*Official June 2016 MCAT Thread*

[aalamruad]

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Hey there everyone! Figured I'd start this thread since I recently started preparing for the June 18th MCAT. For those of you who are taking the June 2nd MCAT, June 18th MCAT, or still considering one of those two dates, feel free to post here with any questions, comments, concerns, or support you have to offer!

Good luck to you all! Let's crush it.

 

[pewpew95]

you're totally fine. review the concepts that you missed consistently and drill them from here on out. you've got this! that's not a bad score.

I really hope so :'( again, it was skills 3 and 4 (which is experimental analysis) that I scored lowest on

yeah, that's what i normally do! said problem was a percent question and i was able to rule out 2 choices, and the remaining two just bugged me b/c i knew WHAT to do, but the math wasn't working in my head. in the end, after wasting like 4 minutes on it, i ended up with the same choice my instinct told me to pick.... :/

eesh that's not a good situation then haha. if that happens to me I just mark it and come back to it after I finish the rest of the test, but I know how hard it is moving past a problem that you're pretty sure you know how to do but the calculations just aren't working out

 

[sleepyhead22]

on my lunch break now... didn't like the CARS section at all haha. i only found 2 passages somewhat interesting and had wayy too many answers narrowed down to 2 without much confidence in my choice. also it came to me during my CARS section an easier way to do the calculation that i had been so hung up on in C/P (the answer was still the same), which means that i wasn't paying as much attention as i could have been to the passage LOL.

overall i'm dreading seeing my score, but even more than that i'm dreading having this feeling for a full month after the real thing. :/

 

[triplejtwo]

on my lunch break now... didn't like the CARS section at all haha. i only found 2 passages somewhat interesting and had wayy too many answers narrowed down to 2 without much confidence in my choice. also it came to me during my CARS section an easier way to do the calculation that i had been so hung up on in C/P (the answer was still the same), which means that i wasn't paying as much attention as i could have been to the passage LOL.

overall i'm dreading seeing my score, but even more than that i'm dreading having this feeling for a full month after the real thing. :/

Don't perseverate on a messing up that C/P, think of it as a learning experience and now on the real MCAT you will kill it

 

[Scrubs101]

Don't perseverate on a messing up that C/P, think of it as a learning experience and now on the real MCAT you will kill it

Agreed, some claim the AAMC is the best predictor of your score(which is true in comparison). But the best way to think of it, is that it is your best learning tool! Obviously people don't get the exact score on the real thing as they do their scored, there's always variability so don't take the score as much to heart as you should your wrong/right answer pathologies while going over it!


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[aalamruad]

Finally finished CP section bank- 84%. I still have PS SB to do. I am getting a little more nervous as our test date approaches.

I don't exactly know how to interpret section bank scores yet, but I'm pretty sure that that's a fantastic score! I don't think you have much to be worried about on that section. Let us know how the other 2 sections go! I'm finishing up B/B today, and did C/P and P/S yesterday, pretty exhausting haha

 

[triplejtwo]

I think I'm getting to the point where I really don't know what else to study. Im pretty much just reviewing all my old tests/section banks and then going over sociology.

 

[aalamruad]

on my lunch break now... didn't like the CARS section at all haha. i only found 2 passages somewhat interesting and had wayy too many answers narrowed down to 2 without much confidence in my choice. also it came to me during my CARS section an easier way to do the calculation that i had been so hung up on in C/P (the answer was still the same), which means that i wasn't paying as much attention as i could have been to the passage LOL.

overall i'm dreading seeing my score, but even more than that i'm dreading having this feeling for a full month after the real thing. :/

Let us know how the whole thing turns out once you're done, we're rooting for you!

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

Contemplating not doing the section banks to preserve my confidence. Lol. I'm just straight memorizing my notes and formulas today. I was planning on doing section banks tomorrow and Wednesday then taking the unscored Thursday.. But after reading all the comments idk if I wanna give myself anxiety like that.


