My Mcat Tips, Revisited.

[mj1878]

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I thought that since the April administration is rolling around, now would be a good time to put out some tips for those that still have to tackle or retackle the beast. Good luck to all!!!

I didn't get a spectacular score, but I scored well enough(I hope) to never have to take the bloody thing again
(VR:11, PS:11, BS:8 30P). Anyway, here are some things that helped me, and can maybe help those of you that are beating yourselves up over the recent score release. Just know, as preface, that this thing can be beat, if not completely conquered(just don't ask the gunners trolling around here! )

1)You don't have to start studying more than 4 months in advance
There isn't anything so complicated on the MCAT that it is fundamentally unlearnable or beyond the grasp of the examinee. If you've gotten this far, you probably did at least well enough in your prerequisites to have passed, and that means that you were paying attention at least somewhat in class. This means that you DON'T have to start at chapter one of every textbook you own and review every topic. This is a colossal waste of time, and I would be leery of anyone telling you that your textbooks should be a major resource for you. They might be good for background info on some of the more difficult topics, but for GOD'S sake don't try and memorize everything in them. Most of what you will need to study during your preparation time is exam management techniques. Don't get me wrong, you need to know the science, but trust that you already know a great deal. Low confidence and thinking that the exam is bigger than life can beat you down and make what you already know seem piddling and insignificant. Quash those kinds of thoughts and you're already a long way along. Know a lot about the major concepts (DNA replication, acids/bases, kinematics, electromagnetism, etc.) but don't try to know a lot about everything(such as Young's Modulus or fluid dynamics).

2)READ THE PASSAGE ALL THE WAY THROUGH!!!

This is a biggie, kids. They count on you being in a semi-panic, blazing through questions like gangbusters, referring back to the passage as you find it necessary. Do yourself a favor and read the whole passage first (yes, ESPECIALLY in the PS and BS sections). The passage will likely include information and/or special experimental/theoretical conditions that you may find contrary to your knowledge base. You have NO WAY of knowing what these special conditions are unless you read the whole passage. They will ask you a question that you think is common knowledge and count on you answering it by shooting from the hip, and of course the knee-jerk answer will be the first answer choice. READ THE PASSAGE. It will save your a$$.

3)TAKE THE FIVE-SECOND BREAK
If you own EK AUDIO OSMOSIS, you already know about the five-second break. If you don't, then here it is: Before the next passage(and ESPECIALLY before the first passage of the day), take five seconds and take some deep breaths with your eyes closed, and then read the passage. It lets your brain relax for just a second, and allows your attention span to reset itself. ESPECIALLY before the first passage of the day, this break is CRUCIAL. When the proctor tells you to break the seal and begin the section, your brain is RACING, telling you that this is THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST OF YOUR LIFE; ALL OF YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS HINGE ON THIS TEST!!! All of a sudden your heart rate is skyrocketing and your attention span just hit the level of a kindergartener. Take the first five-second break before the first passage to center yourself. Remember, this test is only part of your application, and there is ONLY one thing you can do: the best you can.

4)NEVER GO WITH YOUR FIRST INSTINCT ON VERBAL
It works with the other sections, but on this section, it will be your undoing. I don't know how many people I have read on SDN saying that they got double-digits on every section and a 6 on verbal, and were thinking WTF??? On verbal, the obvious answer will ALWAYS be there, and will probably be one of the first answer choices. You go for it, move on, and have no idea that you've fallen for the trap. On verbal, you HAVE to eliminate all answers but two, and then choose the best of the remaining two. On science this is a little easier because there is usually an answer that is CLEARLY the wrong sign, an order of magnitude off, the wrong units, etc., but on verbal it is NEVER that easy.
Also per AO, read the passage for content, as if you were listening to a friend telling a story. If you do that, then you'll remember the specifics of the passage(such as proper names, numbers, figures, etc.) automatically. Focusing on minute details will bog you down, break up your concentration, and kill your performance. DON'T take notes, DON'T underline, and DON'T try to answer questions before reading the entire passage. Going back and forth from the question stems to the passage is the NUMBER ONE time-killer, and the NUMBER ONE reason that people don't finish the section. Also, as you're reading the passage, pretend that YOU wrote it. That way, when you're asked things like "The author would most likely agree with the contention that..." or "The author would most likely refute the statement..." you can answer a little easier, and also you can see possible faults in the argument, which will help on questions like "A critic of the author would most likely agree that..."


