Preparing for the PCAT! Kaplan question!

[Jingle Bells]

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Hello everyone! I was looking around for awhile but couldn't find anything on a question I had so I figure I'd post it.

I'm studying for the October, 2009 PCAT and am using Kaplans PCAT 2010-2011 Edition. I noticed that the review section in biology is EXTREMELY detailed. I was wondering how detailed are the PCAT questions in sub-topics areas such as biology? Are the questions as detailed as Kaplan review sections make it seem? 😕

Also, it'd be cool if you could let me know how each one of you approached the studying and preparing for the PCAT process. How long did you start studying in advance and how many hours a day etc. I heard taking a lot of practice test over and over again was more efficient then reading just factual information.

Right now I'm using Kaplans 2010-2011, Barron's and Cliffs to study/prepare.

 

[diastole]

Bio is overkill but will prepare you pretty well. It is lacking in microbiology though. General chem is fine but lacking in organic. Math is not detailed enough.

I took my PCAT in January and did most of my studying after the fall semester ended. So I studied for about three weeks but took lots and lots of breaks during the day. I found that the best prep was to learn the material well in your classes. If you didn't do that then it is going to take a lot more effort. How much you need to study is an individual thing. Some people do great with almost no studying and others study for months and months but still don't do well. Definately take the Pearson practice tests though so you can get a feel for the exam before you take it.

 

[Jingle Bells]

If possible, supplement your studying with Dr. Collins for content and with the online Pearson practice exams to get a feel for the real thing and breadth of material covered.

What is superior in Dr. Collins?

Bio is overkill but will prepare you pretty well. It is lacking in microbiology though. General chem is fine but lacking in organic. Math is not detailed enough.

Does Kaplan do a decent job reviewing simple basic mathematical topics; such as, probability, basic math and stats? I'm using my calculus book to review pre-calculus (first chapter) and calculus. What type of pre-calculus and calculus is on the PCAT? I'm pretty sure derivatives, anti-derivatives and limits will be on there, but will integrals be on there; anything else?

 

[poorlilrich]

The bio coverage in the Kaplan book is friggin extensive. Good thing I'm taking the January 10 PCAT, I have plenty of time to learn the intricate details of this vast subject.

Then it's on to precalculus, calculus, gen chemistry, and organic chemistry

FML

 

[pharmRxn]

The bio coverage in the Kaplan book is friggin extensive. Good thing I'm taking the January 10 PCAT, I have plenty of time to learn the intricate details of this vast subject.

Then it's on to precalculus, calculus, gen chemistry, and organic chemistry

FML

sorry to tell you that kaplan biology book is lacking in many sections.
the microbiology, plant, and physiology sections are very very very weak.

 

[pharm B]

And if I remember right, Kaplan devotes all of 20 pages to math.

 

[poorlilrich]

sorry to tell you that kaplan biology book is lacking in many sections.
the microbiology, plant, and physiology sections are very very very weak.

The physiology sections seem at least adequate; calling them "very very very weak" is definitely an overstatement.

I'm taking microbiology this fall, so all I need is an overview of the subject because I'll learn the nitty-gritty when I take the course.

The kaplan book isn't my only review source for the PCAT; for biology, I'm using a 1250-page comprehensive bio textbook in accordance with the Kaplan book.



...and who cares about plants; it's not like they ever did anyone any good

 

[diastole]

What is superior in Dr. Collins?


Does Kaplan do a decent job reviewing simple basic mathematical topics; such as, probability, basic math and stats? I'm using my calculus book to review pre-calculus (first chapter) and calculus. What type of pre-calculus and calculus is on the PCAT? I'm pretty sure derivatives, anti-derivatives and limits will be on there, but will integrals be on there; anything else?

You will need to supplement for stats. I think basic math and probability is okay. I do remember being quite surprised to see imaginary numbers, and problems on functions on the practice exam because Kaplan didn't touch that at all. I know you have to know your log rules but I don't have my Kaplan book handy right now so I don't remember if Kaplan covered that. My memory is getting hazy on the calculus because it has been months since I took my exam but I think there are some integrals on there. There were a few problems involving calculus with trig functions. I'm trying to forget that part.

I recommend taking the first practice exam with time to review after you get the results. If there is something that you weren't expecting to be on the exam, you will have time to learn that material before the exam. If I had relied solely on Kaplan, I would have had a rude shock on exam day. It will also help with the pacing. That time goes by extremely fast so it helps to know that ahead of time.

 

[poorlilrich]

My god I've hit the wall


This monotonous PCAT studying is killing me...and there are still about 130 pages of Bio left


I need to either switch up the subject for a while, or take some time off

 

[delano2000]

My god I've hit the wall


This monotonous PCAT studying is killing me...and there are still about 130 pages of Bio left


I need to either switch up the subject for a while, or take some time off

I just finished the bio section and I am freakin' happy. Now on to Math.

 

[Soon2BPharmacst]

I'm looking for books to study with. Which edition of Kaplan's is better, the 2008-2009 or 2010-2011?

 

[delano2000]

I'm looking for books to study with. Which edition of Kaplan's is better, the 2008-2009 or 2010-2011?

I would think the latest edition.

 

[roziak]

I would think the latest edition.

no doubt

 

[Soon2BPharmacst]

I would think the latest edition.

Thanks I'm trying to not stress out about this test.

 

[Monsterdaddy]

I'm looking for books to study with. Which edition of Kaplan's is better, the 2008-2009 or 2010-2011?

The Kaplan book is very very sloppy. There are errors all over the place. They give you the wrong value for the Rydberg constant, consistently forget to superscript exponents, etc. Who knows what errors I have incorporated.

The final exam, well let's just say it was half arsed at best. The verbal section has 5 answer multiple choice. Too bad the actual PCAT is 4 answers and their very own answer sheet provides only A thru D. In the math section, someone replaced the "-" minus signs with "4" and apostrophes with Theta. Seriously, could not someone have proof read this???

To make matter worse, I just took the first Pearson practice test and there was lots of Org Chem questions and the math was like 1/4 advanced calc, neither of which Kaplan bothered to cover.

McGraw Hill's book is just as bad. 😡

 

[nonzerosum]

Just a heads up, on my Aug PCAT there were some pretty whacky microbio questions.

I mean who the heck is suppose to know what kind of bacteria **** ****** ** ****** *******.
or specific species of yeast.

crazy.....

 

[Soon2BPharmacst]

The Kaplan book is very very sloppy. There are errors all over the place. They give you the wrong value for the Rydberg constant, consistently forget to superscript exponents, etc. Who knows what errors I have incorporated.

The final exam, well let's just say it was half arsed at best. The verbal section has 5 answer multiple choice. Too bad the actual PCAT is 4 answers and their very own answer sheet provides only A thru D. In the math section, someone replaced the "-" minus signs with "4" and apostrophes with Theta. Seriously, could not someone have proof read this???

To make matter worse, I just took the first Pearson practice test and there was lots of Org Chem questions and the math was like 1/4 advanced calc, neither of which Kaplan bothered to cover.

McGraw Hill's book is just as bad. 😡

When you buy the Pearson practice test, does it only allow you to take it once or does it allow you to take it more than once since it's like $40 for one test? I'm panicking trying to study for this but since I'm taking Cal now along with Gen Chem II and Gen Bio II, I shouldn't have to study those too much besides what we haven't already gone over.