How much of the old AAMC FLs are included in the new AAMC material?

[TheOneAndOnlyJamesFranco]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I still have yet to touch all of the current AAMC Materials (OG, QPacks, Section Bank, Sample test, FL1)...

Which of these resources are most contaminated with OLD AAMC FLs so I know which ones to take FIRST before delving into the old exams so I don't give myself spoilers?

Thanks!

 

[Ad2b]

Don't do old exams. They are irrelevant and time wasting. Only use 2015 material.

 

[CHoge25]

The old Q banks are "contaminated" with old questions.... the CARS will be helpful... I did them all... It only takes a couple hours to complete them (120 Q's ~3hrs)... so I would recommend doing them anyways just to brush up

 

[CHoge25]

they were NOT very similar to the new aamc material released

 

[RittaTitta]

Use the AAMC Section Bank (2015). It has great B/B, C/P, and P/S passages that are like the real thing. Then use the AAMC FLs, and then go through the old question packs if you have time. Essentially Section Bank=AAMC FLs=CARS QPacks>>>>>Other QPacks.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Don't do old exams. They are irrelevant and time wasting. Only use 2015 material.

I would completely disagree

The new FL released last month actually recycled several passages from AAMC 10 and 11. The verbal is exactly the same minus natural science themed passages(and even those are good practice). The bio section still has plenty of good old passages(hint not everything on the 2015 section is related to biochem at all). Like I said they were so good AAMC recycled some of them for making FL's for the new exam(note FL's not the Q packs which are all old material). The physical sciences is the one section that is different to some extent but that is still good practice.

All in all the differences between the new and old MCAT are largely overblown. The test is still getting at the same skills; reasoning and analysis. Anything released by the AAMC is the best way to practice this, period. And that includes old AAMC material.

The idea of biology incorporated passages in the physical sciences is overblown; alot of it is as simple as instead of having fluid going through a pipe make the problem have blood going through a vein. The concepts tested are exactly the same. There is more biochem now and that obviously needs to be studied but lots of old passages are very good practice still. In fact, I would say after the new AAMC FLs the old AAMC FLs are the single best practice youll get for bio practice and verbal practice.

To the OP do as much old AAMC material as you can, particularly bio and verbal. Obviously the new material is going to be the best practice. But familiarity with MCAT style and logic is invaluable. That hasn't changed, only some of the material(ie way more biochem) and how it is disguised(ie now talking about blood going through a vessel instead of water through a pipe). There's no substitute to directly seeing the AAMC's style, logic and patterns. Old AAMC exams are exactly what show this.