TBR Bio diagnostics

[bwest406]

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Has anyone here done the Berkeley Review Bio diagnostic exams at the end of the physiology and cell/molecular books?

I am just wondering how they compare in terms of difficulty to the rest of the TBR passages at the end of each chapter.

Ive heard that the TBR passages are really hard, but so far Ive gotten 12/13s on the three diagnostics Ive taken. Not sure whether this is really that great or if the diagnostics are just plain easy...

 

[DocMC]

Has anyone here done the Berkeley Review Bio diagnostic exams at the end of the physiology and cell/molecular books?

I am just wondering how they compare in terms of difficulty to the rest of the TBR passages at the end of each chapter.

Ive heard that the TBR passages are really hard, but so far Ive gotten 12/13s on the three diagnostics Ive taken. Not sure whether this is really that great or if the diagnostics are just plain easy...

I received 13 on both. To me they do not really reflect AAMC style, at all... At least it hasn't reflected in my AAMC scores. I'll be trying to switch to Kaplan BS sectional tests.

 

[bwest406]

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[bwest406]

I received 13 on both. To me they do not really reflect AAMC style, at all... At least it hasn't reflected in my AAMC scores. I'll be trying to switch to Kaplan BS sectional tests.

What scores have you been getting on your AAMCs? (if you dont mind me asking)

 

[99dmg]

I only have 1 diagnostic at the end of each book

Are these the ones you're talking about? If so, where did you get the 3rd one

 

[DocMC]

What scores have you been getting on your AAMCs? (if you dont mind me asking)

So far 9, 10 and 10. I might switch to Kaplan sectional tests.

 

[bwest406]

I only have 1 diagnostic at the end of each book

Are these the ones you're talking about? If so, where did you get the 3rd one

Interesting, both Part I and Part II each have two diagnostic tests at the back.

Maybe you have an older version of the book?
I just ordered mine from the company earlier this summer

 

[bwest406]

So far 9, 10 and 10. I might switch to Kaplan sectional tests.

Those arent awful, but I do admit that they seem a little bit low given you TBR diagnostic scores. Do you think it's attributable to ochem?

I scored a 12 on TBR diag. I, and then 13 on both TBR diagnostic II and III. Yet to take the fourth one.

My AAMC BS scores so far have been 10, 13, 12.

 

[DocMC]

Those arent awful, but I do admit that they seem a little bit low given you TBR diagnostic scores. Do you think it's attributable to ochem?

I scored a 12 on TBR diag. I, and then 13 on both TBR diagnostic II and III. Yet to take the fourth one.

My AAMC BS scores so far have been 10, 13, 12.

Wow that is great... those are the BS scores I was expecting after doing so well on TBR Bio and having scored 12 on my previous MCAT but I am having a lot of trouble. I think it is the reasoning BS questions, and misreading many questions. Are you using any other material for Bio? TPR? Kaplan? I am starting to use those now in place of TBR.

 

[bwest406]

Wow that is great... those are the BS scores I was expecting after doing so well on TBR Bio and having scored 12 on my previous MCAT but I am having a lot of trouble. I think it is the reasoning BS questions, and misreading many questions. Are you using any other material for Bio? TPR? Kaplan? I am starting to use those now in place of TBR.

Thanks! yeah Id be stoked to crank something like that out on the real thing. The only bio I have done is content from the Kaplan bio book and the TBR diagnostics. I havent even done any of the other passages from Bio TBR. Im going to see how I continue to score on AAMC BS and decide from there whether or not I need to add something else.

How was the BS section when you took the test the first time? Is it heavily focused on critical thinking more than content knowledge like everyone says? A 12 is a rockin' score!

 

[DocMC]

Thanks! yeah Id be stoked to crank something like that out on the real thing. The only bio I have done is content from the Kaplan bio book and the TBR diagnostics. I havent even done any of the other passages from Bio TBR. Im going to see how I continue to score on AAMC BS and decide from there whether or not I need to add something else.

How was the BS section when you took the test the first time? Is it heavily focused on critical thinking more than content knowledge like everyone says? A 12 is a rockin' score!

When I walked out I felt that the MCAT resembled the AAMC practice tests, and this was at a time when everyone was crying about how "different the MCAT is from AAMC's". The only real difference was that I had 1 brutal PS and 1 brutal BS passage that sucked my time. The BS had some heavy "pathway" passages but were "easy" to comprehend if you took the extra time to jot down the key facts quickly (ie plate 1 got this, which inhibits Y, which showed this, blah blah blah...). I have been using TPR ICC bio passages and these feel MUCH more MCAT-like than TBR. They are full of experiments and they ask conceptual questions (not merely facts like TBR). I would use ICC and Kaplan bio. I switched to these a week ago and just jumped to 12 in BS on my recent AAMC FL (thank GOD).

 

[TriagePreMed]

When I walked out I felt that the MCAT resembled the AAMC practice tests, and this was at a time when everyone was crying about how "different the MCAT is from AAMC's". The only real difference was that I had 1 brutal PS and 1 brutal BS passage that sucked my time. The BS had some heavy "pathway" passages but were "easy" to comprehend if you took the extra time to jot down the key facts quickly (ie plate 1 got this, which inhibits Y, which showed this, blah blah blah...). I have been using TPR ICC bio passages and these feel MUCH more MCAT-like than TBR. They are full of experiments and they ask conceptual questions (not merely facts like TBR). I would use ICC and Kaplan bio. I switched to these a week ago and just jumped to 12 in BS on my recent AAMC FL (thank GOD).

I agree that TPRH biology is much more representative of the MCAT than BR. The point of BR is to drill in all the facts. TPRH challenges you in the skills that the current MCAT requires.