Preparing for CARS with a book

[deleted647690]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi,
I saw a post somewhere that recommended reading a book like Darwin's Dangerous Idea in preparation for philosophy passages on the MCAT, and I decided I'd try it because I miss reading books haha.
What is the best way to actively read this book to improve my skills needed for the CARS section?

 

[TestingSolutions]

There might be some truth to this idea if you're preparing 5 or 6 months out, but if you're in the 3 or 4 month window, I think you are much better off doing actual CARS practice. The sort of reading (500 to 600 words) with questions following is unlike anything you will have ever done before. While no test prep company gets it perfectly right, reading through EK, TPR, or whatever test prep company is going to do much more for you than reading a book. You earn no points for reading. You earn points for answering questions, and it is this skill reading and answering questions together that you want to be practicing. I've taught students for years on the CARS and I haven't seen the "general reading" technique to produce much except having a better rounded and more educated test taker. Unfortunately, this doesn't translate to a better score on the CARS. You have to practice the CARS to do better at the CARS. Trying to prepare for such an artificial test"organically" isn't your best route.

 

[NextStepTutor_3]

Totally agree with @TestingSolutions - general reading is enormously helpful for almost any graduate-school exam, but for the MCAT itself, you're better off reading passages that were constructed for this particular test.

In your situation, I advocate two things:

1) When you read your Darwin book, try to read it in an"MCAT-like" pattern. Sum up every paragraph - what was the author aiming to add to the argument? Is there any concept, policy, or proposal that the author clearly favors? Knowing what the author "likes" and "dislikes" -simplified as that may be - is vital for MCAT CARS.

2) Intersperse this reading with regular MCAT passages. Ideally, you'd do 1-2 passages per day timed at 10 min each, but if that seems a bit intimidating, simply casually watch the clock and estimate how much time it takes you to read a passage when completely unpressured by the desire to "rush." Again, "MCAT writing style" isn't especially similar to most causal reading, so the key is to become used to their length, voice, and format before anything else. The simple act of completing 1-2 MCAT passages per day can often boost a score by a point or two or more.

If you'd like more tips, feel free to let me know! Always happy to help 🙂

 

[mgmg1230]

I agree with the above posters. Fortunately I had 5 months to study so I spent a lot of extra time reading articles from The New Yorker to improve my reading comprehension and speed. Once I got used to comprehending lengthy/dense articles, I found it easier to comprehend the shorter CARS passages.

As mentioned above, you get points for answering the questions. After doing so many CARS passages, you'll start to figure out the pattern of how they ask these questions.

If you have less than 5 months to study, I would just focus on getting your hands on all the available CARS resources.
Khan-->Kaplan-->Next Step-->BR-->EK-->TPRH-->AAMC is what I used.

 

[DesitnationMD]

I agree with the above posters. Fortunately I had 5 months to study so I spent a lot of extra time reading articles from The New Yorker to improve my reading comprehension and speed. Once I got used to comprehending lengthy/dense articles, I found it easier to comprehend the shorter CARS passages.

As mentioned above, you get points for answering the questions. After doing so many CARS passages, you'll start to figure out the pattern of how they ask these questions.

If you have less than 5 months to study, I would just focus on getting your hands on all the available CARS resources.
Khan-->Kaplan-->Next Step-->BR-->EK-->TPRH-->AAMC is what I used.

what did u think of the Khan CARS??

 

[mgmg1230]

what did u think of the Khan CARS??

The passages were too short and were easier compared to the other resources. But the advantage was that it was free

 

[DesitnationMD]

The passages were too short and were easier compared to the other resources. But the advantage was that it was free

ok, so a lot like their science passages: not good, but at least they are free. I'm surpsied their "partnership" with the aamc did not yeild more useful results.

 

[DesitnationMD]

i agree than kaplan verbal is nto that great and Khan cars is horrible (but free)

I found EK and nextstep to be the best, with nextstep having tougher Qs but much better, more logical explanations for the wrong answers (which was more important for my learning)

figuring out where I went wrong was the biggest help to improving my CARS score. i also like the tougher Qs and passages nextstep had in their CARS 108 book (was 12 full sections of cars).

the aams Q packs and sample test were way too easy compared to what i saw on test day. Would def recommend the book to anyone who wants CARS help and practice.

a CARS boook will nto repalce th need for good full lengths on computer. General consensus is that EK and Nexstep are the best for this as well.