How thorough for Bio?

[quadomatic]

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I'm using the TPR Bio book for content review (the ones they sell on Amazon that are supposedly identical to the Hyperlearning book as far as content review goes).

I then did some TBR Bio passages from the corresponding sections, and I got destroyed. A good chunk of the material just wasn't covered in TPR. For example, TPR did not go in depth about Beta oxidation, so when that passage came up, I couldn't really do it.

So, if I'm shooting for a 40+, exactly how thorough should I be for content review in Bio? Should I read TBR Bio instead of TPR? Or, are TBR's passages just exceedingly difficult?

 

[FutureMD23]

I used TPR bio and it seemed definitely thorough enough. Recent MCAT bio is less on just knowing everything than it is analyzing passages and experimental data and applying basic bio knowledge. That being said, if you want a 40+ you need to know everything like the back of your hand and be a GREAT test taker. Have you taken any practice AAMCs yet?

 

[quadomatic]

I used TPR bio and it seemed definitely thorough enough. Recent MCAT bio is less on just knowing everything than it is analyzing passages and experimental data and applying basic bio knowledge. That being said, if you want a 40+ you need to know everything like the back of your hand and be a GREAT test taker. Have you taken any practice AAMCs yet?

No, haven't taken any AAMCs yet. I just started studying last week. I'm registered for 8/19.

 

[FutureMD23]

In that case, I'm sure your fine. It is probably just the transition into MCAT style passages and questions. It can be a weird transition at first. But, to answer your question again - Yes, you need to know just about everything in the review books. Once you have a good base knowledge in all the sciences your scores will improve. Keep in mind though that the MCAT is different. It is not about surface level questions where you can just answer them off the top of your mind. It is about really "knowing" science and reading passages about junk you have never heard before and being able to analyze and interpret it all to answer the questions.

 

[MD2BeWpg]

And how does one get better at that? Through practice? I can honestly say that I know the bio content in EK very well. However, when I go to to TBR bio passages I get marks such as 2/6 and 2/7 etc. As well as looking over the answers, I am going to keep practicing new passages. Do you recommend to review the passages that I did poorly on? How else can I improve???