PCAT studying: Dr. Collins/Pearson

[mlee45]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey Everyone, I am just going to use this forum to display my studying habits, and provide the public with what I'm doing, and how I'm doing studying Dr. Collins packets.....

Right now, I'm about 5 days in studying for the July 27th PCAT (16 hours in)

I've taken 4 practice tests (3 biology, 1 chemistry) and these are my scores so far..

Biology Tests:

Test 1: 27/48 time: ( 24 minutes )
Test 2: 30/48 time: ( 26 minutes )
Test 3: 35/48 time: (28 minutes )

Chemistry Tests:

Test 1: 25/50 time (29 minutes )



I'm going to keep studying really hard, 30 hours a week for the next 2 weeks, and then take a pearson test (Saturday, July 9)

After that I'm going to go over that on the weekend, and then continue collins for the next 2 weeks, and take another pearson test (July 23) and then just prepare myself as much as I can for the test briefly until the 27th trying to stay as stress free as I can.


Anyways.....for anyone that has taken the pcat before, and used the packets....how would you compare the collins test to the actual test, and how were you doing on the practice tests in this stage, and where did you reach before the test.....!

 

[mlee45]

This experiment that I'm doing will provide a guideline for many people studying dr. collins, and seeing how these practice tests relate to the real tests.

I took another chemistry test today after going over the questions that I got wrong from the last test. I improved by just two questions, but I started to realize a lot more information on this test. My scores seem low, but these tests are great for getting a good sense of time for this test, because the first couple of tests you take, you are freaked out at the time that you have to take the test. I also made it through about 12 pages of the math today, and will be taking more practice tests next monday.

Biology Tests:

Test 1: 27/48 time: ( 24 minutes )
Test 2: 30/48 time: ( 26 minutes )
Test 3: 35/48 time: (28 minutes )

Chemistry Tests:

Test 1: 25/50 time (29 minutes )
Test 2: 27/50 time (29 minutes )

I'll keep updating this thread throughout the summer, and by the end, this guide will be a great thread for people studying dr. collins/pearson review!



Again I ask.....for anyone that has taken the pcat before, and used the packets....how would you compare the collins test to the actual test, and how were you doing on the practice tests in this stage, and where were you scoring before the test.....!

 

[krishna1990]

Hey Everyone, I am just going to use this forum to display my studying habits, and provide the public with what I'm doing, and how I'm doing studying Dr. Collins packets.....

Right now, I'm about 5 days in studying for the July 27th PCAT (16 hours in)

I've taken 4 practice tests (3 biology, 1 chemistry) and these are my scores so far..

Biology Tests:

Test 1: 27/48 time: ( 24 minutes )
Test 2: 30/48 time: ( 26 minutes )
Test 3: 35/48 time: (28 minutes )

Chemistry Tests:

Test 1: 25/50 time (29 minutes )



I'm going to keep studying really hard, 30 hours a week for the next 2 weeks, and then take a pearson test (Saturday, July 9)

After that I'm going to go over that on the weekend, and then continue collins for the next 2 weeks, and take another pearson test (July 23) and then just prepare myself as much as I can for the test briefly until the 27th trying to stay as stress free as I can.


Anyways.....for anyone that has taken the pcat before, and used the packets....how would you compare the collins test to the actual test, and how were you doing on the practice tests in this stage, and where did you reach before the test.....!

Hey i was wndering where did you buy ur dr collins material? Im planning on taking the sept one and I have the Kaplan book however, i hear that people do way better with Collins material than PCAT. Please let me know. Oh and if you are interested in selling urs, let me knw Thanks

 

[liebht90]

One thing that I noticed with his exams is that he seems to put related info on the same practice tests. One that I took seemed to have a lot of pH material, whereas another has more stoichiometric problems, and another had many Le Chatelier's principle type of questions. I have gone through about half of his chemistry practice tests now and I have also progressively done better, but as far as timing goes it really depends whats in the practice test for material.
If you get the chance and have the money, I would highly advise you to buy the three Pearson practice tests for $80. They give a good sense of what a CBT would be like. It also gives you a projected percentile where you would be. I took one this last weekend just to see where I am so far and to compare Pearson's practice test to some of the subtests I have been taking from Dr. Collin's material and Kaplan's material.
Just keep up with the practice, as with anything in this world, practice makes perfect. Practice tests are now your best friend for the next month.

