How was the July 24th MCAT?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Sort by date Sort by votes
axp107 said:
Banked curves?!!?!?

I was told we weren't supposed to be responsible for them..

were the questions more theoretical or calculation based 😱
Click to expand...

Who told you that? People have been tested on that in the past.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I took the 24th test and it seems like I ended up with the easier version.

From what I remember, I only had 2 physics passage (Astronaut and Optics). The rest of the passages were chemistry-based. I guess my version's curve won't be forgiving.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
the whole test is a blurr to me.
i think the PS is going to have a pretty big curve for each version..it was just so far off from anything I, or most on here, have seen.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Hey folks,

Here's my thoughts on the afternoon section:

PS had way more calculations then I was expecting, and it was not very broad at all. I'm not satisfied with my performance on this section. I was not prepped for angular momentum at all. Seemed to have an awful lot of questions on the photoelectric effect, which I wasn't as comfortable with as I had thought. Blech. At the end I had to stop for a moment and convince myself not to void the exam over this section.

VS is my strongest section, this had longer passages than AAMC (I always number the paragraphs when I make notes, so I KNOW the passages were longer). The passages weren't too difficult IMO - no philosophical one IIRC, which are the most difficult ones in my experience.

WS, both essays were pretty straightforward.

BS wasn't like AAMC. I didn't feel that it really plumbed our knowledge base as much as requiring us to read the passage and draw info from it. Hardly any organic (one passage that didn't really require any knowledge, just a careful read of the passage) and two discretes, one of which was a gimme. Blah, and I spent so much time studying for organic 🙁

BTW, I'm a non-traditional student, it had been 10 years since I studied chem and physics, and 8 since I took organic. My degree was in plant ecology. So, yeah, I had to learn all the material basically from scratch.

My prepr: I've been studying part time for this exam for about 8 months, and putting in about 5-7 hours each day for the last 2.5 months. I studied using Kaplans Premier guide, plus the web and a borrowed organic textbook (to ensure I understood all the topics adequately) and then did over 500 questions from each of the Physics, Inorganic chem, organic Chem and Biology 1001 EK books, plus a bunch of EK's VR passages. Also did practice exam 3 and 7 online. Didn't find they helped me, except in how to use the system.

IMO the most valuable skill for this exam was the ability to let go of your performance on previous sections and focus on the present section.


Punchap said:
WTF....if I checked the "mark" box on the bottom of the page, did that just count that answer as incorrect?
Click to expand...

Hey Punchap,

How mark works: when you click on 'mark', whatever question you had currently selected (by single clicking in the box that the question was in) is marked. Then, at the end when you are in the review, it will show you that the question was marked. It doesn't have any other effect.


- CD
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Foghorn said:
jeebus dude(tte), can't you even remember a thread you started on the topic 😕
Click to expand...

lol I know.. but one person said it appeared on the MCAT a loong long time ago.

I just wasn't sure if we really need to know how to do the calculations for it or not. None of the prep books even touch on it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
axp107 said:
lol I know.. but one person said it appeared on the MCAT a loong long time ago.

I just wasn't sure if we really need to know how to do the calculations for it or not. None of the prep books even touch on it.
Click to expand...
If none of the preps books touched on it then how come you mentioned on the thread you started that it was on an ExamKrackers passage? You're contradicting yourself.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thing is, examkrackers is known to have unrealistic material in some of its 30-min lecture tests ... the actual "lectures" did not even mention anything about banked surfaces. My Kaplan instructor also told me not to worry about it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
axp107 said:
Thing is, examkrackers is known to have unrealistic material in some of its 30-min lecture tests ... the actual "lectures" did not even mention anything about banked surfaces. My Kaplan instructor also told me not to worry about it.
Click to expand...
So you'd rather take your Kaplan instructor's word or some unofficial prep book as opposed to the official topics that AAMC recommends one should know for the MCAT?

You seriously need to re-evaluate your MCAT preparation strategy.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Foghorn said:
So you'd rather take your Kaplan instructor's word or some unofficial prep book as opposed to the official topics that AAMC recommends one should know for the MCAT?

You seriously need to re-evaluate your MCAT preparation strategy.
Click to expand...

