September 2015 MCAT Thread

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DAF16

DAF16

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Registration for the September MCAT opens up soon, so I thought I would make the thread.
Who else will be taking the test in September?
 
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dushash said:
One word CD33. I had that version of exam. Still I felt all sections were walk in the park - except Bio - was very dense and convoluted passages. Those who had same test and felt bio was easy - can you advise how you guys studied for that kind of dense bio passages? Thanks.
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Epigenetics and Cell Biology and if you can, get research experience in Genetics/Epigenetics. My research time was invaluable to some of those questions.
 
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My experience on yesterday's test was similar to some of the previous posters:
C/P: Went very well for me, similar difficulty to the AAMC FL
CARS: Was feeling great through the first few passages, but this feeling quickly subsided. Much more difficult than AAMC FL.
B/B: Straight forward with the exception some data-heavy passages, also similar to AAMC FL
P/S: Quite difficult. I was hoping for more graphs within the passages instead of just reading paragraphs. This was more difficult than the AAMC FL.

Anyways, I want to say congratulations to all of you for completing this exam and I hope you all get the scores you wish for!
 
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I realized I didn't really talk much about the last two sections, mostly b/c they were a blur and not nearly as frustrating for me as the first two. I had expected pretty much the exact opposite.

For b/b, I seriously don't know if I remember anything about that section except that it didn't seem as convoluted as I expected. Everything was pretty straightforward, or at least I thought it was. I do remember thinking there were some basic recall questions that I struggled a bit with, but honestly, it's almost like this section never happened in my memory. My degree is micro/molecular bio so that might've helped but I don't even know. This section is a big question mark. I was getting so tired and hungry too and couldn't stop yawning at the end. Like verbal, I finished on time and started reviewing my answers (and found a really stupid mistake in doing so) but got cut off before getting to the end of the review. In general I didn't feel horrible about this section but that might be due to feeling too tired to care. I think there were two questions that I thought were a total WTF moment and had to blindly guess.

P/S - usually my worst section, it was soooooo ridiculously easy. I mean, most of the passages had no graphs and the ones that did were really easy to interpret. There were a few I wasn't sure on, I think, this was also hazy due to exhaustion. But I finished early, and checked everything and ended the section with ~30 min left. I agree w/those who say it's like verbal part 2. Of the sections, this is by far the one where I felt most confident in my answers, which really doesn't mean anything scoring wise I know, but at least it was nice to end on that note after feeling f'd in the a by my fave section of phys/chem. Again though, I think I was nearly delirious so some of that "confidence" could just be not caring enough to worry.

Really can't predict at all. Just hoping I don't have to retake.
 
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Is checking your answers at the end a pre-requisite for a good score based on those of you that do? I almost never have time to check my answers, because I usually devote whatever time I have left at the end to tackling the questions I was either 50/50 about or did not understand the first time through.
 
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I only did it b/c I had time and at the same time I didn't stress out about not getting to finish checking over verbal or bio. I only changed one answer while doing this (in bio) so in the end it prob didn't make much of a difference.
 
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swollcat said:
Is checking your answers at the end a pre-requisite for a good score based on those of you that do? I almost never have time to check my answers, because I usually devote whatever time I have left at the end to tackling the questions I was either 50/50 about or did not understand the first time through.
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No, people usually select the correct answer the first time, if they do at all. Reviewing at the end can only help find stupid mistakes/allow you time to go over something you weren't sure about. I personally have scored well on practice tests by just finishing right on time with minimal review time, if at all. If you pay attention the first time through, you should be fine. People who power through the exam might benefit from reviewing, assuming they spent minimal time with the questions and have thus possibly not thought about something properly.
 
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The psych section really kicked my butt I usually have had about 20-30 mins left for that section and I have done NS practice exams 1-3, examkrackers 1-4 and I don't think either has had as hard of a psych section. ugh I just really hope I don't need to retake! well I guess its just a waiting game now...
 