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[Scrubs101]

For the June 2nders, 22 days left time is going by so slowly


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[triplejtwo]

Contemplating not doing the section banks to preserve my confidence. Lol. I'm just straight memorizing my notes and formulas today. I was planning on doing section banks tomorrow and Wednesday then taking the unscored Thursday.. But after reading all the comments idk if I wanna give myself anxiety like that.


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I would say do them, they are useful for showing how the experimental questions are set up. I think they are invaluable.

 

[Aspiring-Doctor]

I was that student that never knew why I was failing the CARS section when I would always walk out of the test feeling like I aced that section. I was that student that always thought CARS is something you cannot study for. I was also that student that took the test twice and got a 123 both times. The only thing I did differently when taking the test the third time around was that I practiced with more stringent time conditions and with many passages. I also took the passages and pasted them onto a microsoft doc and zoomed out to 120% and practice with this zoomed setting so that I can stimulate the real mcat testing situation. I did it!!! I finally broke the 123 barrier and got a 127. The reason why I am saying this is I was extremely depressed that my score was 123 for the longest time and taking the test a third time was a lot of pressure, but I still managed to improve so don't lose hope! A bit about me…I took the mcat at the end of sophomore year summer after 3 months of studying and got a 26. I took the new version of the mcat having studied for an additional 3 more months and got a 502 (26 again). The third time I took the test I got a 506 (29) and now I'm getting ready to apply! So don't lose hope or get overwhelmed by the # of posts with 510+ because statistics show that there is only 33% of the population getting that score and much lower percentages for scores that are 520+. Only people who do well post so don't let that bother you. Just keep practicing! Good luck future physicians!!! 🙂

 

[beOncogene]

I don't exactly know how to interpret section bank scores yet, but I'm pretty sure that that's a fantastic score! I don't think you have much to be worried about on that section. Let us know how the other 2 sections go! I'm finishing up B/B today, and did C/P and P/S yesterday, pretty exhausting haha

Thank you. I got ~90% on the CP SB. But like I've mentioned, I did the CP untimed so it may be inflated. For me, personally, I

I don't exactly know how to interpret section bank scores yet, but I'm pretty sure that that's a fantastic score! I don't think you have much to be worried about on that section. Let us know how the other 2 sections go! I'm finishing up B/B today, and did C/P and P/S yesterday, pretty exhausting haha

Yea, I dont know how to interpret them either. I just know that they will prepare us for those hard passages that we will encounter on test day. I have already finished the CP section bank- got ~90%, though it may be inflated since I did it untimed. Still need to finish up my personal statement. That is killing me more than anything else lol

 

[sleepyhead22]

Contemplating not doing the section banks to preserve my confidence. Lol. I'm just straight memorizing my notes and formulas today. I was planning on doing section banks tomorrow and Wednesday then taking the unscored Thursday.. But after reading all the comments idk if I wanna give myself anxiety like that.


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Definitely do them. Just finished the B/B section on the AAMC full length, and it legit feels easy compared to the section bank. The C/P felt easy compared to it as well. Just don't focus on your score, instead work though reading the experimental passages/etc. I don't think I really learned much more between the doing section banks and taking this FL, the passages just feel easier since my brain worked through the extremely difficult section bank passages (with limited success LOL).

 

[pewpew95]

(somewhat unrelated) I'm trying to figure out what score on the exam would be a good score to balance out my science GPA (~3.58 by the end of next year as long as I ace my remaining bio classes; 3.79 overall GPA at the moment). Realistically, I'm aiming for a balanced 510-512 this Saturday. We'll see if that's within reach when I take the aamc scored tomorrow. Applying next cycle.

Any thoughts, recommendations, advice? Of course the rest of my application also weighs substantially into my candidacy, and numerous other factors such as state of residence also influence admissions, but I want to at least get a second opinion on what my goal score should be for second tier and below med schools. Not considering DO or first tier (0% chance lol) at the moment. (note: I have messed around with the LizzyM calculator before)

 

[pewpew95]

Contemplating not doing the section banks to preserve my confidence. Lol. I'm just straight memorizing my notes and formulas today. I was planning on doing section banks tomorrow and Wednesday then taking the unscored Thursday.. But after reading all the comments idk if I wanna give myself anxiety like that.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

Do it!! I felt really bad after seeing my percentages but now I'm past it and just want to learn from my mistakes.

