Khan Academy Biological Science Practice Passages

[RH8448]

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What are people's thoughts on these passages? Only answer if you have done at least 10-20 passages.

 

[Lannister]

I did 25 passages yesterday. I like them. They are challenging but not insanely hard like the questions from test prep companies. And I feel like even when I get them wrong, the explanations are good enough that I learn from them.

 

[mikil100]

Good way to review content. I tried doing them timed but it just doesn't really workout... better to use them just as practice, getting used to reading the articles, figures, and reviewing areas of weak content.
Some of the questions are a tad ridiculous, IMO.

 

[RH8448]

I'm over 20 passages into it. It is a very good way to practice approaching the passages and gaining information. Some of the passages are reasonable and others I think are maybe ridiculous. For example the "Translocation in Germ-line." It's harder than the AAMC guide but I'm sure its beneficial for the exam.

 

[DesitnationMD]

I'm about 1/2 way done. Its a mixed bag. Some are literally just excuses to present definitions of concepts and ideas, others are semi=well thought out MCAT style passages. Still, its decent enough practice overall and FREE to be worth doing them all.

 

[Abraxas305]

Mixed bag. Some are easy. Some are moderately difficult and seem to resemble the AAMC style. Some don't resemble the AAMC style at all, are too long, too specific, and the wording is weirdly written.

 

[nomdeplume1234]

mixed bag. Obviously not written by same person or persons. Some easy some hard but most don't look like AAMC stuff.

 

[neuropro]

About 1/2 through, some are very relevant and I've noticed are pulled directly from AAMC Question BIO Packs, others tend to be a bit more detailed than I'd envision on the MCAT. Still relevant topics though! There are a lot more research based passages than some other prep materials I've used so that's what I've been targeting with these.

 

[ChrisMack390]

I plan on doing these very close to my actual MCAT, after I am mostly done with Kaplan Q bank. I figure they are the only source actually endorsed in any way by the AAMC, there must be something to that...

 

[neuropro]

I plan on doing these very close to my actual MCAT, after I am mostly done with Kaplan Q bank. I figure they are the only source actually endorsed in any way by the AAMC, there must be something to that...

yeah do note, some passages are very far-fetched topicwise! basically don't put too much stock into all of them, I do strongly recommend the Psych/Soc KA, that seems to be very accurate

 

[ChrisMack390]

yeah do note, some passages are very far-fetched topicwise! basically don't put too much stock into all of them, I do strongly recommend the Psych/Soc KA, that seems to be very accurate

Some passages on the MCAT will probably be very far-fetched too, right?

 

[neuropro]

Some passages on the MCAT will probably be very far-fetched too, right?

When I say far-fetched, I mean like they ask discrete content that I personally took the time to look up and not find on the AAMC Outline. Many of their research passages are good, some may ask details that go beyond the scope of the MCAT. Overall it's great practice, but don't put too much stock if you get 1 or 2 wrong on some passages because you don't know a really minor detail! A lot of these passages correspond with their very thorough videos which as I said sometimes go into very fine detail of systems etc...BUT for the most part their questions are fair!

 

[goodtime]

About 1/2 through, some are very relevant and I've noticed are pulled directly from AAMC Question BIO Packs, others tend to be a bit more detailed than I'd envision on the MCAT. Still relevant topics though! There are a lot more research based passages than some other prep materials I've used so that's what I've been targeting with these.

So some passages are exactly the same as the bio q packs?

 

[neuropro]

So some passages are exactly the same as the bio q packs?

haha I thought that when I first read one, but then I realized they used the same passage, and made new questions. I vividly remember a passage on Osteoporosis in women

 

[drechie]

yeah do note, some passages are very far-fetched topicwise! basically don't put too much stock into all of them, I do strongly recommend the Psych/Soc KA, that seems to be very accurate

Are you saying Khan Aacdemy (KA) questions on Behavioral sciences are good for Mcat exam prep?

 

[Lannister]

So I did about half of the Khan bio practice passages, and ended up improving a lot on that section. My AAMC practice exam score was 66% correct, and my preliminary score for that section is 82-97. I think the Khan passages really helped.

 

[DanniD]

So I did about half of the Khan bio practice passages, and ended up improving a lot on that section. My AAMC practice exam score was 66% correct, and my preliminary score for that section is 82-97. I think the Khan passages really helped.

thats good news, how about their PS? I won't have time to do practice passages from other test companies for PS so was wondering if the khan PS would be enough?

 

[Lannister]

thats good news, how about their PS? I won't have time to do practice passages from other test companies for PS so was wondering if the khan PS would be enough?

Didn't do many PS passages, and proceeded to bomb the PS section (50-65). I got almost every question correct on the Khan PS passages that I did do, so obviously I don't think they were very representative.

 

[neuropro]

Are you saying Khan Aacdemy (KA) questions on Behavioral sciences are good for Mcat exam prep?

So I see for Lannister it might not have been helpful, from what I've heard I know people who solely did KA for Behavioral and scored 90-100 on the section, I guess it really varies by person, I've found KA behavioral passages to be hit or miss, sometimes way too easy, sometimes too vague, but there are a lot of good passages. I do like the fact that it covers the wide array of topics the AAMC expects us to know, even if some of the questions are not always accurate. Overall, it's free so you get what you paid for (or didn't).

 

[nomdeplume1234]

So I see for Lannister it might not have been helpful, from what I've heard I know people who solely did KA for Behavioral and scored 90-100 on the section, I guess it really varies by person, I've found KA behavioral passages to be hit or miss, sometimes way too easy, sometimes too vague, but there are a lot of good passages. I do like the fact that it covers the wide array of topics the AAMC expects us to know, even if some of the questions are not always accurate. Overall, it's free so you get what you paid for (or didn't).

