Secret to 10+?

[PreMedMachine]

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So far I have taken Kaplan FL 1-5 and averaged a solid 25 on them with a decent split of 2 eights and 1 nine (changes every time; sometimes 9 in VR, sometimes in BS, sometimes in PS). Afterward, I've taken AAMC 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 - same average score of 25. I'm aiming for US MD and I know the scores are way too low right now. What's the best way to push the 8-9 in BS and PS into the 11-13 range? I have full access to the Kaplan materials (I took the prep course). I'm just stagnating right now and my test is April 24. I know I can hit the 11-13s and that 30+ score - i just need some advice on what to do. Each time i go over a test, say AAMC 8, i'll have a few small/easy mistakes that I can get rid of (1-3 / section). The other 10 are from various tough passages and questions. Any and all advice is appreciated. I'm willing to try new strategies, go over old exams from a new angle, etc. Thanks and good luck to all test takers!!!

 

[farnell]

Though it is sometimes easy to make mistakes, minimizing these mistakes can only be eliminated one way - practice. You want to go into the MCAT having done as many practice problems as possible. Simply knowing the material is not enough - you need to do questions, and determine why you got the answer right/wrong and learn from it. I've found TPR hyperlearning to be a good source of practice material. Bottom line, the more you practice, the less you will make those easy mistakes.

The first time I took the MCAT I got a 24. My AAMC averages this time around have been 31-36. I haven't taken the test again but the difference for me was that I was doing endless practice problems.

I will add that one strategy I have incorporated that has seemed to work well is to take 20 seconds to address all the figures in the passages after I have read it. Look at the axes - are the units km? cm? m? mm? Were the results as expected or different from the info the passage gives you? Before looking at the questions I try to come up with a "conclusion" for each figure given. Taking time to do this doesn't waste time because chances are you will have to come back and look at the figure anyway. I used to get questions wrong all the time because I didn't interpret the figures correctly. I think doing this has helped improve my scores immensely. Hope some of this helps.