Memorizing Metabolic Intermediates?

[Shreyasthegreat]

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Hi, I apologize if this question was asked, but this was the only thread I was able to find:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/biochem-on-mcat-know-structures.1137014/#post-16517890

The last poster indicates that memorization of metabolic intermediates is necessary. So this is really towards past takers of the MCAT, do we need to do this?


EDIT: I'm asking about the structures of the intermediates

 

[deleted630732]

I would also very much appreciate any information on this topic!

I'd imagine that at worst with 0 memorization of metabolic intermediates, but an overall conceptual knowledge you may miss 2-3 questions max over the course of the whole exam. There's so much to test on I doubt memorizing 20 + intermediates between Krebs and Glycolysis is an efficient use of time...

 

[El-Rami]

I doubt it's necessary to memorize structures. The only things I think structures would be good to know would be the basic biological molecules. You should probably know the intermediates by name, which should not be too hard to do. I know a good mnemonic for Krebs Cycle, but it is not exactly "PG."

 

[Shreyasthegreat]

Thanks for the responses guys. Yeah I have the names down, but it's probably not an efficient use of my time to memorize the structures. Thanks!

 

[Alkaidius]

I think the rule of thumb for this is, you need to know goddamn everything for this test. But is this particular concept of high yield? PFFFF NO. I had to know a random structure for one question that I hadn't seen in 3 years (got excited cause it was literally the only one I remembered), but it wouldn't have made a difference in my score, so I would never recommend spending time on it unless you've literally got nothing else to improve on.

 

[El-Rami]

I think if you know your functional groups well, know your macromolecular structures (amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids), and have a solid foundation of chemical reactions, you can figure probably 99.9999% of everything else out. In the practice exam (and in practice passages), I notice that the structures I am not familiar or don't remember tend to be given in the passage itself.