Organic on AAMC vs. current MCAT

[infinitejest]

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Just had a quick question as I get ready for the big test on 9/13. Just finished the BS for AAMC 8, and thought the organic passages required a fair amount of knowledge of reactions (ie, knowledge not presented or offered up in the passage), more so than I have really prepared for to this point.

I've read on here that the current test format has scaled back the focus on orgo, but wasn't sure if the AAMC practice tests were representative of this fact. So my question, for those of you who have taken the real thing this summer, is basically in your experience on the test, is it necessary to know a lot of specific reactions going in? Not just the generic E2, Sn2, etc, but actual ones (for example, HCl with an amide functional group, which I fumbled earlier today).

Any help you folks can offer would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[moonsovermyhamy]

Accepted!

 

[Tutmos]

Trend seems to be no further reduction in Ochem in the BS and an increase in Gen Chem in the PS sections.

 

[engineeredout]

I think there were two passages on ochem on my real mcat, but it was all really REALLY basic ochem ****. I thought that the AAMCs, maybe with the exception of 9 and 10, had a pretty strong orgo focus. Definitely what hurt my BS grade on some of the practice exams. Much easier orgo on the real thing IMO, but hey who knows, you might sit for the exam that decides to have eight orgo one bio passage. Better to be prepared than not...

 

[StPlayrXtreme]

my MCAT in july had very little orgo (I was shocked!)

I only had one passage purely on orgo, one with a mix of orgo and bio and a few discretes.

 

[futuredoctor10]

My MCAT had 2 passages on Orgo and few (if any?) discretes. The concepts were pretty basic in my opinion (SN2/E2/SN1/E1, stereochemistry, basic reactions).

However, just because Orgo makes up a smaller percentage of the BS and has been relatively basic on some test dates does not necessarily mean that the Orgo that appears on your test will be easy.

Based on my real MCAT experience, I'd say I think you still need a firm foundation in Orgo concepts and basic reactions but do not need to learn random obscure reactions or reagents.

 

[Justforfun]

I took the MCAT in June and August, and there was very little Orgo...like <10 questions.

 

[Lukkie]

just took it this morning... 1 orgo passage, maybe 4 discretes.

 

[infinitejest]

Thanks again for the responses, guys. Appreciate the insight. Good luck to you all this cycle.