Improved AAMC MCAT-2015 Topics List

[Altius Premier Tutor]

Dear SDNers:

In response to a post from one of the members about using the AAMC MCAT-2015 topics list to self-study, I realized that some of you might find this improved version of the MCAT-2015 Topics List helpful. Enjoy.

What this file is...

As we broke down the AAMC topics list we first decided that the CP/BB section repetitions weren't necessarily helpful to students (i.e., a LARGE number of the identical topics are listed twice, word-for-word, once on the CP section list and once on the BB section list). We then found a lot of logical and organizational inconsistencies that weren't helpful, such as following different protocols when listing or separating out topics and subtopics. For example, in one section a main topic may be listed, then subtopics are given as bullet points underneath, then any subtopic of a subtopic is a second-level bullet point....but in another place topics and subtopics are listed one under the other on the same bullet level, and in yet other places subtopics are listed in parentheses after the topic. More than a lack of consistency, we thought students would be confused in many places because the bulleting implies meaning or relationships that aren't actually there (i.e., a student will assume that a bullet-point under a topic must be related to or a part of the upper-level topic, or assume that if they are separate bullets they are not related). So, we reorganized the entire topics list, removed all duplicates and made all relationships between topics and conceptually-related subtopics clear. Hopefully you and others will find it helpful.

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[Altius Premier Tutor]

If you have questions on how to prepare check our our exhibition forum or pm us!

 

[roshen1]

Sorry, but how do I find your exhibition forum?

 

[Altius Premier Tutor]

Browse discussion topics->exhibition->test prep->MCAT and then you can look at the different companies.

 

[sarah990123]

Very kind of you guys! Thank you!

 

[roshen1]

Sorry, but how do I find your exhibition forum?

-

 

[roshen1]

Browse discussion topics->exhibition->test prep->MCAT and then you can look at the different companies.

Thank you

 

[allantois]

Thanks!
Just today I was upset by how AAMC distributed amino acid concepts all over its guide.

 

[Altius Premier Tutor]

No problem were all on the same team right? We all want to wear white coats eventually.

 

[RaspberrySlushy]

I printed out the AAMC outline and its crazy overwhelming (also several pages with just one or two lines). This looks way more helpful.

Has anyone gotten the official guide yet? How different is it from the outline?

 

[gymrat1993]

How are all these concepts going to fit into 59 questions segments? Crazy

 

[Altius Premier Tutor]

It's not uncommon to test multiple topics in one question. Also, not every point of every subject will be tested every single time.

 

[allantois]

Just where exactly did lipids go on this guide?

 

[Altius Premier Tutor]

Just where exactly did lipids go on this guide?

It is #47.

Lipids
o Description; structures
o Steroids
o Terpenes and terpenoids
o Storage (triacyl glycerols, free fatty acids, saponification)
o Structural (phospholipids and phosphatids, sphingolipids, waxes)
o Signals/cofactors (fat-soluble vitamins, steroids, prostaglandins)

 

[Altius Premier Tutor]

Just where exactly did lipids go on this guide?

One more thing, your question about lipids brought up why this centralized list is so helpful. There is a main topic for Lipids in only one place in the MCAT-2015 official guide, but it includes only three of these six bullets. The other three lipid subtopics are mixed around in non-intuitive places throughout the two science sections. Having everything you need to know about lipids in one place is nice! (especially if you're self-studying)

 

[wonko]

Wish I had this when I was studying 🙁

 

[king321]

One more thing, your question about lipids brought up why this centralized list is so helpful. There is a main topic for Lipids in only one place in the MCAT-2015 official guide, but it includes only three of these six bullets. The other three lipid subtopics are mixed around in non-intuitive places throughout the two science sections. Having everything you need to know about lipids in one place is nice! (especially if you're self-studying)

Just wanted to confirm that
sections 1-16 Biochemistry
17-60 Biology with section 21 Gen chem
61-76 Physics with 68 Gen chem
section 77-88 Gen chem
89-96 Orgo
The rest being psychology and sociology sections

 

[daftypatty]

Dear SDNers:

In response to a post from one of the members about using the AAMC MCAT-2015 topics list to self-study, I realized that some of you might find this improved version of the MCAT-2015 Topics List helpful. Enjoy.

What this file is...