5)WEAR HEADPHONES

There is always a gunner in the room or nearby that is talking loudly about how easy a section was, or how such and such information is crucial, and if you don't know it then you're screwed, nude, and tattooed. This person will NOT go away, and they will mess with your mind. Wear headphones with some of your favorite music before the test and during breaks. It will silence your mind and give it a chance to relax and refocus itself. You think about the test enough; let a break be a break.

6)THIS TEST ISN'T THAT HARD

Try and convince yourself of this. Confidence breeds confidence, and having confidence is like having a crib sheet during test day. High self-esteem and confidence will make it easier for your brain to tell itself that it knows what it's reading, and makes it easier for you to access information quickly. Going in apprehensive will make your THINKING apprehensive, and it will kill your time. This test can and will only test BASIC science, and if there is something else outside the scope of prerequisite classes, it will definitely appear in the passage. Thinking that the test is insanely hard will make answers that you come up with seem wrong because they were somewhat easy to come by, and so you might find yourself choosing an answer that looks complicated because you think the test itself is immensely complicated. Don't think they don't know this. They'll always include an answer that has tons of units or is distinctly longer than the other choices. Have CONFIDENCE in the answer you deduced, and move on. Don't waste time.


I hope that this was at least marginally helpful. I know that when someone tells you that the test isn't that hard, you tend to make a small gesture with the tall finger, but if you have any questions, feel free to PM me. Again, good luck to all!

 

[ND2005]

4)NEVER GO WITH YOUR FIRST INSTINCT ON VERBAL
It works with the other sections, but on this section, it will be your undoing. I don't know how many people I have read on SDN saying that they got double-digits on every section and a 6 on verbal, and were thinking WTF??? On verbal, the obvious answer will ALWAYS be there, and will probably be one of the first answer choices. You go for it, move on, and have no idea that you've fallen for the trap. On verbal, you HAVE to eliminate all answers but two, and then choose the best of the remaining two. On science this is a little easier because there is usually an answer that is CLEARLY the wrong sign, an order of magnitude off, the wrong units, etc., but on verbal it is NEVER that easy.
Also per AO, read the passage for content, as if you were listening to a friend telling a story. If you do that, then you'll remember the specifics of the passage(such as proper names, numbers, figures, etc.) automatically. Focusing on minute details will bog you down, break up your concentration, and kill your performance. DON'T take notes, DON'T underline, and DON'T try to answer questions before reading the entire passage. Going back and forth from the question stems to the passage is the NUMBER ONE time-killer, and the NUMBER ONE reason that people don't finish the section. Also, as you're reading the passage, pretend that YOU wrote it. That way, when you're asked things like "The author would most likely agree with the contention that..." or "The author would most likely refute the statement..." you can answer a little easier, and also you can see possible faults in the argument, which will help on questions like "A critic of the author would most likely agree that..."

I think this is pretty poor advice. I always found my first instincts on the verbal passages pretty reliable, and to make a blanket statement about ignoring those instincts seems foolish to me.

Also, in one breath you speak of proper names, numbers, etc; then in the next you talk about not focusing on minute details.

Going back to the passages is not a time killer, as long as you know where in the passage you have to go back to. Scanning through an entire passage will be a time killer -- looking at a half of one paragraph where you know the info can be found will not be. That's why I think marking up your verbal passages the same way you would a PS or BS passage is a good approach.

Also, much of your verbal advice falls under one of the classic verbal section no-nos: if an answer deals in absolutes (ALWAYS, NEVER, etc), it is probably wrong.

 

[Anastasis]

I think this is pretty poor advice. I always found my first instincts on the verbal passages pretty reliable, and to make a blanket statement about ignoring those instincts seems foolish to me.

Also, in one breath you speak of proper names, numbers, etc; then in the next you talk about not focusing on minute details.

Going back to the passages is not a time killer, as long as you know where in the passage you have to go back to. Scanning through an entire passage will be a time killer -- looking at a half of one paragraph where you know the info can be found will not be. That's why I think marking up your verbal passages the same way you would a PS or BS passage is a good approach.

Also, much of your verbal advice falls under one of the classic verbal section no-nos: if an answer deals in absolutes (ALWAYS, NEVER, etc), it is probably wrong.

I agree about first instincts - for me, most of my wrong answers come from when I second guess myself. I would say try not to overanalyze things and bring in information not in the passage. Also, don't let your opinions colour your answers.

I disagree about marking up passages though. Unless you are used to marking up arguments and know how to do it quickly and effectively, this probably won't help you much. Plus I find it just slows me down.

