Study weakest topic first? Or strongest?

[SicEm2011]

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Ok... So I took the PCAT in october in the middle of a pretty heavy semester (OChem2, OChem Lab, Genetics, Spanish 4, and Cal-based physics I) so I didn't study for the PCAT and got a 73 composite. Well more specifically, I got

VA - 60
Bio- 49 🙁
RC - 55 🙁
QA - 85
Chem- 85


So I read through the forums and decided that I am going to try Dr. Collins since it had such great reviews. So I'm just starting to work through these practice tests, and I wasn't quite sure what the best way to go about it is?

So should I study for my weakest subjects first? Or start with my strong subjects and end with the weakest so those would be fresher in my mind when I go to take it again in Jan.

 

[jung1]

Why can't you study and review them simultaneously? Like study bio for 40 min, read a passage, then review a couple quant and chemistry concepts? imo, bio > va = rc > chem = quant for you.

 

[crazybob]

Ok... So I took the PCAT in october in the middle of a pretty heavy semester (OChem2, OChem Lab, Genetics, Spanish 4, and Cal-based physics I) so I didn't study for the PCAT and got a 73 composite. Well more specifically, I got

VA - 60
Bio- 49 🙁
RC - 55 🙁
QA - 85
Chem- 85


So I read through the forums and decided that I am going to try Dr. Collins since it had such great reviews. So I'm just starting to work through these practice tests, and I wasn't quite sure what the best way to go about it is?

So should I study for my weakest subjects first? Or start with my strong subjects and end with the weakest so those would be fresher in my mind when I go to take it again in Jan.

Study RC first. You can pick up some of the skills you need for the VA section. For Bio, read biology textbooks instead of review books, unless you think you get more out of reviews rather than texts.

Sometimes the best way to raise your bio score is to take upper level bio courses that refresh your memory on intro level bio. When I took the PCAT after taking Genetics and Biochemistry, my Bio score went up by 25.

 

[kidkay]

Well, you meet the minimum scores for each sub-sections (I believe, check the schools you are applying). Personally, I would be content ( referring to VA & RC), but I would definitely work on improving my science/math sub-sections, starting with bio...good luck.

Ok... So I took the PCAT in october in the middle of a pretty heavy semester (OChem2, OChem Lab, Genetics, Spanish 4, and Cal-based physics I) so I didn't study for the PCAT and got a 73 composite. Well more specifically, I got

VA - 60
Bio- 49 🙁
RC - 55 🙁
QA - 85
Chem- 85

.....

 

[crazybob]

I wouldn't spend any time on the strongest subjects. When I was studying for the PCAT, I felt confident about the Quant and Chem sections, and I didn't spend any time studying for them. On the two times I took the PCAT, I always scored above 90 on those two sections. It's much more efficient and beneficial to study the sections that give you trouble, so that you can improve your scores significantly.

Studying your strongest sections might improve your subscore by 5 or 10. But studying your weak points might improve your subscore by 20 or 30.

 

[Pharmaniac]

I wouldn't spend any time on the strongest subjects. When I was studying for the PCAT, I felt confident about the Quant and Chem sections, and I didn't spend any time studying for them. On the two times I took the PCAT, I always scored above 90 on those two sections. It's much more efficient and beneficial to study the sections that give you trouble, so that you can improve your scores significantly.

Studying your strongest sections might improve your subscore by 5 or 10. But studying your weak points might improve your subscore by 20 or 30.

Hey there,

The math makes sense for chemistry, esp. all the orgo- were they all like second nature because you took them in uni, study guide or personal interest? So essentially what did you use for the chem section to achieve the mastery- i'm particularely interested in the organic chem section. Chem was my worse subscore last oct 🙁. Any advice would be grrrrrreat

 

[crazybob]

Hey there,

The math makes sense for chemistry, esp. all the orgo- were they all like second nature because you took them in uni, study guide or personal interest? So essentially what did you use for the chem section to achieve the mastery- i'm particularely interested in the organic chem section. Chem was my worse subscore last oct 🙁. Any advice would be grrrrrreat

There aren't a lot of the reactions you run into in organic chem 2. The organic chem material I saw was from organic 1. The other chem questions came from general chemistry concepts.

I took them in undergrad from a professor who was a [someone's name] distinguished professor and also noted by the students as a great organic instructor. After taking that class, I understood organic very well. I did so much homework when I was in my chem classes, so I had enough practice from studying during the school year.