One week for CARS: materials?

[Hospitalized]

Obviously people always say it's impossible or near-impossible to improve your CARS score in the course of one week. Well, I just scored 122 on the AAMC scored, and would like to hit 125 on test day. All of my other tests were 124-128, so this was a little deflating.

What's the best available CARS material to practice with over the next week? I think I'm capable of hitting an acceptable score if I practice it enough. I've heard EK101 is good and I do have the online pdf of that. I've already done CARS Qpack and will do QPack 2 as well. Anything else?

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[bluepeach9]

I've heard testing solutions is pretty good! They seem indicative of the real exams.

 

[theonlytycrane]

Do you have any more practice exams available to do CARS sections from?

TestingSolutions is ultra-hard and is bad in terms of format. The passages are on a PDF and the questions are in a kindle e-reader format.

 

[bluepeach9]

Do you have any more practice exams available to do CARS sections from?

TestingSolutions is ultra-hard and is bad in terms of format. The passages are on a PDF and the questions are in a kindle e-reader format.

Yeah, testing solutions is hard, but some SDNers that scored 60-70% on those ended up with ~130 on the real deal. So, it might be good practice?

@Hospitalized I've also heard good things about the Altius CARS sections mimicking the real exam. My friend practiced exclusively from those (she took section tests just for CARS) and ended up scoring a 129, which is still pretty decent!

 

[Jack Westin]

Use AAMC Sample Test and Practice Test 1 CARS passages if you have time. However, if you have not looked at Question Pack 2 yet, just do that.

 

[premedkid1994]

I have seen your nextstep scores and I believe they correlate very closely to mine.
If you don't mind me asking, how did you do on the scored AAMC exam? Like the breakdown..
Just wondering how well I can perform according to these nextstep scores.

Also btw dude, I would try to:
1) get CARS hyperlearning and do passages everyday
2) get CARS EK book and do passages everday

or if you don't have time... go to the free exams (3 Kaplan, 3PR, etc) and do only the CARS sections timed everyday until you run out.

if you are baller.. buy more exams and do timed CARS sections from those.

Hope everything works out!!

 

[Hospitalized]

I have seen your nextstep scores and I believe they correlate very closely to mine.
If you don't mind me asking, how did you do on the scored AAMC exam? Like the breakdown..
Just wondering how well I can perform according to these nextstep scores.

Also btw dude, I would try to:
1) get CARS hyperlearning and do passages everyday
2) get CARS EK book and do passages everday

or if you don't have time... go to the free exams (3 Kaplan, 3PR, etc) and do only the CARS sections timed everyday until you run out.

if you are baller.. buy more exams and do timed CARS sections from those.

Hope everything works out!!

126/122/127/127. CARS was my only issue. Felt really good about the other stuff. C/P missed a couple things related to content I can sure-up. The test didn't even really hit on my strengths but I felt it was significantly easier than the SB's and any other practice exam I've taken besides the unscored.

 

[premedkid1994]

oh thats great dude. Im going to pm you something that might help you in cars 🙂

 

[RockMcat520]

oh thats great dude. Im going to pm you something that might help you in cars 🙂

I am in the same situation. Would love to get some help with CARS. I started practicing TPR hyperlearning, not sure if it is going to help.
My AAMC scored is 130/123/128/127. Been practicing 6 passages daily!! Hopefully that helps 🙁

 

[medprospect22]

I liked the CARS QPack 2.

 

[Wolfpack93]

Are you applying this cycle or next? If next, I would seriously advise pushing your test back and doing as much CARS as you can starting withb AAMC q packs and then using the Princeton hyper learning workbook. You seem to be aware that raising CARS in one week isn't very feasible. A 122 will get you screened at almost every school.

 

[premedkid1994]

Are you applying this cycle or next? If next, I would seriously advise pushing your test back and doing as much CARS as you can starting withb AAMC q packs and then using the Princeton hyper learning workbook. You seem to be aware that raising CARS in one week isn't very feasible. A 122 will get you screened at almost every school.