As we broke down the AAMC topics list we first decided that the CP/BB section repetitions weren't necessarily helpful to students (i.e., a LARGE number of the identical topics are listed twice, word-for-word, once on the CP section list and once on the BB section list). We then found a lot of logical and organizational inconsistencies that weren't helpful, such as following different protocols when listing or separating out topics and subtopics. For example, in one section a main topic may be listed, then subtopics are given as bullet points underneath, then any subtopic of a subtopic is a second-level bullet point....but in another place topics and subtopics are listed one under the other on the same bullet level, and in yet other places subtopics are listed in parentheses after the topic. More than a lack of consistency, we thought students would be confused in many places because the bulleting implies meaning or relationships that aren't actually there (i.e., a student will assume that a bullet-point under a topic must be related to or a part of the upper-level topic, or assume that if they are separate bullets they are not related). So, we reorganized the entire topics list, removed all duplicates and made all relationships between topics and conceptually-related subtopics clear. Hopefully you and others will find it helpful.

Hi, other than the way that you reorganized the outline, is this new outline including EVERYTHING from the AAMC outline?

 

[king321]

Hi, other than the way that you reorganized the outline, is this new outline including EVERYTHING from the AAMC outline?

I would recommend going through the AAMC outline by yourself too because some of the topics listed in there are subtopics but this guide does surve a purpose of putting MOST topics in one document and makes it a bit easier. I am still going through the AAMC outline myself, so when I finish I will post my response here again.

 

[daftypatty]

I would recommend going through the AAMC outline by yourself too because some of the topics listed in there are subtopics but this guide does surve a purpose of putting MOST topics in one document and makes it a bit easier. I am still going through the AAMC outline myself, so when I finish I will post my response here again.

Thanks! Altius, would you guys be able to post a revised outline of this one including all the subtopics that are listed in the official AAMC list?

Also, unrelated to this, did anyone here purchase the official guide to mcat 2015 by AAMC? Is it worth purchasing? Or would I be okay just purchasing the AAMC question bundle packages.

 

[Altius Premier Tutor]

I think some are getting confused; baring some unintended omission or a typo here or there, this list already includes EVERYTHING in the AAMC list from the MCAT-2015 Official Guide (OG), both topics and subtopics. We did not take anything out, except for duplicates (of which there were many); we just rearranged the topics and subtopics in a far more logical order.

If you see something you think is missing when comparing it to the Official Guide that is going to be because that topic/subtopic is now in a more logical place in the list. Some subtopics became topics or vice versa because that is what they HAD to be to make logical/conceptual sense or to be consistent.

This will accelerate self-study because you are going to see ALL of the topics on Lipids or Fluids together; whereas in the OG lipids and fluids are broken up across sections and under lots of random topics/subtopics.

Lastly, remember this isn't something we published, it was just an internal document we thought some self-study folks might like. It hasn't been through an intense review process, so there may be typos and minor issues.

 

[GEToutLADYits6AM]

Dear SDNers:

In response to a post from one of the members about using the AAMC MCAT-2015 topics list to self-study, I realized that some of you might find this improved version of the MCAT-2015 Topics List helpful. Enjoy.

What this file is...

As we broke down the AAMC topics list we first decided that the CP/BB section repetitions weren't necessarily helpful to students (i.e., a LARGE number of the identical topics are listed twice, word-for-word, once on the CP section list and once on the BB section list). We then found a lot of logical and organizational inconsistencies that weren't helpful, such as following different protocols when listing or separating out topics and subtopics. For example, in one section a main topic may be listed, then subtopics are given as bullet points underneath, then any subtopic of a subtopic is a second-level bullet point....but in another place topics and subtopics are listed one under the other on the same bullet level, and in yet other places subtopics are listed in parentheses after the topic. More than a lack of consistency, we thought students would be confused in many places because the bulleting implies meaning or relationships that aren't actually there (i.e., a student will assume that a bullet-point under a topic must be related to or a part of the upper-level topic, or assume that if they are separate bullets they are not related). So, we reorganized the entire topics list, removed all duplicates and made all relationships between topics and conceptually-related subtopics clear. Hopefully you and others will find it helpful.

REally helpful

 

[MarsDominus]

Thank you for doing this. I'm using the 2012 (?) TBR edition for orgo and I'm currently in the section about hydrocarbon reactions and alkanes. Using the search function, I could not find the words "hydrocarbon", "alkanes", and "alkenes."

