I've been prepping for the MCAT 2 months full-time around 8 hrs a day. After one month of reading all TBR books and doing corresponding 1/3 of passages, I scored 28 on my first FL (AAMC 3). In the past month since then, I've focused on "fixing my weaknesses" with EK 1001, rereading chapters I had problems with, and taking FLs. I thought with a month left, I would have no problem getting 30+. However, after taking a practice test/week my scores have been steadily going down (27, 26, 24 on AAMC 9, 10, 11 -- PS at steady 9, BS 8-9, Verbal 8-11). My test is on August 7th and I know I probably have to void at this point, but what am I doing wrong and how should I adjust my studying to fix it for my retake?
scores going down, what am I doing wrong? :(
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Do you feel like you comprehend the passage, questions, and answers? Also, how do you analyze your AAMC practice exams, after you finish them?
I admit there are times where I feel like I don't understand the passage, mostly for bio. Sometimes I feel like I'm not comfortable with the experimental nature of the passages since I haven't done much research. Is there a way to improve on this?
However, for reviewing FLs, I've been "postphrasing" exams where I thoroughly review every question I get wrong after doing an exam.
However, for reviewing FLs, I've been "postphrasing" exams where I thoroughly review every question I get wrong after doing an exam.
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Have you tried TPR hyperlearning for biology? I think this is the best way to improve on this section. If you do decide to prolong your exam, I highly recommend doing the official guide to the MCAT. This has by far the most representative passages of the current MCAT.
Biology has become more about analyzing data and making inferences. Usually passages have graphs and when I look at the passage first I go to the graphs and try to see the x and y axises. I try to think about how the passage will surround the graphs and then read from there. Just get a general idea of the passage and highlight key words that arise (you won't understand everything, but with highlighting it will help when you need to look back).
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Here's the thing. I noticed the same problem with myself. I studied a lot did moderately well on the TBR passages then when it came to the first 4 AAMCs I did(I did not do them in order btw) I realized that my scores weren't where I wanted them to be at all. But what's really important to comprehend is that AAMC style questions are DIFFERENT than TBR, TPR, etc. Yes they are testing the same concept but about 70% of the exam is UNDERSTANDING the exam side by side the passages. Here is what I mean.
PS: A lot of the times actually majority of the time you barely have to read the passage. Most of the questions can be answered from outside knowledge and/or information in the passage. Also this section is VERY literal. So make sure you are actually answering the question instead of making it more convoluted inside your head. We tend to do that because we have overstimulated our brains with ALL THIS practice material and it's actually pretty common to make a VERY simple Le Chat problem into multivariable calculus.
Verbal: This is NOT A TEST OF YOUR INTELLIGENCE. I wish there was a warning sign before this section so people wouldn't feel so defeated. ALSO that scale is super harsh. with 13 wrong you're looking at a 8...awkward. What YOU need to do is figure out what's right for YOU. There are many strategies that have worked and have not worked. Find what is best for you.
BS: This is literally, can you look at an experiment and tell me what the graph says. That's exactly what this section is, plus or minus some random EK bio facts that might or might not have been mentioned. It is also VERY literal. So make sure to read the question and ONLY answer what the QUESTION asks for. Nothing more nothing less. The answer is REALLY obvious once you figure out how the questions are worded.
Lastly, I HIGHLY recommend post game analysis. Some people like the whole write down why you got it wrong, what you could do better, how you were feeling etc. What I like to do is retake each section UNTIMED. What this helps me do is re-do problems and see if I get them right because I knew how to do it or I was simply guessing. IT ALSO allows me to see the patterns on the AAMC tests. That's how I began to see how LITERAL the exam was. I started to think differently, only these small adjustments allowed me to increase my score by a good 3/4 points on EACH section in about 2 weeks.
🙂
You can do it I promise!
PS: A lot of the times actually majority of the time you barely have to read the passage. Most of the questions can be answered from outside knowledge and/or information in the passage. Also this section is VERY literal. So make sure you are actually answering the question instead of making it more convoluted inside your head. We tend to do that because we have overstimulated our brains with ALL THIS practice material and it's actually pretty common to make a VERY simple Le Chat problem into multivariable calculus.
Verbal: This is NOT A TEST OF YOUR INTELLIGENCE. I wish there was a warning sign before this section so people wouldn't feel so defeated. ALSO that scale is super harsh. with 13 wrong you're looking at a 8...awkward. What YOU need to do is figure out what's right for YOU. There are many strategies that have worked and have not worked. Find what is best for you.
BS: This is literally, can you look at an experiment and tell me what the graph says. That's exactly what this section is, plus or minus some random EK bio facts that might or might not have been mentioned. It is also VERY literal. So make sure to read the question and ONLY answer what the QUESTION asks for. Nothing more nothing less. The answer is REALLY obvious once you figure out how the questions are worded.