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

I would say do them, they are useful for showing how the experimental questions are set up. I think they are invaluable.

Definitely do them. Just finished the B/B section on the AAMC full length, and it legit feels easy compared to the section bank. The C/P felt easy compared to it as well. Just don't focus on your score, instead work though reading the experimental passages/etc. I don't think I really learned much more between the doing section banks and taking this FL, the passages just feel easier since my brain worked through the extremely difficult section bank passages (with limited success LOL).

Do it!! I felt really bad after seeing my percentages but now I'm past it and just want to learn from my mistakes.

I've been convinced. I'll start tomorrow.

 

[sleepyhead22]

Let us know how the whole thing turns out once you're done, we're rooting for you!

I could literally feel you guys pulling for me, which is kind of crazy for an internet forum! haha i've got all of your guys' backs for both your practice scores and beyond.
Here's how I did:
Total: 515- 128/128/130/129 overall 94th percentile. In case anyone is curious what those percentages correct equals: 81%, 81%, 90%, 90%. The curve on the P/S is crazy.... I got 6 wrong and that equals a 129?!

I'm honestly in disbelief. This is my second time taking the MCAT, and this is far above my goal score (508). Here's how my scores have been so far in order of when they were taken:
EK1- 64%
EK3-63%
NS1- 512
AAMC sample- 77%
NS2- 508
NS3- 508
Section bank (all taken untimed with solutions on so I had some improvement as each section went on): C/P 70% B/B 74% P/S 73%

I'm expecting test day anxiety to be much worse for me, although my heart was really racing while I was taking this and I purposely took it in an area where people were walking by. If I can get anything close to this score on the real thing, I will probably die of relief when I see my score.

 

[GoCubsGo20]

Just took the AAMC unscored. 75%/85%/75%/71%. I have no idea how to interpret this, if anyone has an words on it I would greatly appreciate it!

 

[aalamruad]

Just took the AAMC unscored. 75%/85%/75%/71%. I have no idea how to interpret this, if anyone has an words on it I would greatly appreciate it!

Looks like that's around 511, congrats! Check out the thread "Charts Predicting MCAT Scores" to see how I converted it

 

[aalamruad]

I could literally feel you guys pulling for me, which is kind of crazy for an internet forum! haha i've got all of your guys' backs for both your practice scores and beyond.
Here's how I did:
Total: 515- 128/128/130/129 overall 94th percentile. In case anyone is curious what those percentages correct equals: 81%, 81%, 90%, 90%. The curve on the P/S is crazy.... I got 6 wrong and that equals a 129?!

I'm honestly in disbelief. This is my second time taking the MCAT, and this is far above my goal score (508). Here's how my scores have been so far in order of when they were taken:
EK1- 64%
EK3-63%
NS1- 512
AAMC sample- 77%
NS2- 508
NS3- 508
Section bank (all taken untimed with solutions on so I had some improvement as each section went on): C/P 70% B/B 74% P/S 73%

I'm expecting test day anxiety to be much worse for me, although my heart was really racing while I was taking this and I purposely took it in an area where people were walking by. If I can get anything close to this score on the real thing, I will probably die of relief when I see my score.

That's so awesome, congrats!! Looks like you're in great shape. Very impressive improvement from your first MCAT (I don't remember what it was, but I'm assuming it was under 508). Keep up the good work, only a few days left!

 

[Dolly96]

I could literally feel you guys pulling for me, which is kind of crazy for an internet forum! haha i've got all of your guys' backs for both your practice scores and beyond.
Here's how I did:
Total: 515- 128/128/130/129 overall 94th percentile. In case anyone is curious what those percentages correct equals: 81%, 81%, 90%, 90%. The curve on the P/S is crazy.... I got 6 wrong and that equals a 129?!