 

[Twitch]

I concur with the other critics that the advice presented by the OP may not work for others. Clearly it worked well for him, but the advice is contrary to what most others say.

 

[anon-y-mouse]

I disagree with a few points... knowing Young's modulus and information about Fluids saved me for some questions in physical, and I got a 13 in that section (which was my lowest on the test...). I do agree with the spirit of what you're saying -- don't stress about memorizing minor details, but if you "know" something, then you'll be able to reason it out well... like reasoning it out in your head - "proportional amount of shear" vs memorizing "delta blah over delta blah blah".

Yes, read all passages, but often in BS, a lot of the information will be irrelevant (like the history of something), so skimming that information is fine... but anything experimental will be important to know.

I agree about the 5 second break. It was nice and refreshing. Make sure you're still working on pacing issues, especialy for verbal.

I strongly disagree about the "never go with your first instinct for verbal". That's dependent on the individual student. My first instinct was always right, and my second-guessing was generally wrong. However, what helps most is understanding the *question* and *question stem* -- those often help eliminating answer choices and getting a higher score. And suggesting that people not go back to the passage is ridiculous, especially for questions like "the author uses all of x to support y except ___" -- obviously understanding the passage will help though.

Wearing headphones is nice, I did bring my ipod with me to the test, and listened during registration. For lunch, I went off somewhere and reviewed BS (perhaps people shouldn't do that, but I'm kind of compulsive so I did it anyway)

Yes, the test isn't that hard - much of it is just reading comprehension and application of information you know. You can get a lot of information from the passage. There was a tricky passage in BS on my MCAT which many of my co-test takers didn't get... it was on an experimental setup involving sea creatures / antibacterial properties / etc. A lot of the questions involved understanding how things were set up -- draw a diagram if you feel it will help you. However, the rest of the questions involved knowing properties of certain types of bacteria and applying information. Most test-takers feel they have the most time to spare in BS, so use that time to THINK as necessary.

 

[emack]

Here's my VR strategy. Maybe it'll help someone out there. I got a 14 on VR.

1) Read quickly, but not too quickly.
I pause after each paragraph, make sure that I've understood the gist, and quickly decide on a couple of key words to circle. This ensures that I haven't read so quickly that nothing was absorbed. Circling key words gives me something concrete to do to nail down the content, rather than just thinking 'Okay, yeah, I got that. Moving on...'

2) Stop after the passage, too.
This is based on Kaplan's Topic/Scope/Purpose strategy, but simplified. I try to summarize the point (purpose) of the passage in one sentence/phrase in my head. This step is crucial to answering those 'What is the central theme' questions. Again, if you can't come up with something for this step, then you haven't done a good job of reading.

3) Whenever possible, try to predict answers before looking at the options. (Obviously doesn't work for necessarily process-of-elimination questions.)
Sample question: "In paragraph 2, the author strengthens the argument by...". Don't look at the options. Look at paragraph 2 (if you don't remember what it was about), especially at the key words that you identified. Formulate a quick answer in your head. Then look at the given options to choose the one that most closely matches. This is a combination of "going with your gut instinct" tempered with "not getting distracted by wrong answers."

4) Keep it simple!
Unless I can't avoid it, I ignore all subtleties/nuance in the original passage. Think structurally. Think in black & white. Identify contrasts, comparisons, support; I often paraphrase paragraphs as "this vs. that", or "x = y" or "support for previous paragraph" or "opposition to previous paragraph".

Remember-- in VR, the wrong answer options are especially tricky. They're designed to look like right answers. Wrong answers are often relevant to the passage, but not to the particular question.

So make sure, first of all, that you have a good handle on the overall point of the passage, as well as the purpose of each paragraph within that passage. Then make sure that you understand the specific question. Then make sure, when you're tempted by a specific answer, that you're not just picking it because it superficially "sounds good", but because it actually is the right answer to the right question.

 

[ashabee4]

I agree that some of the advice given may or may not be useful depending on the individual. My main piece of advice for preparing for the MCAT is something that I think applies to everyone.

Just a bit of background for you: I took the MCAT last April and got a dismal score. I felt I knew the material very well, but soon realized that my problem was my test-taking skills. I spent the entire summer taking practice tests and practice sections - I really focused on the time constraints and simply familiarizing myself with how your mind must work while taking a test like this.

