I'm not prepared but signed up, should I still take it?

[hangarse]

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Hello everyone,

I am currently signed up to take the PCATs Jan 22nd but due to unforeseen complications I am definitely not prepared for it. I'm wondering if I should still go through with the exam for the obvious experience in taking it or not. If I did take it I would gain the experience yes but the bad scores would be sent to the schools I signed for them to be sent to and I can't help but wonder if having bad scores sent to those schools could hurt me (even if I did retake it and have better scores sent later).

Kind of unclear but I hope someone understands what I mean enough to provide some assistance. I have a B.S. in chemistry if that makes a difference in regards to this. While going over material for the exam however I realized that I would not be able to whip out many of the equations to calculate the answer to some of these questions at the speed that the exam requires.

Would it be better to take it and have bad scores sent to schools, or forfeit the money and save myself from any potential consequences that may or may not exist. Either way I'm going to study hard for the next exam but what are your recommendations?

Thank you to all who attempt to help me.

 

[fullmetalphrm]

Hello everyone,

I am currently signed up to take the PCATs Jan 22nd but due to unforeseen complications I am definitely not prepared for it. I'm wondering if I should still go through with the exam for the obvious experience in taking it or not. If I did take it I would gain the experience yes but the bad scores would be sent to the schools I signed for them to be sent to and I can't help but wonder if having bad scores sent to those schools could hurt me (even if I did retake it and have better scores sent later).

Kind of unclear but I hope someone understands what I mean enough to provide some assistance. I have a B.S. in chemistry if that makes a difference in regards to this. While going over material for the exam however I realized that I would not be able to whip out many of the equations to calculate the answer to some of these questions at the speed that the exam requires.

Would it be better to take it and have bad scores sent to schools, or forfeit the money and save myself from any potential consequences that may or may not exist. Either way I'm going to study hard for the next exam but what are your recommendations?

Thank you to all who attempt to help me.

In my humble opinion I would say you may as well attend and take the test. There is a bubble you can fill in at the end of the exam which is a 'no score option' which allows the score to become void and it will not be sent to the schools. However, I'm not sure if they still grade it and show only you how you did.

But I would suggest taking it, if you feel really bad about it use the no score option, but you never know if you have a good feeling about several sections you may as well have it scored/sent to schools.

I always felt awful about one or two sections (chem or math mostly but ended up with mid 80 composite both times) and the chem/bio should be a walk in the park for you anyway so don't worry too much about being perfect. The second time I took the test I didn't study whatsoever and scored slightly better than the time before when I had studied a great deal, so half of the battle is just being calm and collected. Keep in mind any composite score over 75 or so is strong (in my opinion and this is the average score for most schools), so again may as well get a 'real' score than to keep waiting for a nonexistent 'perfect' one. Also I think as long as you don't bomb bomb the test schools won't care too much, in fact seeing you improve could actually be a positive point (but again be careful to not send in a 20 or something).

So again, take it and go with your gut feeling. Even if you don't get a 'score' out of it you can work on pacing yourself during the test and learning how to cope with taking the test surrounded by very stressed people (seriously, just taking the real thing 'feels' different).

 

[hangarse]

Thank you for your advice, I didn't know about the no scoring option. I'll have to find out if they still score it or not but yea I may as well take it since I paid for it.

When you took the exams were there a lot more questions in the chemistry section where you had to use a lot of different equations rather than concept based questions? Equations and calculation speed are what I definitely need to and will work on but I am just curious.

 

[hangarse]

In my humble opinion I would say you may as well attend and take the test. There is a bubble you can fill in at the end of the exam which is a 'no score option' which allows the score to become void and it will not be sent to the schools. However, I'm not sure if they still grade it and show only you how you did.

But I would suggest taking it, if you feel really bad about it use the no score option, but you never know if you have a good feeling about several sections you may as well have it scored/sent to schools.

I always felt awful about one or two sections (chem or math mostly but ended up with mid 80 composite both times) and the chem/bio should be a walk in the park for you anyway so don't worry too much about being perfect. The second time I took the test I didn't study whatsoever and scored slightly better than the time before when I had studied a great deal, so half of the battle is just being calm and collected. Keep in mind any composite score over 75 or so is strong (in my opinion and this is the average score for most schools), so again may as well get a 'real' score than to keep waiting for a nonexistent 'perfect' one. Also I think as long as you don't bomb bomb the test schools won't care too much, in fact seeing you improve could actually be a positive point (but again be careful to not send in a 20 or something).

So again, take it and go with your gut feeling. Even if you don't get a 'score' out of it you can work on pacing yourself during the test and learning how to cope with taking the test surrounded by very stressed people (seriously, just taking the real thing 'feels' different).

Thank you for your advice, I didn't know about the no scoring option. I'll have to find out if they still score it or not but yea I may as well take it since I paid for it.

When you took the exams were there a lot more questions in the chemistry section where you had to use a lot of different equations rather than concept based questions? Equations and calculation speed are what I definitely need to and will work on but I am just curious.

 

[fullmetalphrm]

Thank you for your advice, I didn't know about the no scoring option. I'll have to find out if they still score it or not but yea I may as well take it since I paid for it.

When you took the exams were there a lot more questions in the chemistry section where you had to use a lot of different equations rather than concept based questions? Equations and calculation speed are what I definitely need to and will work on but I am just curious.

Actually the only equations I've seen often are the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation, pH calculations (so the different log equations), and a few equilibrium equations (products over reactants, etc) so really there isn't much memorization for them. Oh and PV=nRT is indirectly used sometimes, so as pressure goes down, temperature goes up stuff like that.

So the big things for chem are really nomenclature, a few odd topics like radioactive materials (alpha/beta particles), ochem reactions, and chemical properties (melting/boiling point, size, etc). There are still other 'sub category' types of questions (redox reactions, stability of compounds, stochiometric ratios) but again if you dust yourself off a bit by looking at some old notes or a review chapter in a PCAT prep book you should be ok.

I wouldn't memorize too much, I would definitely recommend the practice exams though so you can get a bit of a feel what you should become familiar with.

 

[hangarse]

Actually the only equations I've seen often are the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation, pH calculations (so the different log equations), and a few equilibrium equations (products over reactants, etc) so really there isn't much memorization for them. Oh and PV=nRT is indirectly used sometimes, so as pressure goes down, temperature goes up stuff like that.

So the big things for chem are really nomenclature, a few odd topics like radioactive materials (alpha/beta particles), ochem reactions, and chemical properties (melting/boiling point, size, etc). There are still other 'sub category' types of questions (redox reactions, stability of compounds, stochiometric ratios) but again if you dust yourself off a bit by looking at some old notes or a review chapter in a PCAT prep book you should be ok.

I wouldn't memorize too much, I would definitely recommend the practice exams though so you can get a bit of a feel what you should become familiar with.

I have several and am doing one practice exam a day in addition to studying and trying to not freak out haha.

Thank you very much for your time and help, I really appreciate it.

 

[fullmetalphrm]

I have several and am doing one practice exam a day in addition to studying and trying to not freak out haha.

Thank you very much for your time and help, I really appreciate it.

No problem, glad to help. Sounds like you're taking the steps to succeed, just be sure to remain calm and keep breathing (easier said than done). My first time I decided it was a great time to down my first 5 hour energy ever right before the exam... not a good idea. The first writing section seems to be a good time to kind of get familiar with your time restrictions and being in the new environment, and the vocab section after that is pretty calm so just take baby steps during it and don't let a hard section fluster you too much (you never really know how you did on a section).

Good luck.👍