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- Dec 28, 2010
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Figured I'd start this one out. I'll be registering for the MCAT first thing tomorrow. Who else is taking it on this date? How do you all plan on studying over the school year?
"You have no scores yet."
Haha I've been checking at 7 and 7. I wonder why, since with the writing section removed it's only sped up release by 3 hours (3pm to noon).
Oh hey guess what? I'm STILL remembering test questions. I should write them down and not post them here.
JeezThe only thing I remember is the passage topic I was going to write about for PS. Actually... ok... I remember a few things.... Maybe they'll show up on a retake if it comes to that....
I think I remember someone saying that they tweet it when scores are available. That's probably the best way to know, rather than to keep checking.
Is there an actual chance that scores would get posted before the official "tentative release date"? Any precedent of such a momentous thing happening?
Is there an actual chance that scores would get posted before the official "tentative release date"? Any precedent of such a momentous thing happening?
Not a chance.
There's no point in checking THx every hour. (I've only checked it once since Saturday 😉 )
I checked it compulsively last time I was waiting for MCAT scores. No point. Save yourself the time and grief![]()
Did any of you guys do Kaplan FLs for prep? If so, how did you guys think the Kaplan PS and BS sections of the FL were compared to the real deal? I know Kaplan verbal is crap but I heard good stuff about their PS and BS.
Did any of you guys do Kaplan FLs for prep? If so, how did you guys think the Kaplan PS and BS sections of the FL were compared to the real deal? I know Kaplan verbal is crap but I heard good stuff about their PS and BS.
is anyone planning on retaking??? if so..when
not sure if mid-may is too soon. i was doing okay on practice tests except physics on this test ****ED me in the behind!
is anyone planning on retaking??? if so..when
not sure if mid-may is too soon. i was doing okay on practice tests except physics on this test ****ED me in the behind!
I respect the folks who are already studying again but I'm not going to retake it unless I completely bombed it or bombed one of the sections. If I have even an 'Average" score that's on the low end, I'll apply with it and see if I need to go through this again...😉
Some proctors are good, some are ok, but some can terrible. I feel the best ones are the ones you don't know are around. I don't like the ones that are overly cheery as if it would make a difference lmao but haha, not a big deal better cheery than rude.
Here's a mix of the annoying things proctors have done during my two sittings. They're not really big deals but still interesting in retrospect:
So last time one came in and start hissing at a student and my industrial noise cancellation headphones didn't block it out. She was there for literally almost a minute I think. I was like WTH
Whenever I was done with break i was like really jittery. I tried to scribble my signature and they were like um no do it again so I did more legibly and then there were like, NO sir exactly as on your ID sir (i scribbled the last two cursive letters) and I was like WTH
The secretary proctor had an attitude and couldn't get a proper pic of my finger print. Had to do it like 5 times. On top of that I knew I was pushing close to 8 minutes already on my break and I asked them if my exam would start to count down and they were like yes, absolutely and I was like even more worried and when I got to the exam I looked and realized that it just pauses at the BS section title page and there wasn't any time deducted when I started BS. Why say "absolutely" when you're not sure.
What does everyone think about this one? Theoretically if it pauses on section pages you could take as long of a break as you want. It's probably not the best idea as if might get you out of the zone but I think it would be useful to clarify, how long of a break can you actually take? Maybe if you wait too long the proctor will come in and ask you to start or something. Idk...anyone tested it? (I've always fantasized of losing internet connection like I did on one of my verbal exams (gave me like 3 extra minutes).
Lastly, and the most humorous (since it wasn't me) was just bizarre. This guy jogs to his locker which already catches the attention of everyone in our little waiting room and basically pulls out his AAMC Official Guide from his locker kneels on the floor and starts doing a passage and the proctor came over and was like nuh-uh! What was funny was the kid had cheek to talk back and say what he was doing was "standard AAMC practice" (I'm pretty sure that when I took the last fall they had said referring to materials or phones was automatic test center dismissal so this proctor was lenient in retrospect)...but basically the proctor blew her top. It's actually reminded me of this YouTube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IioC2cpCwBc
She was like in my day you'd be outta here for saying that, funny cus he should have been out in the first place. Sometimes proctors can be ignorant. The calculator thing someone else mentioned is ridiculous.