 

[harmonidrum]

I've been finishing collins chem with 94-98% accuracy in <20mins, bio <15 mins with ~90% accuracy (weird ecology questions!), verbal 98% accuracy<10 mins, my only weak point is the QUANT! I am averaging a dismal 75-85% accuracy on those (galumphing along, and invariably run out of time). I'm going to hit probability real hard before the exam as well as work through each individual quant subtest another 2 full times, as I've already been through them once. Really I'm just worried about quant keeping me from a 99th 🙁

 

[mlee45]

Biology Tests:

Test 1: 27/48 time: ( 24 minutes )
Test 2: 30/48 time: ( 26 minutes )
Test 3: 35/48 time: (28 minutes )

Chemistry Tests:

Test 1: 25/50 time (29 minutes )
Test 2: 27/50 time (29 minutes )

Verbal Tests:

Test 1: 33/50 (20 minutes)
Test 2: 35/50 (22 minutes)



Anyone else that is not a super genius getting above 90 plus on every section....how did you all do on the pcat...


and for harmonidrum, I am more than sure that you will be getting 99 percentile,or somewhere around there just from the stats that you have been posting...I've read earlier that there were many people who were actually doing worse than you, and still got 99's so I'm sure you can hit it. I'm just trying to get a 75! lol

thoughts anyone! please give me your input!

 

[chemguy79]

Biology Tests:

Test 1: 27/48 time: ( 24 minutes )
Test 2: 30/48 time: ( 26 minutes )
Test 3: 35/48 time: (28 minutes )

Chemistry Tests:

Test 1: 25/50 time (29 minutes )
Test 2: 27/50 time (29 minutes )

Verbal Tests:

Test 1: 33/50 (20 minutes)
Test 2: 35/50 (22 minutes)



Anyone else that is not a super genius getting above 90 plus on every section....how did you all do on the pcat...


and for harmonidrum, I am more than sure that you will be getting 99 percentile,or somewhere around there just from the stats that you have been posting...I've read earlier that there were many people who were actually doing worse than you, and still got 99's so I'm sure you can hit it. I'm just trying to get a 75! lol

thoughts anyone! please give me your input!

I never did AMAZING on the Dr. Collins examinations. I think that my BEST performance was missing 3 or 4 in a section. I ended up with a 99 composite, 99s in Chemistry & Quantitative, 90s in Verbal and Biology, and a score in the 80s for reading. As I have stated REPEATEDLY, the key thing is shoring up the concepts that you miss so you don't miss them on the real exam.

FYI, the ecology questions are RIDICULOUS in his packet, but I saw 2 or 3 of them on my actual exam. I laughed audibly in the middle of my PCAT exam when I saw them. =)

 

[mlee45]

I never did AMAZING on the Dr. Collins examinations. I think that my BEST performance was missing 3 or 4 in a section. I ended up with a 99 composite, 99s in Chemistry & Quantitative, 90s in Verbal and Biology, and a score in the 80s for reading. As I have stated REPEATEDLY, the key thing is shoring up the concepts that you miss so you don't miss them on the real exam.

FYI, the ecology questions are RIDICULOUS in his packet, but I saw 2 or 3 of them on my actual exam. I laughed audibly in the middle of my PCAT exam when I saw them. =)

Thanks for the reply, what would you say you started out scoring in his packets when you first started taking them!

 

[chemguy79]

Thanks for the reply, what would you say you started out scoring in his packets when you first started taking them!

Due to my background, I was scoring reasonably well. Biology, my weakest area, I was getting around 50% of the questions correctly. However, when I studied the areas that I was weakest at, I ended up scoring around 85-90% and I made absolutely sure that if I missed a question multiple times ... I tried to track what answers I was choosing, looking at my work to see why I was choosing them, etc. I was very OCD about the PCAT, so I didn't study for an extremely long period of time, but the time that I did put towards studying (since I worked full-time and took 15 hours of classes) was used wisely.

 

[mlee45]

Haha, well man, being OCD seems to pay off then! lol, because thats kind of how I am too! but hopefully with a lot of hardwork, and focusing on my poor areas, I'll score really well!

 

[mlee45]

Biology Tests:

Test 1: 27/48 time: ( 24 minutes )
Test 2: 30/48 time: ( 26 minutes )
Test 3: 35/48 time: (28 minutes )

Chemistry Tests:

Test 1: 25/50 time (29 minutes )
Test 2: 27/50 time (29 minutes )

Verbal Tests:

Test 1: 33/50 (20 minutes)
Test 2: 35/50 (22 minutes)
Test 3: 37/50 (20 minutes)

Quantitative Tests:

Test 1: 34/52 ( 42 minutes)



looks like my scores are improving!! only 4 more weeks until the PCAT! How's everyone else's dr. collins tests going!?

