take a full aamc test or not?

[sasmadrid]

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Hello premeds,
I am writing my MCAT on August 12th, when do you think I should take a full length aamc exam?
Thanks

 

[PingPongPro]

Depends on how ready you are, how many tests you plan on taking (I think you should take all available if you can), and a couple factors.

I think you should aim to take as many as you can before then, assuming you are good on content review.

 

[paul411]

I took about 9 FLs in the three weeks before the real MCAT. Really helped me get into test mode and do well on the MCAT.

 

[Pulsar]

Hello premeds,
I am writing my MCAT on August 12th, when do you think I should take a full length aamc exam?
Thanks

Take them ALL. start today.

 

[cowsgomuon]

Take them all! I found that content review was useful, but taking the tests themselves is the best way to prepare. I went up 11 points from my first AAMC practice test (#3). I took 1-2 per week in July, and three the week of my test (1st week of August).

Also, just taking the tests is not enough. Mark down every question you were unsure of (even if you got the right answer) and every question you got wrong. Figure out why you were unsure/wrong, and learn that topic thoroughly so you don't screw it up again. There's so many possible topics on the MCAT that you're bound to get a few questions wrong each time --> a few new topics to brush up on after each test. By the time you finish all the AAMCs, you'll have thoroughly learned many topics that you won't get wrong on the real thing.

 

[rgrell]

Hello premeds,
I am writing my MCAT on August 12th, when do you think I should take a full length aamc exam?
Thanks

A month ago.
Or now.
My personal preference was to take an exam every two weeks, then every week for the final month.
Honestly the best way to prepare is practice exams.
You never know though, I didn't do to well on mine haha

 

[Flamen04]

I would start doing them 2 weeks before your test date. There is no point in doing practice tests if you are not completely done with content review.

 

[PeachyPhd]

Start taking them now. This will help you:

1) Get used to sitting still and concentrating for that long, while looking at the computer screen.

2) Help you keep pace (always take the timed exams).

3) Find areas that you are weak in to help you focus you content review (mark the Q's you are unsure of and check how you did). Are you routinely guessing correctly or incorrectly?

4) Expose you to the types of questions that MCAT asks.

I would suggest (FWIW) doing a FL a week. That way you can track your progress (and improvement) and augment your content review as you go.

Best wishes!

Peaches

 

[Donald Juan]

I would start doing them 2 weeks before your test date. There is no point in doing practice tests if you are not completely done with content review.

I disagree, content review and doing practice tests/passages to learn mcat style questions should go hand in hand. The mcat style of passages should be known while doing content review to help guide one to proper studying.

To answer the OP, I would recommend doing at least one test per week until your date. If you don't have a lot of content review to do, then you should do them all.

 

[NickNaylor]

I disagree, content review and doing practice tests/passages to learn mcat style questions should go hand in hand. The mcat style of passages should be known while doing content review to help guide one to proper studying.

To answer the OP, I would recommend doing at least one test per week until your date. If you don't have a lot of content review to do, then you should do them all.

100% agree with this. I never understood the strategy of splitting up studying and doing practice exams.