I'm honestly in disbelief. This is my second time taking the MCAT, and this is far above my goal score (508). Here's how my scores have been so far in order of when they were taken:
EK1- 64%
EK3-63%
NS1- 512
AAMC sample- 77%
NS2- 508
NS3- 508
Section bank (all taken untimed with solutions on so I had some improvement as each section went on): C/P 70% B/B 74% P/S 73%

I'm expecting test day anxiety to be much worse for me, although my heart was really racing while I was taking this and I purposely took it in an area where people were walking by. If I can get anything close to this score on the real thing, I will probably die of relief when I see my score.

Looks like you're in great shape

 

[beOncogene]

I could literally feel you guys pulling for me, which is kind of crazy for an internet forum! haha i've got all of your guys' backs for both your practice scores and beyond.
Here's how I did:
Total: 515- 128/128/130/129 overall 94th percentile. In case anyone is curious what those percentages correct equals: 81%, 81%, 90%, 90%. The curve on the P/S is crazy.... I got 6 wrong and that equals a 129?!

I'm honestly in disbelief. This is my second time taking the MCAT, and this is far above my goal score (508). Here's how my scores have been so far in order of when they were taken:
EK1- 64%
EK3-63%
NS1- 512
AAMC sample- 77%
NS2- 508
NS3- 508
Section bank (all taken untimed with solutions on so I had some improvement as each section went on): C/P 70% B/B 74% P/S 73%

I'm expecting test day anxiety to be much worse for me, although my heart was really racing while I was taking this and I purposely took it in an area where people were walking by. If I can get anything close to this score on the real thing, I will probably die of relief when I see my score.

Congrats! You're actually making me excited about taking the scored haha. Taking it tomorrow.

I could literally feel you guys pulling for me, which is kind of crazy for an internet forum! haha i've got all of your guys' backs for both your practice scores and beyond.
Congrats dude! or gal? I know we will kill this test on Saturday. Bring it on! haha
Total: 515- 128/128/130/129 overall 94th percentile. In case anyone is curious what those percentages correct equals: 81%, 81%, 90%, 90%. The curve on the P/S is crazy.... I got 6 wrong and that equals a 129?!

I'm honestly in disbelief. This is my second time taking the MCAT, and this is far above my goal score (508). Here's how my scores have been so far in order of when they were taken:
EK1- 64%
EK3-63%
NS1- 512
AAMC sample- 77%
NS2- 508
NS3- 508
Section bank (all taken untimed with solutions on so I had some improvement as each section went on): C/P 70% B/B 74% P/S 73%

I'm expecting test day anxiety to be much worse for me, although my heart was really racing while I was taking this and I purposely took it in an area where people were walking by. If I can get anything close to this score on the real thing, I will probably die of relief when I see my score.

 

[sleepyhead22]

That's so awesome, congrats!! Looks like you're in great shape. Very impressive improvement from your first MCAT (I don't remember what it was, but I'm assuming it was under 508). Keep up the good work, only a few days left!

Looks like you're in great shape

Thanks you guys!!! Really hoping I'm not the outlier that does way worse on the real thing. I'll be happy with anything above 507 so even if I do 7 points worse I will be satisfied haha.

Congrats! You're actually making me excited about taking the scored haha. Taking it tomorrow.

with your section bank scores, I have a feeling you're going to blow it out of the water. good luck!!

 

[beOncogene]

Can I say that we all will kill this stupid test on Saturday?

 

[MI2015]

Does anyone know a good source for Electric fields and magnets? I already went through EK and TPR and Khan, but I still feel weak on it.

 

[TXhopeful]

If I wasn't in freak-out mode, I am now. Overall 60% on EK 4 🙁
My best C/P score ever (finally some biochem in there!) and my absolute low for B/B. I don't get it. I did great on the AAMC Sample, NS 1, Official Guide and have absolutely bombed EK's FL. I've gotten 70% on only one of them.
AAMC Scored on Wednesday and I'm absolutely terrified.

 

[sleepyhead22]

If I wasn't in freak-out mode, I am now. Overall 60% on EK 4 🙁
My best C/P score ever (finally some biochem in there!) and my absolute low for B/B. I don't get it. I did great on the AAMC Sample, NS 1, Official Guide and have absolutely bombed EK's FL. I've gotten 70% on only one of them.
AAMC Scored on Wednesday and I'm absolutely terrified.