 

[Corpseman]

Biology Tests:

Test 1: 27/48 time: ( 24 minutes )
Test 2: 30/48 time: ( 26 minutes )
Test 3: 35/48 time: (28 minutes )

Chemistry Tests:

Test 1: 25/50 time (29 minutes )
Test 2: 27/50 time (29 minutes )

Verbal Tests:

Test 1: 33/50 (20 minutes)
Test 2: 35/50 (22 minutes)
Test 3: 37/50 (20 minutes)

Quantitative Tests:

Test 1: 34/52 ( 42 minutes)



looks like my scores are improving!! only 4 more weeks until the PCAT! How's everyone else's dr. collins tests going!?

Biology for me is usually 45-46/48 in 10 to 12 minutes. It is by far my strongest subject. I am reviewing the chemistry portion this week and i'll post them on here. Thanks for doing this.

 

[Greggy Weggy]

Biology Tests:

Test 1: 30/48

Chemistry Tests:

Test 1: 34/50 Retake: 49/50
Test 2: 34/50 Retake: 49/50
Test 3: 34/50 Reatke: 45/50
Test 4: 31/50
Test 5: 37/50 Retake: 42/50
Test 6: 37/50
Test 7: 36/50 Retake: 47/50
Test 8: 35/50
Test 9: 37/50
Test10: 36/50

Quantitative Tests:

Test 1: 40/52
Test 2: 41/52
Test 3: 32/52
Test 4: 25/52
Test 5: 32/52



I have no problem with time on the chemistry/biology sections, but I struggle a lot on the quantitative and usually have to guess on about 10 questions.

I also retake the tests a few days after the initial ones and after I study my weak areas (while grading I write down my weak areas on a post it and put it on the test to study later).

 

[mlee45]

Biology Tests:

Test 1: 27/48 time: ( 24 minutes )
Test 2: 30/48 time: ( 26 minutes )
Test 3: 35/48 time: (28 minutes )

Chemistry Tests:

Test 1: 25/50 time (29 minutes )
Test 2: 27/50 time (29 minutes )
Test 3: 30/50 time (29 minutes) I'm getting a lot better! [: even though my scores aren't showing it, I'm starting to recognize just about everything

Verbal Tests:

Test 1: 33/50 (20 minutes)
Test 2: 35/50 (22 minutes)
Test 3: 37/50 (20 minutes)
Test 4: 39/50 (15 minutes)

Quantitative Tests:

Test 1: 34/52 ( 42 minutes)

 

[mlee45]

Biology Tests:

Test 1: 27/48 time: ( 24 minutes )
Test 2: 30/48 time: ( 26 minutes )
Test 3: 35/48 time: (28 minutes )
Test 4: 30/48 time: (28 minutes )

Chemistry Tests:

Test 1: 25/50 time (29 minutes )
Test 2: 27/50 time (29 minutes )
Test 3: 30/50 time (29 minutes )
Test 4: 35/50 time (29 minutes )

Verbal Tests:

Test 1: 33/50 (20 minutes)
Test 2: 35/50 (22 minutes)
Test 3: 37/50 (20 minutes)
Test 4: 39/50 (15 minutes)

Quantitative Tests:

Test 1: 34/52 ( 42 minutes)



Official Pearson Practice Test:

Test 1:

Biology: Between 39-59 (Core Items 26/40)
Chemistry: Between 35-55 (Core Items 22/40)
Verbal: Between 63-83 (Core Items 32/40)
Reading: Between 65-85 (Core Items 33/40)

I'm a very bright student, and I have not taken Bio 1 & 2, Micro, A & P, and Organic......I know my practice scores aren't the best, but I know that by the time the test comes, I should atleast be around the score of a 70...Everything is falling in place, and Dr. Collins/Pearson to my account seems to be the most efficient way of learning... Good luck to everyone so far...and I can't wait to see how everyone ends up!


I've been studying 4-6 hours for 5 days a week for about 15 days so far....

Also, I'm going to study for a week and a half more, and then im going to take another Pearson test on the 16th! Can't wait to see how much I improve considering that when I was taking the bio/chem sections, I was thinking in my head.....I SHOULD know these, I just haven't done enough studying yet.......


I think the way to kill the PCAT is to have the "Catch me if you can" attitude...

 

[ipharm2012]

Do you guys have Dr. Collins answer for Chemistry section? Please help me out. I bought my packet from a guy online and I don't have it 🙁 - Also, do you have an update for 2011?
Thank you so much

 

[freshnewkicks]

Also, I'm going to study for a week and a half more, and then im going to take another Pearson test on the 16th! Can't wait to see how much I improve considering that when I was taking the bio/chem sections, I was thinking in my head.....I SHOULD know these, I just haven't done enough studying yet.......