First, I use the PS topics list. Never did I say I didn't. I appreciate your concern for my "MCAT prep strategy" but I know what I'm doing, thank you.

Second, since the PS list is vague. It doesn't mention anything about banked turns.. it helps sometimes .. but it's just a rudimentary guide.

Third, my question was about the "level" of detail required on banked turns from someone who had taken the test.

Finally, I'd rely on my Kaplan instructor (42 MCAT) who's been teaching for a number of years.. Again, all I was asking was whether its something you can figure out on the passage alone using "general knowledge" on forces... or whether you needed to do/know extra detail.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I wonder what the experimental passage was for people like me who didn't have that one...hopefully that BaCl passage :hardy:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
1.) If you finish a section before time ends, can you chose to end like in the practice exams online? or do you have to wait until all the time ends?

2.) Is there some sort of clock?

3.) Can you highlight? cross out?

Thanks.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
neb7703 said:
1.) If you finish a section before time ends, can you chose to end like in the practice exams online? or do you have to wait until all the time ends?

2.) Is there some sort of clock?

3.) Can you highlight? cross out?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yes
Yes
Yes, Yes
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
neb7703 said:
1.) If you finish a section before time ends, can you chose to end like in the practice exams online? or do you have to wait until all the time ends?

2.) Is there some sort of clock?

3.) Can you highlight? cross out?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

yes to all 3
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I thought it was crap how AAMC's online exams allowed the search feature, typing notes directly in the passage, and hi-lighting of of questions and answers but none of those were on the actual exam. And, it was annoying that to cross out an answer you had to use the left click not the right click like the AAMC prac's and Kaplan FL's!!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Yeah, seriously! It seems so pointless - does it really cost that much or is it really that difficult to make the practice tests (for which, I would love to remind them, we pay an exorbitant fee) match up to the real thing in terms of format? (Actually, I wrote that into my comments for them at the end of the test... except I phrased it a bit less hostilely 🙄)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Hi, I had a PS section with the passages:

Bicycles, soil, astronaut, hydrated crystal, xenon, prism and copper in a greenhouse.

I've remembered 41 out of the 52 so far. Send me a message anyone who wants to piece together that PS section ...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Greg is correct- as you have all been warned before, please do not post any specific MCAT questions on this board. It is a violation of AAMC policies.

If you see that someone has posted a question, please let the mods know by using the "Report Post" function and we'll look into it. Thanks.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
PS - was quite difficult, but much easier than my May 25th PS section which I ended up getting an 11 on - so rest assured, the curve will set everthing straight.

VR - each passage was loooong, had to guess straight up on the last 1.75 passages (couldnt even read them!), this was a section that i needed to improve in, being an ESL, and i'll be damn happy if I can get an 8. but again, since the passages were long as ****, there should be a slight curve.

WS - who gives a damn about this? i got an S last time...

BS - was quite hard, much harder than PS even tho there was hardly an orgo question. the one orgo passage, was not even completely an orgo passage, i think it was half biochem...

overall, if there is a lenient curve, i might crack a 30...otherwise, im done.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
As I said before, I had to guess on a lot of question in the PS section of the MCAT I took on july 24th. I usually got 11-14 on my practice tests, but I do not think I even did average on the real one. I was very stressed and totally screwed my test.

Now, what do you guys think? should I retake the exam on August 9th (before knowing my score and considering that it is not "that" late) or wait to see my score and retake it on Sep 9th (considering it is very late, but "maybe" my score turns out to be ok and I can cancel my test?)
I am very confused and do not know what to do😕😱:scared:.... Please help me and let me know about your opinions, I would really really appreciate it. Thank you.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
hamidace said:
As I said before, I had to guess on a lot of question in the PS section of the MCAT I took on july 24th. I usually got 11-14 on my practice tests, but I do not think I even did average on the real one. I was very stressed and totally screwed my test.

Now, what do you guys think? should I retake the exam on August 9th (before knowing my score and considering that it is not "that" late) or wait to see my score and retake it on Sep 9th (considering it is very late, but "maybe" my score turns out to be ok and I can cancel my test?)
I am very confused and do not know what to do😕😱:scared:.... Please help me and let me know about your opinions, I would really really appreciate it. Thank you.
Click to expand...


I think that because the general consensus is that the PS sections BLEW.. you should either register for a test date that will be held AFTER your receive your 24th scores...

