How I Raised My MCAT Score By 10 Points in 2 Months — The Spinach Method

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Spinach Dip

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NOW WITH PS!
The Spinach Method
-or-
How I Added 10 Points To My MCAT Score In 2 Months​

By: Spinach Dip
Posted on Student Doctor Network



1
= THE OVERVIEW=​



Let’s get the most obvious question out of the way first:
30 (9,9,12) on 20 Nov 2012, using a paper copy of AAMC #1
40 (14,11,15) on 26 Jan 2013, on the actual test. :soexcited:



Greetings future MCAT takers and re-takers! This is my guide on how to utterly destroy this monster of a standardized exam!

Let’s get the disclaimers out of the way, first:
—This article is copyright by ME, Spinach Dip, posted here on the Student Doctor Network for the benefit of all. You may NOT, in any circumstance, claim that you authored it in part or in whole, NOR may you post it in part or in whole on any other website whatsoever. PLEASE do not print it off to share with your friends, pre-med club, or anyone else. I would APPRECIATE it if you gave out direct links to this article so others could read it, in its entirety, for themselves.
—You are free to refer to the “Spinach Method” on your own website/blog/facebook/twitter/etc if you wish, but you may NOT post excerpts, and you SHOULD provide a direct link to this article.
—I do not guarantee that you will see the same score increase that I saw. There are simply too many variables in play at any one time to guarantee anything. :(
—I will always write scores as “Total (PS,VR,BS)” or “(PS,VR,BS) Total”. In other words, the section scores will be represented in the order they actually appear on the exam, not in some score report which mixes things around for no discernable reason
—I am willing to engage in kind-hearted debate about some of the details I list below. But if you come here just to insult me, I will ignore you and report your post for being offensive. Keep it civil.
—If you have success with this method, please post below and tell others you used the Spinach Method to study!



*Deep breath* Let’s get into it.



This test is a beast. A salivating, voracious monster. A soulless horror from the deepest pit of hell. A massive, brutish minotaur hidden in a labyrinth by the AAMC with the sole purpose of slaying any and all who come before it unprepared. The labyrinth is also known as “undergrad”, full of twists, turns, and dead ends—which anyone might eventually find their way through given enough time. The minotaur is the test itself, and all must engage it in a one-on-one battle-to-the-death. Some are slain by the minotaur. many come out bleeding and bruised, yet alive. Others are victorious but come away with a slight limp or a black eye. And a select few slay the minotaur effortlessly and come out with nary a scratch. After the battle, it is up to the Council of Elders (adcoms) to determine if you are worthy of one of their illustrious apprenticeships (acceptance to med school).

My own path has been long and winding. I took several wrong turns in the labyrinth. Changed my major… let’s see… three times. Came out with a below-average GPA that took a couple extra years to complete. I haven’t met with the Council of Elders yet, but hope to hear their decision within a year. But, as for the minotaur, it wasn’t even close! I kicked its ass, spit in its eye, spray-painted my name on the wall, stole its candy, and on my way out I yelled: “SUCKS TO BE YOU!!”

Yeah!

That’s what I said! :smuggrin:

And now that we’re all pumped up, let’s get to the meat of this post—the method. I have seen SN2ed’s method, and while it definitely works for some people, I found it much too restrictive for my own study style.

What follows are 20 basic points of this method. As I was studying for the MCAT, I kept a list of what I found helpful and unhelpful, notes to myself about how to study most efficiently. I have embellished these points into what you see below. Some are specific and somewhat unknown. Some are broad ideas you should be doing all the time. Others are general knowledge which I am repeating here for the purpose of reinforcement. But all are important to the Spinach Method of studying for the MCAT.



=1. The Overall Idea=

The backbone of this entire method is based on repeating 5 different activities over and over to assess and overcome your own weaknesses and lack of knowledge.

The first is testing. This is the most obvious. You want to take 3 full-length tests every week. Two should be from secondary sources (Kaplan, TPR, TBR, EK, GS, Arco, etc), while one should be primary (AAMC is the only primary souce of material). In my schedule, I took secondary tests on Monday and Wednesday, then a primary (AAMC) test each Friday. Every time you take a test, you should do a careful post-game analysis. Make this analysis twice as thorough for AAMC tests.

The second is quizzing. This is what you do on your other days (in my case, Tuesday and Thursday, with a little less on Saturday). This is the time where you get out a book such as EK1001 or TPR Hyperlearning and do practice questions and passages on whichever subject you did poorly on last time you took a test. You could also simulate a test if you wish, doing 52 PS questions, 7 VR passages, and 52 BS questions.

After every single test or quiz, it is imperative that you study the questions you got wrong and WHY you got them wrong. The simple mistakes (such as forgetting the formula to calculate Joules) go on flashcards. Your flashcards should have a single word or phrase on the front; on the other side, all the information you need to know about the term. For example:
Front: Newtons
Back: Mass*Acceleration. Measure of force. Newtons = kg*meters/seconds^2

You will also have a notebook for more complicated questions, or a passage which you did poorly at. For example, let’s say you get to a passage on the sympathetic nervous system and only get 3/6 correct. To prevent this from happening again, you will write a passage on the sympathetic nervous system in your notebook, containing as many questions as you feel you need. Alternately, if you mess up a complicated question, put it in your notebook with an in-depth answer explaining why the correct answer is actually the correct answer. (Don’t do this for VR—it is a whole separate section that requires special tactics to tackle.) Organize your notebook so the questions start on page one and answers start at the half-way point, so you can flip between them easily.

While doing your flashcards and notebook, engage in content review. I have a rather low opinion of content review, and only used it when struggling with a difficult concept.



=2. Verbal is Different=

Verbal is the bane of everyone’s existence. It is the most conceptual of the sections, and there is no benefit to be gained from writing flashcards for VR or including it in your notebook. Rather, I did a full section (7 passages) almost every day and treated it like the actual exam. The only difference I made between materials was to review any primary (AAMC) material with utmost detail, going over every single question with a fine-toothed comb during the post-test analysis. On quiz materials or secondary tests, the more important thing is to practice your method of reading, timing, and approaching questions logically.

