Prep course? No improvement in score after two months of studying

[soccer13]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I spent half of today browsing through SDN for help, but couldn't find a definitive answer.

I have been studying since Jan 1st every single day. I read all EK books twice and I feel very comfortable with the material. However, I can't break 21! I took all AAMCs and my score improved from 17 to 21. Even though I feel comfortable with the material, either I don't have it down or it's because English is my second language.

Now, I am debating whether to take EK course or not. I need help with my test taking skills, since I feel good about the material. What are some recommendations you guys have for me? Is it worth taking the course? Or just keep cranking out full lengths? If to take a course, I am considering EK course, bad idea?

 

[Meihua]

Go through the tests you took and figure out why you missed each problem in PS/BS (didn't know the material, misunderstood the question, etc). Keep track of the topics on which you're missing questions. If you keep missing questions on a certain topic, then you need to work on those topics - even if you feel like you understand the underlying material, you'll probably benefit from doing practice problems on those topics specific topics so you can get used to how the questions are framed.

Since you feel like your test-taking skills are lacking, I would definitely go ahead and keep taking full tests (say once a week). While you're taking the test, make note of all the problems on which you're unsure, and why (topic, wording). After you score the test, go through your answers again. You're looking for three things here:

1. questions you were unsure about, but answered correctly (use this to build your confidence in your knowledge for that topic/logic for that kind of question)
2. questions you were unsure about and missed (review the topic or figure out what part of the question wording made you uncertain
3. questions you were confident about but missed (figure out the flaw in your concept base or logic)

Edit: I'm not familiar with the EK course. I took TPR and thought that the course itself was pretty useless if you had a solid background in each of the subjects (I didn't have a good bio background, so that part was helpful for me, and the workbooks+practice tests were great). If you're positive that your issue is test-taking skills rather than knowledge base, I don't think a course will help significantly more than practicing on your own.

 

[starfar]

Same exact situation here. Content reviewed my butt off since jan and upon taking a few full lengths, I realized that I had basically wasted all of that time. AAMC 3 saw a 2 point increase from my diagnostic which tells me that I still have serious content issues. Im solid with verbal, I wish I could get my science game up to par!

TBR has tough passages, but after working through a chapter, totally "getting it" only to at best get 2 or 3 right in a passage is just demoralizing..😡 I gave up on self study and recently enrolled in a TPR course. Amplifire sounds promising and I just plan to keep hammering away at practice tests and passages while doing the prep course to help clear up my issues with applying the material.

 

[Gauss44]

delete

 

[manchika]

Sorry not helping you but I am in the same boat as well... I feel a good grasp on the subjects and still not breaking the 20-22 mark in the practice tests.... I am awful in Verbal but even on PS and BS , I am not any great... Not sure if I should take up a course and that will help me...

Looking forward for replies to this post....

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

OP: I think the best answer to your question is to sit in on a class and see for yourself. Everyone learns differently, and whether a class will work or not depends more on the teacher-student connection than anything. My personal feeling is that if you are going to take a class and drop $2K, it better have teachers you can relate to. If not, then you have to ask yourself "Y2K"?

The other thing you need to do is ask yourself why you need the class and what you'll get from it. If you are taking a class simply because self-studying isn't working out, then you are not ready to decide. What do YOU need from the class? shortcuts and tricks? emotional support and guidance? new materials you haven't seen before? office hours where you can clear things up? someone forcing you to study?

Once you know what you need, then it comes down to visiting the various options in your area and seeing which fits your needs best and feels right for you. Keep in mind that companies are different from one location to the next, so just because someone in Columbus raves about Company A and someone in Seattle raves about Company B, it doesn't tell you anything about how either one is going to be in your area.

 

[soccer13]

Go through the tests you took and figure out why you missed each problem in PS/BS (didn't know the material, misunderstood the question, etc). Keep track of the topics on which you're missing questions. If you keep missing questions on a certain topic, then you need to work on those topics - even if you feel like you understand the underlying material, you'll probably benefit from doing practice problems on those topics specific topics so you can get used to how the questions are framed.

Since you feel like your test-taking skills are lacking, I would definitely go ahead and keep taking full tests (say once a week). While you're taking the test, make note of all the problems on which you're unsure, and why (topic, wording). After you score the test, go through your answers again. You're looking for three things here:

1. questions you were unsure about, but answered correctly (use this to build your confidence in your knowledge for that topic/logic for that kind of question)
2. questions you were unsure about and missed (review the topic or figure out what part of the question wording made you uncertain
3. questions you were confident about but missed (figure out the flaw in your concept base or logic)

Edit: I'm not familiar with the EK course. I took TPR and thought that the course itself was pretty useless if you had a solid background in each of the subjects (I didn't have a good bio background, so that part was helpful for me, and the workbooks+practice tests were great). If you're positive that your issue is test-taking skills rather than knowledge base, I don't think a course will help significantly more than practicing on your own.

Thank you so much!!! I have simply reviewing all correct and incorrect questions. I will start taking notes of those three things and see if anything changes.

 

[soccer13]

I bought all AAMCs and all Gold Standards. Where can I get more FL practice tests? I was also looking at AAMC self-assessment package, has anyone tried it? Is it worth getting? Helpful?

 

[Temperature101]

I bought all AAMCs and all Gold Standards. Where can I get more FL practice tests? I was also looking at AAMC self-assessment package, has anyone tried it? Is it worth getting? Helpful?

What are getting in VR?

 

[soccer13]

what are getting in vr?

5 - 6. 🙁

 

[Renaissance Man]

With a score like 21, I am not sure that more FL are going to help your score. I realize that you have been studying for 2 months, but how much information are you actually retaining? Can you write down all the formulas by memory? Do you feel comfortable with the topic list posted by the AAMC? I have also said that if you are scoring below 9-10 on subsection scores, you need more studying.

 

[soccer13]

With a score like 21, I am not sure that more FL are going to help your score. I realize that you have been studying for 2 months, but how much information are you actually retaining? Can you write down all the formulas by memory? Do you feel comfortable with the topic list posted by the AAMC? I have also said that if you are scoring below 9-10 on subsection scores, you need more studying.

I feel comfortable with all material, but I guess I really don't know all of it. Do you know if 30 minutes tests in the back of the books are any good?