Organic Chemistry Question on June/August PCAT

[Monsterdaddy]

Hi Folks, I was wondering if the folks who took the recent June and August PCATs could recall what types of Org Chem questions were asked. I am taking Org Chem I now so I am worried I may be behind and my Kaplan test book is worthless on Org Chem.

What type of subjects and questions were asked?

Stereochemistry
Did they show you a molecule and ask you to name it?
Did they ask you to identify which carbon(s) are chiral or the stereogenic center?
Any questions on enantiomers?
Did they show structures and ask you to identify if it's a ketone, ester, etc?

Structure and Bonding
Were there resonance/hybrid questions and if so how would they ask the question? i.e. did they ask where electrons jumped?

Other
Any questions on Radical Reactions, Redox? Amines?

Thanks all. Would help me from trying to cram in a year's worth of Org Chem in 1.5 months. 🙂

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[crazybob]

the only type of organic question i actually remember on the pcat is:

here's a reactant, here's a product. name the reagent used.

 

[nonzerosum]

The physical chem is the real problem, doing a simple calculation question like balancing redox rxn in half a minute is rather difficult.

 

[Monsterdaddy]

I took it in June and August. Based on my recollection, you need to be comfortable/very familiar with all the specific topics you mentioned. Stereochemistry... YES. Structure and bonding... YES. Other... YES, YES and YES! Of course, you also should know SN1, SN2, E1, E2 reactions, reactivity, solvent effects, rearrangements, Grignard, carboxylic acid reactions, basic synthesis probs typical of Orgo I and II, etc, etc, etc. Sorry if that's vague, but that's the truth of it IMHO. The problem is that on a given test form (and there are several) the breadth of orgo or any material varies. It's about having a good enough "big picture" kind of understanding such that you can make educated guesses during the exam.

Thanks.

What pisses me off is the Kaplan study guide has a tiny section on OChem and it has practically nothing of the above mentioned.

P.S. What is the website of the Dr. Collins materials? Is the package called the Self-Study materials?


EDIT: Whoops one last question. Do any of the org chem related questions involve calculations or knowing formulas? Thanks again.

 

[pharm B]

Please remember that all who take the PCAT sign an agreement that they won't disclose specific test information.

 

[kidkay]

Please remember that all who take the PCAT sign an agreement that they won't disclose specific test information.

I was just thinking that....

 

[Monsterdaddy]

Please remember that all who take the PCAT sign an agreement that they won't disclose specific test information.

That is understood but you need to distinguish between specific content and other information. Pearson's agreement is to protect themselves for copyright purposes so folks like Kaplan and Barron so they can't market their study guides as using actual PCAT questions. It isn't a blanket ban on everything on the test.

I am not asking about specific content but about what types or categories of OChem questions are asked. Basically do the questions involve calculations, or looking at molecules and naming them or the equivalent, etc. There's nothing wrong in sharing that info. Or to let fellow pre-pharms know what subjects to focus on.

Now I understand there was a leaf type question in Biology this last August. That's a little outside the norm from past exams. Which makes me nervous that EVERY study guide out there is becoming more outdated.

 

[pharm B]

I wasn't making a statement to anyone, just providing a friendly reminder. Over the past few weeks, I've seen posts that mention test booklet numbers, question content, etc.

It really goes south when someone says "I had booklet 24C and they asked xxx question."

Like I said, it was just a reminder 🙂

 

[jung1]

Now I understand there was a leaf type question in Biology this last August. That's a little outside the norm from past exams. Which makes me nervous that EVERY study guide out there is becoming more outdated.

I wouldn't fret about the oddball question as long as you have the basics down. There were two plant questions on my exam. With that said, there is a 20% chance that each question is experimental. I figure there is an even higher chance for those strange questions.

 

[Monsterdaddy]

I wouldn't fret about the oddball question as long as you have the basics down. There were two plant questions on my exam. With that said, there is a 20% chance that each question is experimental. I figure there is an even higher chance for those strange questions.

What do you mean by experimental? As in it will not count towards the raw score? Then I am confused because I thought all 48 questions counted. Please advise and thanks again all!