Often, the writers of secondary tests will have… let’s say “interesting”… methods of reasoning out the correct answer to a single question. I say: ignore their reasoning. Don’t even read it. But, on the other hand, realize that the MCAT authors are always right. Why? Because they wrote the test. That makes them infallible when it comes to VR. Get that into your head right now. The MCAT authors are always right.

Reasoning behind AAMC Verbal answers = always right
Reasoning behind Secondary Verbal answers = virtually meaningless.



=3. Use Resources That Are Readily Available.=

Chances are you have a University library. Use it. Who knows what study material you might find on the shelves? And as a follow up, use your public library and see what they have available. I got a couple Kaplan and TBR books from my local public library. Get a library card and check! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to classmates about some expensive textbook and when I ask if they checked the public libraries, they stare at me like I’m speaking Ukrainian.

For that matter, use Google and Wikipedia if you need help answering a specific question that does not appear to be in your content review books.



=4. Which Materials Are Best?=

It largely does not matter what materials you use. Obviously, the AAMC tests are the absolute best and you should use them in the most effective way possible. But, beyond that, the whole debate about TBR/TPR/EK/Kaplan/GS/Arco/Etc is largely moot. The value that can be obtained from each is dependent on how much effort YOU put into understanding the material and how well you do your post-game analysis.

In short, your own dedication to your success is the single most important factor to determining how much you can raise your score.

In the previous section, I said you should use libraries to find materials. That’s exactly what I did for the vast majority of the materials I used.

For the purpose of full disclosure:
—For tests, I used: AAMC (obviously), Kaplan, Arco, GS, and maybe TPR and TBR (Might have gotten an online test or two from these, but don’t remember).
—For quizzes, I used: Mostly just EK101 for Verbal, and the TPR Hyperlearning Science Workbook (~2000 questions in this book is equivalent to ~20 MCAT exams).
—For content review, I used: Kaplan, TPR, TBR, some GS videos, Arco, Wikipedia, Google, Youtube, and more.



=5. Get A Timer And Use It=

Preparing for the MCAT may be a marathon, but the actual test is not. The time you spend actually answering questions on the MCAT is, at most, 3 hours and 20 minutes. You also get two 10-minute breaks. Yet I have heard frequently of people doing 5… 6… 7… even 8 hour marathons of studying. In my mind, this is the single best way to wear yourself out and forget everything you went over by the following morning.

I used a timer any time I did something on paper. If it was a test, I gave myself 70 minutes for PS, 60 for VR, and 70 for BS. If a quiz day, I would do 75 minutes of PS or BS, and 60 for VR (I did a VR passage about ¾ of my quiz days, regardless. For BS and PS, the goal during quizzes was to answer as many questions as possible within the given time without getting reckless. For Verbal, it was more about the technique of reading the passages and reasoning through the 40 questions within 60 minutes.

Make sure to take a FULL 10 minute break between each section. When you’re done with 3 quiz sections, take a longer break (I usually grabbed lunch) and get refreshed. Then come back, correct, and review what you got wrong.

If you are really intense, you could try 4 hours of quizzes. If that works for you, fine. Just don’t get burned out.



=6. Do Something Every Day=

Don’t slack off.

If you have a dedicated “rest day” (mine was Sunday), you should at least do something slightly helpful toward the goal of studying for the MCAT. Review your flashcards or read through your notebook. You could even do some non-MCAT reading or play League of Legends. Anything to keep you sharp and active. Some people have said playing minigames on their iPhone keeps them sharp. Go with whatever works for you.

Don’t watch Amish Mafia, Ancient Aliens or Honey Boo Boo. If you do any of those, I think you deserve to lose points on your MCAT.



=7. What I Suggest When You Need a Break=

Some days you wake up and have absolutely no drive to answer questions about capacitors. Or you may feel sick or have a headache. In that case, it is okay to put aside your plans for the day and do something easier. Turn a 3-part quiz day into a 1-part quiz day if you must. Don’t slack off just because you’re feeling lazy (that’s the single worst thing you can do while preparing for this test).

But when you do need a break, you should do something productive. I really like reading as a relaxing pastime (and it might increase your VR score slightly). If you are looking for a reading list, I would suggest:
—Maus by Art Spiegelman. The biography of Vladek Spiegelman, a Jew in Poland during WWII. The only graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize.
—Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Set in Napoleonic Wars England, this book tells the tale of the first two English magicians in several centuries. Although very long (1000 pages in mass market paperback), it received universal acclaim from critics in numerous genres.


Of course, you could also try something more stimulating. Whether this means a jog around the block, a hot shower, or an intense game of Starcraft is up to you.

TV is the last option, IMO. I hardly ever watch TV, but I know that there are some good, informational shows around. I like Antiques Roadshow and Mysteries at the Museum because I feel like I learn something with every episode. The Military Chanel is good if you like to study WWII, but it can be extremely depressing. Or you can find something for yourself—just make sure it will leave you smarter than before you tuned in.



=8. Earplugs=

Get some.

Short story: When I took the GRE a couple years ago, some woman a few tables down started crying. I don’t know if it’s because she was too stressed or had just seen her score, but she was sobbing and trying to be quiet about it. She was also failing, and I’m pretty sure everyone in the testing center could hear her. The only reason I could hear her was because I had forgotten my earplugs that morning.

Short Story #2:When I took the MCAT a couple months ago, I was randomly assigned to seat #1. Do you know which one that is? In my test center, it’s the one closest to the door. People were walking behind me and opening and closing that squeaky door the whole time. Gladly, I remembered to bring my earplugs this day, so the noise was practically indistinguishable.

