Question about EK self study

[Doctoblast]

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Hey all,

I'm finishing up week 4 of 10 on the EK self study schedule. Has anyone who has followed the schedule closely and completed the MCAT thought that it was sufficient? I spend about 2-3 hours a day like it says studying each subject but I feel like that's not enough time and then I feel guilty, so I end up reviewing the chapters that same day to give me about 4 hours.

My average scores so far on the in-class exams:
Bio: 9
Physics: 7 (I suck at physics)
Chem: 9
OChem: Not started yet
Verbal: 9

I know that I shouldn't get down on myself for the in class exam scores because they are meant to be harder than the real thing, but they still demoralize me a little bit.

I should mention that I'm supplementing with EK audio osmosis, ek verbal 101, and ek mini mcats.

Also, the schedule calls for 2 FL aamc practice exams in the first 4 weeks. aamc-3 before any content review and I decided to do aamc-8 3 weeks after content review. My scores were:
cbt 3 - 18 with 6s in all subjects
cbt 8 - 21 with 7s in all subjects.

So bottom line is do you guys think that based off of my scores I'm getting enough studying in? I'm aiming for a 30 on the real deal on July 24th. I'm hoping those aamc scores go up with more practice, but it's tough. I'm looking for any advice at all.

 

[Wasted Energy]

Here's my advice: drop week 5 and week 10. Week 5 is essentially a break week with the first chapter of organic chemistry thrown in. Either do that chapter this week (week 4) or tack it on to week 6. So jump straight from week 4 to week 6. Week 10 is nothing anyway, so drop it.

Now your 10 week plan is an 8 week plan and you have an extra two weeks to do full lengths and practice passages. If you can afford it, get TPRH's science workbook or something like that to use for extra passages to get you to that 4 hour mark, instead of re-reviewing each chapter like you're doing now.

 

[Doctoblast]

Here's my advice: drop week 5 and week 10. Week 5 is essentially a break week with the first chapter of organic chemistry thrown in. Either do that chapter this week (week 4) or tack it on to week 6. So jump straight from week 4 to week 6. Week 10 is nothing anyway, so drop it.

Now your 10 week plan is an 8 week plan and you have an extra two weeks to do full lengths and practice passages. If you can afford it, get TPRH's science workbook or something like that to use for extra passages to get you to that 4 hour mark, instead of re-reviewing each chapter like you're doing now.

Hey thanks for the advice. I'm actually working out my schedule now and moving things up. This gives me a few extra days for a couple more FLs. My scores for week 4 of the schedule on the in class exams were pretty much all 6s and 7s except for bio I got a 9 that should've been a 10 (stupid mistake). I know you were curious about my progress. I feel like this past week had tough content and exams.

So what do you think I should do for spacing out the FL practice exams while studying? My actual test date is Thursday, July 24th. I've done cbt 3 and 8 so far.

Friday June 27 - AAMC cbt 4 (The AAMC self assessment comes with cbt 4. I'm thinking about purchasing that)
Thursday July 3 - AAMC cbt 5
Thursday July 10 - AAMC cbt 7
Tuesday July 15 - AAMC cbt 9
Thursday July 17 - AAMC cbt 10
Tuesday July 22 - AAMC cbt 11
Thursday July 24 - The real thing

So that's one a week for the first 3 weeks and two a week for the 2 weeks leading up to the exam. I also have on full length EK one too, but I don't know how accurate that will be. What do you think about this strategy? I know some people say not to do anything the week or at least few days leading up to the real exam.

 

[starlite911]

I wouldn't take my last FL that close to the real thing. I took the May 22 exam (also a thursday) and my last practice was May 17 (the previous Saturday). I wouldn't schedule a FL later than Sunday, personally. I'd just stick with shorter practice materials that close to the exam if you want to continue; maybe a section test in your weakest section, or a couple of practice passages from different subjects you struggle with. AAMC is great for the style of the exam (AND VERBAL) but I think outside resources, like TPRH's science workbook, more accurately mimic the difficulty of the science sections.

 

[Wasted Energy]

I think that the spacing of your full lengths looks good, except for the point that starlite911 mentioned. If you could move up AAMC 11 even a day or two, I think that would be beneficial.

I'm with you on the in class exams, my scores are averaging ~ 7 with the occasional 9 thrown in. They're definitely frustrating, even though I know that they're supposed do be fairly difficult.

 

[Doctoblast]

Thank you both for the advice!