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I don't like to review my answers either. I would sometimes go back to questions that I marked, but for the most part I don't like to go back because I might start to second guess myself. I would also sometimes just sit there for ~10 minutes before actually ending the section to get some extra rest before the next section haha
 
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I did all of AAMC's Q-packs, both the OG and sample FL, in addition to 12 FLs from kaplan, NS and TPR and watched close to 100 KA clips as well. I did roughly 3000+ questions and still wasn't prepared enough.
 
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JDWannabe said:
I did all of AAMC's Q-packs, both the OG and sample FL, in addition to 12 FLs from kaplan, NS and TPR and watched close to 100 KA clips as well. I did roughly 3000+ questions and still wasn't prepared enough.
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You said the C/P section was ridiculously difficult right, but everything else was good for you? I may be mixing you up with someone else. What made C/P so hard? How would you recommend prepping for it.

Also does anyone know how many exams are given in one day? It seems like there are a lot of versions.
 
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nolookpass said:
You said the C/P section was ridiculously difficult right, but everything else was good for you? I may be mixing you up with someone else. What made C/P so hard? How would you recommend prepping for it.

Also does anyone know how many exams are given in one day? It seems like there are a lot of versions.
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I would say know everything you learned in physics: torque, lenses (reflection, refraction, sin1=sin2), E-fields, etc.
And the only reason I didn't completely bomb this section (which had way more orgo than AAMC would make me think) was that I have a pretty decent background in chemistry.
Try and have a breadth of knowledge on the material and don't get too caught in the weeds on going too deep in the material.

Everything I read alluded to this new version having more "medically relevant" questions on it. Long story short, no they don't. Be prepared to get sodomized by this exam. Expect the unexpected and plan on the test start time being delayed due to geriatric proctors and faulty equipment.
 
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JDWannabe said:
I would say know everything you learned in physics: torque, lenses (reflection, refraction, sin1=sin2), E-fields, etc.
And the only reason I didn't completely bomb this section (which had way more orgo than AAMC would make me think) was that I have a pretty decent background in chemistry.

Everything I read alluded to this new version having more "medically relevant" questions on it. Long story short, no they don't. Be prepared to get sodomized by this exam. Expect the unexpected and plan on the test start time being delayed due to geriatric proctors and faulty equipment.
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I agree with this, especially for the C/P section.
The only medically relevant part of the C/P section is the first sentences of the passage that says something like "X is used in hospital setting to measure Y while emitting some radioactive particle". After that, the rest of the passage + questions are just straight up physical science.
 
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It was rough. I dont think the exam was horrible. Chem/Phys was straightforward. I think I did pretty well all in all. CARS was brutal. My eyes hurt soooo bad after reading all of those passages. Science sections were way better bc the pics help break up the texts. CARS was literally making me tired, sleepy, and gave me the worst eye pain ever!! Content on CARS was boring and tough. Even when I could narrow down to only two answers, it was tough choosing between the two. Bio/Biochem was pretty straightforward content-wise but it was impossible to focus after the disaster that was CARS, I couldnt focus anymore and my eye pain was a unbearable was it started to develop into a headache that was making me drowsy. Psych/Social was straightforward. I finished that with over 30 min remaining. I'm hoping I dont have to retake. I felt that I knew the material and did well, except for CARS. My best section was either C/P because it wasnt difficult and it came before my eyes and brain hit a wall or P/S because it was pretty simple....fingers crossed. But if I have to retake which I likely will have to, I'll be there in Jan mroe than ready to go!!
 
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Reading the August test takers' thread (who received their scores this week), I'm starting to feel nervous about Oct 27th 🤔
 
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I felt that there wasnt much orgo at all! I didnt know what the hell a carbamide was but now that I look at the word, I see it ends in amide..but I feel that I pulled that question out. I only used on equation V=ED, for capacitors.
I finished C/P with 5-10 mins left. Then crashed and burn in CARS and left maybe 4 questions unanswered and due to time constraints was forced to guess on last 4 bio. Again, bio wasnt particularly tough, but i was out of it after CARS.

MY ADVICE, in hindsight of course, dont take breaks. I felt that fingerprinting in and out took too long and wasnt worth it. Focus was broken...couldnt be regained. Eat before exam. Start exam, get into your zone and go start til finish.
 