Now, I realize that people have different size ear canals, so I have put together a quick list based on my own experiences with trying to find the perfect noise-blocking earplug:
—Very Small Ears: Mack’s Dreamgirl. Don’t laugh. Anyway, these things are tiny. Only small females and children would find these useful.
—Small Ears: 3M 1120. They look weird, but are actually soft and very easy to place. “3M” is the maker and “1120” is the model number.
—Medium Ears: Max Lite. This is the kind I use almost every night. :sleep: They are slightly hard to place, but are very comfortable when in right and cut sound amazingly well. I can wear these for 12+ hours without discomfort.
—Large Ears: Laser Lite. The same as Max Lite, but with a larger diameter. I can wear these for a short time, but they begin to irritate my ears after a couple hours.
—Very Large Ears: EARsoft FX. These have the absolute highest noise reduction rating, but are for huge ears only. I can wear these for a few minutes before they start bothering me.



=9. Find Something Which Helps You Concentrate=

No. I don’t mean Ritalin. And if that was the first thing to enter your mind, you might want to take a course in medical ethics. :slap:

I mean something like coffee, candy, or energy drinks. Something high in sugar, caffeine, or both. Something completely legal and ethical.

Caffeine has never really worked for me. Sugar does. I know, it’s unhealthy and predisposes one to diabetes and all that, but it’s what helps me when a major test is involved.

I started with peanut butter M&Ms. But these got rather boring after a while, so I tried some other candies and eventually settled on skittles. Yes. I’m serious. They have a variety of flavors, so they don’t get repetitive in taste. When you’re on a 10-minute break during a practice test take a couple handfuls and throw them back while you take some deep breaths and prepare mentally for the next section.

Every person is different. Figure out what works for you.



=10. Mark Questions And Review Them=

It sounds obvious, but so many people don’t do it!

While you’re taking a test (either primary or secondary), mark a question if you’re not sure about your answer. Do this in every single test, whether primary or secondary. Pretend each one is the actual MCAT. If you have time left at the end of the section, go back and review your marked questions one-by-one. Think about why you marked this question in the first place. Is it because some calculation confused you? Or did you mark it just to double-check your work? Is it because the question uses some vocabulary you aren’t familiar with? Try to reason it out. If you can’t, move on to the next marked question.

Fair warning: Be extremely careful what you mark in VR. After completing the seventh passage, it’s generally a very bad idea to jump back to passage #2 and try to recall the details of it. Your goal should be to go through VR once and finish with ~60 seconds left.

Only mark a question in VR if:
—It’s simply-worded.
—You can narrow it down to 2 answer choices beforehand.
—And you think you will remember enough of the passage to return to it and still answer questions.

Furthermore, use every second you have in each section. NEVER finish a section if there are some answers you’re unsure about. If you have even a minute left, go back to those questions and think about them. Maybe something will pop into your head. One more correct answer can make the difference between a 10 and an 11.



=11. Use Your Scratch Paper=

The MCAT rules allow you to scribble notes on your scratch paper during the tutorial and examinee agreement. Each of these allows you 10 minutes, but takes about 1. That gives you a good 18 minutes or so to scribble on your scratch paper before the first section: PS.

Over my two months of study, I developed a pool of 22 equations that I would write on scratch paper before every test. These were simple equations which I had a tendency to forget when they came up in the middle of full-length exams. On the actual test, I ended up using five of these.

(No, I won’t tell you what my 22 equations were. Come up with your own list.)

Also, get used to writing the following series of numbers in the corner of your scratch paper: “52-44-36-28-20-12”. This is a mark of how much time you should have remaining at the end of each of the first 6 verbal passages. If I was within 1-2 minutes of these times, I considered that fine. If I was more than two minutes ahead, I would try to slow down a little, because in all likelihood I was rushing either my reading or my question answering. If I was more than two minutes behind, I would start reading faster to get back in line. Notice this allows you ~8 minutes to finish each passage. Also note, it allows four minutes of leeway in case you get stuck on a very hard passage or have to read something over again.



=12. Set Aside A Quiet Place=

Okay, this sounds pretty obvious, but you’d be amazed how many don’t do it!

For paper materials: find a nice, clean desk you can use and push it up against a wall so whenever you look up, there is nothing interesting to see. Keep the desk clear except for your timer and whatever books and papers you are using at the moment.

For computerized tests: clear off the area around your computer so you have nothing but a mouse, your scratch paper, and computer screen. A keyboard is allowable, but since the removal of the WS section, completely unnecessary.

For both: Use your earplugs. Get used to them. Have your candy/coffee/energy drink nearby and only reach for it during scheduled breaks. Turn off your phone and put it in another room. Don’t check email/Facebook/Twitter/etc until you are ready to take your lunch break.

Short Story: I bombed one of my AAMC tests (#9). The reason? I forgot to mute my phone and had a family member call near the end of PS. I had to answer—I couldn’t just let it ring and pretend I was not home. I was stuck on the phone for several minutes. While I still answered every single question, the distraction was enough to drop my score SIX points from my previous AAMC. :scared: Seeing such a drop made me want to give up, but I told myself it was a fluke and scored much better on the next test.



=13. If You Can Find The Old “R” Tests, Use Them First=

The “R” version of the MCAT is an older version, from the early 1990’s. I’m not exactly clear on the details surrounding it, or when it was replaced with the current exam, but I can tell you that it covers all the same topics as the current MCAT. The only significant difference is the “R” test is longer. The following mini-chart compares the distribution of questions:

.......Current…..“R”
PS…..52………..77
VR…..40……….65
BS…..52……….77
Tot…144……...219

Simple math (219/144) shows that the “R” versions of the MCAT are 1.5 times as long as the current version. So each “R” test is like doing one and a half MCATs. I’m not sure how to time these exactly, so I did them without timing them, going at a normal pace. They took 4+ hours each (after breaks), which seemed about right.

If you can find AAMC #1, it is an “R” test. I don’t know about #2, as I never found a copy. Also, some old prep books have the longer tests. If you can find any “R” tests, do them first. They will help you build up stamina and test you on 50% more content simultaneously.

Finally, some books with “R” tests either don’t have a scoring scale, or have one that is bizarrely out of proportion. I created a scale which seems more accurate to me. This scale gave me a 30 on AAMC #1, which was bracketed by 32s on AAMC #3 and #4 (and each section was plus or minus 1) so I’d call it a decent estimation.

