The Official 5/1/2010 MCAT Club...

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btricycle said:
I think he meant 2 answer choices that were the same. Is this ok to post?
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I also had 2 answer choices that were repeats, I think it's an error
Also, I only had ONE ORGO passage, did anyone have more than one? I couldn't understand the experiment at all- otherwise bio was good

VR, last passage disaster, rest was good. Literature is not my strength

PS- sucked! I mostly studied Gchem, test was very physics heavy
 
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roco88 said:
I also had 2 answer choices that were repeats, I think it's an error
Also, I only had ONE ORGO passage, did anyone have more than one? I couldn't understand the experiment at all- otherwise bio was good
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I had two orgo passages. One was the Heck reaction and another was something weird that I didn't understand...
 
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schlieren said:
HalfLondon, thank you for posting a little specifics to help clarify here. I have the same content as yours, and I crashed on that orgo passage too. I did not see the question with two mesoderm answers either. So I believe there must be two different sets of exams delivered today.. You and I unfortunately got the orgo-heavy one.. I hope the curve will bring us back...
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Possibly 2 sets, b/c I only had one orgo passage...I had time to double check the bio section so I don't think I missed any.
I was very surprised at the difficulty of the physics section
 
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i didnt see a "killer passage" they were all equally boring and lame i was hoping for something interesting

@GeekChick when i saw that literary criticism passage i was thinking about u hahahaa

the freebees on BS made up for some really gay questions other places i really hope this gets curved well
 
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PS - This didn't start the test off on a good note. That's all I have to say about this section.

VR - I felt better about these passages than most. They were actually pretty interesting and made sense (except one). One of the passages even named my former employer which made me smile. I have no complaints here.

Essays - With the prompts I got, I feel like all the hours I spent reading the news were for nothing. Not a big deal though.

BS - This was a very fair section. I felt like a wide array of subjects were covered in varying difficulty.

Hope everyone can breathe a sigh of relief. Time for an alcoholic beverage, although I probably shouldn't have one on an empty stomach.
 
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How I envy you guys who took the exam with only 1 orgo passage! The one I took not only had 2 orgo passages, but one of them had 7 or 8 questions, the other had a question beyond the scope of AAMC's content outline. Oh well... the only thing I prayed hard before exam is be there less orgo ... God, why don't you listen to me!?
 
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schlieren said:
How I envy you guys who took the exam with only 1 orgo passage! The one I took not only had 2 orgo passages, but one of them had 7 or 8 questions, the other had a question beyond the scope of AAMC's content outline. Oh well... the only thing I prayed hard before exam is be there less orgo ... God, why don't you listen to me!?
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That's exactly how I felt.

Any chance that the orgo passage we had and they didn't have was experimental?

For the people who had one orgo passage only, what was it on?
 
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i woulda actually liked more orgo because u can actually sit and figure it out if you don't know it

for the bio stuff, you either know it or you don't..
 
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HalfLandon said:
That's exactly how I felt.

Any chance that the orgo passage we had and they didn't have was experimental?

For the people who had one orgo passage only, what was it on?
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I bet they did not have either of our orgo passages, for both our passages are so hard. By the way, it is amazing that the reaction name that you remembered is not made up. It is really a WTH reaction..
 
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i just realized how crappy my 2nd examle was for the 2nd prompt WOW. really bad. REAL bad example like it doesnt even make sense.... i just hope it fit well with my synthesis...and hope the person reading is obese
 
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F*** the physical science section! haha. It was the section I felt most confident going in there with, but contemplated walking out during it. I ended up mis-pacing and had 10 min for the last two passages when I usually end with 10 extra minutes.

Somehow I managed to hold on and finish the test, which was good because verbal, writing, and bs were exactly as expected. Although I still ended up calling my dad and balling as I walked to my car 🙁 haha.

But if lots of people feel as though they did pretty poopy on the ps and it was much harder then expected then why are you guys also predicting 7,8,9's for the section. Shouldn't the "curve" take care of it??? hopefully???

Overall: definitely feel as though I did under par. shucks.
 
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Quick question to anybody that knows the answer. How many versions are available for any mcat exam at one sitting and how many times do they change up the exam...every month, every test??????????????

Thanks
 
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bigballer27 said:
i just realized how crappy my 2nd examle was for the 2nd prompt WOW. really bad. REAL bad example like it doesnt even make sense.... i just hope it fit well with my synthesis...and hope the person reading is obese
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Aha, quite to the contrary, I hope the person reading mine is thin, because I used couch potato as anti-thesis example. It is also so crappy in hindsight.
 
