Official Guide to the MCAT OUT!
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It seems pretty underwhelming.
1. Passages and questions from actual MCAT exams, with detailed explanations of both the correct and incorrect answers.
This is a simple reprint from their practice tests. I bet the explanations are the same as well. Furthermore, these passages and questions undermine the validity of the AAMC FLs by showing you the problems early. If you see the problems beforehand, there goes that respective FL. Even if there's only one passage from PS, VR, and BS included from a FL, you would still waste that respective FL. You can't get down your timing when you know the answers already. Plus, it takes away from the proper MCAT experience where you've never seen the vast majority of the problems beforehand (they do like to use a few questions over again).
2. Tips to help you come up with the right solutions
Easily obtainable from a myriad of places. You still need a regular set of content review books anyway.
3. "Difficulty levels" of questions, revealing what percentages of examinees answered correctly in the real-life tests
This may be somewhat useful. Then again, I don't care too much about the difficultly levels of questions.
4. Data to help you determine how likely you are to increase or decrease your scores upon a retake, and by how many points
Already available for free. Well, it's free for now. I don't know if they'll restrict access to this information now that this book is out.
5. Data that show what percentage of applicants were admitted to medical school, based on MCAT scores and GPAs combined
Possibly useful since I don't know of another source that combines the two. No, MDApps doesn't count. There is, however, the Lizzy score which can calculates one's chances at every medical school based on MCAT and GPA. The Lizzy score is free and can be obtained on here. Also, there's FAR more to an application than the MCAT and GPA.
6. A look at how MCAT scores factor into the admissions decision, with insights from a former associate dean of admissions
This could provide some useful information, though it will probably be just stuff you've heard elsewhere.
Overall, I think you can tell that I'm disappointed with this book. I thought they were going to go in-depth and include content review, new passages written by MCAT authors, etc. I definitely had my hopes too high.
1. Passages and questions from actual MCAT exams, with detailed explanations of both the correct and incorrect answers.
This is a simple reprint from their practice tests. I bet the explanations are the same as well. Furthermore, these passages and questions undermine the validity of the AAMC FLs by showing you the problems early. If you see the problems beforehand, there goes that respective FL. Even if there's only one passage from PS, VR, and BS included from a FL, you would still waste that respective FL. You can't get down your timing when you know the answers already. Plus, it takes away from the proper MCAT experience where you've never seen the vast majority of the problems beforehand (they do like to use a few questions over again).
2. Tips to help you come up with the right solutions
Easily obtainable from a myriad of places. You still need a regular set of content review books anyway.
3. "Difficulty levels" of questions, revealing what percentages of examinees answered correctly in the real-life tests
This may be somewhat useful. Then again, I don't care too much about the difficultly levels of questions.
4. Data to help you determine how likely you are to increase or decrease your scores upon a retake, and by how many points
Already available for free. Well, it's free for now. I don't know if they'll restrict access to this information now that this book is out.
5. Data that show what percentage of applicants were admitted to medical school, based on MCAT scores and GPAs combined
Possibly useful since I don't know of another source that combines the two. No, MDApps doesn't count. There is, however, the Lizzy score which can calculates one's chances at every medical school based on MCAT and GPA. The Lizzy score is free and can be obtained on here. Also, there's FAR more to an application than the MCAT and GPA.
6. A look at how MCAT scores factor into the admissions decision, with insights from a former associate dean of admissions
This could provide some useful information, though it will probably be just stuff you've heard elsewhere.
Overall, I think you can tell that I'm disappointed with this book. I thought they were going to go in-depth and include content review, new passages written by MCAT authors, etc. I definitely had my hopes too high.
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Yes, it is the same test.
"In addition, you may upgrade your purchase of the guide for an additional $15, which will provide you with access to an official AAMC practice test of your choice (a $35 value)."
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For those of you who plan to purchase a full-length AAMC test sometime soon, consider this: purchasing test alone: $35. Purchasing the book with the test: $45. If you're going to buy a test anyway, the book comes for just an additional $10... worth it?!