………......PS/BS…..VR
15………..76-77……65
14………..73-75……63-64
13………..70-72……60-62
12………..67-69……57-59
11………..64-66……54-57
10………..59-63……49-53
9…………55-58……44-48
8…………50-54……39-43
7…………46-49……34-38
6…………40-45……29-33
5…………33-39……23-28
1-4……….less………less

The method for creating this chart took a while, but basically involved taking all the scaled-score data from e-mcat.com, averaging the charts there, turning that into a ‘percent correct’ chart, and then turning those percentages into a # out of 77 or 65 correct.

I present it here so you don’t have to go through all the work. I only hope you can find some “R” tests to use it on. :xf:



=14. Pick Your Studying Time Carefully=

And by “time”, I mean “time of year”.

There are three times of year you can reasonably study for the MCAT:
—Christmas break.
—Summer break.
—Any term you are taking no classes.

Now, it has been said on this board innumerable times, but I feel I must repeat it here… Study at a time when you have no other commitments. No job. No research. No classes. I know it is hard to put your entire life aside to prepare for a single test, but that is what is required to get all you can out of your study time.

I could only manage 2 months over Christmas break (starting the day I had my last final of fall term, and running two weeks into classes during winter term). I wish I could have done it the previous summer, but I had to take a condensed chemistry course to complete my BS degree.

I know some of you work. I know some of you have families. You might be able to do your MCAT studying at night. Or do 2-hour quizzes instead of 3.

You could always review flashcards when you have a few minutes alone. Or read through your workbook if you take public transit.

If you have significant family or work obligations which you absolutely cannot escape. I must say that the 2-month plan is probably not for you. Sorry. You should give yourself more time. I would suggest using the same strategy of quizzing, testing, and careful analysis… but over a longer period. 3 months, or 4 months maybe. Whatever it takes for you to be comfortable with the material.



=15. Finish All Your Prereqs=

I cannot stress this one hard enough.

Occasionally I will see posts here (or elsewhere) asking “do I have to take Ochem before the MCAT?” :bang:

I always want to answer with something snarky along the lines of “Only if you want to score higher than the 20th percentile in BS.”

But seriously. The MCAT tests on four subjects in science: Physics, GenChem, OChem, and Biology. You absolutely NEED to take the basic prereqs to do well on the MCAT.

I would even suggest more courses. Mammal Physiology, Intro to Biochem, and Human Genetics (aka Clinical Genetics) were the most beneficial to me. But then, I am a biology major, so people of other majors may have other opinions.

I’ve also heard that Calculus-Based Physics and Physical Chemistry (or Analytical Chemistry) can be extremely beneficial for the PS section (if you can survive them—I didn’t take any of them). As for Ochem, I led an Ochem workshop for a year, which was extremely helpful with refreshing all those finicky reactions.

In short, take your prereqs. Pay attention. And study hard in each of them—you never know what insignificant piece of knowledge will come up on the MCAT.




=16. Read The 30+ Thread Here On SDN=

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=503250

That’s the link to the thread. Read it; it contains words of advice from others who slew this minotaur of a test.

To elaborate, this was actually the very first thing I did in preparing for the MCAT. I read every single post—yes all 1200+!. Everything I found helpful or inspirational was scribbled in my workbook, on the very last page. Over time, I added and removed ideas. What remains are the points you are reading here.



=17. Get A Good Night Of Sleep=

Every single night.

Nothing is worse than trying to think about total internal reflection and the molecular causes of Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome on 4 hours of sleep. Heck, it’s hard enough with a full night of sleep behind you.

While engaged in the Spinach Method, you should try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up only when you feel rested and ready to start the day.

Furthermore, I believe that sleep deprivation is most detrimental to VR—the section which people generally have the hardest time with. Sleep deprivation wrecks the mind’s ability to focus and work on detail-oriented tasks. The most detail-oriented section of the MCAT is VR!

If you suffer from insomnia, don’t schedule yourself for a morning test!

If you aren’t convinced that a good night of sleep is important, read this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_sleep_deprivation_on_cognitive_performance



=18. Don’t Be Afraid To Cancel If You’re Not Ready=

You should set a realistic “goal” score, based on your GPA, ECs, and which schools you hope to get into. Are you alright with DO? Or is Harvard the only school for you? All of these things will effect your goal score.

I can’t tell you what your goal should be, but the lower your GPA and ECs, the higher your goal should be. Look at the MSAR to figure out which schools admit applicants with stats near yours.

When you look at the schedule below, you will see that every Friday you will be doing an AAMC test. These are spaced out regularly so you can use them to assess how well you are advancing in your studies.

You will also notice #3 is the very first test you will take. Many advise against this, but I think it is a great idea because it allows you to assess where you stand before you truly start studying. Thus, it allows you to track your advances more carefully. Also, AAMC #11 is the very last test you will take, completing your preparation and giving the best possible prediction of what your actual MCAT score will be.

If you get within a few weeks of test day and are still nowhere near your goal, you must realize that massive gains on test day are exceedingly rare. Most people are within 1 on each individual section (plus or minus). Getting +2 on a section over your last practice test is a fluke.

So if you get near test day (say, when you take AAMC #9 according to the schedule below), and find your score is far below your goal, you have 4 options:
—Change your goal.
—Change your test date.
—Take the test anyway and pray.
—Take the test anyway and immediately void.

My suggestion is to delay your test date. It allows you the chance to work on your weaknesses and bring your score up towards your goal. Also, you would have saved AAMC #10 and #11 for later use.




=19. Know Everything=

This is in reference to PS and BS specifically.

There are some subjects which appear more frequently on the MCAT, and some which appear less frequently. For examples, let’s say… radioactivity appears on most tests in one way or another, while capacitors can appear, but less frequently. (Once you’ve done all the AAMC tests, you will get a feel for what is more frequent.)

That does not mean you need to know about radioactivity, but can ignore capacitors. No. You must know everything that might show up on the test. That’s how to do well in the sciences. You must know how to calculate the capacitance of parallel and series capacitors. You must know what variables affect the capacitance of a capacitor. You don’t need to know these things because it will be on the test, but because it might be on the test.