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there were some questionable answer choices on the BS...and especially one in the PS...seriously coulda gone both ways
 
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schlieren said:
Aha, quite to the contrary, I hope the person reading mine is thin, because I used couch potato as anti-thesis example. It is also so crappy in hindsight.
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haha glad the essay doesnt really matter...as long as u said soemthing, you should get an O

i don't understand how people think the BS was easy lol the AAMC BS were easy i was pulling 12s, but this was just something else...or maybe im just DUMB ahahah
 
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Wow. The whole exam seems like a blur to me. I hardly remember anything from it other than the writing topics and maybe a few select passages.

That being said, I prepped using AAMC practice tests 3,8,9,10 and my average score on those was a 33. I can't even begin to compare how easy the PS sections were on the practice tests as opposed to the real thing. I used Berkeley for content review and I felt totally unprepared. (This coming from a Chemical Engineering major with a 3.8 GPA at GaTech, I should have rocked this section.) Thankfully endorphins were rushing through me (happens when I take tests, no drugs I promise) and I was able to make it through this section without being to emotionally/mentally drained to continue on with the test.

Also there was way, way too much math on the PS. It felt like every other problem was math and I'm absolutely awful at this type of math. Wasted too much time on it. AAMC tests did not represent the amount of math on this test.

VS and BS were both reasonable. I expect 10 to 12 on them depending on what the curve is like. I pray to god that I got a 9 on the PS because I don't even know how I'm going to prepare to take another one. Maybe Kaplan books/tests?

Oh well, the wait is already killing me.
 
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jeff0106 said:
Wow. The whole exam seems like a blur to me. I hardly remember anything from it other than the writing topics and maybe a few select passages.

That being said, I prepped using AAMC practice tests 3,8,9,10 and my average score on those was a 33. I can't even begin to compare how easy the PS sections were on the practice tests as opposed to the real thing. I used Berkeley for content review and I felt totally unprepared. (This coming from a Chemical Engineering major with a 3.8 GPA at GaTech, I should have rocked this section.) Thankfully endorphins were rushing through me (happens when I take tests, no drugs I promise) and I was able to make it through this section without being to emotionally/mentally drained to continue on with the test.

Also there was way, way too much math on the PS. It felt like every other problem was math and I'm absolutely awful at this type of math. Wasted too much time on it. AAMC tests did not represent the amount of math on this test.

VS and BS were both reasonable. I expect 10 to 12 on them depending on what the curve is like. I pray to god that I got a 9 on the PS because I don't even know how I'm going to prepare to take another one. Maybe Kaplan books/tests?

Oh well, the wait is already killing me.
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Do they really have curves for the mcat???
 
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apc said:
not to get too specific
but were the exams (april vs. may) completely different?
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What do you mean by "completely different"? Like did I have any overlap questions? No. All the questions were completely different.

I felt that April's PS was much much harder, the VR roughly the same, and the BS easier, for me at least. April's BS had one killer orgo passage that everyone seemed to have thought was hard. I thought the orgo on today's test was really hard too though, so who knows...
 
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lynn86 said:
Do they really have curves for the mcat???
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It is done based on difficulty of the test. I don't know exactly how they do it, but I would assume its based on percentiles. Like an 11 would always be the 70-75 percentile (completely hypothetical made up percentile).

Edit: I'm wrong. It is based off of last year according to this (Post#6): http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=505032
Honestly, I don't think anyone truly knows, but they do curve it somehow based on difficulty.
 
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I'm glad that I'm not the only one that felt that the test was tough. Although I could have sworn that I had 3 passages of Ochem. Wish I would've hit the Ochem more.
 
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Whoof. That was... interesting.
I had a pretty decent time with the PS (no optics!) and the verbal (though the dolphin questions were a bit iffy) but I had one little hiccup on the BS... finishing up, with things going nice and easy, I realized that I had skipped one entire passage. 2 minutes to fill out 6 questions = not good. So even though I'd been averaging 13/14/12 on the AAMC, I'm afraid I'm looking at a 13/14/9, or maybe even 8. Gaaaaaah!!!!!!!

(Suffice to say, hours 0-3 post test were not happy ones at the Northwestern homstead.) But... what are you going to do? Just keep swimming, and hope for the best. Good luck, everybody, and enjoy your weekend.
 
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jeff0106 said:
Wow. The whole exam seems like a blur to me. I hardly remember anything from it other than the writing topics and maybe a few select passages.

That being said, I prepped using AAMC practice tests 3,8,9,10 and my average score on those was a 33. I can't even begin to compare how easy the PS sections were on the practice tests as opposed to the real thing. I used Berkeley for content review and I felt totally unprepared. (This coming from a Chemical Engineering major with a 3.8 GPA at GaTech, I should have rocked this section.) Thankfully endorphins were rushing through me (happens when I take tests, no drugs I promise) and I was able to make it through this section without being to emotionally/mentally drained to continue on with the test.