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I'm interested to see what the "actual MCAT" material might be. If it's previously unreleased stuff, that would be great. Another possibility is the passages that got cut when they converted the P&P tests to CBT's. I hope they don't do what you're suggesting and reprint stuff from the online tests. I just ordered one, so I'll let you know when I get it.
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It's not worth it if the material is the same. My response to the next quote ties into this one as well.
That's true, it could be previously unreleased MCAT material. I'm still somewhat skeptical since it looks like they're simply reprinting some of their other stuff.
Keep us posted on whether the material is taken out of AAMC #3-10. If it is, then the book isn't worth it even for $10. If it's not and there are a good number of passages, it may be a good buy.
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This is freely available as well. http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/mcatgpa-grid-3yrs-app-accpt-raceeth.htm
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OK, I just got the book. I haven't had a chance to do the passages but I skimmed everything.
Good News: all the practice material appears to be previously unreleased.
Bad News: not enough practice materials.
As we've discussed, most of the other info in the book is either common sense or freely available elsewhere. Here's the run down on part 2 (the practice material).
- General Chem: 5 passages and 5 discretes; 28 questions total.
- Physics: 4 passages and 7 discretes; 28 questions total.
- Biology: 5 passages and 9 discretes; 41 questions total.
- Organic: 3 passages and 5 discretes; 19 questions total.
- Verbal: 6 passages; 30 questions total.
- Writing: Scoring rubric and 6 scored sample essays
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Thanks for the post! For the extra content I'm thinking it's worth the $10.00 price tag with and exam. It's a toss up for the regular price, but for the sample scored essays I'm thinking that will be nice to see.
I'm prob going to pick this up now.
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Cool. Thanks for reporting back. It looks like it might be an okay buy if you're buying a test with it. If you're buying it by itself, it's not worth it. TPR Hyperlearning workbooks frequently pop up and are usually under $30. EK Verbal 101 and Bio would also be better picks.
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These are from '03, but they state they are still up to date:
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/preparing/start.htm
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The outlines seem to be more or less the same but there are a couple of minor changes and the book has brief explanations of the significance of each major heading.
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I hope this book is semi-useful. After all, it is $30 (which isnt too much for an MCAT prep book for retail price) and we can get additional practice material that was previously unreleased!
I contacted AAMC, and it looks like everything is new! Here's what they said:
Thank you for contacting the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) program.
None of the items that are used in the online Practice Tests are used in
the Official Guide.
Please let us know if you need any additional assistance.
Warm Regards,
The MCAT Resource Center Staff
Association of American Medical Colleges
2450 N St., NW
Washington, DC 20037
U.S.A.
General Inquiries: 202-828-0690
www.aamc.org/mcat
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Wow, really! I didn't know that. Well, my test is in less than 2 weeks, so it's a little late for me to utilize this book. But those that have the time should def. invest in it, it seems. I'll def. do so in the chance I'll have to retake 😕
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I bought this online, with the newest MSAR last week. IMO, even if I learn only one thing, the book is worth it. Hell, I'd pay that price just for the practice problems!
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I like the MSAR, but to tell you the truth I am really starting to prefer the US News and World Report Ultimate Guide To Medical Schools. It uses averages rather median scores and you can see the number accepted in addition to the number matriculated.
I think you get more pertinent information when you're trying to make an informed decision on what schools to apply to. Just my opinion though.
what do you guys think about the difficulty of the passages in this book?
I think they are definitely harder than AAMC CBT ones and more representative of the real mcat (i wrote 3/28/09) well they were real mcat material after all. As that being said, marks I am getting on these passages are embarrassingly low *especially in bio and phys*, which is scaring the shi*t out of me.
tell me what you guys think..
I think they are definitely harder than AAMC CBT ones and more representative of the real mcat (i wrote 3/28/09) well they were real mcat material after all. As that being said, marks I am getting on these passages are embarrassingly low *especially in bio and phys*, which is scaring the shi*t out of me.
tell me what you guys think..
what do you guys think about the difficulty of the passages in this book?