Realize that at the very top scores (11+), raising your score 1 point can mean as little as 1-2 questions. So the fact that you know how to find the overall capacitance of a series of capacitors might make that difference!
:prof:
If you can’t know everything, you need to do your absolute best to know as much as possible



=20. Don’t Get Burned Out=

I feel like I’m repeating myself here, but I think this is the second most important thing on this list (behind only #1, The Overall Idea).

:beat:

Seriously, this is a problem I think most people face during their MCAT preparation. The constant days of questions and questions and tests after tests wears on people. Regardless of what some gunners say, it is mentally exhausting.

That’s why my schedule allows for a Free Day on every Sunday. If you are feeling over-taxed, relax. Do nothing MCAT-related. This conflicts directly with #6 on my list, but if you feel absolutely drained, then just relax. I made some suggestions in #7, which gives a few things you can do during rest days.

But, if none of those work for you, do whatever.

I am not going to yell at you for not following the schedule. I’m providing the schedule to you. I’m not demanding you follow it to the word.

Short Story: Even I took a few unscheduled days off. That’s what happens when you do your test prep over Christmas break. I had family meetings to attend… and classes started two weeks before my test day. So, for a couple of those days, I accomplished nothing MCAT-related.

Regardless of the couple days I took off, I still raised my score 10 points in 2 months. I would suggest you stick closer to the schedule, but it’s all up to your dedication and how much you want to succeed.

So take the minotaur by the horns and kick its ass!

That’s all for now

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Hey Spinach Dip,

So I'm sure you're probably well past the MCAT but I was hoping to get a tip of advice from you. So I've been well into SN2ed's study plan about 2/3 done with the whole schedule, and completely done with content review. I took AAMC 3 today and I completely got screwed with a 24/45. My exam is in roughly 30 days, and even if I wanted to push back I couldn't until January.

Are you applying this year? Or next year?

If you are applying next year, there is no problem with delaying until January.



I really don't know what went wrong, as I usually do pretty well at least a solid 10 on my sections in TBR (doing separate practice passages that follow each chapter). I guess I haven't been studying properly or the right way, but any advice on what to do? My goal is a 33, and to be honest I feel like I second guessed myself a lot on AAMC 3. Should I push back till January, or triumph for the kill with what seems like a foolishly unreasonable amount of time left.

Realize that TBR and AAMC are not exactly the same. You can score better on one than the other. Alternatively, it is possible that you know how to answer all the questions, but have difficulty doing it under testing conditions (timed, random order, etc).

I'd suggest you go over the AAMC you just did and review where you went wrong carefully. Is it because you are not used to the format? Or because you actually didn't know how to answer the questions?

Afterwords, go ahead and do AAMC #4. See where you stand. That should give you some idea of what score you might be able to reach in 30 days.
 
thanks Spinach Dip, I'll keep you updated on my score when I do AAMC 4, I'm going to review FL3 today and keep going over content for the next two-three days. Let's see where my weak areas are, and then take AAMC 4. I really think it might be because I'm not used to taking FL in random order, and all in one sitting. I'll keep you updated.
 
Spinach, just wanted to say thanks for your study method. I lurked here for a bit and tried to follow it as best I could and ended up very happy with my score.

Cheers!
 
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Spinach Dip.

Just took AAMC 4. I jumped in PS by 4 points but dropped in bio and verbal by one. So overall:

AAMC 3 (7,9,8) 24
AAMC 4 (11, 8, 7) 26.

Test date in 9/7/13. Should I retake or keep hoping to increase my scores by doing more and more exams. I don't want to waste AAMC's so I'm planning on taking some Kaplan tests as well. If I push off my exam (although I am applying next cycle) I have a heavy courseload this semester, and I'm just worried that I'll be starting from square one again if I delay.
 
Spinach, just wanted to say thanks for your study method. I lurked here for a bit and tried to follow it as best I could and ended up very happy with my score.

Cheers!


I saw your post on the 30+ thread. Congrats on the kick-ass score! :highfive:

Do you mind sharing your first practice-test score? I am sure there are many interested in how much you improved and in how much time.

GJ!
 
To Spinach Dip,

First off, thank you for your posts. I couldn't have stumbled on this thread at a better time! Just received my mcat scores today and totally bombed the verbal section.

Sorry if you've answer this before, but when do you think I should resume studying for my re-take? I tested last month and haven't touched MCAT materials since then. My ps and bs sections were average/above average, so would you suggest less emphasis on those during these next few months of studying?

additionally, I've exhausted all my aamc practice tests, so what's a good alternative? Should I try retake on those as well? My dilemma is that I have access to online materials/tests through an online prep course I took with Princeton Review. I could potentially print off the aamc tests and just take paper tests before I lose access in October. Thinking of retesting in January.
 
Spinach Dip.

Just took AAMC 4. I jumped in PS by 4 points but dropped in bio and verbal by one. So overall:

AAMC 3 (7,9,8) 24
AAMC 4 (11, 8, 7) 26.

You went up in PS--Good! The others are within the range of variation (plus/minus 1). Keep up the good work.



Test date in 9/7/13. Should I retake or keep hoping to increase my scores by doing more and more exams. I don't want to waste AAMC's so I'm planning on taking some Kaplan tests as well.

Taking exams from secondary sources (Kaplan, TBR, TPR, etc) can be helpful. Just keep in mind that some of them use different scoring systems, so they may not represent your 'actual' score very well.



If I push off my exam (although I am applying next cycle) I have a heavy courseload this semester, and I'm just worried that I'll be starting from square one again if I delay.

What courses are you taking? Perhaps they will help you with understanding the material better. (I found Physiology and Cell Bio to be extremely helpful for mastering the BS section.)

Regardless of the classes you're taking, I think taking more time can only be good. Maybe you can review MCAT flashcards between classes, or on the weekend when you're not doing homework.

It's a tough situation, but if you can't meet your goal now, don't be worried to put it off to January. (It won't delay your application...)
 
To Spinach Dip,

First off, thank you for your posts. I couldn't have stumbled on this thread at a better time! Just received my mcat scores today and totally bombed the verbal section.