Also there was way, way too much math on the PS. It felt like every other problem was math and I'm absolutely awful at this type of math. Wasted too much time on it. AAMC tests did not represent the amount of math on this test.

VS and BS were both reasonable. I expect 10 to 12 on them depending on what the curve is like. I pray to god that I got a 9 on the PS because I don't even know how I'm going to prepare to take another one. Maybe Kaplan books/tests?

Oh well, the wait is already killing me.
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You must be the first person I've heard say they felt TBR didn't prepare them adequately....can you elaborate on why you feel that way!
 
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sankara said:
You must be the first person I've heard say they felt TBR didn't prepare them adequately....can you elaborate on why you feel that way!
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Gen Chem, Bio, Ochem were great from TBR and I would highly recommend using TBR for these subjects.

I think the biggest problem with Physics was I was unprepared for the amount of math that would be involved. For some reason, I thought this was going to be more of a reasoning test on Physics and went in knowing the concepts. The math is what got me bogged down.

But as people have been saying, PS has been insane this year. So I doubt anything would have prepped me well. Like I said, engineering major at GT. I've had TONS of physics. Placing the blame on TBR may be unjust.

Edit: On AAMC PS sections, I always finished with at least 30 minutes left and was making 11's and 12's, so I really thought I was prepared. I figured if I used the whole time I might even be able to get one or two more right and get a 12 or 13. On the real thing I ran out of time and did not answer one of the problems that required math. I was kind of in shock, but thankfully I rebounded on the rest of the test.
 
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melisedalien said:
Although I still ended up calling my dad and balling as I walked to my car 🙁 haha.
Overall: definitely feel as though I did under par. shucks.
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Me too. On both. I'm really upset as I feel that PS was a total curve ball, and that I could have done a lot better.
 
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So I ended up voiding my exam today. Am pretty bummed about it. PS threw me off...my body was shivering and stuff. Funny is that I was so confident when I got in then after starting the exam my concentration went down hill. Too many calculations on PS...I ended up spending too much time on the calculations that I didn't finish it on time...therefore ended up voiding the exam.

All these questions keep running through my head: maybe if i hadn't taken the coffee in the morning i wouldn't have been shivering during the exam and I would have been calm enough to do my exam. At least that's what I am saying to convince myself.

Anyways...I guess I wasn't really ready for it. Now I have to figure out how to pay for the next exam.
 
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I'm buying shots for everyone who took it today haha...drink until it's too much in your breath(pun intended)
 
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lynn86 said:
So I ended up voiding my exam today. Am pretty bummed about it. PS threw me off...my body was shivering and stuff. Funny is that I was so confident when I got in then after starting the exam my concentration went down hill. Too many calculations on PS...I ended up spending too much time on the calculations that I didn't finish it on time...therefore ended up voiding the exam.

All these questions keep running through my head: maybe if i hadn't taken the coffee in the morning i wouldn't have been shivering during the exam and I would have been calm enough to do my exam. At least that's what I am saying to convince myself.

Anyways...I guess I wasn't really ready for it. Now I have to figure out how to pay for the next exam.
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Well, I can rule out the coffee hypothesis, because my mind ended up jumbling everything half way through p.s., and I nearly stood up and walked out. and that was sans coffee. And try not to be down. you most likely were ready, the section was just tough. did you finish the rest of the test? how did that go?

and, I halfway wish I voided my score, but at least now there is a slight possibility that I won't have to take it again. though very slight.
 
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Hey there all! First, congrats on being done! Question: Are the passages labeled? Ie, I, II, III, IV, etc. It really helps knowing where you are. The AAMC practice test had Roman Numerals. Hows about the real one? Thanks!
 
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melisedalien said:
Well, I can rule out the coffee hypothesis, because my mind ended up jumbling everything half way through p.s., and I nearly stood up and walked out. and that was sans coffee. And try not to be down. you most likely were ready, the section was just tough. did you finish the rest of the test? how did that go?

and, I halfway wish I voided my score, but at least now there is a slight possibility that I won't have to take it again. though very slight.
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After PS timed out on me, I went ahead and just went through the exam but not step by step. I skipped the writing and verbal sections because I couldnt concentrate on them. Biology must have been easier to understand coz I managed to go through it and finish the questions guessing some of them especially o.chem....we will see how the next one goes hope it wont be harder......

I probably have to scrap some money for the AAMC exams online so that they help me time myself on a 60 min basis. All I have is old exams that go for 100 min....
 