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Oh also, word of advice for those who have the bad habit of looking around to see how everyone else is handling things...don't get flustered if you seem someone tipping his or her chair back and yawning, stretching and looking in different directions. I asked this guy how he thought his exam went afterwards and he was told me he was taking a drivers exam or something. Another girl I talked to said she was taking a practice step 3 exam. The point is that people are in there for different reasons. I told step 3 girl my MCAT score and she was like OMG why are you taking it again, that's like amazing! At first I was flattered but then I asked where she flew from cus she mentioned she a flight and she was like St. George's....
Some proctors are good, some are ok, but some can terrible. I feel the best ones are the ones you don't know are around. I don't like the ones that are overly cheery as if it would make a difference lmao but haha, not a big deal better cheery than rude.
Here's a mix of the annoying things proctors have done during my two sittings. They're not really big deals but still interesting in retrospect:
So last time one came in and start hissing at a student and my industrial noise cancellation headphones didn't block it out. She was there for literally almost a minute I think. I was like WTH
Whenever I was done with break i was like really jittery. I tried to scribble my signature and they were like um no do it again so I did more legibly and then there were like, NO sir exactly as on your ID sir (i scribbled the last two cursive letters) and I was like WTH
The secretary proctor had an attitude and couldn't get a proper pic of my finger print. Had to do it like 5 times. On top of that I knew I was pushing close to 8 minutes already on my break and I asked them if my exam would start to count down and they were like yes, absolutely and I was like even more worried and when I got to the exam I looked and realized that it just pauses at the BS section title page and there wasn't any time deducted when I started BS. Why say "absolutely" when you're not sure.
What does everyone think about this one? Theoretically if it pauses on section pages you could take as long of a break as you want. It's probably not the best idea as if might get you out of the zone but I think it would be useful to clarify, how long of a break can you actually take? Maybe if you wait too long the proctor will come in and ask you to start or something. Idk...anyone tested it? (I've always fantasized of losing internet connection like I did on one of my verbal exams (gave me like 3 extra minutes).
Lastly, and the most humorous (since it wasn't me) was just bizarre. This guy jogs to his locker which already catches the attention of everyone in our little waiting room and basically pulls out his AAMC Official Guide from his locker kneels on the floor and starts doing a passage and the proctor came over and was like nuh-uh! What was funny was the kid had cheek to talk back and say what he was doing was "standard AAMC practice" (I'm pretty sure that when I took the last fall they had said referring to materials or phones was automatic test center dismissal so this proctor was lenient in retrospect)...but basically the proctor blew her top. It's actually reminded me of this YouTube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IioC2cpCwBc
She was like in my day you'd be outta here for saying that, funny cus he should have been out in the first place. Sometimes proctors can be ignorant. The calculator thing someone else mentioned is ridiculous.
----------------------------------
Oh also, word of advice for those who have the bad habit of looking around to see how everyone else is handling things...don't get flustered if you seem someone tipping his or her chair back and yawning, stretching and looking in different directions. I asked this guy how he thought his exam went afterwards and he was told me he was taking a drivers exam or something. Another girl I talked to said she was taking a practice step 3 exam. The point is that people are in there for different reasons. I told step 3 girl my MCAT score and she was like OMG why are you taking it again, that's like amazing! At first I was flattered but then I asked where she flew from cus she mentioned she a flight and she was like St. George's....
I took the MCAT last summer and voided it cuz i wasnt prepared enough..but in terms of proctoring, everything was great BUT, every single break 1 of the girls would go into her locker, pull out her blackberry phone and start texting at lightning speed, as if someone was on the other end waiting for replies and she stood hovered in the area of her locker for about 5 of the 10 minute break texting. The other 5 min she went to the bathroom etc. I sat in the waiting room during the breaks eating fruit n granola bars and was not sure if it was permissible. Proctors did nothing and i am sure it went unreported.
Another incident at the same time i took that MCAT, 1 of the girls mother waited in the waiting room the entire test. Every break the girl would sit down next to her mom and mother would ask "did you understand all the passages, how were the questions, how do you feel" etc. i heard what they talked about cuz i was seated only 2 seats over. BUT the mother had an iPad in her lap the entire test in the waiting room and sat side by side her daughter..the daughter would look at the screen as they chatted. Proctors did nothing and i am sure it went unreported.