I agree that passages are hit or miss but if AAMC decided to affiliate with KA I would say there must be some quality standards or else KA wouldn't be able to put AAMC stamp in their stuff. Maybe not.. who knows.

 

[tturchi51]

Or maybe since the AAMC and KA are "not for profit" organizations they decided to team up on us!

 

[DanniD]

Or maybe since the AAMC and KA are "not for profit" organizations they decided to team up on us!

AAMC is non-profit organization? really??? they make billions of dollars off premeds....

 

[tturchi51]

yep, I noticed Khan was asking for donations the other day so it made me look up info about their finances as well as AAMC's. Im predicting KA will eventually start selling subcriptions to the vids and questions. Like coursesaver does with chad's vids.

 

[rraidermd]

yep, I noticed Khan was asking for donations the other day so it made me look up info about their finances as well as AAMC's. Im predicting KA will eventually start selling subcriptions to the vids and questions. Like coursesaver does with chad's vids.

I doubt that they will sell subscriptions eventually. Their main mission is "... to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere."

It also says this on their website.
"For free. For everyone. Forever.
No ads, no subscriptions. We are a not‑for‑profit because we believe in a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. We rely on our community of thousands of volunteers and donors. Learn more about getting involved today."

https://www.khanacademy.org/about

 

[DanniD]

yep, I noticed Khan was asking for donations the other day so it made me look up info about their finances as well as AAMC's. Im predicting KA will eventually start selling subcriptions to the vids and questions. Like coursesaver does with chad's vids.

its true that Khan is non-prof org but thats absolutely not true about aamc.

 

[DanniD]

I doubt that they will sell subscriptions eventually. Their main mission is "... to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere."

It also says this on their website.
"For free. For everyone. Forever.
No ads, no subscriptions. We are a not‑for‑profit because we believe in a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. We rely on our community of thousands of volunteers and donors. Learn more about getting involved today."

https://www.khanacademy.org/about

KA still makes tons of money though, they have 2 million subscribers as well as billions of view on their videos, I bet my life KA makes up to 4 million dollars a year just from views.... on top of that some wealthy ppl donate tons of money to KA, sal himself said someone donated $100k in beginning when he started KA

 

[tturchi51]

its true that Khan is non-prof org but thats absolutely not true about aamc.

Their mission statement directly from the AAMC site

Mission
The AAMC serves and leads the academic medicine community to improve the health of all.




Founded in 1876 and based in Washington, D.C., the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is a not-for-profit association representing all 144 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 51 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 90 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 148,000 faculty members, 83,000 medical students, and 115,000 resident physicians.




Through its many programs and services, the AAMC strengthens the world's most advanced medical care by supporting the entire spectrum of education, research, and patient care activities conducted by our member institutions. The AAMC and our members are dedicated to the communities we serve and steadfast in our desire to earn and keep the public's trust for the role we play in improving the nation's health.

 

[Lannister]

Just so you guys know, being a not-for-profit doesn't mean they don't make a profit. It just means that at the end of the year, if they have made a profit, they have to invest that money back into the business, rather than giving it to shareholders, as would happen in a for-profit association.

 

[Dr. Trenb]

Do them. I'm half way through and I find it helpful. KA is affiliated with AAMC and that by itself should give you a reason to take a look a closer look at them. They're also free and represent many subjects in that section. 2-3 passages a day won't hurt.

 

[nomdeplume1234]

Their mission statement directly from the AAMC site

Mission
The AAMC serves and leads the academic medicine community to improve the health of all.




Founded in 1876 and based in Washington, D.C., the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is a not-for-profit association representing all 144 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 51 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 90 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 148,000 faculty members, 83,000 medical students, and 115,000 resident physicians.




Through its many programs and services, the AAMC strengthens the world's most advanced medical care by supporting the entire spectrum of education, research, and patient care activities conducted by our member institutions. The AAMC and our members are dedicated to the communities we serve and steadfast in our desire to earn and keep the public's trust for the role we play in improving the nation's health.

According to Wikipedia: "A nonprofit organization (NPO, also known as a non-business entity[1]) is an organization that uses its surplus revenues to further achieve its purpose or mission, rather than distributing its surplus income to the organization's directors (or equivalents) as profit or dividends."

I wonder if the AAMC is required to file annual reports that are public. It would be interesting to see where the money goes.

 

[DanniD]

According to Wikipedia: "A nonprofit organization (NPO, also known as a non-business entity[1]) is an organization that uses its surplus revenues to further achieve its purpose or mission, rather than distributing its surplus income to the organization's directors (or equivalents) as profit or dividends."

I wonder if the AAMC is required to file annual reports that are public. It would be interesting to see where the money goes.

seriously I wonder where their profit goes to, other than spending their time thinking how to make mcat harder in the coming year

 

[ChrisMack390]

I have heard that these passages are so similar to the 1 official AAMC practice test that I should avoid doing them until after I have taken the test so I do not artificially inflate my practice test score. Is that accurate?

 

[DanniD]

I have heard that these passages are so similar to the 1 official AAMC practice test that I should avoid doing them until after I have taken the test so I do not artificially inflate my practice test score. Is that accurate?

never heard such a rumor

 

[FOCUSandEARNit]

I have heard that these passages are so similar to the 1 official AAMC practice test that I should avoid doing them until after I have taken the test so I do not artificially inflate my practice test score. Is that accurate?

No.