Sorry about VR. :(

But I'm glad I could be of help :)


Sorry if you've answer this before, but when do you think I should resume studying for my re-take? I tested last month and haven't touched MCAT materials since then. My ps and bs sections were average/above average, so would you suggest less emphasis on those during these next few months of studying?

If VR was your worst by far, I would definitely suggest focusing on that.

However, do not neglect the other subjects. The best-case scenario for a retake is to increase ALL section scores.


additionally, I've exhausted all my aamc practice tests, so what's a good alternative? Should I try retake on those as well? My dilemma is that I have access to online materials/tests through an online prep course I took with Princeton Review. I could potentially print off the aamc tests and just take paper tests before I lose access in October. Thinking of retesting in January.

The AAMC tests are still the best materials, even if you have seen them before. The scores you obtain may not be entirely accurate, but the questions and content areas are still the closest to what you will see on the actual test.

This is especially true with VR. As I said in my VR segment, I think that the AAMC materials are the only ones where you should get into the reasoning behind the correct answer choices. I found that all the other sources had a different way of determining the correct answer; and as such, were practically useless for anything more than the practice of my method.



Good Luck! :thumbup:
 
I saw your post on the 30+ thread. Congrats on the kick-ass score! :highfive:

Do you mind sharing your first practice-test score? I am sure there are many interested in how much you improved and in how much time.

GJ!

Thanks!

Um, I was trying to find my first practice test score on AAMC#3 but for whatever reason it disappeared from e-mcat. I have no idea why. I also did it untimed and cheated on the PS (to look up of physics formulas I hadn't looked at in five years). Biological and verbal I did timed without cheating. I think the score might have been 11P, 11V, 11B. So basically I think I went from a 33 (or maybe 34) on 5/20/13 to a 38 (13P, 13V, 12B) on my 7/2 test day.

Here are my other AAMC copied from my 30+ thread post:

Test 4 (6/3/13) 11P, 12V, 11B, 34 overall. This was basically my first full test with very little content review.
Test 10 (6/11/13): 12P, 11V, 13B, 36 overall. This was after focused biological/physical review on what I had missed.
Test 5 (6/15/13): 13P, 11V, 13B. 37 overall. I felt terrible during this test but was surprised by the result.
Test 7 (6/20/13): 12P, 11V, 14B. 37 overall. Hadn't prepared enough but still replicated my performance.

After I hit both of those 37's a good, supportive friend of mine who is an MS3 suggested I just stop taking full practice tests since I was so close to my test day. So I did. I still did some AAMC practice sections, untimed.

For test 9 these gave me: 13P, 11V, 14B.​

As you can see, I was a bit disappointed by my biological performance on test day, but oh well, I had a good day on physical. :)

I would also echo Spinach's comment on being tired/unfocused disproportionally affecting verbal. When I took Verbal early in the morning, I always got 11's. On AAMC 8 I ended up with a 15 when I took it at my 'peak performance' time of day in the evening. I would attribute the good verbal score on test day to 1) the 5 hour energies pumping through me 2) using the strategies mentioned in my 30+ thread post and 3) (of course) luck!

For other tips, see my post on the 30+ thread and feel free to PM me with any questions. Cheers!
 
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Thank you! I took around 32 practice exams! I had taken the mcat in 9/7/12 and received a 23 (8,7v,8). After studying content and using your method of taking insane amount of practice exams I scored a 28! I know I could have broken a 30 but verbal was insanely hard on my test and it has always been my weakness(ESL). My breakdown was (11p,7v, 10b)! Once again, I was confident that I would break 30 and I know if i ever decide to retake I will most likely do so!


:love:
 
All the rest is merely practice.

Every other source (TPR, TBR, GS, EK, Kaplan, Arco, etc) is verbal practice alone. Treat them like they are official while you are reading them and answering the questions. You can even grade them if you wish and keep track of your progress.

But stop there. Do not, I repeat: do not read the reasoning behind their answers. Why? Because they are not the AAMC. They are independent companies who wrote practice tests to sell, and thus can be wrong. Their reasoning may be completely contradictory to what the AAMC would say on the exact same question.

Use these tests and quizzes to work on your technique and timing. Use the actual AAMCs to work on your reasoning skills.

Woah this last part threw me off...
 
Spinach Dip,

thanks so much for the responses. I've decided I'm gonna keep at it for my scheduled exam date. I just took AAMC 5 today. I'm happy about my scores, and hopefully I can continue improving

AAMC 3 (7,9,8) 24
AAMC 4 (11, 8, 7) 26
AAMC 5 (10, 8. 10) 28

I don't know how I am improving so dramatically, within two tests, but I'm kind of letting karma run its course and hoping the trend continues. Any suggestions for Verbal ( Picked up an LSAT book to run through as many verbal sections as I can). I really am building confidence despite my low scores, so if I don't make what I hope to on test day, screw it, I'll keep chugging along, I know I (moreso everyone else is really capable of hitting 32+ score), and I can feel it. I LOVE YOU for the motivation btw haha.
 
spinach i need some advice! toom aamc3 got 9PS 9VR 10BS. i was really happy with the balanced score. i took aamc4 two days later and got 12PS 6VR 11BS. i have no idea what happened! is aamc4 verbal harder or was my score on aam3 just a fluke? i hope its all psychological and i can just calm down a little bit. i noticed i was a little more stressed when taking the aamc4. im taking aamc7 tomorrow, or should i take aamc5 first? my test is on the 28th.
 
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spinach i need some advice! toom aamc3 got 9PS 9VR 10BS. i was really happy with the balanced score. i took aamc4 two days later and got 12PS 6VR 11BS. i have no idea what happened! is aamc4 verbal harder or was my score on aam3 just a fluke? i hope its all psychological and i can just calm down a little bit. i noticed i was a little more stressed when taking the aamc4.

Stress could definitely play a role.

But also, look over the questions you got wrong. Is it because you mis-understood a passage and got most of the questions wrong? Or did you make silly mistakes on every passage? If the former, you need to focus more on reading passages carefully. But if the latter, you need to focus on understanding the questions.



im taking aamc7 tomorrow, or should i take aamc5 first? my test is on the 28th.