Lastly, I HIGHLY recommend post game analysis. Some people like the whole write down why you got it wrong, what you could do better, how you were feeling etc. What I like to do is retake each section UNTIMED. What this helps me do is re-do problems and see if I get them right because I knew how to do it or I was simply guessing. IT ALSO allows me to see the patterns on the AAMC tests. That's how I began to see how LITERAL the exam was. I started to think differently, only these small adjustments allowed me to increase my score by a good 3/4 points on EACH section in about 2 weeks.
🙂
You can do it I promise!
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I agree with all of the above. Since your scores are around a 9-10, I think this is most likely a comprehension issue (whether it be passage, questions, or answers). I highly recommend retaking the passages untimed as mentioned by orange tea. I have done this with the verbal AAMCs and it has done wonders with my understanding of the passages.
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If your scores are going down I can definitely say its you being your own enemy, I posted the following elsewhere
The secret is be a really smart *******
Let me explain
Funnily enough ive realized that OVER-STUDYING CAN HURT YOU AS MUCH AS UNDERSTUDYING. The thing is during the MCAT, where you are drawing from all the various different facets of the subject, a good 95% of the problems are ultimately asking something extremely simple. With this though means that with too much information in your head, you can easily get the answer wrong. I'm finding I'm missing mostly questions where I question my gut and ignore some knee jerk reflexes, so I change my answer. The reason I change my answer is I start thinking of all the little intricacies and corollaries I know of my own knowledge. The text (this not an actual problem, just example) specifically said that the reaction is exothermic, but because I started thinking about inter-molecular bonding, buffering, and quantum physics, I convinced myself that it was actually endothermic, when the passage SPECIFICALLY SAID IT WAS EXOTHERMIC. A real example is a problem that kept me away from a 15 on physics. The passage gave me a value, then asked for that value, I convinced myself it was 1/2 of that value becuase I started bringing other elements into play.
At the end of the day we must remove the idea that the mcat is trying to trick us. It is not. Ultimately the MCAT is a very difficult, but fair test. A person with good general background knowledge should be able to get a 11-12 on the sections.
Occasionally there are those dingus problems that require super-specific details and try to trick you, but they are few and far between. Their existence is to separate a 11 or 12 from a 13-15. If you are shooting for mid-30s, these should not worry youv
The secret is be a really smart *******
Let me explain
Funnily enough ive realized that OVER-STUDYING CAN HURT YOU AS MUCH AS UNDERSTUDYING. The thing is during the MCAT, where you are drawing from all the various different facets of the subject, a good 95% of the problems are ultimately asking something extremely simple. With this though means that with too much information in your head, you can easily get the answer wrong. I'm finding I'm missing mostly questions where I question my gut and ignore some knee jerk reflexes, so I change my answer. The reason I change my answer is I start thinking of all the little intricacies and corollaries I know of my own knowledge. The text (this not an actual problem, just example) specifically said that the reaction is exothermic, but because I started thinking about inter-molecular bonding, buffering, and quantum physics, I convinced myself that it was actually endothermic, when the passage SPECIFICALLY SAID IT WAS EXOTHERMIC. A real example is a problem that kept me away from a 15 on physics. The passage gave me a value, then asked for that value, I convinced myself it was 1/2 of that value becuase I started bringing other elements into play.
At the end of the day we must remove the idea that the mcat is trying to trick us. It is not. Ultimately the MCAT is a very difficult, but fair test. A person with good general background knowledge should be able to get a 11-12 on the sections.
Occasionally there are those dingus problems that require super-specific details and try to trick you, but they are few and far between. Their existence is to separate a 11 or 12 from a 13-15. If you are shooting for mid-30s, these should not worry youv
thanks to everyone for the great advice! I definitely will keep that all in mind when reviewing my AAMC tests.. I'm beginning to think I didn't do as great of a job postphrasing as I thought...
in terms of content review though, how should I approach it? I've already read through all the TBR once and some of the chapters twice. I feel like I'm still lacking a lot for content since I get FSQs wrong. I will be taking many upper division bio classes next semester (genetics, biochem, cell bio), will these help at all for the bio section? (since people have been saying its mostly graph analysis) I'm thinking of retaking after I finish those courses but that would mean taking the test in Jan. Is it worth postponing that late so I have the extra bio background knowledge?
in terms of content review though, how should I approach it? I've already read through all the TBR once and some of the chapters twice. I feel like I'm still lacking a lot for content since I get FSQs wrong. I will be taking many upper division bio classes next semester (genetics, biochem, cell bio), will these help at all for the bio section? (since people have been saying its mostly graph analysis) I'm thinking of retaking after I finish those courses but that would mean taking the test in Jan. Is it worth postponing that late so I have the extra bio background knowledge?
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2 months and 8 hours a day? Id say you're burnt and the anxiety of consistently scoring lower isn't helping out. If its august 7th, theres nothing you can do now. Just chill out till test day. Just go in there and try your best
