Just finished content review but haven't done many questions/FLs. How should I use remaining 34days?

[779663]

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I'm writing on the 20th of August.

I just finished reviewing all the material on the exam but I've done very few questions and no full lengths. I've basically been reading through all 7 Kaplan books and I've written ~200 pages of notes in total.

How should I use the remaining five weeks to be prepared for the exam? My goal is a 511.

I wrote the old MCAT in Aug 2013 and scored a 32. It was my only ever MCAT attempt but unfortunately that score is expired at some schools so I'm retaking.

What is the best use of my remaining 34 days to meet my goal of a 511?

 

[Roayer]

Save at least 2 weeks to do the AAMC material. The section Banks each take a day, and give yourself a day for each question packs, scored, unscored, and official guide. Take this into account. In terms of FLs, I would do quality FLs and try to do all 4 Exam Kracker exams and the free NS exam. Take the tests under real timed settings. Can you take FL's during the week because if you can, at this point I might take 2-3 a week for the next 2/3 weeks and then do the AAMC material. Be sure to spend quality time reviewing your FL exams. Maybe something like this: Day 1 Take a FL, Day 2 Review FL Day 3 Review/Do practice passages in weak area, Rinse Repeat. I did that my last month before my last test but since I was working I often had to break my FL's up during the week.

 

[779663]

Save at least 2 weeks to do the AAMC material. The section Banks each take a day, and give yourself a day for each question packs, scored, unscored, and official guide. Take this into account. In terms of FLs, I would do quality FLs and try to do all 4 Exam Kracker exams and the free NS exam. Take the tests under real timed settings. Can you take FL's during the week because if you can, at this point I might take 2-3 a week for the next 2/3 weeks and then do the AAMC material. Be sure to spend quality time reviewing your FL exams. Maybe something like this: Day 1 Take a FL, Day 2 Review FL Day 3 Review/Do practice passages in weak area, Rinse Repeat. I did that my last month before my last test but since I was working I often had to break my FL's up during the week.

I'm self studying and not really on this forum often, so I'm not familiar with everything you're referring to.

What is the AAMC material I should save for the last two weeks? As well, what is the section bank and what is the question bank? Are all these 3 different things?

 

[Roayer]

Okay the Section Bank is AAMC material that gives you 100 questions on the Chemistry/Physics Section (C/P), Biology and Biochemistry (B/B) and Psychology/Sociology (P/S). They are extremely difficult passages and are mainly Biochemistry for the C/P and B/B passages. Expect a few passages on the actual MCAT at this difficulty level. The Question Packs are 120 questions on Physics, 2 packs on Biology, 1 on Chemistry, 2 on Critical Reading (CARS). The question packs are recycled questions from the old MCAT Full lengths (so you could probably find the old AAMC practice tests instead). And I would probably save the Sample Test, one CARS pack, and Scored Exam for sure until the last 2 weeks (Scored Test should be your last exam you take). I would probably do the Official Guide now so you have an idea of what to expect on the actual MCAT. It is up to you if you want to do the Section Banks now or during the last 2 weeks, same with the question packs. I found the question packs a good review of Gen Bio and Physics but I might also decide to save the AAMC material until the end so you can get into the mindset of how the AAMC asks questions.

 

[779663]

Okay the Section Bank is AAMC material that gives you 100 questions on the Chemistry/Physics Section (C/P), Biology and Biochemistry (B/B) and Psychology/Sociology (P/S). They are extremely difficult passages and are mainly Biochemistry for the C/P and B/B passages. Expect a few passages on the actual MCAT at this difficulty level. The Question Packs are 120 questions on Physics, 2 packs on Biology, 1 on Chemistry, 2 on Critical Reading (CARS). The question packs are recycled questions from the old MCAT Full lengths (so you could probably find the old AAMC practice tests instead). And I would probably save the Sample Test, one CARS pack, and Scored Exam for sure until the last 2 weeks (Scored Test should be your last exam you take). I would probably do the Official Guide now so you have an idea of what to expect on the actual MCAT. It is up to you if you want to do the Section Banks now or during the last 2 weeks, same with the question packs. I found the question packs a good review of Gen Bio and Physics but I might also decide to save the AAMC material until the end so you can get into the mindset of how the AAMC asks questions.

Thanks, appreciate the advice.

If I could only buy one of these things, which would you recommend be at the top of my list?

 

[cjcarter]

I wouldn't skimp on AAMC material. At LEAST get the Section Banks and the Scored FL.

 

[Roayer]

Thanks, appreciate the advice.

If I could only buy one of these things, which would you recommend be at the top of my list?

The Scored Exam, but seriously don't skimp on this material. I would for sure get the Scored Exam, Sample Test, and Section Bank (I think that is like $ 35 +25+20?). You can find the old AAMC FLs online which are the question packs. At the bare minimum do the Verbal sections of these.