Do you think one month is enough time to raise CARS score if your getting 60-65% right on that section?? Just curious
Exam date is on Aug 5

 

[Wolfpack93]

Do you think one month is enough time to raise CARS score if your getting 60-65% right on that section?? Just curious
Exam date is on Aug 5

I don't think I am anywhere near an expert on CARS haha. I thought I knew what I was doing and then ended up dropping a few points from my practice tests on the actual MCAT. That being said I do think that consistent practice with thorough review every day for a month could defintley help improve your score by a point or two, which would put you in the 70-80th percentile if you're already in the 60th%.

 

[premedkid1994]

I don't think I am anywhere near an expert on CARS haha. I thought I knew what I was doing and then ended up dropping a few points from my practice tests on the actual MCAT. That being said I do think that consistent practice with thorough review every day for a month could defintley help improve your score by a point or two, which would put you in the 70-80th percentile if you're already in the 60th%.

I'm not in the 60th percentile aha. I wish I was. I'm getting 60% correct on Nextstep fl sections (getting ~125) 🙁

but thank you!! I feel like i can definitely improve in a month if I work hard. Thank you for your advice

 

[Wolfpack93]

I'm not in the 60th percentile aha. I wish I was. I'm getting 60% correct on Nextstep fl sections (getting ~125) 🙁

but thank you!! I feel like i can definitely improve in a month if I work hard. Thank you for your advice

Agreed, I think doing as many passages as possible is the only way to improve your score. Good luck!

 

[MareNostrummm]

I had 85% CARS on the sample FL. 513 on the scored FL (124 CARS). (one week before my MCAT).

Ended up with 512: 128/124/129/131

How you do on the scored FL will be very similar to how you do on your MCAT... I seriously doubt you are going to go from 122 to 125 (9 on the old scale) in 2 weeks. I mean you can... if you get passages that you find interesting, but why gamble with such an important test?

I'd recommend delaying and getting a tutor ASAP.

 

[MareNostrummm]

Yeah, testing solutions is hard, but some SDNers that scored 60-70% on those ended up with ~130 on the real deal. So, it might be good practice?

@Hospitalized I've also heard good things about the Altius CARS sections mimicking the real exam. My friend practiced exclusively from those (she took section tests just for CARS) and ended up scoring a 129, which is still pretty decent!

By contrast I had 62-64% on several Testing Solution full lengths and only hit 124 on CARS... They aren't very representative.

 

[believe <3]

By contrast I had 62-64% on several Testing Solution full lengths and only hit 124 on CARS... They aren't very representative.

I scored 58% on TS1, and then ~80% on TS 2 and 3. So far, I've received 90% correct on AAMC unscored CARS and a 126 (75%) on the scored exam. I found they were good practice and prepared you for the most complicated passages. But yeah, looks like no test prep company is perfectly accurate for AAMC so we're really stuck in the dark here 🙁

 

[MareNostrummm]

I scored 58% on TS1, and then ~80% on TS 2 and 3. So far, I've received 90% correct on AAMC unscored CARS and a 126 (75%) on the scored exam. I found they were good practice and prepared you for the most complicated passages. But yeah, looks like no test prep company is perfectly accurate for AAMC so we're really stuck in the dark here 🙁

You're doing alright, I think your range will be 125-127 on the real MCAT. Possibly 128 (stretch goal)

 

[bluepeach9]

Are you applying this cycle or next? If next, I would seriously advise pushing your test back and doing as much CARS as you can starting withb AAMC q packs and then using the Princeton hyper learning workbook. You seem to be aware that raising CARS in one week isn't very feasible. A 122 will get you screened at almost every school.

I had 85% CARS on the sample FL. 513 on the scored FL (124 CARS). (one week before my MCAT).

Ended up with 512: 128/124/129/131

How you do on the scored FL will be very similar to how you do on your MCAT... I seriously doubt you are going to go from 122 to 125 (9 on the old scale) in 2 weeks. I mean you can... if you get passages that you find interesting, but why gamble with such an important test?

I'd recommend delaying and getting a tutor ASAP.

@Hospitalized I'm sure this is pretty disheartening news, but in case you are applying this cycle you might have only one shot at the MCAT (July 9 or 22) in order to be "on-time" In that case, I would also suggest delaying your exam to fully practice CARS so that it is not the one section that sinks you. I would go take the exam next week, and score or void depending on the CARS difficulty. If it's really difficult, void and sign up for July 22. That way, you can get another two weeks of practice in and have more time to raise your score!