I am about on day 50 on this study guide, which means that I'm 2 weeks or so behind. Should I try finishing all the chapters by the test date or stop now and start reviewing the basics and concepts that I need to know? Which subjects should I prioritize and go ahead and finish the chapters? I feel that if I do finish ALL the chapters for all the subjects that I wont have enough time to review and get general concepts down because I only read through each chapter once without rereading them and letting them stick in my head. I cant push my test because ive done that 3 times already. I will however take all the AAMC practice tests for sure. But other than that, should I bail out of this study guide and study only the most IMPORTANT concepts? What should I do...
So my plan of finishing S2dn's study guide is failing and my mcat is on Aug 19th
- Thread starter reese07
- Start date
- Joined
- May 19, 2010
- Messages
- 578
- Reaction score
- 3
Stop reading content.
Start taking FL's and reviewing them.
If an area of content is shady for you, then read over mcat-review.org. If it's still shady then watch a few videos at Khanacademy.org. Don't read all the content because 50% of the stuff you don't need to know. Only do extra reading when the mcat-review.org summaries aren't making sense.
Take FL's.
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2010
- Messages
- 227
- Reaction score
- 1
Do you prefer mcat-review to wikipremed for review?
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2010
- Messages
- 660
- Reaction score
- 3
Wikipremed is so convoluted. I prefer mcat-review instead because it has everything you need to know. But one thing I find useful from Wikipremed is the section of stuff listed as "Things that might show up in a passage" which I try to familiarize myself with just incase they do show up. That way I'd have some idea of what I'm reading if the passage comes up during the exam.
- Joined
- May 22, 2008
- Messages
- 17,394
- Reaction score
- 9,146
...and this is what happens when you blindly follow something because SDN has declared it "holy."
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2008
- Messages
- 1,270
- Reaction score
- 19
I don't think the guide was the problem. SN2ed said not to stray from it if you don't have time.
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2007
- Messages
- 7,545
- Reaction score
- 197
You should delay your test and get back on track.
As posted in the beginning of the first post:
Do NOT start this schedule late.
As posted in the beginning of the first post:
Do NOT start this schedule late.
Last edited:
Even if I didn't start a few days late, I still would be in this position. I found myself taking at least 2 days to finish one day's worth so not cutting out days wouldn't do a big difference. S2ed, what do you suggest I do? I have 3 chapters for each subject left to finish. Have I done enough content review to go ahead and review the most important parts? I'm kinda in a panic here..
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2007
- Messages
- 7,545
- Reaction score
- 197
Are you still trying to read the chapter while you have your laptop open? That's an unnecessary distraction from your work. You honestly shouldn't need a full day to read one chapter. BR's chapters aren't that long. Also, starting late DOES matter. Every day counts for this schedule.
So what exactly are you doing? Have you finished your pre-reqs?
I didn't have trouble reading the physics or bio chapters but I thought the chem and organic chapters were pretty long. I guess I just take longer than most people to read and learn information. I have finished all my prereqs. Would you suggest I go ahead and finish the FLs while also using the br and ek materials as a guide through the outline in mcat-review.org?
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2007
- Messages
- 7,545
- Reaction score
- 197
Still taking a full day to only read one chapter on material you've already covered in your pre-reqs is unusual. Are you sure you have no distractions while you read? Do you take really long breaks while reading a chapter? Do you have other commitments like summer school or work?
Another important question, what learning style worked for you in college? Did you benefit the most from lecture, doing problems, reading, teaching, or listening? You may need to switch up what you're doing if you learn best another way. For instance, if you're a visual learner, watch some MCAT topic lectures.
Last edited:
The 1001s are useless. I just took the MCAT and realized its more reading based than anything. If I had to redo my whole studying, it would have been making sure I cover all content since the easy discretes are all over the place but easy points. Also, I would not have done any 1001s. As a matter of fact, I dropped doing them half way through following the prescribed schedule. Scored 34-36 on three higher numbered practice exams so base this off of that.
I know I kept on switching my dates!
S2ed, I tend to learn better by just reading and rereading and reading some more, thats how I succeeded in college. I guess I'll finish up my last 10 chapters this week and for the remaining 2 weeks Ill review each chapter and finish up the 1/3 for the BRs along with the AAMCs? What do you think I can realistically do in these last 3 weeks before the test?
