MCAT CARS

[Simba4796]

Hello everyone,

I am having difficulty with the CARS section on the mcat. I get less than 50% of the questions right. My problem is that it takes me 4-5 minutes to read the passage and I feel like it gives me less time to answer questions. I'm taking the MCAT soon (in 6-7 weeks). I've tried different strategies, such as

1. Writing down a work or two per paragraph and formulating a main idea. I found out that this strategy took very long, although was helpful in getting answers correctly, but it wasted too much of my time on full lengths.
2. Highlighting words or sentences that I thought were important. With this strategy I get around 50% of the questions right.
3. Reading the passages without highlighting or writing anything. This strategy made me lose my way around the passage.
4. Lastly, I thought it would be a good idea to try reading questions first then try to read passage quickly. this method was horrible. I used this on one of the FL, I got a 119 on CARS! 🙁

English is not my first language and that is why I feel that this section is the hardest for me. PLEASE help if you have any suggestions on what I should do or how I should approach this section.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[aromatic substitution]

Have you tried testing solutions methods? You can find a detailed strategy to doing cars under the test prep subforum. I'm only in the early stages, but it seems like a good strategy.

 

[Simba4796]

Have you tried testing solutions methods? You can find a detailed strategy to doing cars under the test prep subforum. I'm only in the early stages, but it seems like a good strategy.

Can you direct me to it?

Thanks,

 

[Spr1ngrolls]

1. Writing down a work or two per paragraph and formulating a main idea. I found out that this strategy took very long, although was helpful in getting answers correctly, but it wasted too much of my time on full lengths.

The goal of the CARS MCAT for many people, like you and I (who both struggle with CARS and is likely due to English not being our first language), is to get the most answers correct. Not truck through the 9 passages and get 40% correct. To get a strong CARS score you don't need to finish 9 passages. Finishing 8 but having nearly all of the questions correct will make you very competitive. Chances are you'll get 1-2 correct by guessing on the last passage.

With that said, that first step was working for you but you're panicking because you feel like you've got to hit that 9 passage pace. You really don't. Focus on nailing down the passages you get to first, speed will come with it. Eventually you will not have to write much down and not look back at the passage. Trust the process, keep going by your first method cause that's working! CARS can be learned!

 

[CJhooper123]

Can you direct me to it?

Thanks,

Here is the link to the testing solution's thread.

Testing Solution’s 30 Day Guide to MCAT CARS Success