How much longer are MCAT VR passages?

[JSU]

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I usually either finish VR with a minute or two to spare or barely finish (I kind of guessed on one question on an EK exam I just took). Should I be worried about long passages on the MCAT? If the questions are easy I can usually blow through them given an easy passage, but if I get a long Philosophy passage, its gonna take some time. Also, can someone give an an estimate on how many words there are in a "long" passage.

Thanks!

 

[Northwesterly]

My VR took maybe 5% longer, (I usually finished AAMCs with 5-8 minutes to spare but finished the actual test with around 90 seconds left) but then all my MCAT sections took a little longer than the AAMCs, so make of that what you will. In terms of word count--the screens at the test center were small (14"?) and lower resolution than my laptop so I while I remember seeing big blocks of text on the screen, I don't think they were actually any longer than the practice passages.

 

[JSU]

My VR took maybe 5% longer, (I usually finished AAMCs with 5-8 minutes to spare but finished the actual test with around 90 seconds left) but then all my MCAT sections took a little longer than the AAMCs, so make of that what you will. In terms of word count--the screens at the test center were small (14"?) and lower resolution than my laptop so I while I remember seeing big blocks of text on the screen, I don't think they were actually any longer than the practice passages.

Thanks! I guess ill try lowering the resolution on my lappy. Im already working off of a 13" screen.

 

[NickNaylor]

EK approximates the length fairly well. I think they may have been a little shorter on my test, but not by much.

 

[ilayawake]

when you guys take your practice tests are you also doing the essays with it?

i am going to do AAMC 7 today! Hmmm or maybe 8...i'm not sure yet.

 

[Cramster]

Of course, it doesn't count unless you subject yourself to testcenter-like conditions...10 minute breaks, no pausing, no relaxing media during breaks, no lying down (unless you plan to take your break in your car, probably not enough time for that), uncomfortable chair

 

[JSU]

Of course, it doesn't count unless you subject yourself to testcenter-like conditions...10 minute breaks, no pausing, no relaxing media during breaks, no lying down (unless you plan to take your break in your car, probably not enough time for that), uncomfortable chair

Then ive been cheating 😀 . I only do 1 essay.

 

[JSU]

They are LONG. I'm retaking the AAMC verbal sections, and they seem to be about 3/4 the length of the passages on the real deal. They seem a lot easier as well. I am able to finish reading an aamc practice passsage an answering the questions within 6-6.5 minutes. It took me 8-9 minutes per passage on the real thing, and I had no time left at the end.

Maybe it was just stress? Or a small computer screen or something (wishful thinking)

 

[NickNaylor]

when you guys take your practice tests are you also doing the essays with it?

i am going to do AAMC 7 today! Hmmm or maybe 8...i'm not sure yet.

I didn't do the essays. I actually didn't even look at a prompt until the night before. If you're a capable writer, the essay should be extremely easy for you. If you're not a capable writer, write an essay to get a feel for the structure you should use. The essay is extremely formulaic, so once you figure it out you shouldn't need to do too much thinking.

 

[Cramster]

I didn't do the essays. I actually didn't even look at a prompt until the night before. If you're a capable writer, the essay should be extremely easy for you. If you're not a capable writer, write an essay to get a feel for the structure you should use. The essay is extremely formulaic, so once you figure it out you shouldn't need to do too much thinking.

Cole out of curiosity what were you getting on your last 2-3 practice exams before you took the MCAT?

 

[Whiteshoes]

The essay is extremely formulaic, so once you figure it out you shouldn't need to do too much thinking.

what kind of formula do they usually follow?

 

[zombymush]

what kind of formula do they usually follow?

Were you referring to the following cole?

1) Give an example supporting the statement
2) Give counter-example
3) Conclude and round up the examples you gave and give a condition that dictates when 1) or 2) is correct.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I usually either finish VR with a minute or two to spare or barely finish (I kind of guessed on one question on an EK exam I just took). Should I be worried about long passages on the MCAT? If the questions are easy I can usually blow through them given an easy passage, but if I get a long Philosophy passage, its gonna take some time. Also, can someone give an an estimate on how many words there are in a "long" passage.

Thanks!

Most of my passages were about a small paragraph longer than most AAMCs.

 

[JSU]

After taking the MCAT, I can answer my own thread 😀 . Most of the passages were a bit longer, but there was one MONSTER at the beginning.

 

[cfx]

Uh oh. I thought the AAMC practice tests were pretty damn long. Longer than EK, it seemed. I'm running out of time on the practice tests, WTF am I going to do on the real thing?...

 

[Tapepsi]

The answer you probably didn't want to hear: You never know. 😕

I took the 6/17 AM test and I thought that the VR passages were comparable to AAMC. Not too long (maybe one was longer than usual) but fairly straightforward.

However, the 6/17 PM test sounded like they had the VR section from HELL. Based off their descriptions (and they weren't pretty) the passages were significantly longer and more convoluted than any practice VR section they ever had. I heard that many people voided their score b/c of it.

But the bottom line is that the curve will always compensate for the difficulty, so don't stress out too much about it. But here's a helpful tip: Stamina and motivation is key. If you let the MCAT overwhelm you, your score will decrease without a doubt. Keep reminding yourself that you prepared for the worst, and that there is normally a larger curve on the real test compared to the AAMC's. Act like you're acing the test (even if you think you aren't) and I guarantee you'll do okay (at least assuming you prepared enough).

But I have no room to talk as I have yet to get my score yet (I get it in 4 days).

 

[brado]

^
I took the 6/17 PM he was talking about. I was scoring 10-12s on all the AAMCs and examkrackers and feel like I might have gotten anything from a 5-12 on the 6/17 verbal. The first passage was close to double the length of a normal practice passage...it was brutal, I just hope I guessed right...so prepare for anything. I was doing a few examkrackers verbal tests in 45 minutes just to make sure I had enough time on the real thing.