Last minute tips?

[GloryVA]

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3 weeks to go for the MCAT for me.

I've taken every AAMC test. I'm plateauing at like 30. Any last minute tips to jump over that last hurdle and get a great score? There's still time to implement new ideas!

(I don't want to rely soley on the practice tests, of course. I figure the real deal will be harder than AAMC but not as hard as Kaplan, so I thought I'd ask). Thanks for all the help, guys!

 

[rocuronium]

A score of 30 means that you are doing a lot of things right. Just make sure that you don't change that!

I would suggest getting really good sleep, and going over the topics that you are know you are weakest at. Chances are that you could increase your score just by not making the 'stupid mistakes' that happen on tests. (Or maybe that's just me?)

Good luck with the last bit of studying and on the test!

 

[SN2ed]

Do not underestimate the importance of taking a complete break from the MCAT the day before the test.

 

[mterp45]

Target study.

 

[GloryVA]

A score of 30 means that you are doing a lot of things right. Just make sure that you don't change that!

I would suggest getting really good sleep, and going over the topics that you are know you are weakest at. Chances are that you could increase your score just by not making the 'stupid mistakes' that happen on tests. (Or maybe that's just me?)

Good luck with the last bit of studying and on the test!

Actually, I make a lot of stupid mistakes too, I've noticed. I think it's mostly because of timing/pacing issues that I'm perpetually working on, but who knows. So it's not just you. I never quite know when to rush and when to take my time, and I doubt myself quite a bit. It's so good to hear that I'm doing stuff correctly though! Thanks!

And a continuing thanks to everybody for all the advice! :-D

 

[GloryVA]

Do not underestimate the importance of taking a complete break from the MCAT the day before the test.

Randomly, I know everyone says this, but I've been meaning to ask. Does that actually work? How does that really help? I was secretly going to continue studying the day before, but the constant reminders not to do so make me wary of it, haha. Gracias.

 

[rocuronium]

I find that if I'm not spending a bunch of mental energy trying to keep what I learned the night before crammed into my head, it's a lot easier to think logically and catch the stupid mistakes.

 

[Karees]

Yeah, my MCAT's on Friday (so like, tomorrow almost) and guaranteed I'll study a smidge, but I'm definitely watching the season finale of Grey's Anatomy ... despite the fact that I have an 8 am test. Bad idea? Of course not, I want to go cheerfully into my test, and I know I won't fall asleep earlier anyway. I think it's about routine, operating in the way my body's already used to.

Also, to all of you with a couple weeks left, I would strongly recommend trying to set your internal clock so you're used to being up and alert if you have an 8 am test. I didn't quite get there, so I really hope I'm not sleepy while I'm trying to bust out that physical science section. Anyway, good luck!

 

[rocuronium]

Also, to all of you with a couple weeks left, I would strongly recommend trying to set your internal clock so you're used to being up and alert if you have an 8 am test. I didn't quite get there, so I really hope I'm not sleepy while I'm trying to bust out that physical science section. Anyway, good luck!

GO TO BED NOW! 😛

And good luck.

 

[SN2ed]

Randomly, I know everyone says this, but I've been meaning to ask. Does that actually work? How does that really help? I was secretly going to continue studying the day before, but the constant reminders not to do so make me wary of it, haha. Gracias.

Others may have their own opinions on this or could better articulate the benefits, but I'll give it a shot.

I think it helps you go into the test fresh and with a clear mind. You want the material to have some time to settle before you tackle the test. This promotes the synthesis of ideas and enables easy access to everything you know. Think of your mind like a bookshelf. Studying the day before pulls some books to the forefront, however, it makes all the other books tougher to get and see. Come test day, whenever you need to tap into the rest of your memory you're going to have to push the books in yourself under stressful conditions which might not work.

The key thing is that your mind needs a break after constantly studying for months. Similar to how you wouldn't want to go into a final without sleep, you don't want to go into the MCAT without letting your mind rest.

Yet another analogue, you've probably heard of the saying your brain is like a muscle. When you weight train you never exercise the same muscle group on consecutive days, your muscle needs time to rest and recover. Same thing for your mind.

Hopefully someone can make this clearer.

 

[What up doc]

Others may have their own opinions on this or could better articulate the benefits, but I'll give it a shot.

I think it helps you go into the test fresh and with a clear mind. You want the material to have some time to settle before you tackle the test. This promotes the synthesis of ideas and enables easy access to everything you know. Think of your mind like a bookshelf. Studying the day before pulls some books to the forefront, however, it makes all the other books tougher to get and see. Come test day, whenever you need to tap into the rest of your memory you're going to have to push the books in yourself under stressful conditions which might not work.

The key thing is that your mind needs a break after constantly studying for months. Similar to how you wouldn't want to go into a final without sleep, you don't want to go into the MCAT without letting your mind rest.

Yet another analogue, you've probably heard of the saying your brain is like a muscle. When you weight train you never exercise the same muscle group on consecutive days, your muscle needs time to rest and recover. Same thing for your mind.

Hopefully someone can make this clearer.

sum ppl say 2 take a break the nite b4 4 various reasons...i chose not to, however

but i am the type that is used 2 studyng all the way up 2 a minute b4 a test so i didnt see a point in changing that for the mcat...

i didnt like go hardcore or nehting...but i just went over my kaplan sheets while watching the lakers/jazz game until i went 2 sleep...

i also did a couple random problems out of ekchem and physics....focusing on my technique and approach more than on getting the problem rite...

technique being, for instance, i noticed that after about my 10 or 12 test that i was rarely getting ps problems wrong bcuz of i didnt know how to them...it was usually cuz of missing a subtle detail or careless errors...so i started doing things that i made sure i did for every problem..i would see wat answer choices i could eliminate off the bat without calc and jus reasoning...i would read over the question twice...and i would TRIPLE, yes, triple check my answer and made sure it made sense 2 me...i did this for a couple problems the nite b4 and actually, by sheer coicidence did a 2 or 3 problems out of ek that ended up being in the ps section...i also finished the ps section on may 10 with about 10 or 12 minutes left, so time wasnt a factor, the i usually finshed with about 20 on practice test...i wuld say wat they are but im scared now cuz i already got put on hold once for blabbin 2 much...but ye, i def wasnt stressin but just i knew that id prolly be more anxious if i did absolulteyl nothing the nite b4...this also helped me transition nicely in the morning when i did more warm up verbal and ps/review bio concepts....

then again, i havent got my score yet, so i dont kno if this all worked..so i guess u shud take my advice with a grain of salt till i can post my score...n i will print screen that joint so my credibility is maintained hahaha...unlike most of these fakers on this board hahaha

 

[chad5871]

Randomly, I know everyone says this, but I've been meaning to ask. Does that actually work? How does that really help? I was secretly going to continue studying the day before, but the constant reminders not to do so make me wary of it, haha. Gracias.

Honestly I think it's a personal choice. For me, I noticed that I did better on full-length practice tests when I took one the day before, so I figured I would do the same for my real MCAT. I took a practice test the day before. On my real MCAT I ended up tying my highest overall practice score and I did better on the Biological Sciences section than I ever had before. It may have just been luck, but it worked for me!