MCAT Physics Difficulty.

[Twink]

I have gone through EK and TPR and I'm doing the practice problems from EK's mini exams and Kaplan topical exams. I pretty much can't do more than half of the questions. The explanation of some questions on the back usually require either quite a lot of algebra manipulation or/and too many extrapolations from too many equations which would take certainly more than 1-1.5 mins. Is the physics on the MCAT just as difficult?

I'm at the point of just giving up on the physics section and concentrate on chem and orgo.

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[BestDoctorEver]

I have gone through EK and TPR and I'm doing the practice problems from EK's mini exams and Kaplan topical exams. I pretty much can't do more than half of the questions. The explanation of some questions on the back usually require either quite a lot of algebra manipulation or/and too many extrapolations from too many equations which would take certainly more than 1-1.5 mins. Is the physics on the MCAT just as difficult?

I'm at the point of just giving up on the physics section and concentrate on chem and orgo.

Wow...You are giving up on a whole subject (physics)! Your PS score is going to take a big hit because sometimes it is 50/50 Phys and Gen Chem on the PS section. Don't do it... I understand studying physics for the mact can be hard since it is a tough subject and most of us did not learn it that well in undergrad but to give up on it would be like shooting yourself in the foot. Yes, physics in the mcat is hard but you can manage to do well on it if study well...On a side note, Use the TBR instead of TPR or Kaplan because TBR does a better job in explaining the difficult concepts.

 

[Cinclus]

I have gone through EK and TPR and I'm doing the practice problems from EK's mini exams and Kaplan topical exams. I pretty much can't do more than half of the questions. The explanation of some questions on the back usually require either quite a lot of algebra manipulation or/and too many extrapolations from too many equations which would take certainly more than 1-1.5 mins. Is the physics on the MCAT just as difficult?

I'm at the point of just giving up on the physics section and concentrate on chem and orgo.

The consensus seems to be that all EK 30-minute exams are more difficult than the real deal (EK has even stated this), and that the Kaplan topicals can get quite ridiculous (I definitely agree with this for the physics ones). They should be used to improve understanding, not as a judgment of how well you will do on the real MCAT.

 

[Twink]

Wow...You are giving up on a whole subject (physics)! Your PS score is going to take a big hit because sometimes it is 50/50 Phys and Gen Chem on the PS section. Don't do it... I understand studying physics for the mact can be hard since it is a tough subject and most of us did not learn it that well in undergrad but to give up on it would be like shooting yourself in the foot. Yes, physics in the mcat is hard but you can manage to do well on it if study well...On a side note, Use the TBR instead of TPR or Kaplan because TBR does a better job in explaining the difficult concepts.

I don't mean I'm going to randomly guess all through the PS section. I just got frustrated from the Kaplan topical tests and the EK 30min exams and have decided to not go through them. I will however study the Kaplan FL and the AAMCS exams. TBR is The Berkeley Review, right? I'll check it out.

The consensus seems to be that all EK 30-minute exams are more difficult than the real deal (EK has even stated this), and that the Kaplan topicals can get quite ridiculous (I definitely agree with this for the physics ones). They should be used to improve understanding, not as a judgment of how well you will do on the real MCAT.

I'm just not going to go through them and rather focus on the Kaplan FLs and AAMCS exams, then if have time I'll go over them.

 

[MermaidMD]

I just got frustrated from the Kaplan topical tests

I did the full Kaplan classroom course and purchased their physics edge online package--and hate physics, too.

I do feel like I've gotten better--not from the Kaplan prep material but by practicing the MCAT style application of the concepts over and over and over and over and over and over...

Ultimately, it seems to me that MCAT physics requires a combination of memorization of some of the more basic physics equations, strong algebra skills and common sense. My fiance, who is in marketing but tends to have the head of a mechanical engineer can figure out the answers to a great many conceptual questions just by reasoning through them with a layman's knowledge (he has never taken physics). This clearly makes me insane.

 

[ThirdEye]

If you have time, get TBR and/or NOVA's physics and nail it down

 

[flodhi1]

I have gone through EK and TPR and I'm doing the practice problems from EK's mini exams and Kaplan topical exams. I pretty much can't do more than half of the questions. The explanation of some questions on the back usually require either quite a lot of algebra manipulation or/and too many extrapolations from too many equations which would take certainly more than 1-1.5 mins. Is the physics on the MCAT just as difficult?

I'm at the point of just giving up on the physics section and concentrate on chem and orgo.

Unless your goal is to get a 7-8 on the PS I would suggest you not give up with Physics and study smarter instead of harder. Physics can be any where from 50-75 % of the PS section that is pretty huge. I have actually seen more physics on the exams than Gen chem but that's just me. Good luck champ and you can do this don't give up

 

[muhali3]

The point of EK and TPR practice tests are to nail the concepts into your head, not to predict your score. They aren't accurate representations of the MCAT.

 

[ModusProbandi]

I have gone through EK and TPR and I'm doing the practice problems from EK's mini exams and Kaplan topical exams. I pretty much can't do more than half of the questions. The explanation of some questions on the back usually require either quite a lot of algebra manipulation or/and too many extrapolations from too many equations which would take certainly more than 1-1.5 mins. Is the physics on the MCAT just as difficult?

I'm at the point of just giving up on the physics section and concentrate on chem and orgo.

I only took the AAMC#10 PS so far and some of the questions from the "Official Guide" but most [of what I've done at least] does not involve that much algebraic manipulation. Know how the variables relate and how they do not. I've looked around the forums and the MCAT is not considered too calculation heavy, after all solving for X just means you know algebra.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

Definitely don't give up on physics. I think my test had majority physics in the physical sciences section.