It doesn't matter what order you take them in, IMO. I would only suggest you take 10 and 11 last, and go over them most carefully, as they are the closest to the actual exam.
 
Closest to your exam. My PS was more similar to the earlier AAMC's. Just saying, it varies from test to test.

Granted.

My PS was very calculation-heavy and more similar to some of the TPR and TBR practice questions. Thus, why using materials from multiple sources is so important. (assuming you can afford them).

However, pretty much everyone agrees that among the AAMCs, 10 and 11 are closest to the current exam--especially in BS.
 
thanks for the tips! just took aamc7 this morning.. got a 10/8/11. going to do some heavy post-game analysis now. i was much more calm this time around and i think that helped me a lot. i had to rush the last two passages but it still felt a lot better than aamc4. my goal is a 30, hopefully i can make it!
 
I used the Mack ear plug according to Spinach's guide. It worked magic!

Wow, what a difference the correct size can make !
 
I just want to say, first and foremost, that I've used a lot of study tips from this and other SDN users, so I thank the OP for taking his time to make this for us. So far, it has helped me immensely from when I took the MCAT the first time (I got a 22).

My target MCAT score now is at least a 30. I take the MCAT again on 9/11.

I'm just a tad bit worried now... I took AAMC 10, got a 27 (10 BS, 7 VR, 10 BS). Verbal was a sleeper hit (from a 9 to a 7), but I relatively maintained my PS/BS scores, with both 10s from 11s in AAMC 9. I really thought I would maintain a 30+ score with this one... but AAMC 10 has historically been harder for me than AAMC 9 (when I studied for the exam the first time around).

At this point (for the most part, at least), I still feel generally great and optimistic about my actual score. I know I'll do even better this time around. Now what I'll do is post phrase of course, and then just continue to do more VR and PS/BS practice. It's more of a time constraint for me, though; I started school this week.

Here are my AAMC scores so far:

AAMC 3: 25 (8 PS, 8 VR, 9 BS)
AAMC 4: 25 (8 PS, 9 VR, 8 BS)
AAMC 5: 27 (8 PS, 9 VR, 10 BS)
AAMC 7: 26 (9 PS, 7 VR, 10BS)
AAMC 8: 29 (9 PS, 9 VR, 11 BS)
AAMC 9: 31 (11 PS, 9 VR, 11 BS)
AAMC 10: 27 (10 PS, 7 VR, 10 BS)
AAMC 11: I'll be taking this one next week

as it stands, I have an AAMC average of about a 27. Not what I had hoped. I'm wondering if it's still possible to get at least a 30 on the real deal. To the OP and anyone else that'd like to answer, any thoughts?
 
Thanks for this fantastic guide. Just a few questions.

You said that you should dedicate your time only to the MCAT, which I totally agree. I spent 2.5 months this past summer working on just the MCAT. But, I plan on retaking it to apply by Summer 2014 for entrance in 2015 (my previous score was 29 = PS: 12, VR: 6, BS: 11)

If, according to your schedule, I were to start after my Fall quarter finals end (which is December 16th), that would give me 5 weeks (2.5 weeks in January which will involve classes) before the exam date of January 24th.

Do you think it could be done? I really want to raise my VR by about 2-4 points (avg. 7-9 on my FLs) without hurting my PS and BS by more than 1 point (avg. 10-13 on my FLs).
 
Would you believe that most people don't even know that earplugs come in different sizes?
I have to sleep with earplugs in. For a while I wondered why some actually hurt my ears until I figured that out.

In any case, I read your plan. Would you say it's correct that this is for somebody who has a decent memory of all their pre-req's? I took all my pre-req's during the first three years of my undergrad and am finding the ones I took earlier on haven't stuck with me. For example, physics was the first and I'm having to do a lot of re-learning.

Your method seems to assume a certain amount of competency, which I don't feel I have yet. I'm SN2ed's 4-month plan right now. Seems like your plan is a modified version of the last half of his. Am I missing a key point to yours that would make it work for somebody in my position?
 
Hey Spinach Dip,

Got my August 28th scores back...got a 29 11/10/8. The 8 on bio really killed my score. How did you tackle bio and can you suggest some specific materials. I had TBR and that clearly didn't work.

Thanks for the help
 
I've registered to take my MCAT on 23 Jan 2014. Currently taking my exams for my masters coursework and will proceed to review for the MCAT as soon as I finish my last paper on 14 Nov 2013.
Seeing that I have only 10 weeks to review for the MCAT, I'm wondering whether I can handle this schedule or should I follow SN2ed's 3-month schedule but take it at an accelerated pace?

I've taken the MCAT last year but didn't get a good score [PS6 VR8 BS10] as I was holding a full time job at the time. This time 'round, I'll be dedicating the entire 10 weeks to pure MCAT review.

Could anyone weigh in on this? Is this a better and more efficient study schedule or should I be doing SN2ed's plan?

Thanks!!
 
I've registered to take my MCAT on 23 Jan 2014. Currently taking my exams for my masters coursework and will proceed to review for the MCAT as soon as I finish my last paper on 14 Nov 2013.
Seeing that I have only 10 weeks to review for the MCAT, I'm wondering whether I can handle this schedule or should I follow SN2ed's 3-month schedule but take it at an accelerated pace?

I've taken the MCAT last year but didn't get a good score [PS6 VR8 BS10] as I was holding a full time job at the time. This time 'round, I'll be dedicating the entire 10 weeks to pure MCAT review.

Could anyone weigh in on this? Is this a better and more efficient study schedule or should I be doing SN2ed's plan?

Thanks!!

I almost decided to do the exact same thing, but due to class responsibilities until mid December I opted for the March 22 test instead. It'll give me winter break to solidify content and start practice, and an extra two months to keep practicing and going over things. don't rush it if you don't have to, as you already took it once before and you really want to nail it this time. But if it seems doable to you, I'd recommend accelerating the SN2ed and doing as much practice as possible. good luck!
 
