Should I void my mcat? Taking it next week

[camng22]

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My averages for my practice tests are not consistent. I don't know whether I should void my exam or not and I'm taking it next week. My goal is 28-30 but 30 would be ideal. I usually perform better if I take a test that actually counts since it allows me to concentrate more.

Listing of tests I took in order
AAMC 10 - 8/5/10
TPR 1 - 10/6/10
AAMC 3 9/7/10
AAMC 4 - 11/7/10
TPR 2 - 10/7/8
AAMC 5 - 12/9/10
AAMC 7 8/7/10

SA Bio - 76% SA Gchem -76% SA Ochem - 80% SA Physics 68%

I still have AAMCs 8,9,11 left so I'm not sure if I should use them this week and see how I do. Thoughts?

 

[brood910]

Take them and see how you do.

 

[Jepstein30]

Verbal is the problem. The other sections are inconsistent but fall within a good range. A verbal score lower than 8 will significantly harm you if you're looking at MD (don't know about DO).

What's going on with Verbal that's hurting you? Timing? Certain question types? etc.
How have you prepared for it?

I would say void because with a verbal score 7 or lower (as it seems like would happen) will likely lead to a retake anyways.. so you may as well protect yourself here as a successful retake will always look worse than hitting your score the first time around.

It's tough to just correct verbal overnight but you need to figure out a way to work on verbal.

 

[camng22]

Verbal is the problem. The other sections are inconsistent but fall within a good range. A verbal score lower than 8 will significantly harm you if you're looking at MD (don't know about DO).

What's going on with Verbal that's hurting you? Timing? Certain question types? etc.
How have you prepared for it?

I would say void because with a verbal score 7 or lower (as it seems like would happen) will likely lead to a retake anyways.. so you may as well protect yourself here as a successful retake will always look worse than hitting your score the first time around.

It's tough to just correct verbal overnight but you need to figure out a way to work on verbal.

I'm realistically aiming for DO and low tier MD. I'm hoping for an 8 on verbal and 12/10 on sciences. I always have been struggling with verbal even though I practice/read everyday. I always have 4-5min left for the last passage and it's hard for me to understand the main concepts of the passages. I'm more of a careful/analytical reader than a fast paced reader. Should I just take AAMC 11 this weekend to see if I get a 28+, if so maybe I should consider scoring it? The thing is I'll only have 2 AAMCs left if I end up voiding it

 

[Jepstein30]

I don't know much about the application process outside of my own experiences.. but many schools screen out for VR scores below an 8. You're basically right there but there's a huge risk of getting a 7 and having a retake on your record. It's really up to you as a good/lucky day could be enough to get you over that hump.

How are you reviewing your verbal passages? That's where you improve the most and it doesn't seem like you are really focusing on post-gaming.

Here is a post I made on another topic about the importance of post-gaming and how to effectively post-game: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...plan-picking-resources.1045943/#post-14786553

Obviously you don't need to follow my exact strategy but whether you have one week left to study or end up having to retake.. you NEED to post-game heavily in order to improve on verbal.

 

[camng22]

I don't know much about the application process outside of my own experiences.. but many schools screen out for VR scores below an 8. You're basically right there but there's a huge risk of getting a 7 and having a retake on your record. It's really up to you as a good/lucky day could be enough to get you over that hump.

How are you reviewing your verbal passages? That's where you improve the most and it doesn't seem like you are really focusing on post-gaming.

Here is a post I made on another topic about the importance of post-gaming and how to effectively post-game: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...plan-picking-resources.1045943/#post-14786553

Obviously you don't need to follow my exact strategy but whether you have one week left to study or end up having to retake.. you NEED to post-game heavily in order to improve on verbal.

I really don't review my verbal after I'm done taking an exam because I feel like it doesn't help me that much. The reason why I say that is because when I go back and read the passages, I already have an idea of what the passage is about and this would make it easier for me to comprehend the passage/questions than when I first approached the passage. So maybe it's a reading comprehension issue. I'll keep your advice in mind when doing my next practice test and I'll see how I do on my next AAMC practice test. So you would suggest that I should void even if I get a 28+? I think verbal is a hit or miss for me to be honest.

 

[Jepstein30]

I really don't review my verbal after I'm done taking an exam because I feel like it doesn't help me that much. The reason why I say that is because when I go back and read the passages, I already have an idea of what the passage is about and this would make it easier for me to comprehend the passage/questions than when I first approached the passage. So maybe it's a reading comprehension issue. I'll keep your advice in mind when doing my next practice test and I'll see how I do on my next AAMC practice test. So you would suggest that I should void even if I get a 28+? I think verbal is a hit or miss for me to be honest.

Well, that's a huge problem and does explain, at least in part, why you haven't really improved much on verbal from where you started.

You're also not post-gaming probably because you're still focused on getting the answer right which is literally useless. Who cares if you know the answer? That's not the point.. it's learning to think like the test maker wants you to. Force yourself to connect question to answer and answer WHY it's correct rather than test to see if you could get it right a second time around. Read that post to see what I mean.

Like I said, it's completely up to you. You're banking on having a good/lucky day which, personally, I wouldn't with a test of this magnitude... but it's not like that's a clear-cut choice. Deciding based on the score of one practice test is foolish though.. that one test is not representative or statistically significant on its own.

I'll tell you one thing though.. go into the test with the answer in mind. Don't decide whether to void or not depending on how you think you did, it's pretty hard to get a good gauge on that when you are under the pressure of that void button.

 

[MedWonk]

I would delay the test, acquire TPRH Verbal and EK 101, and profit, my child.
If you have enough time between now and your new test date, acquire TBR science books and TPRH science and profit further. Unless you've already done this. If so, then I don't what the next step is other than to hammer away at more problems/practice tests, focusing on your weak areas (verbal plus whatever science topics).

 

[camng22]

Well, that's a huge problem and does explain, at least in part, why you haven't really improved much on verbal from where you started.

You're also not post-gaming probably because you're still focused on getting the answer right which is literally useless. Who cares if you know the answer? That's not the point.. it's learning to think like the test maker wants you to. Force yourself to connect question to answer and answer WHY it's correct rather than test to see if you could get it right a second time around. Read that post to see what I mean.

Like I said, it's completely up to you. You're banking on having a good/lucky day which, personally, I wouldn't with a test of this magnitude... but it's not like that's a clear-cut choice. Deciding based on the score of one practice test is foolish though.. that one test is not representative or statistically significant on its own.

I'll tell you one thing though.. go into the test with the answer in mind. Don't decide whether to void or not depending on how you think you did, it's pretty hard to get a good gauge on that when you are under the pressure of that void button.

Thanks, that was really good advice and I'll keep the things you said in mind because I completely agree with you. The only thing that is frustrating is my verbal score isn't improving despite doing tons of practice. Is your advice in improving the verbal score is to do heavy post game analysis along with lots of practice? Ive been probably doing more practice valuing it more than post game analysis but it seems like you believe that both are equally important when it comes to improving your score.

 

[Jepstein30]

IMO, post-gaming is more valuable. It helps you improve more.

In order to post-game though.. you need to take just as many practice passages. Practice alone though.. isn't going to help because it's not just learning content like the sciences.. where if you get a question wrong, you immediately know that topic. You need to train yourself to think like the test-maker.. so just knowing the correct answer doesn't really do much for you.

Honestly, if you can afford to pay for the test again and have the time over the next month to continue studying, I'd postpone. Go through with it for the experience and to calm your nerves but you basically haven't even explored what you can do on the test in terms of verbal. Your sciences are fine if a 30 is your goal (though consistency as you noted could be better) but a 9 or even 10 on verbal would help you tremendously.