Need Physics Content Review Help

[Rogue42]

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Hey guys, I am currently going through content review using the Kaplan 7 book set. I am reading through the books (2 chapters a day) for my test date on April 13th, and with my schedule should be done with content review on February 26th leaving me with a month and a half for refinement and FL practice tests. However, I have been noticing that I am not getting a lot out of the physics chapters, and I am feeling a lot like I need a calculator to answer the "End of Chapter" questions.

Does anyone have any advice for physics? Does anyone recommend another way to content review for physics? AND is there any advice / tips to do this kind of math without a calculator? I already took the MCAT once, and struggled to do math when large decimals were around.

 

[puahate]

Uworld

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

I found the TBR passages and shortcuts very helpful. I got a 132 in that section and the biggest reason was their way of looking at things.

 

[DOgdad23]

1. Scientific notation should be your best friend on the MCAT.
2. Rather than pure content review, understanding units on equations will take you further than you know. Of course content review is necessary, but I can’t tell you how much knowing the units changed the chem and phys section for me. There are a ton of free resources online. I think gold standard had a pretty good equation/units sheet.

I’m no 132 scorer but I did score a 129.

 

[2.9GPA]

Khan Academy Videos for good visual explanations of the topics and mcat-review for a quick run-down of the high-yield concepts and takeaways for each concept. For math, Leah4Sci has a playlist on youtube where she goes over quick ways to manipulate decimals, logarithms, scientific notation, and a bunch of other stuff within the scope of the mcat, without a calculator.

I'm in the same boat as you. The physics book isn't doing too much for me so i've been supplementing the book chapters with the corresponding videos on KA and it's been WAY better for me. Good luck!

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

100% agree on the units approach suggested by Pharmd2MD92. You only master that through practice, not through review. Another thing that proved helpful on my exam was keeping in mind how changing one feature (variable) impacted other features of a system. Know how to manipulate formulas and apply them to examples you may have never seen before. Also know how graphs relate to formulas.

 

[DOgdad23]

^^ THIS! Graphs, data interpretation, and equation manipulation is the AAMC’s best friend. This goes for bio/biochem too. They love forcing you to make inferences from a relatively limited amount of data.

 

[Ad2b]

I love physics and despite that, I find physics passages challenging not because I can't do the math but because I can't do the math fast enough in my head.

I purchased the EK 1001 questions and am doing like every 6th one

Have not purchased the 101 passages yet for Physics as I'm not sure I need to... retaker here and on the exam I scored, it was not the physics that made me gag, it was the orgo. In that vein, I am doing more work with orgo this time while ensuring I still retain the physics knowledge/ability.

 

[Rogue42]

I love physics and despite that, I find physics passages challenging not because I can't do the math but because I can't do the math fast enough in my head.

I purchased the EK 1001 questions and am doing like every 6th one

Have not purchased the 101 passages yet for Physics as I'm not sure I need to... retaker here and on the exam I scored, it was not the physics that made me gag, it was the orgo. In that vein, I am doing more work with orgo this time while ensuring I still retain the physics knowledge/ability.

I am also a retaker. I struggled in the entire exam (LOL - but also not funny at all). But in the C/P section, I struggled with all phases of physics, especially with determining correct units and multiplying and dividing very large or small numbers. So I am really trying to double down there.

@Pharmd2MD92 and @PlsLetMeIn21 - I appreciate yalls input! Especially on resources. I just struggle to be able to afford MORE. Paid for Kaplan, paid for MCAT, paid for med school, paid my mortage...anyway you see where I am going. Still I will look into TBR, graphs, and knowing my units.

@2.9GPA - Thanks for giving me some resources to look into! I like KA but man it is sooo time consuming!

 

[DOgdad23]

I am also a retaker. I struggled in the entire exam (LOL - but also not funny at all). But in the C/P section, I struggled with all phases of physics, especially with determining correct units and multiplying and dividing very large or small numbers. So I am really trying to double down there.

@Pharmd2MD92 and @PlsLetMeIn21 - I appreciate yalls input! Especially on resources. I just struggle to be able to afford MORE. Paid for Kaplan, paid for MCAT, paid for med school, paid my mortage...anyway you see where I am going. Still I will look into TBR, graphs, and knowing my units.

@2.9GPA - Thanks for giving me some resources to look into! I like KA but man it is sooo time consuming!

I hear ya on the cost! Between mcat prep, the exam, applications, interviews, and deposits I’m $6000 in. 😳

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

I'm trying not to add up how much it's cost so far.

 

[DOgdad23]

RIP my bank account.

 

[2.9GPA]

@2.9GPA - Thanks for giving me some resources to look into! I like KA but man it is sooo time consuming!

Play the vids on 2X speed! And I usually listen to videos passively while driving. Theres nothing better than Sal Khan's voice blasting through my car speakers on my way to class.

 

[DOgdad23]

Play the vids on 2X speed! And I usually listen to videos passively while driving. Theres nothing better than Sal Khan's voice blasting through my car speakers on my way to class.

I thought I was the only one neurotic enough to play khan academy videos while driving. Oh how I do not miss those days. But I’m sure those days will return when I’m passively studying for Step 1.

 

[Lawpy]

I am also a retaker. I struggled in the entire exam (LOL - but also not funny at all). But in the C/P section, I struggled with all phases of physics, especially with determining correct units and multiplying and dividing very large or small numbers. So I am really trying to double down there.

@Pharmd2MD92 and @PlsLetMeIn21 - I appreciate yalls input! Especially on resources. I just struggle to be able to afford MORE. Paid for Kaplan, paid for MCAT, paid for med school, paid my mortage...anyway you see where I am going. Still I will look into TBR, graphs, and knowing my units.

@2.9GPA - Thanks for giving me some resources to look into! I like KA but man it is sooo time consuming!

SDN has featured some math articles that offer some good tips.

• King Henry What?? | MCAT Tips and Tricks • Student Doctor Network
• Quickly Calculate Logarithms Without a Calculator | MCAT Tips and Tricks
• Using Approximation To Tackle Complex Calculations | MCAT Tips & Tricks

KA is an awesome free resource to help you with physics. But mastery comes from doing a lot of practice and thoroughly reviewing your answers. UWorld, TBR, EK offer lots of excellent practice passages.