On test day in August, I was so in the zone, I barely remember it. I improved my score so much that I can count on my interviewers to ask me about it. The point is, a huge part of doing well on the MCAT is allowing yourself to be in the proper state of mind while taking the test. I was so freaked out the first time but knew my material - I simply couldn't transition my thoughts to the paper. I probably only learned a couple of new scientific facts/theories for the second time around. Learn the material, but also focus on learning how to take this test. It's unfortunate, but test-taking skills are a large part of what the MCAT tests! Being confident and in the zone on test day will make a huge difference.

 

[bambina01]

thanks MJ1878 for posting advice for those of us writing the MCAT. You obiously took a lot of time to write out everything that you thought could help people, which was very nice of you. You also got a good score, so obviously it all worked for you and some of it may work for the rest of us.

I don't agree with people jumping on you for your advice being 'poor' because thats just what is - advice, the rest of us can take it or leave it.

I for one did appreciate your advice and hopefully I will do as well as you did.

Good Luck getting into med school! 😉

 

[bambina01]

thanks MJ1878 for posting advice for those of us writing the MCAT. You obiously took a lot of time to write out everything that you thought could help people, which was very nice of you. You also got a good score, so obviously it all worked for you and some of it may work for the rest of us.

I don't agree with people jumping on you for your advice being 'poor' because thats just what is - advice, the rest of us can take it or leave it.

I for one did appreciate your advice and hopefully I will do as well as you did.

Good Luck getting into med school! 😉

 

[QofQuimica]

3) Whenever possible, try to predict answers before looking at the options. (Obviously doesn't work for necessarily process-of-elimination questions.)
Sample question: "In paragraph 2, the author strengthens the argument by...". Don't look at the options. Look at paragraph 2 (if you don't remember what it was about), especially at the key words that you identified. Formulate a quick answer in your head. Then look at the given options to choose the one that most closely matches. This is a combination of "going with your gut instinct" tempered with "not getting distracted by wrong answers."

*******

So make sure, first of all, that you have a good handle on the overall point of the passage, as well as the purpose of each paragraph within that passage. Then make sure that you understand the specific question. Then make sure, when you're tempted by a specific answer, that you're not just picking it because it superficially "sounds good", but because it actually is the right answer to the right question.

I agree with emack in general, and particularly these two points. Predicting answers before looking at the answer choices is a huge help. And it is very important to make sure that you are answering the question you are actually being asked, because the right answer to the wrong question counts as a wrong answer on the MCAT. I am going to add emack's tips to the subforum for him; for those of you wanting help with VR, you can read more tips there.

 

[runnora]

THANKS FOR THE NICE THOUGHTS.. I THOUGHT I ALMOST HAD A PANIC ATTACK AFTER GRADING A PRACTICE TEST.. MY PS SECTION IS BAD! I AM USING THE EK 1001 QUESTION BOOK ANY THOUGHTS??! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

I thought that since the April administration is rolling around, now would be a good time to put out some tips for those that still have to tackle or retackle the beast. Good luck to all!!!

I didn't get a spectacular score, but I scored well enough(I hope) to never have to take the bloody thing again
(VR:11, PS:11, BS:8 30P). Anyway, here are some things that helped me, and can maybe help those of you that are beating yourselves up over the recent score release. Just know, as preface, that this thing can be beat, if not completely conquered(just don't ask the gunners trolling around here! )

1)You don't have to start studying more than 4 months in advance
There isn't anything so complicated on the MCAT that it is fundamentally unlearnable or beyond the grasp of the examinee. If you've gotten this far, you probably did at least well enough in your prerequisites to have passed, and that means that you were paying attention at least somewhat in class. This means that you DON'T have to start at chapter one of every textbook you own and review every topic. This is a colossal waste of time, and I would be leery of anyone telling you that your textbooks should be a major resource for you. They might be good for background info on some of the more difficult topics, but for GOD'S sake don't try and memorize everything in them. Most of what you will need to study during your preparation time is exam management techniques. Don't get me wrong, you need to know the science, but trust that you already know a great deal. Low confidence and thinking that the exam is bigger than life can beat you down and make what you already know seem piddling and insignificant. Quash those kinds of thoughts and you're already a long way along. Know a lot about the major concepts (DNA replication, acids/bases, kinematics, electromagnetism, etc.) but don't try to know a lot about everything(such as Young's Modulus or fluid dynamics).

2)READ THE PASSAGE ALL THE WAY THROUGH!!!

This is a biggie, kids. They count on you being in a semi-panic, blazing through questions like gangbusters, referring back to the passage as you find it necessary. Do yourself a favor and read the whole passage first (yes, ESPECIALLY in the PS and BS sections). The passage will likely include information and/or special experimental/theoretical conditions that you may find contrary to your knowledge base. You have NO WAY of knowing what these special conditions are unless you read the whole passage. They will ask you a question that you think is common knowledge and count on you answering it by shooting from the hip, and of course the knee-jerk answer will be the first answer choice. READ THE PASSAGE. It will save your a$$.