I have a feeling there is going to be a pretty big curve...but out of all things, i would def not register for an administration that would take place before you receive your scores
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
aleksxxx said:
I think that because the general consensus is that the PS sections BLEW.. you should either register for a test date that will be held AFTER your receive your 24th scores...

I have a feeling there is going to be a pretty big curve...but out of all things, i would def not register for an administration that would take place before you receive your scores
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for your comment, but don't you think that if for any reason I have to retake it on Sep 8th,it is going to be very very late?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
^^ I heard a few schools aren't accepting Sept. MCATs for this application cycle. Does anyone know which schools are enforcing that??
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
the secondary from the Geroge Washington University clearly states that the latest MCAT they accept is from August.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
greg1184 said:
Just a kind warning, you can't talk about specific questions on this board.
Click to expand...
True.

Guys and gals, I don't know what part of "NO test questions or answers on SDN" some of you are having trouble comprehending, but that's another one week PH I now have to give out. Please stop posting MCAT questions and answers on SDN, or you will have your account held for one week. I don't know how to make this rule any clearer.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
QofQuimica said:
True.

Guys and gals, I don't know what part of "NO test questions or answers on SDN" some of you are having trouble comprehending, but that's another one week PH I now have to give out. Please stop posting MCAT questions and answers on SDN, or you will have your account held for one week. I don't know how to make this rule any clearer.
Click to expand...

What is the definition of specific questions?? If someone mentions bicycles, 57Fe or poet, is that specific enough? Cuz I thought that was general.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
To people who had the "easy" version of PS, do you think you performed well? I'm wondering how safe it is to say that both versions will have a decent curve... they will be curved separately according to the AAMC website. 🙁
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
hamidace said:
Thank you very much for your comment, but don't you think that if for any reason I have to retake it on Sep 8th,it is going to be very very late?
Click to expand...

I'm in the same situation. I think I'll wait to see my scores because EVERYONE says you do much better than you feel you did after the exam. Plus, I think any exam this year will be just like July 24th. Every past exams had discussions about how it was so much different and harder than e-mcat so taking it again won't be anything new, considering a curve. Sept 8th is pretty late...maybe an earlier 29 is better than a late 31 ?

I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be pleasantly surprised by our scores.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Mombosuthu said:
What is the definition of specific questions?? If someone mentions bicycles, 57Fe or poet, is that specific enough? Cuz I thought that was general.
Click to expand...
Those are passage topics. Talking about passage topics is fine. You may not discuss specific questions or answers.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
hamidace said:
As I said before, I had to guess on a lot of question in the PS section of the MCAT I took on july 24th. I usually got 11-14 on my practice tests, but I do not think I even did average on the real one. I was very stressed and totally screwed my test.

Now, what do you guys think? should I retake the exam on August 9th (before knowing my score and considering that it is not "that" late) or wait to see my score and retake it on Sep 9th (considering it is very late, but "maybe" my score turns out to be ok and I can cancel my test?)
I am very confused and do not know what to do😕😱:scared:.... Please help me and let me know about your opinions, I would really really appreciate it. Thank you.
Click to expand...

Most medical schools are only accepting exams through the end of August, which means Aug 20th is the last day you could sit the exam in the US. There is one later date, but only at Canadian sites.

If you are applying for 08, I would suggest taking the test again, if it is a question in your mind. The material is fresh, and the odds of getting two incredibly killer MCAT's in a row is not very high. If you wait until you get your scores on Aug 23rd, you will not be able to retest for the 08 cycle.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
anybody pissed off at themselves for screwing up the bond angle question-which should have been easy
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
kanaktime said:
anybody pissed off at themselves for screwing up the bond angle question-which should have been easy
Click to expand...

Yes, definitely concerned about my guess on that one. Looks like we both had the "easier" PS version. I just hope I didn't mess up too much, no offense to anyone who had the harder version - but I'd rather be in their shoes looking at a better curve.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
aleksxxx said:
I think that because the general consensus is that the PS sections BLEW.. you should either register for a test date that will be held AFTER your receive your 24th scores...

I have a feeling there is going to be a pretty big curve...but out of all things, i would def not register for an administration that would take place before you receive your scores
Click to expand...