Would I be correct to assume that these topics have been removed from the new MCAT?

 

[yestomeds]

Thank you for doing this. I'm using the 2012 (?) TBR edition for orgo and I'm currently in the section about hydrocarbon reactions and alkanes. Using the search function, I could not find the words "hydrocarbon", "alkanes", and "alkenes."

Would I be correct to assume that these topics have been removed from the new MCAT?

Me too. bump?

 

[Altius Premier Tutor]

Thank you for doing this. I'm using the 2012 (?) TBR edition for orgo and I'm currently in the section about hydrocarbon reactions and alkanes. Using the search function, I could not find the words "hydrocarbon", "alkanes", and "alkenes."

Would I be correct to assume that these topics have been removed from the new MCAT?

Yes and No. You would be correct that if you can't find it in this list it is not on the MCAT-2015 Topics List. However, that may not, in more than a few cases, mean the subject "Has been removed from the new MCAT." You see, lots of folks approach it like it was the same list. Like they had a list and removed items from it to create the new one. Actually, the new list was taken almost directly from a brand new survey of med students and medical school professors across the country as to what topics were important for med school. SO, that list came back with different wording and terminology for many of the same topics--and that's why it becomes an area where you have to use judgment. I posted on here last week when students were making a list of "taken off MCAT-2015" and said that "Phase Equilibria" would not be on MCAT-2015 because that term isn't on the list. BUT...."phase diagram," "gas phase," "liquid phase," "heat of vaporization," and "heat of fusion" are indeed on the MCAT-2015 list. Those topics pretty much cover "Phase Equilibria" thoroughly, so it IS on the new MCAT even though you won't find that exact term.

Crazy idea...it would be helpful if the AAMC would clarify, maybe provide a concordance between old and new...yeah right.

 

[yestomeds]

.

 

[medschoolprincess]

Dear SDNers:

In response to a post from one of the members about using the AAMC MCAT-2015 topics list to self-study, I realized that some of you might find this improved version of the MCAT-2015 Topics List helpful. Enjoy.

What this file is...

As we broke down the AAMC topics list we first decided that the CP/BB section repetitions weren't necessarily helpful to students (i.e., a LARGE number of the identical topics are listed twice, word-for-word, once on the CP section list and once on the BB section list). We then found a lot of logical and organizational inconsistencies that weren't helpful, such as following different protocols when listing or separating out topics and subtopics. For example, in one section a main topic may be listed, then subtopics are given as bullet points underneath, then any subtopic of a subtopic is a second-level bullet point....but in another place topics and subtopics are listed one under the other on the same bullet level, and in yet other places subtopics are listed in parentheses after the topic. More than a lack of consistency, we thought students would be confused in many places because the bulleting implies meaning or relationships that aren't actually there (i.e., a student will assume that a bullet-point under a topic must be related to or a part of the upper-level topic, or assume that if they are separate bullets they are not related). So, we reorganized the entire topics list, removed all duplicates and made all relationships between topics and conceptually-related subtopics clear. Hopefully you and others will find it helpful.

thank you so much for doing this! very helpful

 

[yestomeds]

I appreciate your reply to @MarsDominus. I too am using the TBR edition for orgo - as it is a relatively new subject for me, I can't really "match" or use the judgement of which you spoke to see how things on the list do or don't apply to the topics we have in books. Would you happen to know which parts of the book are "out?" or, this is actually easier - which parts of the book are definitely "in" or definitely correspond with the 2015 AAMC list? 🙄

Sorry I don't mean to be asking you to do extra work! If you or anyone knows relatively accurate threads or lists of what to and not to study off of the Berkely orgo (or physics) books, that would be really helpful. Cuz to me, looking at just the list and being able to use the judgement and understand that the same topic is under diff terminology might be... difficult if not a downright um, inaccurate undertaking.

 

[Altius MCAT Practice Test]

I would recommend going through the AAMC outline by yourself too because some of the topics listed in there are subtopics but this guide does surve a purpose of putting MOST topics in one document and makes it a bit easier. I am still going through the AAMC outline myself, so when I finish I will post my response here again.

Great idea. We take great caution to not miss anything so that way students can score as high as possible.