PCAT 2009: Math, how imrove?

[pharmgal2006]

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I took the PCAT for the first time in January 2009.
I did, eh, okay...
Here's my percentile scores:
Verbal: 69
Biology: 72
Reading Comp: 89
Quantitative: 31
Chemistry: 37
Composite: 64

Obviously the chem and math were the worst two. I didn't study for either of those two sections. I'm really not worried about pulling up any of my scores besides the math. I know I won't have a problem boosting all the others, even the chem. But the math is really going to get me. I'm taking it again in June.
Suggestions???

 

[charfdorn]

I took the PCAT for the first time in January 2009.
I did, eh, okay...
Here's my percentile scores:
Verbal: 69
Biology: 72
Reading Comp: 89
Quantitative: 31
Chemistry: 37
Composite: 64

Obviously the chem and math were the worst two. I didn't study for either of those two sections. I'm really not worried about pulling up any of my scores besides the math. I know I won't have a problem boosting all the others, even the chem. But the math is really going to get me. I'm taking it again in June.
Suggestions???

There you have it. Study. A lot.

 

[Kaxa2000]

Try going through the Kaplan math section....any area you are weak on...supplement it with a review book such as schaum's or cliff notes. Do as many problems as you can. Hopefully you've taken Calculus before taking the PCAT.

 

[pharmgal2006]

Try going through the Kaplan math section....any area you are weak on...supplement it with a review book such as schaum's or cliff notes. Do as many problems as you can. Hopefully you've taken Calculus before taking the PCAT.

Yes, I've definitely had calculus. Unfortunately, that seems so long ago lol - my freshman year. I really do need a refresher on that!

Any more input?

 

[Kaxa2000]

Take many practice tests so you get a feel of what kind of math questions will be on the PCAT. Also, know and cover all the math subjects they will test (Precal, Calculus, statistics, probability, etc.)

 

[ffpickle]

Do as many questions as possible. Get them from GRE, DAT prep and any other standardized tests with Quantitative sections. Understand why you got questions wrong. There is not much use in "studying" since the concepts are not new. Then just do as many PCAT tests as you can, all of which have Quantitative section. Do it under timed conditions.

 

[Rcu]

You need to be able to recognize those questions that you can quickly answer correctly and do those as fast you can. The Kaplan books (and lots of other resources) have a few corner cutting strategies that can help you get faster at this with practice.
You also have to be able to recognize the questions that you can answer correctly after more lengthy calculations. These should be skipped until you have answered all the questions that you can quickly answer correctly. This is difficult to do. I had to practice a lot in order to do this but I was eventually able to finish the quantitative section with time to spare on test day.
Lastly, you must be able to recognize the questions that you don't have a clue about and just mark "C" (or whatever letter looks lucky).
Improving your math score is as much about test taking strategy as it is about knowing the material, both will improve with practice, practice, practice.

 

[johnep34]

Taking exams is a skill which can be learnt like any other, as others have said on this thread, practice, practice, practice. When someone was asked how come he was so lucky, his answer was ' the more I practice, the luckier I become'. I got though my exams by getting past papers and finding that there was a pattern to the questions so that I could almost forecast what would be the question that year. You only have to be proficient at two questions to pass with ease.

Any question that requires you to derive an expression or equation, then solve a problem using it is a cinch. My finals required derivation of an equation for heat transfer (Prandtl and Stanton nbrs). I had swotted these until could do in my sleep. Up came the question, I did it in five minutes and knew I had gotten full marks. What a boost to the rest of the exam.
Johnep34

 

[JURGIS]

I took the PCAT in June 2008 and used the Kaplan book to study the math section. I did all the practice problems in the book. When I took the test, I ran out of time with 25% of the math section (12 questions) left. I randomly filled in bubbles for the last 12 before time was called.

The second time I took the PCAT in Jan 09, I studied using Schaum's Outlines for Precalc and Schaum's OUtlines for College Algebra. I did hundreds of problems over about 75 hours of practice / review time. I was able to complete the entire math section with a minute or two to spare and scored a 91%.

What I learned:

Kaplan math section is not enough to do well.

As other posters mentioned, practice practice practice and then practice some more.

Use Schaum's outlines or some other intensive math review book.

Don't just read the review and think you have the concept down, you've got to do problems again and again.

Once you do enough problems, you should have a pretty intuitive grasp of what PCAT questions are quickly workable and what you should skip to work after you have answered all the easy questions.

 

[TXFarmer]

Dr. C gives a good review on math. when you look at the question, you have to know how to solve it immediately. there is no time to contemplate. I used Dr. C's math review and practiced (PM me if you need it). when i saw a math problem, i knew the approach immediately. I scored a 97 percentile on my math.

 

[PistonFan531]

Dr. C gives a good review on math. when you look at the question, you have to know how to solve it immediately. there is no time to contemplate. I used Dr. C's math review and practiced (PM me if you need it). when i saw a math problem, i knew the approach immediately. I scored a 97 percentile on my math.

Did you take the PCAT recently? And before you reviewed Dr. C's math notes did you feel that you had a good understanding of math? I am taking mines in August and I am just trying to see how helpful Dr. C's math section really is.

 

[jaderx]

Piston,

I felt great when i was taking math. as soon as i saw the question, i knew how to solve the problem. you dont have time for trial and error. you are testing against the person next to you. So the more problems you do the better you are. Dr collins gives a great review for the math. I give him an A+. I got a 96 on the math and i've been out of school for a while.

 

[cechoi]

Are you selling Dr C material? If so email me at [email protected] THank YOu