I think the way to kill the PCAT is to have the "Catch me if you can" attitude...

Great attitude mlee! I'm going through the same studying regimen and have similar results to yours. I also have a good chunk of studying left and hope to be around the 80s when I take that second practice test and hopefully on the real thing too!!

 

[chemguy79]

Official Pearson Practice Test:

Test 1:

Biology: Between 39-59 (Core Items 26/40)
Chemistry: Between 35-55 (Core Items 22/40)
Verbal: Between 63-83 (Core Items 32/40)
Reading: Between 65-85 (Core Items 33/40)

I'm a very bright student, and I have not taken Bio 1 & 2, Micro, A & P, and Organic......I know my practice scores aren't the best, but I know that by the time the test comes, I should atleast be around the score of a 70...Everything is falling in place, and Dr. Collins/Pearson to my account seems to be the most efficient way of learning... Good luck to everyone so far...and I can't wait to see how everyone ends up!

I must ask why you're taking the PCAT before you've taken ANY of the Biology classes that are on the exam? Given the pre-reqs that you have yet to complete, you have at least a year before you'll be able to apply for Pharmacy school. Subsequently, you could have taken the exam when you're more prepared, having taking the pre-reqs that will be tested on the exam.

 

[mlee45]

I've taken all of the pre-reqs except a good amount of the sciences. I was planning on a 4 year plan because I was on the University of Tennessee's Track team, and then I ended up quitting the track team because I had an injury that limited me from competing at a national level.


I'm going to try and get into East Tennessee State University this year, my class schedule is as follows..

Fall

Bio 1
Organic 1
Micro 1
elective

Spring

Bio 2
Organic 2
elective
elective


I'm sure that there are plenty of people,especially people who have done 2 year pre-pharm programs that have had to take the pcat without taking a numerous amount of classes, and I also took AP biology in highschool which covered bio 1 and 2, so I feel as if I can beat the test, and do pretty well on the PCAT, that they will accept me, and if not....then there is no harm in trying to get in as early as possible...

 

[chemguy79]

I've taken all of the pre-reqs except a good amount of the sciences. I was planning on a 4 year plan because I was on the University of Tennessee's Track team, and then I ended up quitting the track team because I had an injury that limited me from competing at a national level.


I'm going to try and get into East Tennessee State University this year, my class schedule is as follows..

Fall

Bio 1
Organic 1
Micro 1
elective

Spring

Bio 2
Organic 2
elective
elective


I'm sure that there are plenty of people,especially people who have done 2 year pre-pharm programs that have had to take the pcat without taking a numerous amount of classes, and I also took AP biology in highschool which covered bio 1 and 2, so I feel as if I can beat the test, and do pretty well on the PCAT, that they will accept me, and if not....then there is no harm in trying to get in as early as possible...

Getting in as early as possible is great. However, can you can take Microbiology without taking Biology 1 & 2 beforehand? (Micro is usually a pre-req.) ETSU also requires a Biology elective. Will you be able to take a Biology elective without finishing Biology 1 & 2. These would be the concerns that I would have regarding admissions.

(http://www.etsu.edu/pharmacy/Admissions/Prospect/Prereqs.asp)

Also, you'll be applying without most of your pre-reqs being completed which could cause a hiccup ... I wish you the best of luck with your application cycle, but there are a few potential weaknesses that I'd be aware of before starting the application cycle.

 

[mlee45]

Getting in as early as possible is great. However, can you can take Microbiology without taking Biology 1 & 2 beforehand? (Micro is usually a pre-req.) ETSU also requires a Biology elective. Will you be able to take a Biology elective without finishing Biology 1 & 2. These would be the concerns that I would have regarding admissions.

(http://www.etsu.edu/pharmacy/Admissions/Prospect/Prereqs.asp)

Also, you'll be applying without most of your pre-reqs being completed which could cause a hiccup ... I wish you the best of luck with your application cycle, but there are a few potential weaknesses that I'd be aware of before starting the application cycle.

Yes, I can take Micro without having to take bio 1/2 first, and ETSU only requires that you take bio 1 and a biology elective....so biology 2 would be the elective. Also, I've taken physics 1/2 already, and I have a GPA of 3.56...I know not the greatest, but If I could pull straight A's this semester, and I don't get into the early decision program....the only classes that I would need to take in the spring would be organic 2, and bio 2, so I dont think that it is that unreasonable that I would be accepted....