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Ceasar said:
Hey there all! First, congrats on being done! Question: Are the passages labeled? Ie, I, II, III, IV, etc. It really helps knowing where you are. The AAMC practice test had Roman Numerals. Hows about the real one? Thanks!
Click to expand...
I'm not sure if the passage is labeled, but I think so. But what surprised me was that in every section the question was labeled starting from #1 (e.g. verbal #1 to #40), unlike the online AAMC practice. Other than that, the real thing is almost exactly the same format as online AAMC practice.
 
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Good God PS was tough. I felt like shooting myself in the leg.

VR: it wasn't too bad.

BS: eh, whatev. I'll just hope for the best.

Kill me now!!!
 
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Oh, and let me just say there was at least one Bio discrete that I think was worded like crap. Thankfully, I looked up the concept when I got home and I got it right.
 
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I CAN'T STOP BEATING MYSELF UP!
the idea of taking this test again makes me want to vomit. :barf:

these next 30 days are going to be HELL.
 
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hopefulCC said:
I CAN'T STOP BEATING MYSELF UP!
the idea of taking this test again makes me want to vomit. :barf:

these next 30 days are going to be HELL.
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Dude, if it's that bad, step away from SDN. I mean it. Go to the movies, play a video game, run, get lucky... whatever you have to do to get your mind off the test for awhile. Worrying about it now won't do you any good, so distract yourself. Enjoy it! You're done for now!
 
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Geekchick921 said:
Oh, and let me just say there was at least one Bio discrete that I think was worded like crap. Thankfully, I looked up the concept when I got home and I got it right.
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lucky you...i looked up 2 questions when i got home and got both wrong...one of which its still questionable cuz its such a toss up
 
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The whole test was a rape fest. That's all I have to say. Though I felt confident coming out of Verbal, now I see that not only was it easy for other people, I am remembering questions I got wrong. As for Bio, the alcohol passage got me--I had to guess on three of the questions. On PS, I was running out of time, and I had to guess on five questions--totally picked blankly!!!!! However, I didn't void the exam because I think I have given this beast my best.

On a side note, I will continue to review 1 hr/ day so I don't lose the information in case I end up taking the exam again. All I have to say is I am going to medical school, and I am getting in this year! I will hold my first acceptance before the end of October, God willing.

And AAMC people lie--some exams are relatively easier than others, and this was clearly a difficult one--the first passage in PS totally threw me off (though now that I think about it, it was really about a laser), and the nerves just kept getting worse through this section. I prepared so much for Chemistry, and there were almost no passages. On the contrary, I thought PS had too concept, and not enough calculation.

I never thought I would say this, but I was proud of my essays--the one thing I did not care for or practice. Ah, the ironies of life.

I hate when this happens--immediately after the section or test is over, you think of the right answer----aaaahhhhhh!

I guess we'll see what happens.

I felt all of the following emotions during the exam. They are in descending order, with the first being the most frequent emotion:


:wtf:+pissed+ :annoyed::beat: :bang::smack: :scared: 😡 😕

Hopefully, I will feel none of the above emotions when I get my score back, God willing. :xf:

​
 
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my "fingers" wouldn't "print". haha. did anyone else have trouble with the fingerprinting? hopefully this isn't an issue on the scoring of my exam?
 
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i guess this is what most people go through?.. Please just let me get over a 10 on VR!! I felt like I was reading Japanese. Time to get drunk :meanie:
 
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knightstale4 said:
The whole test was a rape fest. That's all I have to say. Though I felt confident coming out of Verbal, now I see that not only was it easy for other people, I am remembering questions I got wrong. As for Bio, the alcohol passage got me--I had to guess on three of the questions. On PS, I was running out of time, and I had to guess on five questions--totally picked blankly!!!!! However, I didn't void the exam because I think I have given this beast my best.

On a side note, I will continue to review 1 hr/ day so I don't lose the information in case I end up taking the exam again. All I have to say is I am going to medical school, and I am getting in this year! I will hold my first acceptance before the end of October, God willing.

And AAMC people lie--some exams are relatively easier than others, and this was clearly a difficult one--the first passage in PS totally threw me off (though now that I think about it, it was really about a laser), and the nerves just kept getting worse through this section. I prepared so much for Chemistry, and there were almost no passages. On the contrary, I thought PS had too concept, and not enough calculation.

I never thought I would say this, but I was proud of my essays--the one thing I did not care for or practice. Ah, the ironies of life.

I hate when this happens--immediately after the section or test is over, you think of the right answer----aaaahhhhhh!

I guess we'll see what happens.

I felt all of the following emotions during the exam. They are in descending order, with the first being the most frequent emotion:


:wtf:+pissed+ :annoyed::beat: :bang::smack: :scared: 😡 😕

Hopefully, I will feel none of the above emotions when I get my score back, God willing. :xf:

​
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man i dont think i can study anymore i might sign up for another test but i wont study til i get my scores..it would be just blankly staring at the book
 
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