Post Your Best WS Tip

[roycer]

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I know that the WS is not the most popular topic of discussion on this board, but the medical school I want to attend values the WS just as much as the other 3 sections on the MCAT. Anyone who has done well on the WS, please post your best WS tip! This will be of great help to me!

 

[RPedigo]

I did well on the writing sample, and here are the only tips that I really have:

• Follow the prompt. No, really, follow the prompt
• If you don't know how to spell a word, rephrase the sentence to remove that word
• Only use big words if you are usually comfortable using them
• Follow the prompt
• Do not deviate from the prompt
• Use vivid, colorful examples
• Do not contradict yourself in the essay at any point, and leave no ambiguity
• If you firmly believe in your point that you're trying to make, so will the reader

Not too sure what else to say, except for make sure that you follow the prompt. Good luck

 

[roycer]

I did well on the writing sample, and here are the only tips that I really have:

• Follow the prompt. No, really, follow the prompt
• If you don't know how to spell a word, rephrase the sentence to remove that word
• Only use big words if you are usually comfortable using them
• Follow the prompt
• Do not deviate from the prompt
• Use vivid, colorful examples
• Do not contradict yourself in the essay at any point, and leave no ambiguity
• If you firmly believe in your point that you're trying to make, so will the reader

Not too sure what else to say, except for make sure that you follow the prompt. Good luck

Thanks for the tips Rpedigo! Would you recommend using shorter, succinct sentences, as opposed to longer, drawn-out, more descriptive sentences?

 

[RPedigo]

Thanks for the tips Rpedigo! Would you recommend using shorter, succinct sentences, as opposed to longer, drawn-out, more descriptive sentences?

Whatever your current writing style is, go with it. It will hurt you more to make your writing forced-- don't change how you've written all your life. Go with whichever one comes naturally.

 

[roycer]

Anyone else?

 

[kushballah]

Definitely atleast look over alot of the old questions for the WS, etc. I took the test yesterday, and though i did very little actual writing passages, the prompts themselves seemed so familiar (perhaps a repeat?). Nothing could probably prepare you more than to have an idea about a topic before hand. Of course, I don't know my score yet, but I've gotten P's and Q's through Kaplan/Princeton grading and I like to think I'm a decent writer.

 

[scgamer2000]

I agree with all of RPedigo's suggestions. I'd also add that you should spend 5-8 minutes outlining your essay to get your thoughts in order. Also reserve about 3 minutes at the end, if at all possible, to proofread your work.

Also, don't waste sentences restating the prompt--the readers are already quite familiar with the prompt. It also sounds lame when you say something like "the prompt means that *blah*." Give yourself a nice introductory sentence and then get to the point.

Don't forget that this is a draft essay. While you need good, engaging examples, you don't have time to try and think through absolutely every possibility and route the subject could take you. But, do try and think of a counter-example and how you can refute it. The MCAT prompts, in my experience, basically require you to do this anyway.

Practice writing essays using prompts from the AAMC or whatever other sources you can get. It'll help you get used to the idea of writing a coherent essay quickly.

 

[roycer]

Did anyone do well on their WS and only used hypothetical examples? Also, if you shouldn't restate the prompt in your paragraphs, how do you begin to explain them? Examples appreciated!

 

[onetryfitsbest]

I've been trying to think of quotes that are universally applicable to spice up any prompt. Something like this one: "And this, too, shall pass away."

🙂

 

[chad5871]

Did anyone do well on their WS and only used hypothetical examples? Also, if you shouldn't restate the prompt in your paragraphs, how do you begin to explain them? Examples appreciated!

Haven't gotten scores back yet, but I've done very well with Kaplan's grading. I used several hypothetical examples, but told them as a story, as if it was something that really happened. Don't say "imagine that a girl walks down the street" -- it makes your argument weaker. Talk about the girl walking down the street as if it were an actual event.

There is a difference between restating the prompt and explaining it. Explain the prompt without using the sentence structure or specific words within the prompt given to you. Reword and restructure the prompt to flow better with your final product. Remember, MCAT graders are looking for a unified essay in addition to the three tasks.