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Everyone is different. But there were 12 testers in my group and half of them agreed, the breaks werent worth it. 1)They thought that the in and out was too long like 2 minutes person, which is way more problematic when you go at the same time as others because now you have to wait for them. 2)Plus you just feel rushed during the breaks to get back, messes with your focus 3) it was tough to get back into a zone ...id say like 5 or 6 people in my testing group all felt that way.
 
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At every in and out, we were fingerprinted, had our ID checked, signed in/out, we were wanded, had our sleeves rolled up to expose our hands and arms, had our pant legs rolled up, hood on my hoodie was checked, no chapstick allowed, pockets were checked and turned inside out during EVERY entry and exit...easily 2 minutes per person so dont all go at once, because if you do you'll end up waiting in line
 
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I get so hungry mid way no Mattet what I eat. There was 60 people but three different rooms/sections so wasn't too bad. This was my second time so I was used to all the fingerprinting and stuff.

Why is it that the thought of not doing medicine and something else in the health care makes me kinda more happy. Med schools is more and more tests . And ugh. I don't know. I guess it depends if I apply and if it's meant for me to get in. Not applying this cycle but I've been at it for 1.5 years and praying I'm done with MCAT! No idea if I am because I think I didn't do as well in C/P since most people were saying it wasn't bad
 
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Can I make a suggestion. Let's give this Thread a break. I challenge everyone not to look at this thread for a week and go live life a little.
No point in saying if it was easy/hard etc. There are so many confounding variables that determine how well you perform that day for that particur test!

Smile More! If you can't fake it till you make it 🙂
 
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No.

keepSwimmingNemo said:
Can I make a suggestion. Let's give this Thread a break. I challenge everyone not to look at this thread for a week and go live life a little.
No point in saying if it was easy/hard etc. There are so many confounding variables that determine how well you perform that day for that particur test!

Smile More! If you can't fake it till you make it 🙂
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JDWannabe said:
I would say know everything you learned in physics: torque, lenses (reflection, refraction, sin1=sin2), E-fields, etc.
And the only reason I didn't completely bomb this section (which had way more orgo than AAMC would make me think) was that I have a pretty decent background in chemistry.
Try and have a breadth of knowledge on the material and don't get too caught in the weeds on going too deep in the material.

Everything I read alluded to this new version having more "medically relevant" questions on it. Long story short, no they don't. Be prepared to get sodomized by this exam. Expect the unexpected and plan on the test start time being delayed due to geriatric proctors and faulty equipment.
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Wow you did way more than I did. I was only able to knock out chem, physics, bio 1, and 1.5 cars qpacks. Did the AAMC FL, OG, and 5 TPR FLs. Given how we had fairly similar takes on the test, what were your OG and AAMC FL scores?

If I could go back in time, I would have definitely sacrificed 2 TPR FLs for the rest of the QPacks and watched ALL the khan academy vids on PSYCH and SOC. For anyone trying to prep for the future, don't listen to those who say to skip content and dive straight into practice. Practice passages are Damn important but you need to know your **** for this test, details included. Also the 2.5 month study plan is a sham unless you are literally fresh off the gen's. I say 2 full months of disciplined content review mixed in with practice passages to stay sharp and 2 months of pure FLs with the AAMC material last but completed in its entirety. If you're taking in January and haven't started studying you're behind
 
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swollcat said:
Wow you did way more than I did. I was only able to knock out chem, physics, bio 1, and 1.5 cars qpacks. Did the AAMC FL, OG, and 5 TPR FLs. Given how we had fairly similar takes on the test, what were your OG and AAMC FL scores?