I could not stand my stress anymore and therefore I just sign up for the August 9th to retake my MCAT. I know it is stupid to retake the MCAT before you know your score, but I could not risk it and take it later since I realized most of the schools do not accept MCAT of later than august.

I don't know..hopefully my August score will not be worse than my July score.. which in that case I am totally screwed.:scared::scared::scared:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
hamidace said:
I could not stand my stress anymore and therefore I just sign up for the August 9th to retake my MCAT. I know it is stupid to retake the MCAT before you know your score, but I could not risk it and take it later since I realized most of the schools do not accept MCAT of later than august.

I don't know..hopefully my August score will not be worse than my July score.. which in that case I am totally screwed.:scared::scared::scared:
Click to expand...

I totally understand. The stress can become unbearable.... I'm going to withdraw all primary applications and retake in Jan if I didn't perform well... one sacrificial year and nearly 2500 dollars down the drain. But still praying for a good score. The answers can't be changed now... just "sitting, waiting, wishing" (my life's new theme song!).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Now, here is my important question. I bombed the PS section in the July 24 MCAT despite feeling pretty condfident!! I signed up to retake the MCAT on August 9th. Now, I just wanted to ask how do you guys think I should prepare for this upcoming test? I mainly had studied from the Kaplan blue book and the physics of the real MCAT was nothing like it. I appreciate any comment... Thank you
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
hamidace said:
Now, here is my important question. I bombed the PS section in the July 24 MCAT despite feeling pretty condfident!! I signed up to retake the MCAT on August 9th. Now, I just wanted to ask how do you guys think I should prepare for this upcoming test? I mainly had studied from the Kaplan blue book and the physics of the real MCAT was nothing like it. I appreciate any comment... Thank you
Click to expand...

Since I'm not sure how I did on the PS, consider this with a grain of salt. I prepared using EK physics and it adequately covered all topics I saw on the MCAT (please note I didn't have the version with angular momentum). If you use EK and study everything (even the things they explain but say won't be on the MCAT), you should be set. Kaplan, from my experience, covers too much content in both their books and the tests. It's not what you know, but if you know how to apply it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
hmm i felt like i did poorly on PS as well and i was hoping the curve would be of help...i thought i will just apply anyway since i already spent so much money on primaries...now im unsure though...lots of people trying to retake before august!! confused 🙁
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
persistent19 said:
hmm i felt like i did poorly on PS as well and i was hoping the curve would be of help...i thought i will just apply anyway since i already spent so much money on primaries...now im unsure though...lots of people trying to retake before august!! confused 🙁
Click to expand...

Like I posted above, no one comes out of that exam feeling like a champ. Previous threads from May and June show that.

RPedigo said:
As I said in the other thread on this exact same topic, I:
  • almost voided
  • studied every day for the 30 days before score release
  • looked on the AAMC website for testing sites to reregister
..and I got exactly what my AAMC diagnostics told me I would. Practice test range was 37-40, and I made a 39T.

Just chill! :luck:
Click to expand...

I think if you have overwhelming evidence that makes you think you truly bombed this test, then register for another exam before scores come out. If you're just unsure, it's probably best to see how you did. Especially if you feel somewhat confident.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Anyone know how people felt in the May and June MCATs before they got their scores? Did they all feel as scared as most of us July 24th people do, and then find out that they did better than they expected?


I'm hoping that's the case!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I think the general trend on the real exam is +/- 3 pts from practice tests scores. People generally do better than they perceive.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
voirlesetoiles said:
I think the general trend on the real exam is +/- 3 pts from practice tests scores. People generally do better than they perceive.
Click to expand...


that almost felt comforting..and then i remembered all the random guessing i did on a whole bunch (on PS)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
  • Question Question
july 12th mcat , is it late for the TMDSAS cycle?
Replies
2
Views
938
wysdoc
wysdoc
graycar
Are there July MCAT slots available for 12th/25th ?
Replies
0
Views
468
graycar
graycar
E
Delay MCAT to July?
Replies
3
Views
3K
flightzebra
F
P
July 28th MCAT okay?
Replies
2
Views
3K
BerkReviewTeach
B
M
Taking the MCAT in July....tips?
Replies
3
Views
2K
MyOdyssey
M
Top