3)TAKE THE FIVE-SECOND BREAK
If you own EK AUDIO OSMOSIS, you already know about the five-second break. If you don't, then here it is: Before the next passage(and ESPECIALLY before the first passage of the day), take five seconds and take some deep breaths with your eyes closed, and then read the passage. It lets your brain relax for just a second, and allows your attention span to reset itself. ESPECIALLY before the first passage of the day, this break is CRUCIAL. When the proctor tells you to break the seal and begin the section, your brain is RACING, telling you that this is THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST OF YOUR LIFE; ALL OF YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS HINGE ON THIS TEST!!! All of a sudden your heart rate is skyrocketing and your attention span just hit the level of a kindergartener. Take the first five-second break before the first passage to center yourself. Remember, this test is only part of your application, and there is ONLY one thing you can do: the best you can.

4)NEVER GO WITH YOUR FIRST INSTINCT ON VERBAL
It works with the other sections, but on this section, it will be your undoing. I don't know how many people I have read on SDN saying that they got double-digits on every section and a 6 on verbal, and were thinking WTF??? On verbal, the obvious answer will ALWAYS be there, and will probably be one of the first answer choices. You go for it, move on, and have no idea that you've fallen for the trap. On verbal, you HAVE to eliminate all answers but two, and then choose the best of the remaining two. On science this is a little easier because there is usually an answer that is CLEARLY the wrong sign, an order of magnitude off, the wrong units, etc., but on verbal it is NEVER that easy.
Also per AO, read the passage for content, as if you were listening to a friend telling a story. If you do that, then you'll remember the specifics of the passage(such as proper names, numbers, figures, etc.) automatically. Focusing on minute details will bog you down, break up your concentration, and kill your performance. DON'T take notes, DON'T underline, and DON'T try to answer questions before reading the entire passage. Going back and forth from the question stems to the passage is the NUMBER ONE time-killer, and the NUMBER ONE reason that people don't finish the section. Also, as you're reading the passage, pretend that YOU wrote it. That way, when you're asked things like "The author would most likely agree with the contention that..." or "The author would most likely refute the statement..." you can answer a little easier, and also you can see possible faults in the argument, which will help on questions like "A critic of the author would most likely agree that..."


5)WEAR HEADPHONES

There is always a gunner in the room or nearby that is talking loudly about how easy a section was, or how such and such information is crucial, and if you don't know it then you're screwed, nude, and tattooed. This person will NOT go away, and they will mess with your mind. Wear headphones with some of your favorite music before the test and during breaks. It will silence your mind and give it a chance to relax and refocus itself. You think about the test enough; let a break be a break.

6)THIS TEST ISN'T THAT HARD

Try and convince yourself of this. Confidence breeds confidence, and having confidence is like having a crib sheet during test day. High self-esteem and confidence will make it easier for your brain to tell itself that it knows what it's reading, and makes it easier for you to access information quickly. Going in apprehensive will make your THINKING apprehensive, and it will kill your time. This test can and will only test BASIC science, and if there is something else outside the scope of prerequisite classes, it will definitely appear in the passage. Thinking that the test is insanely hard will make answers that you come up with seem wrong because they were somewhat easy to come by, and so you might find yourself choosing an answer that looks complicated because you think the test itself is immensely complicated. Don't think they don't know this. They'll always include an answer that has tons of units or is distinctly longer than the other choices. Have CONFIDENCE in the answer you deduced, and move on. Don't waste time.


I hope that this was at least marginally helpful. I know that when someone tells you that the test isn't that hard, you tend to make a small gesture with the tall finger, but if you have any questions, feel free to PM me. Again, good luck to all!

 

[HunterGatherer]

My suggestion is that after reviewing problem sets or practice exams that you go and review the material you are having problems with in your EK Physics review book,kaplan physics, or use another physics text. There may be some basic concepts or techniques that did not sink in yet but another review may help lock it in.

You should be doing problems as well as review of your MCAT subjects throughout the whole process. As time progresses you should have less material giving you problems so you may concentrate on only a few topics the last few weeks.