If I could go back in time, I would have definitely sacrificed 2 TPR FLs for the rest of the QPacks and watched ALL the khan academy vids on PSYCH and SOC. For anyone trying to prep for the future, don't listen to those who say to skip content and dive straight into practice. Practice passages are Damn important but you need to know your **** for this test, details included. Also the 2.5 month study plan is a sham unless you are literally fresh off the gen's. I say 2 full months of disciplined content review mixed in with practice passages to stay sharp and 2 months of pure FLs with the AAMC material last but completed in its entirety. If you're taking in January and haven't started studying you're behind
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Roughly equated, the OG and FL were around a 510 and 509, respectively. Those were about halfway through my review and testing time. My scores were improving as I got closer to the 23rd, but it is a foreign experience going from your office chair at home to recreating a prison scene "patdown" and then taking a test.
 
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Glad to hear I'm not the only one who felt really awkward being wanded every time you entered/exited.

A little late to the party but here were my thoughts on the test:

C/P: it was okay. A lot of physics. Kind of tough.

CARS: started off well, got a little tougher. Overall tougher than practices I did with Kaplan and aamc but cars is typically my best section so I feel okay.

B/B: this was insane. I felt pretty confident in my bio going into the mcat but after this section I'm seriously questioning my abilities. Very difficult to get through those passages, no idea what was going on half the time.

P/S: honestly thought this was the easiest section. Feel pretty good about this one relative to the others
 
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argle_bargle said:
He is saying that he was unable to eat, so it would be sympathetic. Sympathetic decreases digestion.
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I always remembered NO sympathy=NOrepinephrine for sympathetic, eat a PeAR for parasympathetic. You can't eat, because I have NO SYMPATHY! J/K That test almost made me cry. Almost.
 
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argle_bargle said:
Haha I'm going to remember that now!
emoji38.png
no pears for you!!
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I just need a 510 and I won't go completey loco.
 
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the AAMC is like "You have to wait for next week to find out if your test was voided". NOOOOOO. I made such a stupid mistake. Clicking void in that split second when the timer ran down to 00:00 and the pop up came saying "congrats, you have finished the mcat"....was the stupidest thing ever. I dont know my fate at all! I could have voided my test, could have gotten killed on the MCAT and ill get the score, or everything went fine if i get a normal score!
 
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I think what's freaking me out the most is the outlier August takers who got 70-80% on their FLs and ended up with 504> . AAMC 3-11 were excellent predictors in the range of +/- 2 of
the real thing. The new FL seems like it was a fairly good predictor as it felt on par with the real thing (the real thing was not WAY harder, maybe slightly harder), but man i just hope it's close...
 
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I got plowed.

C/P - By far my worst section, partly due to lack of confidence/familiarity with gen chem (taken 6 years ago....). The passages are what killed me, I took too much time trying to decipher the parts of the experiments that were unfamiliar. Physics was perfect, calculation light and foundational concepts heavy, this may redeem me somewhat. To all of you who are worried about this section - you can count me as a <125 score.

CARS - This was a joke for me honestly. I have consistently killed it on practice tests and I felt even more confident on the real thing. 2 questions I spent my remaining 10 minutes on mentally masturbating over and switching my answer back and forth. Hoping for 130-132 on this one.

B/B - This was supposed to be my other good section, it was not. Holy Molecular genetics and convoluted experiments. Was really banking on more metabolism. Thinking around 126 here

Psych/Soc - Definitely more difficult than any other practice test that I had. In hindsight, I would have just memorized each definition we needed to know and have an example to reference in my head. I think had I done that the section would have been the easiest by a long shot. Thinking 126 here as well.

Not applying this round. Will be retaking in January as I had only about 4-5 weeks to prepare for this one.
 
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So a question: if there were 2 different tests on exam (and it sure sounds like it, one was with hard C/P and another with hard Bio) then will they be measured with their own curves or not?
 
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Jon Ofalltrades said:
the AAMC is like "You have to wait for next week to find out if your test was voided". NOOOOOO. I made such a stupid mistake. Clicking void in that split second when the timer ran down to 00:00 and the pop up came saying "congrats, you have finished the mcat"....was the stupidest thing ever. I dont know my fate at all! I could have voided my test, could have gotten killed on the MCAT and ill get the score, or everything went fine if i get a normal score!
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Did the proctors at Prometric give you a AAMC generalized form before you left? If not, I am inclined to think you did in fact, void your score.
 