Are you allowed to listen to your iPod during breaks or no?
Dear Entadus, SHUT UP, love NED -- bwahaha it's cool man, I dont think you need to apologize but it's cool lol. We are all in the same boat.
No electronic devices at all. I had this whole list of songs I was going to play on each break too 🙁
no calculators, i hear? *not even a simple one* *if so, that is kinda hard for pple like meNo electronic devices at all. I had this whole list of songs I was going to play on each break too 🙁
Woke up today...... thought about the test...... convinced myself there is a high chance I got all 8's on the test...... thought about what I would do if I got all 8's......didn't arrive at a conclusion I was satisfied with.....read a text from my buddy telling me he will be here in 30 minutes.....packed my bags for spring break......will think about this test zero times while at the beach......rather, I will enjoy my triple hops brewed Miller Light (because if you're drinking a light beer without great pilsner taste, you're missing out)......will "Taste Greatness" ......will post back in 7 days
I know you are all well past the mcat and congrats again. I just had a quick question. To those of you who took BR practice tests as well, what did you think of them in terms of difficulty? I took AAMC 3-5 and they feel easier than the BR exams? I was curious if it was just me.
I think that sentiment is pretty universal. I found in a thread somewhere awhile back that said TBR PS is harder by ~2 points, VR is easier by ~1 point, and BS is harder by ~1-2 points.
I think that sentiment is pretty universal. I found in a thread somewhere awhile back that said TBR PS is harder by ~2 points, VR is easier by ~1 point, and BS is harder by ~1-2 points.
I know you are all well past the mcat and congrats again. I just had a quick question. To those of you who took BR practice tests as well, what did you think of them in terms of difficulty? I took AAMC 3-5 and they feel easier than the BR exams? I was curious if it was just me.
Maybe it's just me but I've taken around 7 TBR CBT's, with the later one's excluding verbal making it a mini-test. I got an average of a 12 in PS with 2-3 13's and I still felt my actual mcat PS was much harder than any BR test.
How would you evaluate the difficulty of the other sections?
I'm not sure what you mean, do you mean in comparison for the AAMC's and BR tests? Or how difficult I thought the VR and BS sections were in the BR tests?
How difficult did you find VR and BS from BR relative to AAMC?
I never liked BR's verbal, I always felt they were inappropriate and not relative to the AAMC's. People usually do higher on them than AAMC's but I always did worse. After 3-4 tests I substituted it with TPR verbal.
BS on BR felt much harder than AAMC's. Because you didn't need a whole lot of outside information, just a concept like blood circulation, diffusion, and can extrapolate answers on what the passage said. BR's had concepts but it also required a lot of external info. It's great practice but don't take the score as a perfect predictor. On my two aamc tests I scored 12 while I averaged a 10-11 on BR cbt's.
That's a relief. 👍
I came into FLs thinking BS was going to be my strong-suit and PS would be my downfall, but thus far the TBR CBTs have shown otherwise. I typically score 11-13 on TBR PS and 10-12 on TBR BS. I'm hoping for 13/X/13 on AAMCs, so we'll see what happens!
And I agree with you that it seems some of the details required to do well on TBR BS are totally unnecessary...
Sorry to bug you guys, but what did you do in the last 3-4 weeks leading up to the exam besides taking practice tests. I'm doing practice tests and the last 1/3 of passages in BR. I get the feeling I may be slacking. I took a practice test today and reviewed chapter 5 passages. Any tips are welcome. Thanks and good luck with the scores. Rooting for you all!
PS: My test is the 26th
Has anyone tried the Gold Standard CBT? would you recommend those over berkeley review cbt?
i did all the ek bio 30 minute exams. fun times.
Sorry to bug you guys, but what did you do in the last 3-4 weeks leading up to the exam besides taking practice tests. I'm doing practice tests and the last 1/3 of passages in BR. I get the feeling I may be slacking. I took a practice test today and reviewed chapter 5 passages. Any tips are welcome. Thanks and good luck with the scores. Rooting for you all!
PS: My test is the 26th
surprised nobody's made an april fool's joke about scores being out...
I think I've started checking thx more often. Probably a bad thing. How's everyone doing?
surprised nobody's made an april fool's joke about scores being out...
I think I've started checking thx more often. Probably a bad thing. How's everyone doing?