 

[jung1]

Out of 48, 8 are experimental that don't get counted. Okay, so that's not 20% but 16.67%. Still...that's a significant portion of the exam. Only one of the two essays is graded too.

 

[Monsterdaddy]

Out of 48, 8 are experimental that don't get counted. Okay, so that's not 20% but 16.67%. Still...that's a significant portion of the exam. Only one of the two essays is graded too.

Thanks jung1. But being a skeptic I found no reference to experimental questions in either the Kaplan or McGraw Hill guides. Would you mind citing the source of the experimental question info? Thanks again.

 

[icekoffee]

Thanks jung1. But being a skeptic I found no reference to experimental questions in either the Kaplan or McGraw Hill guides. Would you mind citing the source of the experimental question info? Thanks again.

its on the pearson site

 

[pharm B]

http://psychcorp.pearsonassessments...nity/PostSecondary/Products/pcat/pcathome.htm

Top left menu option allows you to download the Candidate Info Booklet, which contains a section on the experimental questions.

 

[jung1]

Yeah, don't believe everything ya read. Check out Pearson's Candidate Information Booklet. It's a must read before taking the PCAT.

 

[Copharma]

OK, I have 5 children but I am not about to call myself old.

In regards to O Chem at the August exam, I was quite surprised how much there was, even second semester stuff.

I agree with the previous blogger, all Kaplan really does is help you time your answers, 37.5 s goes quite fast. I would pay for the PCAT practice tests.

I used Kaplan and Barron's to identify areas I needed to focus, then I got out my old books and put in solid 8 hr days for over a month. The PCAT is not so much quantitative as qualitative. Enough said.

I would take notes from EVERY chapter covered in general chem, bio, O chem and make sure you understand it.

 

[Copharma]

Also, think about what type of question could be reasonably asked in 37.5 s? Even if you know the material, certain actions do take time. Sounds like you really need to pay for the PCAT practice to get some idea.

How long has it been since you took the prep courses?

 

[Monsterdaddy]

Also, think about what type of question could be reasonably asked in 37.5 s? Even if you know the material, certain actions do take time. Sounds like you really need to pay for the PCAT practice to get some idea.

How long has it been since you took the prep courses?

I've never taken any prep courses nor college level chem and ochem. 😀 I'm enrolled in those courses now so I'm basically trying to learn 2 years worth of chem in a month and a half. (No, I'm not crazy.)

Well, I took the McGraw-Hill PCAT exam and chem had me freaking out because it was a ton of long calculation questions and I quickly ran out of time. (But thanks to a poster on this forum who mentioned the same thing taking McGraw I feel much better.) I managed to spot a few easy ones but I just need to get into the mode of looking for the ratio or clue to the answer.

P.S. What topics would you consider second semester stuff? Thanks again.

I understand the concepts and I'm rather annoyed that basically to beat the chem portion I'll probably dispense with running calcs and instead be eliminating wrong answers.

 

[Copharma]

The PCAT is not about crunching numbers and calculations. It is about theory and whether you understand what is the basis for a calculation.

When I suggest taking the PCAT practice, I mean specifically the PCAT Pearson Exam you can purchase when you sign up for the exam. You wil see what type of questions are asked, as they are actual questions from previous years, not some company guessing at content.

 

[Copharma]

On second thought, if you understand the concepts you should have no trouble finishing ahead of time. If you really understand it, then it is easy to finish in the time given. The test is designed to weed out those who think they know it and those who do.

You only need seconds to answer a question if you really can do it.

 

[Monsterdaddy]

On second thought, if you understand the concepts you should have no trouble finishing ahead of time. If you really understand it, then it is easy to finish in the time given. The test is designed to weed out those who think they know it and those who do.

You only need seconds to answer a question if you really can do it.

I would hope so. I've been taking some of the McGraw and Kaplan book tests and the calculation they require are huge time sinks. I've resorted to making shortcuts wherever I can which is a shame (but working out well) in testing knowledge vs. test taking skills.