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Jon Ofalltrades said:
the AAMC is like "You have to wait for next week to find out if your test was voided". NOOOOOO. I made such a stupid mistake. Clicking void in that split second when the timer ran down to 00:00 and the pop up came saying "congrats, you have finished the mcat"....was the stupidest thing ever. I dont know my fate at all! I could have voided my test, could have gotten killed on the MCAT and ill get the score, or everything went fine if i get a normal score!
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How can you check to make 100% sure your exam is being scored?
 
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Doctor Dream said:
How can you check to make 100% sure your exam is being scored?
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I called them and they said they can tell us next week if our exam will be scored or if we voided. But idk why it takes them over a week to be able to tell us something so simple about a computerized test
 
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I don't understand how people forget if they voided or not lol. I was careful as hell due to all of these stories, but really I don't get how you make that mistake...

Then again I don't think I've seen anyone actually void by accident, only paranoia.
 
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ChrisMack390 said:
I don't understand how people forget if they voided or not lol. I was careful as hell due to all of these stories, but really I don't get how you make that mistake...
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It's probably a good thing lol! Because If I can't answer a simple question such as "would you like y0ur test scored or voided?", then thinking about the answers I selected for the real questions terrifies me
 
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Okay after resting from the 9/23 MCAT here was my perception of it (oh SH@T i said perception a psych word)

C/P: lots of physics, first question was about light refraction. It was okay biochem questions, asked about enzyme kinetics. Few chemistry question such as acid and base/ oxidation states. i thought i did pretty well in this section the best since i could find the answers.

CARS: WTFFF, it was long passages, i was on the 5th passage and there was 28 mins left. had random passages, frankenstein passage LOL and money passage i thought the passages were funny, but i ran out of time 🙁

B/B: HOLY CELL BIOLOGY!!! THIS WAS the hardest section from me. I would review G-protein receptors,tyrosine receptors. And special enzymes like cytochrome p450 some asked about insulin receptors found in intracellular membrane. sometimes they would give you random amino acids to translate. there were questions asking about molecular biology ALOT of it. i would review that.

Psych/soc: there were terms i have never seen before.. and this is coming from someone who gets 127 on all practice tests. ive watched all khan and studied princeton.. so idk.. 🙁

i voided my test because i know whats expected of the new mcat now. wasnt like the practice tests i took 🙁
 
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dahmsom said:
Okay after resting from the 9/23 MCAT here was my perception of it (oh SH@T i said perception a psych word)

C/P: lots of physics, first question was about light refraction. It was okay biochem questions, asked about enzyme kinetics. Few chemistry question such as acid and base/ oxidation states. i thought i did pretty well in this section the best since i could find the answers.

CARS: WTFFF, it was long passages, i was on the 5th passage and there was 28 mins left. had random passages, frankenstein passage LOL and money passage i thought the passages were funny, but i ran out of time 🙁

B/B: HOLY CELL BIOLOGY!!! THIS WAS the hardest section from me. I would review G-protein receptors,tyrosine receptors. And special enzymes like cytochrome p450 some asked about insulin receptors found in intracellular membrane. sometimes they would give you random amino acids to translate. there were questions asking about molecular biology ALOT of it. i would review that.

Psych/soc: there were terms i have never seen before.. and this is coming from someone who gets 127 on all practice tests. ive watched all khan and studied princeton.. so idk.. 🙁

i voided my test because i know whats expected of the new mcat now. wasnt like the practice tests i took 🙁
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Yup we got the same version of the mcat I had the same light question for c/p and psych was ridiculously hard ! nothing like the practice exams I've taken, ugh its so hard not to be depressed!
 
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kinda starting to feel depressed. ever since the exam on wed i don't have any set goals (I'm applying here and there ) but i realized i don't have a close group of friends. or like a tight nit who i can just chill whneer.
when you see some of your close friends out on snapchat and your at home applying here and there ugghh.
 
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So no preliminaries for 9/23? Do you guys think January MCAT will be adjusted based on this year scores and if yes - which way: harder or easier?
 
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