The Official August 7, 2014 MCAT Thread

[Thoroughbred_Med]

---

Members do not see this ad.

107 days out! Who all is signed up to obliterate the MCAT August 7th?

I know it's a bit early but I searched and could not find another August 7th, 2014 MCAT thread! I am hoping that we can keep each other motivated this summer while studying...

I am starting a slightly modified SN2ed schedule May 7th.... slightly modified due to my incredible weakness with physics. I am not taking physics 2 before the MCAT and therefore will be self-teaching it.

Looking forward to hearing from some of y'all!

 

[sps27]

I was about to start the Physics SA and it said you will take 2-3 hrs. It said you can take a break. I was hoping to break it up in smaller manageable chunks over 2~3 days. Like do 5 or 6 psgs from each Phy, GChem, OChem, Verbal, Bio test, save my work, come back to it again tomorrow. Is that possible? Or do I have to finish I test per day? My exam is Aug 21't.

 

[jenniferrae]

I was about to start the Physics SA and it said you will take 2-3 hrs. It said you can take a break. I was hoping to break it up in smaller manageable chunks over 2~3 days. Like do 5 or 6 psgs from each Phy, GChem, OChem, Verbal, Bio test, save my work, come back to it again tomorrow. Is that possible? Or do I have to finish I test per day? My exam is Aug 21't.

Nah you can pause it (close the exam and come back to it) whenever you want.

 

[sps27]

Nah you can pause it (close the exam and come back to it) whenever you want.

Ok, great. Thank you. Excellent job on your scores...🙂.

 

[futuredoc2389]

You people kill your practice exams! I feel inadequate... :|

 

[Flakey22]

I hope everyone is staying confident with less than a week to go! We all gotta remember that despite any challenges that come up, we have to be mentally solid on test date. After reading through everyone's great prep work, I'm sure you all have more than enough knowledge to pass.

I've been lurking this thread/studying for this exam, but unfortunately life has set me back three weeks behind schedule. I bombed my second practice exam last week, but that was mainly due to lack of practice on a few content areas and taking it sleep deprived. I finally got a week off work, so I'm cramming 10 hours+ a day. I don't have time to try another practice exam, but can anyone let me know if the later practice exams are similar to AAMC FL 3 and 4? Or has there been a trend/focus on certain topics? I also realize that the simple answer is to know every.single.topic on the outline.

 

[Midnight Schemes]

Just finished the self assessment for verbal. Gotta say, I felt it was pretty useless. My scores (on average) are between a 9-10, and it said i scored a 69% on the entire thing.

 

[futuredoc2389]

Just finished the self assessment for verbal. Gotta say, I felt it was pretty useless. My scores (on average) are between a 9-10, and it said i scored a 69% on the entire thing.

I agree. That thing was worthless.

 

[dumadr.]

Need advice on how to speed up my time on Physical Science! Help!

 

[nvas]

Need advice on how to speed up my time on Physical Science! Help!

My strategy is if you spend more than 70 seconds on a question and you still don't know the answer you guess & mark then move on. That way you don't get mired in the super calculation heavy "impossible" questions and you can focus more on the quick fact recall. If you have 10-12 minutes left at the end, great--you can get back to those questions. If not, you'll be glad you put SOMETHING down and focused more attention on answering the ones you knew.

 

[Flakey22]

You people kill your practice exams! I feel inadequate... :|

Stay confident, dude! At this point it's a battle with yourself, and no one else. Keep those blinders up and focus!

looking to improve my speed on PS calculations. ex: Stoichiometry, mass percent, empirical & molecular formulas from percentages, mechanics, etc...

What would be my best source for practicing PS calculations?

I have AAMC SA for physics and Genchem (havent taken them yet), I also have examkrakers 1001 physics. but haven't taken those either. I would like to spend maybe a day on practicing these calculations and getting very familiar with them. I'm assuming the PS will be SUPER calculation heavy.

Also, has anyone gone through the AAMC's and identified the most common Ochem reactions tested? I'm hoping to review those and understand them better before thursday. Ochem reactions KILL my aamc practice test bio scores... usually miss 4-6 questions on them...

one more thing... Genetics... what the best way to improve?

thanks for the help!