I think they are definitely harder than AAMC CBT ones and more representative of the real mcat (i wrote 3/28/09) well they were real mcat material after all. As that being said, marks I am getting on these passages are embarrassingly low *especially in bio and phys*, which is scaring the shi*t out of me.
tell me what you guys think..
i'm taking the test on 4/18, and i just picked this book up to have some more practice. now, i am normally not a worrier, i get mildly (natural) nervous for tests, but this book kind of scared me. i was on par with all the AAMC practice tests i've taken for all the sections except for physics. the physics passages kicked my butt, and it is worrying me a little.
don't know if i'm just exhausted from studying or what, but a couple of those physics passages were brutal i thought. also, a couple o-chem passages weren't walks in the park either.
nothing really left to do at this point...review, practice, take test. good luck.
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Can you purchase the book at a local bookstore or is it only available online through the website?
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I think your best bet would be online since the book is still relatively new and the bookstores only seem to carry select materials.
It only took me about 5 days to get mine after ordering online.
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You could do a faster shipping method, but that's going to cost you. I think their standard shipping was $8 😱
That's a toss-up. If you're really looking to get some new material, but you are going to have about 5-7 days with the book before your exam, and if you take the day before your exam off to rest up...
I can't say whether it's worth it to you or not. I think the book is great, but only you can judge that.
Good luck on your exam either way!
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Are the tests scaled? Do you get like a 9, 11, 12 at the end of the test? Or do you guys just go by percentage of right/wrong questions?
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They are scaled, but they have a disclaimer that states the scaled score is just an approximation.
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The questions in this book seem to be pretty easy. I have been doing problems out of the Princeton Review MCAT Workout Book and there were 2 passages that KILLED me. 2 passages where I missed all but 1 (on physical sciences). But in this book, I am doing great.
Did anyone find that a lot of the questions from the Princeton Review Book were crazy difficult? This book seems pretty good. I've almost worked through the whole thing and I am doing great. Anybody else find this? Not trying to brag at all...prob gonna get a 24. LOL.
hope not.
Did anyone find that a lot of the questions from the Princeton Review Book were crazy difficult? This book seems pretty good. I've almost worked through the whole thing and I am doing great. Anybody else find this? Not trying to brag at all...prob gonna get a 24. LOL.
hope not.
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lol why did you need to resurrect this +1 year old thread to ask this question?
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It sounded underwhelming at first (it still is to a degree), but once they offered it in package deals it became a better deal. You basically get roughly another FL's worth of practice questions. I haven't heard too much on the difficulty compared to recent tests since not many people have picked it up. I don't think it'd be a bad idea to get it in a bundle, but I'm not sure it's worth full price.
Hahaha. Just saw my old post about TPRH Workbooks being around $30. Oh how that has changed. Probably partly my fault.
Hahaha. Just saw my old post about TPRH Workbooks being around $30. Oh how that has changed. Probably partly my fault.
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Just to make sure, are the passages in this book recycled from any of the full length AAMC practice exams that are currently offered or are they unique?
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I believe they're all unique passages and questions.
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Quick Review:
The science passages are as hard as the later AAMCs and the real MCAT. The first couple verbal passages are too easy and the last one or two are similar to the med-easy passages on the real MCAT. There is a tough bio passage or two that gives you a solid feel for the "new style" of questions that are experimental and critical thinking based. Obviously on the real MCAT there seems to always be one very tough outlier section which may be a notch harder than these passages, but overall they give you a great idea. The format is similar with a ton of combining topics into one passage.
I would reccomend getting one of these and using it near the end of prep to get your mindset right for the exam. Don't use these earlier to get a feel for the AAMC questions, use the self assessment for that once you have completed content review.
The science passages are as hard as the later AAMCs and the real MCAT. The first couple verbal passages are too easy and the last one or two are similar to the med-easy passages on the real MCAT. There is a tough bio passage or two that gives you a solid feel for the "new style" of questions that are experimental and critical thinking based. Obviously on the real MCAT there seems to always be one very tough outlier section which may be a notch harder than these passages, but overall they give you a great idea. The format is similar with a ton of combining topics into one passage.
I would reccomend getting one of these and using it near the end of prep to get your mindset right for the exam. Don't use these earlier to get a feel for the AAMC questions, use the self assessment for that once you have completed content review.