S2ed, I tend to learn better by just reading and rereading and reading some more, thats how I succeeded in college. I guess I'll finish up my last 10 chapters this week and for the remaining 2 weeks Ill review each chapter and finish up the 1/3 for the BRs along with the AAMCs? What do you think I can realistically do in these last 3 weeks before the test?
- Joined
- May 19, 2010
- Messages
- 578
- Reaction score
- 3
Question: what is best, re-reading things that will not be tested on OR practicing the skill of answering questions about disguised simple science concepts under time pressure?
Hope you understand that in the end, your success will be built on basic science concepts (i.e. not 50 pages of info on a single chapter), timing, extracting passage info to answer questions, ruling out answers, etc.
notice that most of those skills are not used while going over content.
Hope you understand that in the end, your success will be built on basic science concepts (i.e. not 50 pages of info on a single chapter), timing, extracting passage info to answer questions, ruling out answers, etc.
notice that most of those skills are not used while going over content.
So I should forget about reading the last 10 chapters and go ahead and do the post-chapter questions for those chapters? Can I replace my catch up reading with just understanding the explanations for the right and wrong answers to the BR questions?
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2007
- Messages
- 7,545
- Reaction score
- 197
If you can absorb the material that way, it's an idea. However, in your case, I'm not sure it will work. Considering the length of time it takes you to understand what you're reading, taking practice passages may in the long run take up more time. What may happen is that you use up time taking the passages and do poorly which will lower your confidence. Then, for your post-practice review, you'll have lots of content weaknesses revealed by the passages. In the end, you'll probably wind up reading the chapter to gain a foothold with the material.
If you were understanding the material at the usual pace, taking practice passages could work. Yet, you're reading at an unusually slow pace which indicates severe content weaknesses. Nevertheless, it's worth a shot for a day. See if you can pick up the chapter's material through timed practice passages and a thorough post-practice review.
Again, I suggest you delay your test while you still can.
Edit: How are you doing on practice passages after all that reading? If you're doing well, that's even more of a reason to delay your test and keep going at your current rate.
If you were understanding the material at the usual pace, taking practice passages could work. Yet, you're reading at an unusually slow pace which indicates severe content weaknesses. Nevertheless, it's worth a shot for a day. See if you can pick up the chapter's material through timed practice passages and a thorough post-practice review.
Again, I suggest you delay your test while you still can.
Edit: How are you doing on practice passages after all that reading? If you're doing well, that's even more of a reason to delay your test and keep going at your current rate.
I don't think its because of me being a slow reader. My weakness is organic and that was the subject where I took 2 and alot of times 3 days to complete because of my poor ochem background and fatigue. I was able to complete the other subjects in a good pace but the ochem really did slow me down enough to be in this situation. I will try to do the passages and understand the post-review explanations.
- Joined
- May 19, 2010
- Messages
- 578
- Reaction score
- 3
agreed on delaying. Do lots of practice passages and FL's. The more time on these the better. Understand the summaries on mcat-review.org like I said, if you don't understand then go deeper with videos or some small reading. Don't worry about ochem too much. The last few tests have had 1 passage of ochem (you probably have 2 max). You need to know the basics of Ochem.
What are the basics?! Well, do 15+ FL's and you will have been tested on likely everything the MCAT may show in terms of Ochem.
The MCAT is simple in that, they want to test basic sciences. Prep companies like to go over EVERYTHING that could possibly come up, what you need to do is learn the basics and THEN do lots of passages or FLs. BR Ochem chapters are almost a waste. You don't need to know mechanisms, just reactions and then understand what is going on. passages/FL/passages/FL or mostly FLs. Good luck
p.s. what i've been trying to communicate to you desperately is that you don't need to know all the stuff in those chapters, only like 1/3 or so of them. So just read them fast or just read the summaries, then correct weaknesses as you go. Don't spend full days doing content! That is NOT the skill that is tested.
If I delay my test any further I would have to apply for the next cycle, but I already sent and paid my primary. I'm applying DO so I'm aiming for at least a 26 so maybe I've done and can do enough for that score in the time I have left?
