Math Section: Did you finish???

[nerdystar]

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I took the PCAT back in June, and I COULD NOT finish the Math (Quantitative Ability) section of the test. I only scored 55%, and I think not finishing it was the main culprit for my low score. I only got to question 35 or so. Did anyone else have trouble finishing this section? Do any veteran test-takers have any tips for finishing??

 

[ndearwater]

I am right there with ya! I got a 65% last year (on Quant) and I'm retaking it. I couldn't finish it and had to christmas tree a good third of it. Also I was totally unprepared for the calculus!!!! I could use some tips as well!

 

[ndearwater]

I am right there with ya! I got a 65% last year (on Quant) and I'm retaking it. I couldn't finish it and had to christmas tree a good third of it. Also I was totally unprepared for the calculus!!!! I could use some tips as well!

 

[FungManX]

99th percentile here =p
math is my strongest subject soo.... heh, i scored 22 on verbal and 40~ on reading =(

what i did was practice w/ the kaplan exam review.. the time limit they put on the questions was very good.. even tougher than the time restraint of the pcat exam.

 

[ndearwater]

Hey FungManX or anyone who knows... What are the rules of calculus that you really need to know for the PCAT? For example, the derivatives of the trigonometric functions (sin(x) etc.) And also any other general derivative/integral rules... such as for f(x)=C^x f'(x)=lnC * c^x Do I have that right?
These rules aren't given in the Kaplan book as far as the review portion, but they would be used in the practice questions and I don't really know where these rules came from. I hope I'm makin' some sense here! I'd appreciate any help you can give me! I'm sort of confused about what I need to know for the calculus portion and the Kaplan book doesn't have a lot on it. 🙂 Even though I took it last year I think I zoned out on that part completely. It was a traumatic experience I can't relive if I try! haha I appreciate your help!

 

[FungManX]

Yep its correct.
Math isn't hard.. don't try to memorize because theres just too much out there to know.
Just learn to use different methods when differentiating..for ex.

y = C ^x (i'm assuming C = constant)
ln y = x ln C
[ ln y = x ln C ]'
y' (1/y ) = ln C ( product rule .. )
y' = ln C * y
y' = ln C * C^x

 

[blueclassring]

most if not everybody at the june test did not finish on time. don't stress, do the best you can. if you are looking for good sample questions do the basic satmath questions as fast as you can. that is how i prepped for it..

 

[nerdystar]

I'm sort of confused about what I need to know for the calculus portion and the Kaplan book doesn't have a lot on it.

There's a Calculus portion??? That must be the part that I didn't get to, lol But seriously, is there a lot of calculus, or just the basics: limits, differentiating, integrating?

 

[crossjb]

if you're stumped on a question, make an educated guess and move on quickly -- don't leave blanks and don't linger on a question for more than 30 seconds.

 

[crossjb]

There's a Calculus portion??? That must be the part that I didn't get to, lol But seriously, is there a lot of calculus, or just the basics: limits, differentiating, integrating?

just the basics -- you know those three you mentioned, and you're good to go. 👍

 

[DownonthePharm]

I finished the math section with plenty of time to spare, but I guessed on most of the calc (didnt have time to study that) so I got like an 85%. I was so scared of the math so I got a basic math refresher book and drilled doing hand calculations until my fingers bled. 😀 Most of the math is just plug and chug, so you just need to increase your speed.

 

[starsweet]

Yep its correct.
Math isn't hard.. don't try to memorize because theres just too much out there to know.
Just learn to use different methods when differentiating..for ex.

y = C ^x (i'm assuming C = constant)
ln y = x ln C
[ ln y = x ln C ]'
y' (1/y ) = ln C ( product rule .. )
y' = ln C * y
y' = ln C * C^x

Good example. I didn't think that PCAT tested ln x.

 

[dreaminpharmd]

I was one of those people who didn't finish the math section. Not to discourage anyone, but I didn't finish all my sections. I waited until the week before the exam to do the practice problems from Kaplan ( I hope the newer version is better than the 2004-2005 book) and Harcourt. I even crammed the calculus portion the night before the exam.

As for the math section, I would review an old Calculus textbook that covered the integrals, derivatives, etc. Nothing too complicated. I got a better idea of what kind of problems would be on the exam by taking both Harcourt practice PCAT exams. The kaplan gave an overview of what to know for the calculus portion and had some practice problems.

Overall...practice...practice...practice.....time yourself on each portion and don't dwell...like me.

 

[DHG]

I had about 25 questions left when she called "5 minutes!" So I sorta just filled in the bubbles for those... Sucked. I got a 55% also on the math. I think I got stuck on one problem and fell into a time warp, not realizing how much time I had spent on it... Definately know the simple integration/derivative stuff... I could not for the life of me remember what the S ln x was to save my life... and it was on there more than once. 🙄

 

[ndearwater]

I had about 25 questions left when she called "5 minutes!" So I sorta just filled in the bubbles for those... Sucked. I got a 55% also on the math. I think I got stuck on one problem and fell into a time warp, not realizing how much time I had spent on it... Definately know the simple integration/derivative stuff... I could not for the life of me remember what the S ln x was to save my life... and it was on there more than once. 🙄

Are you talking about the intergral of ln x? What is it? The derivative is 1/x right? Someone enlighten me please! I'm a little slow I guess 😕

 

[nerdystar]

Are you talking about the intergral of ln x? What is it? The derivative is 1/x right? Someone enlighten me please! I'm a little slow I guess 😕

Yeah, the derivative of ln x is 1/x. Don't be confused! 🙂 The integral of ln x dx = x ln (x) - x + C, where C is constant.

HTH!

 

[starsweet]

Are derivatives/integrals of trig functions on the test? Like the derivative of sin(x) or cos(x)?

 

[starsweet]

Yeah, the derivative of ln x is 1/x. Don't be confused! 🙂 The integral of ln x dx = x ln (x) - x + C, where C is constant.

HTH!

This page explains the integration of ln(x), if anyone wants to review.

http://www.math2.org/math/integrals/more/ln.htm

 

[FungManX]

Are derivatives/integrals of trig functions on the test? Like the derivative of sin(x) or cos(x)?

I don't recall any.
I recall that the integral/derivative questions were all word problems.. none dealing with sinusoidal functions. There was something like.. a plane travels a x km/hr.. how much distance would it have overed after y amount of time or sthn..

 

[Amith]

Do you guys remember if there any calc. graphical questions..like analyzing curves etc? I took the test like last year before the calc was added, and was able to finish the section..Ive prolly forgotten everything from my calc. courses cept how much I complained.

 

[pharmeronadell]

Remember that all of the questions score equally. So if you don't know calculus by now, I would concentrate on the other math sections.

Visual Calculus is a pretty good resource:
http://archives.math.utk.edu/visual.calculus/index.html

 

[bananaface]

I finished the math part in less than half of the allotted time, but on the older Pcat exam. If you can do algebra, fractions, decimals, a little trig, and a little calc in your head really fast, you should be fine. If you do math slowly, you will be short on time.

 

[foraminal]

were there any formular to memorize like the volume or area of a sphere or other weird shape?

 

[starsweet]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record... what kinda trig is on there? I don't think anyone actually answered this question. Sorry if someone did!

When I took the practice PCAT on Harcourt's site, it had some problems with piecewise functions. Is this the "pre-calc" part?