post i made in another thread that may be helpful. Notice where I used outside sources for EK if you are considering using EK as your main source. I used kaplan and other sources to supplement. I'm talking about the kaplan comprehesive (BIG BOOK) here and hope this is helpful. good luck
Ek bio - this is the STUFF!! But you know that already. I owned the BS MCAT by reading this book 3 times and difficult topics 2-3 more times. Was able to teach myself microbiology and human physiology with this book. you don't need advance classes like genetics, cell bio, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry etc.
EK Orgo- Very condensed. Excellent chapter on experiments. Very solid review book but Bio book is still tops. note cards tear out of book that's on heavy stock of paper. memorize those. I did not give it 5 stars because I needed to use a chart from my Pavia Ochem lab manual to figure out solubilities. Solubility Test is CRUCIAL for MCAT passages.
EK Chemistry - Good book. Wish it had more examples in the Acid/base chemistry. Electrochem chapter probably needs a small amount of further explanation. Everything else is solid. Supplemented with textbook and kaplan comprehensive review. One caveat: I took general chem well over 10+ years ago.
EK Physics - Good book. E&M chapters needs more work. The Thermo chapter is actually very good. Thermo is just a tough topic. Should have an example on incline planes explained in the readings before heading into problems. The Optics chapter is actually very good if you spend some time on it. This is a solid book but I had to supplement 2 chapters with a physics text book and kaplan comprehensive review. One caveat: I took physics well over 10+ years ago.
Ek 101 verbal - This is a must have in my opinion. The question format is as close to the AAMC exams as you can get. Just be aware that verbal usually has two 10 question passages in each full length verbal on the real deal. You do not have to use their methods when doing these full lengths. After the 3rd/4th exam I decided going back during questions and underlining(dates, names, and tone/main idea phrases) while reading was fine as long as I limited myself to 45seconds/question and read the passage in about 4 minutes slowly to get the main idea on the first pass. Maybe some people think you have to use their methods when using this book.
Kaplan comprehensive review - used this for more examples in chemistry (electrochemistry, acid/base, and solutions) and physics (electricity and magnetism and incline planes). borrowed from a library and did not use it for anything else in PS/BS as the layout of the book was unappealing. I used this in the final weeks of my study so I concentrated on my weaknesses. Also the approach for identifying question types in verbal helped out a lot. There is a writing sample formula in there that people swear by. I did not use it but wish I did.
I would study with ALL of these books all over again if I had to retake the MCAT because I like the way the EK material is presented in a condensed simple form with lots of charts/graphs. I had to supplement Chem/physics. Maybe it was because of the length of time between taking the class and prepping for the MCAT
The end of topic questions in EK PS/BS are right on par with the MCAT. I redid these with each reading and can say they are challenging so that you are not going to simply memorize the answers. You really need to activate the thought process. the 30 minute exams are great as well. Don't do the 30 minute exams until you feel comfortable with the material.
be sure to buy AAMC exams.
