MCAT Timing Questions (finishing early)

[prairiemusic]

I hope this doesn't come across the wrong way as I understand this is a nice problem to have. But I've found that I'm finishing in roughly half the allotted time (e.g. I started a FL today exactly at 8 and I finished around 11:30). I have a couple questions about this - 1) On test day, do we have to sit for the full allotted time or can we finish sections and move on like we can on practice exams? Having to sit there and get caught in my own thoughts would be awful, and 2) Is anyone else in the same boat/has been here before?

Tips on slowing down are appreciated (as is any and all advice) but I really don't think I'm rushing; I've always been a fast reader. Most of the mistakes I've made have been second guessing myself or just not having a certain concept memorized - looking at you, physics.

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[BerkReviewTeach]

NEVER slow down if you are going that fast! Instead, learn how to take advantage of your spare time. If you know there are certain types of questions you tend to miss, then spend your windfall time going back over those questions using a different approach the second time (so you don't walk the same path through the same errors.) For instance, if you struggle on EM questions, then when you go back a second time, answer it visually the second time if you used a math solution the first time. Or use math if you went by pictures the first time. Learn how to invest you bonus time wisely. Catching mistakes is a great way to increase your score.

Although it is tempting to be done at 11:30 with something as arduous as a practice exam, you MUST practice your exact experience on MCAT day. Yes, you can end a section early. If you wish, you can skip the ten-minute break. But why? Are you in a hurry to get to your MCAT afterparty? In all seriousness, you should mentally plan to be there the entire time, so you don't risk losing focus thinking about events after the MCAT. Do this on your practice exams as well.

 

[prairiemusic]

Thank you for the response! I'm taking most of the break time but I'll try sitting through the whole time and reviewing answers next time to see how that goes.

 

[ekmf27050]

I had that same issue on certain sections. Plus, I found that when I went back and reviewed my answers, the ones that I changed almost always ended up being wrong! So I got comfortable with finishing early and leaving my answers as they were. On test day I would use a couple of the minutes to close my eyes and do some deep breathing, then go on to the next section.