I almost decided to do the exact same thing, but due to class responsibilities until mid December I opted for the March 22 test instead. It'll give me winter break to solidify content and start practice, and an extra two months to keep practicing and going over things. don't rush it if you don't have to, as you already took it once before and you really want to nail it this time. But if it seems doable to you, I'd recommend accelerating the SN2ed and doing as much practice as possible. good luck!
Thanks, DoctorLacrosse. I was hoping for a test date in February but 23 Jan is the only test date available in Australia before school resumes in February.
I'll probably go with SN2ed's schedule and mix it up a bit with Spinach Dip's plan.

All the best on your MCAT!! :)
 
Thanks, DoctorLacrosse. I was hoping for a test date in February but 23 Jan is the only test date available in Australia before school resumes in February.
I'll probably go with SN2ed's schedule and mix it up a bit with Spinach Dip's plan.

All the best on your MCAT!! :)

haha funny, I wanted a February date myself. unfortunately none offered for anyone I believe, probably something due to weather here in the states during that time. good luck to you as well my friend! study hard
 
As a freshman, what are the biggest tips you can give me to consider for this year and the next? I know it can be too early to think about the MCAT, but it's better to know now than in two years, I suppose. Thanks!
 
As a freshman, what are the biggest tips you can give me to consider for this year and the next? I know it can be too early to think about the MCAT, but it's better to know now than in two years, I suppose. Thanks!
No worries i wish i was thinking about mcat when i was a freshman lol
Print out the guidelines of what will be on mcat from MCAT website! And try to learn them as u take your classes! And for verbal READ A LOT OF DIFFERENT ARTICLES AND BOOKS! Massage me if u needed any help! Im not the best but i think what i experienced might help you to not make same mistakes and be prepared :) good luck !
 
Just focus on learning the material. Better knowledge of the material will give you better knowledge of the basics. Start reading actively. Start reading science journals.
 
No worries i wish i was thinking about mcat when i was a freshman lol
Print out the guidelines of what will be on mcat from MCAT website! And try to learn them as u take your classes! And for verbal READ A LOT OF DIFFERENT ARTICLES AND BOOKS! Massage me if u needed any help! Im not the best but i think what i experienced might help you to not make same mistakes and be prepared :) good luck !
Just focus on learning the material. Better knowledge of the material will give you better knowledge of the basics. Start reading actively. Start reading science journals.

Thank you both! To be completely honest, reading and writing is and has been my weakness, so I thank you for reminding me to work on it now. So do you recommend reading regularly in a daily basis? Once a week? Or hold it off until the holidays/breaks (can't wait 'til my first month-long break haha)? I imagine to pull these articles randomly off Google Scholar.
 
When you say "secondary tests" just to be clear, you mean full lengths offered by whatever test prep that is not AAMC?
 
Hi Spinach Dip! Thanks for your extremely helpful posts! I've been reading through them today as I found them by luck!

I started studying for the MCAT 2 weeks ago and am planning on applying to medical school by June 2014. I'm taking the PR online course to help me structure my schedule, but it's difficult b/c I'm taking 3 classes at school right now as well and commuting from quite far away for different reasons. The review material/books seem to be refreshing my memory, but it's taking FOREVER for me to read through the books and fully recall the information. As of now, I haven't signed up for the MCAT b/c all testing dates are no longer available in my state, so I have to fly to another state, but do you think I should give myself more time to study and take the exam in July vs. May? I'm kind of at crossroads b/c I want to get a good score but I also want to apply to med schools early when the application opens.
I haven't taken a diagnostic test yet but am planning to take one tomorrow.

Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you!!
 
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So I have been studying for the mcat for around 6 months now and I have to say thank you so much for sharing your method with us! By following your method and ESPECIALLY listening to your suggestion to not read the answer explanations for non AAMC verbal practice, I just dropped a 14 on verbal on AAMC 7. Ever since I switched to your method I have gone up two points per exam from a 29,30, 32, and now a 34.
 
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So I have been studying for the mcat for around 6 months now and I have to say thank you so much for sharing your method with us! By following your method and ESPECIALLY listening to your suggestion to not read the answer explanations for non AAMC verbal practice, I just dropped a 14 on verbal on AAMC 7. Ever since I switched to your method I have gone up two points per exam from a 29,30, 32, and now a 34.

This thread gave me hope and I certainly applied some of the recommendations for verbal but I did not follow it to the tee. Still got the score I wanted but props on the 14 on VR bro! That's huge!
 
Well thank you. I have modified it a bit of course but his suggestions really helped me out. Congrats on your score!
 
I think this is by far, the best study guide I've seen on here. Very flexible and fits anyone's needs without being specific about EK vs Kaplan, etc. Eagerly awaiting the other sections. Your method for finding the square roots is generally the quickest, but in case anyone needs a little more accuracy, he's the method I've been using since middle school. With some numbers (e.g. 182) and practice, this method can actually be quicker.
 
Hello Spinach Dip and friends

Thank you for your posts Spinach Dip. They have been a great help to me during my studies. I dont know how I would have made it to this point without them. Currently I am a confused on how I should review my verbal sections. How did you or anyone else here approach wrong answers on the verbal section? Also how is the Exam Kracker method of reading the questions without the passage when reviewing questions capable of helping you. Would that mean after reading the passage you should read all the questions first and then answer them individually? Furthermore how were you or anyone else able to take 3 mcat exams a week? It takes me about two days to post phrase one exam. Am I doing something wrong? Please if anyone would be willing to chime in I would appreciate it. Thank you.
 
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Hey Spinach Dip,

I really appreciate what you done here. Your strategy gives me a light how to prepare my test. Thank you very much! I envy what you got on the MCAT :)

I have a question for you, where can I find the secondary test resources? I been looking for so many websites, but still can't find it. Can you give me some links? The more the better.
 
Your awesome spinach!! I have been trailing your improvement so far following your method
AAMC 7 got a 35 a 6 point increase in a month!! :)
 
By the way where do you stand on the whole "Real mcat is harder than AAMCs" and "later AAMCs are more difficult"
 
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