January 2014 Pcat

Started by africanpharmd14
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africanpharmd14

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Hello everyone;
I recently took the pcat in July 2013 an I got a VERY low score. My chemistry and math were the lowest. I am retaking it in January 2014 and I need some quick study tips.
Since I already took the exam once I already know what topics I need to improve on. But for those that got a good score, I am wondering which study books and materials got you through.
And I was wondering if I should purchase the sample tests that Pearson offers or not??
PLEASE any advice would be welcome
Thank you
 
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Hey guys, my official score came in today.

Reading 45
Verbal 96
Quantitative 96
Biology 97
Chemistry 97
Composite 97
Writing 4.5

It blows my mind how I can write, understand words, do most sections of a test just fine, but can't read.
 
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I wonder if schools send out email notifications when they receive PCAT transcripts? Also, why are the transcripts mailed? I thought everything was electronic nowadays.
 
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PharmlyDoc said:
I wonder if schools send out email notifications when they receive PCAT transcripts? Also, why are the transcripts mailed? I thought everything was electronic nowadays.
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Says on the Pearson site that they mail them. As far as I know, PharmCas also mails correspondence to our designated schools.

I agree - seems archaic to me.
 
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PharmlyDoc said:
I wonder if schools send out email notifications when they receive PCAT transcripts? Also, why are the transcripts mailed? I thought everything was electronic nowadays.
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I emailed the admission office and they said that no news is good news, so we don't get any notifications when they receive the PCAT transcripts
 
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RippedByBreakfast said:
Hey guys, my official score came in today.

Reading 45
Verbal 96
Quantitative 96
Biology 97
Chemistry 97
Composite 97
Writing 4.5

It blows my mind how I can write, understand words, do most sections of a test just fine, but can't read.
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This is a great score an you should feel proud! Mind sharing in detail how you prepared? I'm taking it this summer and haven't started studying.

Thank you!
 
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bmclinn said:
This is a great score an you should feel proud! Mind sharing in detail how you prepared? I'm taking it this summer and haven't started studying.

Thank you!
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Hey Dude.

Sorry for the late reply!

Spent a couple months studying biology, math, chem. Pretty much exclusively used Kaplan's and Pearson practice tests. When going over your Pearson practice tests, identify the type of material that is being tested, NOT the specifics of the question, as you aren't likely to see that exact same question anyway. Eg. Math: you realize it's an integration by parts question, learn integration by parts, practice variations, similar types of calculations....
Other topics, I did the Pearson practice tests and got used to the kinds of questions.

Here's the truth: I'm fairly well read so I know a lot of the words that turn up in VA.
Also, my BSc. is in Biochemistry, with Honours (had more upper level biochem classes than most students), and a couple years research on bone cancer/osteoporosis in pharmaceuticals/biotech. As a result, I knew a lot of the bio and chem material and had it as working knowledge.

As another note, when practicing with PCAT mock exams, it helps to do the PCAT sections under timed circumstances. Do your first one early on, the second a month before your PCAT date, and the third approx. 10 days before.

Message me if you like. Good luck, study hard!
 
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Hi, so I'm taking the PCAT on September 5th and I have been reviewing all the material from the Kaplan PCAT 2014-2015 Strategies, Practice & Reviews book. So far everything is going good, but one thing I notice is that this book does not have Themrochemistry or Electrochemistry for some reason. I tried looking up if they removed those two sections from the updated PCAT, but I have no look finding the answer. I was hoping maybe someone knows the answer to my question? If so, please give a reply as soon as possible! My PCAT date is coming up soon
 
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obedear said:
Composite: 94
Verbal: 94
Biology: 74
Reading Comprehension: 90
Quantitative Ability: 91
Chemistry: 91

I honestly thought I bombed the QA since I literally guessed on at least 10 problems in the last 3 minutes. I still don't know if I'm going I'm going to apply this cycle since I kind of signed up for the PCAT on a whim and apparently a lot of deadlines have already passed.
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those are all really good scores, i say there is still schools that are accepting applications but not really much in california except the 2/3 new ones. good luck to u
 
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NejixRockS said:
I took it this morning, these are my results.
Verbal- 52
Bio- 80
Reading Comp- 27 🙁
Quant- 82
Chem- 93
Composite- 76

For me the hardest part was reading, oh god 🙁 it was horrible!!!... The passages were too dam long and I was stuck between two answers in a lot of questions. I thought I was gonna get a 90+ in Biology, but it turns out I did not... (there was A LOT of biochemistry questions in both the biology and chemistry portions). I used Dr. Collins, which is good enough for Math/Bio/ Chem and little bit of verbal. I was doing really good in the reading part of Dr. Collins, but it was NOTHING compared to the real thing :'(
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Hey i learned from ma mistake, i focus on too much anxiety and the passage long, so i said forget, we gonna do bad anywyas then i switch to analytical mode and did better-41 or else i might got 35 or 25. Now i know anxiety dont help. u or any else have tip?
 
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