THANKS FOR THE NICE THOUGHTS.. I THOUGHT I ALMOST HAD A PANIC ATTACK AFTER GRADING A PRACTICE TEST.. MY PS SECTION IS BAD! I AM USING THE EK 1001 QUESTION BOOK ANY THOUGHTS??! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

 

[PBandJ]

ashabee4, thanks!!
i am really glad to see some advice for this scenario. i took the test last august and did not score well. but i really believe that the problem lies in my test-taking skills and not my scientific knowledge. i have spent most of my time this time around doing practice tests and practice sections, and i am confident that i can improve my score.

I agree that some of the advice given may or may not be useful depending on the individual. My main piece of advice for preparing for the MCAT is something that I think applies to everyone.

Just a bit of background for you: I took the MCAT last April and got a dismal score. I felt I knew the material very well, but soon realized that my problem was my test-taking skills. I spent the entire summer taking practice tests and practice sections - I really focused on the time constraints and simply familiarizing myself with how your mind must work while taking a test like this.

On test day in August, I was so in the zone, I barely remember it. I improved my score so much that I can count on my interviewers to ask me about it. The point is, a huge part of doing well on the MCAT is allowing yourself to be in the proper state of mind while taking the test. I was so freaked out the first time but knew my material - I simply couldn't transition my thoughts to the paper. I probably only learned a couple of new scientific facts/theories for the second time around. Learn the material, but also focus on learning how to take this test. It's unfortunate, but test-taking skills are a large part of what the MCAT tests! Being confident and in the zone on test day will make a huge difference.

 

[GuzzyRon]

MJ, thanks for your advice. I find it very useful. Whatever works for you is all you can talk about. You can't necessarily talk about what you think should work. I appreciate your input....and others'.

 

[mj1878]

MJ, thanks for your advice. I find it very useful. Whatever works for you is all you can talk about. You can't necessarily talk about what you think should work. I appreciate your input....and others'.

Thanks, and good luck to you!!!

 

[Nodelphi]

Here's a rather unorthodox tip (at least I haven't seen it elsewhere):

If you find yourself taking a lot of time bubbling in answers, buy yourself one of those huge "My First Pencil" children's pencils. You can buy them in #2 lead, they're easily twice as thick as a regular pencil and they bubble in answers much faster. You may look goofy taking the exam but I used to use a mechanical pencil and switching to this large pencil saved me a few minutes per section.

 

[PBandJ]

haha, that's a great tip! i never thought of that, but it probably would save at least a minute or two.

Here's a rather unorthodox tip (at least I haven't seen it elsewhere):

If you find yourself taking a lot of time bubbling in answers, buy yourself one of those huge "My First Pencil" children's pencils. You can buy them in #2 lead, they're easily twice as thick as a regular pencil and they bubble in answers much faster. You may look goofy taking the exam but I used to use a mechanical pencil and switching to this large pencil saved me a few minutes per section.

 

[PBandJ]

i second that. i wasted so much time during early practice tests just reading through every single word of every PS passage. now that i have been using the skimming technique, i haven't felt as rushed and i've actually had a bit of extra time to review my work.

About the advice on science passages, I semi-disagree.

I was reading the advice given by a former poster on here, who is also a well known TPR teacher in the Dallas/Forthworth area. He used to post by the name of Shrike.

Anyhow, go to the subforum and look at his advice.

He basically states to skim the science passages but get a grasp of what the charts and figures mean and then if you need more detail go back to the passage. But often, you can answer the questions without reading through the whole passage.

I tried with that method today and it saved me a lot of time. I found that I got near where I ended up with last time I took the MCAT ( a 9 on PS section) by doing as he suggested and not taking too much time reading each and every single passage. I found that where I would spend 45 minutes to get through 33 questions before, this time I was done with about 45-50 questions in the same amount of time.

So don't assume that you need to read the full details of the passage. As others pointed out, much of the info is fluff. It is more important to know what is relevant and what is not.

 

[rgerwin]

The physics EK 1001 is awful. Mostly, it's b/c the explanations are extremely unhelpful, so I spend alot of time trying to figure out why I'm wrong. I love the Orgo, Bio, and Verbal books, but chuck this one. Get something else.

 

[PBandJ]

i think he/she is referring to those thicker than usual pencils (but same length as most pencils). although it might be good comic relief to bring in one of those really huge giant pencils. 🙂

Stupid question, probably, but I don't know what you are talking about when you say the "My First Pencil" pencils. I've not seen these at Walmart or maybe I missed them. Are you talking about those pencils that are like really really giant??? I had a pencil given to me that was as long as my arm, no kidding. My bro gave it to me as part of a present, but it was not the kind that a person would use to actually write with. It was more like one of those pencils for show.