THIS IS WHY I STOPPED DOING EK'S. please don't freak out!! you'll do great!!! How you did on the AAMC material is by far more reflective of how you will do on the test. For what it's worth, the AAMC scored FL felt easier than the NS exams to me.

 

[BlastedHeath]

One thing I'll recommend to those of you taking the test soon is practice using earplugs. When I took the GRE the test center had these comfy over the ear headphones that did a good job blocking everything out, I assumed they would have the same ones for the MCAT, but they had no headphones, only earplugs. I hadn't used earplugs in ages, had difficulty getting them in right, they didn't seem to block everything, and eventually my ears got sore. Aside from not sleeping well, that was the one thing that tripped me up on June 2nd.

 

[TXhopeful]

THIS IS WHY I STOPPED DOING EK'S. please don't freak out!! you'll do great!!! How you did on the AAMC material is by far more reflective of how you will do on the test. For what it's worth, the AAMC scored FL felt easier than the NS exams to me.

Why is hindsight vision always 20/20? If only I could go back 2 weeks...
I will say that the latter EK exams (3 and 4) are incorporating more AAMC-style material, including more biochem and various other biology concepts that we've seen in the Section Banks. I guess I'd rather bomb these exams right now and figure out what I don't know! The review is definitely where the learning happens.
Looks like a long day in the library tomorrow for me. Reviewing this exam, doing Section Banks again and CARS practice from Question Packs.

 

[TXhopeful]

What is the group consensus on reading the May 14th thread when scores are released this week?
My mind is telling me no....

 

[Scrubs101]

What is the group consensus on reading the May 14th thread when scores are released this week?
My mind is telling me no....

More often than not I take reading them as too much of a positive might be because I'm selectively reading the improvements, or it might just be SDN bias of having good scores but i like it!


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[triplejtwo]

Made absolutely stupid mistakes on the AAMC sample I just reviewed from a couple days ago, literally just reading errors. Im gonna absolutely destroy the AAMC scored on wednesday!

 

[sleepyhead22]

Why is hindsight vision always 20/20? If only I could go back 2 weeks...
I will say that the latter EK exams (3 and 4) are incorporating more AAMC-style material, including more biochem and various other biology concepts that we've seen in the Section Banks. I guess I'd rather bomb these exams right now and figure out what I don't know! The review is definitely where the learning happens.
Looks like a long day in the library tomorrow for me. Reviewing this exam, doing Section Banks again and CARS practice from Question Packs.

I feel you. I think I improved my C/P section the most by watching Khan Academy videos on the stuff that was high yield from the section banks. I went from 61% on the sample to 81% on the scored by spending like 10 hours per day for 4 days watching videos on organic chemistry and gen chem. Think I'm going to do the same with glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, Krebs cycle, etc over the next couple of days because those were my weak spots on the B/B section bank.

 

[sleepyhead22]

One thing I'll recommend to those of you taking the test soon is practice using earplugs. When I took the GRE the test center had these comfy over the ear headphones that did a good job blocking everything out, I assumed they would have the same ones for the MCAT, but they had no headphones, only earplugs. I hadn't used earplugs in ages, had difficulty getting them in right, they didn't seem to block everything, and eventually my ears got sore. Aside from not sleeping well, that was the one thing that tripped me up on June 2nd.

This is what I've been doing, and I've realized I have reallyyyy bad tinnitus... It's way worse when I have the earplugs in, so finding the balance between blocking out external noise and allowing in some white noise has been tricky.... Does anyone else have this?

 

[LakridsA]

I feel you. I think I improved my C/P section the most by watching Khan Academy videos on the stuff that was high yield from the section banks. I went from 61% on the sample to 81% on the scored by spending like 10 hours per day for 4 days watching videos on organic chemistry and gen chem. Think I'm going to do the same with glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, Krebs cycle, etc over the next couple of days because those were my weak spots on the B/B section bank.

Did you take notes as well or just watch?

 

[sleepyhead22]

Did you take notes as well or just watch?

