Relationship between studying time and score?

[omegaz]

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So far I average in the upper 20s for the practice tests. However, after reviewing the questions I got wrong, I felt like they're either stupid mistakes or problems that I'll still miss even if I memorize the entire TBR.

I'm now having doubt whether more studying will improve my mid-to-upper 20s into a low 30. I know this assumption is wrong, but how much studying do you think will be necessary for said improvement?

 

[Platonic]

Studying helps, but everyone reaches a plateau score. Most people reach their peak around month 3-5.

 

[omegaz]

I scored in the upper 20s after 2.5 months of studying. I plan to take a 1 month break then start another 3-month studying session. Is this recommended?

 

[SN2ed]

The amount of time you study doesn't mean too much. It's how you utilize that time which matters.

 

[gettheleadout]

So far I average in the upper 20s for the practice tests. However, after reviewing the questions I got wrong, I felt like they're either stupid mistakes or problems that I'll still miss even if I memorize the entire TBR.

I'm now having doubt whether more studying will improve my mid-to-upper 20s into a low 30. I know this assumption is wrong, but how much studying do you think will be necessary for said improvement?

Upper twenties means you're either incredibly careless in your problem solving or you aren't as prepared as you seem to think (in ascribing missed points to either error or impossibility).

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

I doubt there's any relationship.
I know a bunch of people who took 3 months off to study solely for the MCAT, including MCAT classes, and only scored a 28.
I know a few people who did the 10 week EK schedule with a 12 credit courseload and scored in the mid 30s.

 

[Jepstein30]

I doubt there's any relationship.
I know a bunch of people who took 3 months off to study solely for the MCAT, including MCAT classes, and only scored a 28.
I know a few people who did the 10 week EK schedule with a 12 credit courseload and scored in the mid 30s.

so no study = 24/7 study?

hmmm why does that not seem right?

there's definitely some diminishing returns, especially when you get to the 30s.. but like SN2ed said, it definitely matters more how you use your study time (for instance, reading content review over and over vs. practice problems).

 

[inycepoo]

Upper twenties means you're either incredibly careless in your problem solving or you aren't as prepared as you seem to think (in ascribing missed points to either error or impossibility).

It's 99% that you don't know your stuff well enough to be able to critically think with it like the MCAT requires you to.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

so no study = 24/7 study?

hmmm why does that not seem right?

there's definitely some diminishing returns, especially when you get to the 30s.. but like SN2ed said, it definitely matters more how you use your study time (for instance, reading content review over and over vs. practice problems).

Nice verbal skills...

When did I ever state that?

 

[gettheleadout]

It's 99% that you don't know your stuff well enough to be able to critically think with it like the MCAT requires you to.

Huh?

 

[inycepoo]

Huh?

I meant it's more likely that one is scoring in the 20s because one doesn't know the content well enough rather than just being super careless.

 

[Platonic]

Upper twenties means you're either incredibly careless in your problem solving or you aren't as prepared as you seem to think (in ascribing missed points to either error or impossibility).

I meant it's more likely that one is scoring in the 20s because one doesn't know the content well enough rather than just being super careless.

These posts seem to give the impression that anyone should be able to crack 30 given proper preparation. From the point of view of a high scorer, this might seem to be the case. But believe it or not, the MCAT is a hard test for a lot of people, even some with a strong foundation in the material. I've seen people on SDN with advanced degrees in biology receive underwhelming scores in the BS section. Scoring a 30 on the MCAT is not a gimme. Most of the people that take the MCAT are pretty smart relative to the general population, and around 75% of test takers fail to break 30.

 

[mariabxe]

it definitely matters more how you use your study time.

 

[inycepoo]

These posts seem to give the impression that anyone should be able to crack 30 given proper preparation. From the point of view of a high scorer, this might seem to be the case. But believe it or not, the MCAT is a hard test for a lot of people, even some with a strong foundation in the material. I've seen people on SDN with advanced degrees in biology receive underwhelming scores in the BS section. Scoring a 30 on the MCAT is not a gimme. Most of the people that take the MCAT are pretty smart relative to the general population, and around 75% of test takers fail to break 30.

Nah, we're not that thick. But getting a strong foundation is the thing that's most easily controlled by the examinee.