test.

That's actually not a bad idea... so I'm guessing you did not do this under timed conditions right?