I took notes! I watched on 1 or 1.5 speed depending on the instructor's speed. It definitely helped me a ton. Some of the biochemistry concepts that are tested on both sections are definitely worth your time. The carbohydrates helped me a lot, they had some good tricks for remembering the differences between glucose/fructose/ribose/etc and alpha and beta anomers.

 

[beOncogene]

Thanks you guys!!! Really hoping I'm not the outlier that does way worse on the real thing. I'll be happy with anything above 507 so even if I do 7 points worse I will be satisfied haha.



with your section bank scores, I have a feeling you're going to blow it out of the water. good luck!!

I

Thanks you guys!!! Really hoping I'm not the outlier that does way worse on the real thing. I'll be happy with anything above 507 so even if I do 7 points worse I will be satisfied haha.



with your section bank scores, I have a feeling you're going to blow it out of the water. good luck!!

Haha, I don't know about that. Cars usually kills me though- can't seem to break a 127 on practice exams. But thanks for the encouragement. I'll let you guys know how it goes. Almost done with the PS section bank.

 

[BlastedHeath]

This is what I've been doing, and I've realized I have reallyyyy bad tinnitus... It's way worse when I have the earplugs in, so finding the balance between blocking out external noise and allowing in some white noise has been tricky.... Does anyone else have this?

I have some tinnitus(too many rock concerts in my younger days) but luckily it didn't really bother me on test day. My earplugs didn't completely block out outside noise though, so it is possible that in that sense it actually helped a bit. My test center was surprisingly quiet considering there were 15 people in the room, I actually ended up doing the whole P/S section without the earplugs, but your mileage may vary.

 

[pewpew95]

70% on P/S section bank, finally a score that wasn't failing!

I could literally feel you guys pulling for me, which is kind of crazy for an internet forum! haha i've got all of your guys' backs for both your practice scores and beyond.
Here's how I did:
Total: 515- 128/128/130/129 overall 94th percentile. In case anyone is curious what those percentages correct equals: 81%, 81%, 90%, 90%. The curve on the P/S is crazy.... I got 6 wrong and that equals a 129?!

Congrats!! You are officially goals

 

[Haiba]

Quick question: What is the way to tell the oxidation number of atoms in organic molecules? For esample, what is the phosphorus oxidation number in pyrophosphate? is it +5? if so, how?

 

[Haiba]

I could literally feel you guys pulling for me, which is kind of crazy for an internet forum! haha i've got all of your guys' backs for both your practice scores and beyond.
Here's how I did:
Total: 515- 128/128/130/129 overall 94th percentile. In case anyone is curious what those percentages correct equals: 81%, 81%, 90%, 90%. The curve on the P/S is crazy.... I got 6 wrong and that equals a 129?!

I'm honestly in disbelief. This is my second time taking the MCAT, and this is far above my goal score (508). Here's how my scores have been so far in order of when they were taken:
EK1- 64%
EK3-63%
NS1- 512
AAMC sample- 77%
NS2- 508
NS3- 508
Section bank (all taken untimed with solutions on so I had some improvement as each section went on): C/P 70% B/B 74% P/S 73%

I'm expecting test day anxiety to be much worse for me, although my heart was really racing while I was taking this and I purposely took it in an area where people were walking by. If I can get anything close to this score on the real thing, I will probably die of relief when I see my score.

You give me so much hope. You have no idea. Ahhh. Congratulations!
May I ask what was your score the first time you took the MCAT? I'm asking because I'm retaking it again and I want to see how much I can improve.

 

[MI2015]

I feel you. I think I improved my C/P section the most by watching Khan Academy videos on the stuff that was high yield from the section banks. I went from 61% on the sample to 81% on the scored by spending like 10 hours per day for 4 days watching videos on organic chemistry and gen chem. Think I'm going to do the same with glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, Krebs cycle, etc over the next couple of days because those were my weak spots on the B/B section bank.

Since orgo is such low yield, did watching orgo videos help a lot? Or mostly gen chem?

 

[sleepyhead22]

Since orgo is such low yield, did watching orgo videos help a lot? Or mostly gen chem?

