New pcat vs old pcat

[ScarletKnight90]

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I understand that there are not too many changes in the new PCAT, however I strongly believe that there are enough changes in the main sub tests such as Chem and Bio that will affect our scores. My question is how can the testing company base the post July 2012 scores percentile ranks and scaled scores on the "norm group" from first time PCAT test takers that took older versions of older format (I am not sure what the date range for the norm group is, probably a few years)? They should compare us to all of the test takers that have been taking the new formatted PCAT and not the old one. I believe the new test is more sophisticated where it includes more emphasis on diseases, human body's response to diseases and biochemistry and took out "gimme questions."

What's your opinion???

 

[sodiumd]

I disagree. I enjoyed studying for the new format than I would have for the old format. First of all, they removed plant biology which occupies an entire unit in biology textbooks. Second, they minimized nomenclature to about one question. Nomenclature is dry and boring.

 

[jerbearox]

I disagree. I enjoyed studying for the new format than I would have for the old format. First of all, they removed plant biology which occupies an entire unit in biology textbooks. Second, they minimized nomenclature to about one question. Nomenclature is dry and boring.

i'd take nomenclature over reactions anyday! however, getting rid of plants/animals for biochem was most definately worth it.

 

[Mouat]

I agree with new pcat being more challenging compared to old one. But the changes are not drastic for pearson to change the standards for scoring.

I liked the exclusion of plants and animal from Bio section, and its reasonable to focus on human sections considering our future study in pharmacy schools. I actually liked nomenclature in Chem, wish they had kept it.. and wanted Biochem to be included in bio section (replacing plants, animals) instead of chem section.

 

[GrimeWizard]

Technically, all the DNA stuff in the Bio section on translation and transcription is Biochem. I would say that there was more Biochem in the Bio section as well as in the chem section

 

[ScarletKnight90]

Yea I think it is more appropriate, but I do not understand how they calculate our score to a norm group that took an old version?

 

[LevisAreBack]

WOW is all that I can say after taking the PCAT today. Man I was nervous as **** before the test but starting out with the writing section definitely helped calm my nerves. I know a lot of people come to these posts looking for advice. The best advice that can I give is to do the PEARSON'S PRACTICE TESTS! ALL OF THEM! It's definitely worth the investment. A lot of people think that the PCAT is hard, the actual material on the PCAT is not hard, it's the time constraints that make it hard. And what is the best way to get used to dealing with time constraints? Practice, practice, practice! As for the individual sections, nothing really out of the ordinary, the practice tests really help guide you as to where you need to focus your studying. In a lot of the previous posts I see just about everyone says the reading comp is hard. This is true to a degree but it's only hard in the sense that you really have to focus on what the questions are asking. It's not impossible to do well on the reading comp, I got a 91 on the reading section and I am far from an avid reader. Some of the questions might be tricky but remember the answers are right there for you in the passage, you just have to pay attention to detail. The key for me was the break after the Chemistry section. Really take this time to refresh and clear your mind. Leave the testing center and walk around a little bit, go to the bathroom and splash some water on your face. After all remember that you have been sitting down for over 2 hours at this point, this mini break it much needed. Any who, I hopes this helps you guys. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

 

[Bea5T]

The bio is basically A&P + Micro
half the stuff I studied was essentially useless

 

[jerbearox]

The bio is basically A&P + Micro
half the stuff I studied was essentially useless

the microbio was useless community college style micro. memorize this bacteria blah blah blah. no where near upper div microbio. wasted time going over type 1/2/3/4 secretion systems lol