Taking MCAT for the third time! suggestions?

[naturemade]

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Hi,

I have taken the MCAT twice! first time I put in 8-9 hrs a day for 3-4 months (I used Kaplan material) and I ended up with a 27. Second time, after finishing one of the top SMP's, (and using Princeton Review and Exam Kracker) I ended up with a 26. (My bio improved a little)

Now I am considering studying for the third time;however, I'm not sure what or how to study anymore.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

 

[Marjan Islam]

Well, what were your individual weaknesses? Don't go over all the material if you were fine with the BS section or something. Review it, but hone in on the one section that's stumped you twice. If it's even throughout, do an EK review, cause it's fast, managable, and quick to the point. If you knew your stuff, if it was a time factor, just work on your speed more than anything else.

 

[schussboarder]

Hi,

I have taken the MCAT twice! first time I put in 8-9 hrs a day for 3-4 months (I used Kaplan material) and I ended up with a 27. Second time, after finishing one of the top SMP's, (and using Princeton Review and Exam Kracker) I ended up with a 26. (My bio improved a little)

Now I am considering studying for the third time;however, I'm not sure what or how to study anymore.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

8-9 hrs a day for 3-4 months😱😱..sounds like a bit of a burn out. Just as marj said, study the points that you are weak in, don't waste time on subjects that you already understand

 

[SN2ed]

Before you even think about retaking, you MUST analyze EXACTLY why you did not do well the past two times. Also go over what did and did not work and find out why? Again, I have to stress that you have to find out why you did bad if you're ever going to improve. Lastly, do NOT retake unless you are scoring well of practice tests you haven't taken.

 

[J ROD]

With that much time on content, I would focus on testtaking skills.

No matter how you prepare there are passages that are just crazy, weird.

Getting through those it what gets you a decent score of 30+.

I tried to use the passage more and think; instead of reviewing alot of crap that might not show up.

 

[BlueElmo]

Well practice tests, and lots of them? Seriously, though, after 8-9 hours for 3-4 months and you were at 27, I don't know what else you could do. But hang in there and give it another shot.

 

[alibai3ah]

I agree with the posts above, you have put in the right amount of time.....Are you just going over the information, or are you practicing actual tests, b/c a lot of people don't understand this. But mcats is not about memorization, it is more about reasoning ability.....you will rarely get direct questions. If you study this time....reduce the amount of time u are going over information, and increase the amount of time you are doing topical tests, subject tests, kaplan tests, and AAMC tests. Practice is key...and try to not do it at home, but maybe at the kaplan centers....they are able simulate the actual MCAT environment pretty well...... And lastly, if you did an SMP (and you did well), why were you not accepted to that school? Did the school ask you to retake?

 

[drwham]

were u taking a lot of practice tests, or did u just concentrate a lot on content review?