I noticed while I was doing the section bank that the biochemistry questions I was missing were basically organic chemistry questions. The stuff I reviewed was pretty basic stuff but I haven't taken O Chem since 8 years ago! So you're probably fine without reviewing o chem stuff if you've taken it more recently, I just didn't remember some basic stuff that really helped me with questions you probably find easy (sn1 sn2 reactions, different functional groups, etc which helped me apply the biochem material).

 

[MI2015]

Hopefully this is not specific, but before my exam shut down on the 2nd, I was asked some very random and detailed questions that could only be found when I went back and read random notes from class. There was no way I could have prepared for those questions and that freaks me out haha

 

[MI2015]

I noticed while I was doing the section bank that the biochemistry questions I was missing were basically organic chemistry questions. The stuff I reviewed was pretty basic stuff but I haven't taken O Chem since 8 years ago! So you're probably fine without reviewing o chem stuff if you've taken it more recently, I just didn't remember some basic stuff that really helped me with questions you probably find easy (sn1 sn2 reactions, different functional groups, etc which helped me apply the biochem material).

Oh okay haha, yeah I took orgo last year so most of the stuff is fresh in my mind.
Do you have any advice for C/P? I haven't been able to break a 127 on that.

 

[pewpew95]

Quick question: What is the way to tell the oxidation number of atoms in organic molecules? For esample, what is the phosphorus oxidation number in pyrophosphate? is it +5? if so, how?

"The oxidation number of an element is the number of electrons that need to be added to the element to make a neutral atom."

The above rule is something I learned in organic chemistry. Common example: carbon needs 4 bonds to be electrically neutral, so it has an oxidation state of +4 (including the elements in that group). Phosphorous is in the group to the right, so it requires 3 bonds to make it electrically neutral --> oxidation # = +3. I'm assuming they are positive if they are attached to more electronegative atoms, otherwise if they themselves are the more electronegative atom they would be (-). This would only be true if the P was monoatomic (no bonds) though, so let's keep moving.

I attached a list of rules for assigning oxidation numbers that I got out of the Kaplan gen chem book. According to these rules, the sum oxidation number for pyrophosphate is -4 because of its charge. O's are ALWAYS -2, and there are 7 of them --> 7*-2 = -14. We need to get to -4 (total charge) and there are 2 P's. Simple algebra --> each P = +5

Hope this helps! (And I sincerely hope I'm right)

Edit: I wasn't right the first time around

 

[sleepyhead22]

Oh okay haha, yeah I took orgo last year so most of the stuff is fresh in my mind.
Do you have any advice for C/P? I haven't been able to break a 127 on that.

I worked through the C/P section bank at a reallyy slow pace, looking up things that I didn't understand and watching a video on the topic/redoing the problem when I missed it. I also worked through the chemistry and physics question packs twice because I felt weak on content and those questions help for memorizing equations. C/P has always been my weakness so I've really focused on it. Just doing lots of practice problems should help you! I'm terrified after what you said about your test that got shut down tho... Maybe I shouldn't be giving advice haha. 😉

 

[tavokeri9]

Is this June 18 MCAT everyone's last shot at applying this cycle? Or is anyone planning on signing up for the July 22 retake immediately afterwards, while continuing studying over the next month in order to have another shot at the cycle in case the score comes out bad?

Thoughts on this strategy?

 

[doctorg2019]

Can someone please convert my AAMC unscored or tell me how to do it?
Chem/Phy: 69%
CARS: 85%
Bio/Biochem: 66%
Psych/Soc: 73%
Average: 73.25%

Thank you!

 

[MI2015]

Is this June 18 MCAT everyone's last shot at applying this cycle? Or is anyone planning on signing up for the July 22 retake immediately afterwards, while continuing studying over the next month in order to have another shot at the cycle in case the score comes out bad?

Thoughts on this strategy?

I'm applying this cycle regardless of my score. I got a 509/510 on the AAMC tests, and from what the May test takers have posted- most people seem to be doing better on the actual test. Obviously, response bias is at play, but still. I already submitted TMDAS and will be submitting AMCAS next week.