If calculations are all you're having trouble with (that is, you're good with the reading comprehension/conceptual portion), then I recommend practicing non-stop with the EK 1001 physics. That and EK 1001 chem helped me solidify my timing problems. Tips and tricks that help me out might not help you out (I do half the math in my head/ try to shortcut the calculations as much as possible using conceptual thinking and narrowing answers), so just keep practicing and find your groove!

I've only taken two practice tests, but I'm confused with what you're asking for Orgo. My practices have only required conceptual understanding to solve problems (what functional groups react with which solutions, EN and polarity differences, acid/bases reactions, hydride shift, electron donating/withdrawing, etc).

What kind of genetics problems are killing you? For passages/conceptual understanding I recommend the Princeton WB.

 

[Shipley231]

Welp guys, the August 1st and 2nd'ers have had their shot at this test, and now we are up next. My heart just increased 20bpm just writing this, very nervous and ready to get this thing over with. Can't help but be jealous of some of the scores posted on here, but all in all I will be very excited and happy if I score my average.

Hope everything is going well for everyone.

 

[clairephillips]

I just took AAMC 3. It's neat to compare what i got in January to what i got today, and i most definitely did not remember the exam. I chose to do it because i have pdfs of all the other exams do i wanted computer format exposure. Score:10/12/10, 32. Yet another 30+. In January, 5/9/9.
I know the format isn't exactly the same and is supposed to be easier, but the score is consistent and i can say it gives me confidence. Feeling alright right about now😛.

 

[imtheman25]

Ive been scoring 33's (12/9/12)consistently on GS and I just scored a 32 (12/8/12) on AAMC 7. But I feel drained and not really happy with my scores. I want at a least 35 to look competitive for medical schools.

 

[futuredoc2389]

Stay confident, dude! At this point it's a battle with yourself, and no one else. Keep those blinders up and focus!





Thanks Flakey! Appreciate the encouragement... Im sort of an oddball in this forum since I am aiming for a 26-28 range. I am shooting for DO though.

 

[drrao88]

ANYONE have the Official Guide to the MCAT?!

I have a question about question #24 in the Physics Section. Please let me know if you have it!

 

[ciestar]

Is anyone else having violent alternating mood swings between "I CAN DO THIS!!! COME AT ME MCAT!!" and "I KNOW NOTHING!! *cries in the fetal position*".....??

Well, if you've seen any of my posts you know I feel that way xD (Also diagnosed bipolar, which adds to my insanity)
But, I'm bad at my low end of feeling incapable. I need to snap out of this. I am certain my attitude is affecting any work I've been doing.

Can i ask a question? When you all were doing content review, how many hours per day/week were you doing?
Just found out I'm going back to work full time on Aug 18th sooo, time is much of the essence right now.

 

[jenniferrae]

Well, if you've seen any of my posts you know I feel that way xD (Also diagnosed bipolar, which adds to my insanity)
But, I'm bad at my low end of feeling incapable. I need to snap out of this. I am certain my attitude is affecting any work I've been doing.

Can i ask a question? When you all were doing content review, how many hours per day/week were you doing?
Just found out I'm going back to work full time on Aug 18th sooo, time is much of the essence right now.

You can do it!!! You're more than capable. 👍

I've been working full time too, so it's been a struggle. I try to do minimum 2 hours a day, and on days off/weekends I do 6-8 hours.

 

[ciestar]

I guess Ive really got to step up my game then…
My stress level is out of this world.

At least I have two shifts a week that are only 5 hours, so I can study before and after those and not lose much of my day.
Im hoping to make it work. I need to plan though. I have a volunteering commitment as well, so I've gotta figure that out too!

 

[IslandStyle808]

ANYONE have the Official Guide to the MCAT?!

I have a question about question #24 in the Physics Section. Please let me know if you have it!

I have it.

 

[goft20]

Update:

AAMC #10: 42 (15 PS, 12 VR, 15 BS)
AAMC #11: 38 (13 PS, 11 VR, 14 BS)

I found AAMC #10 to be the easiest by far, and AAMC #11 to be a lot harder. Did anyone else find that??

Kind of disappointed by that 4 point drop, but if I can pull off 38 on test day I will be happy. Made a few dumb mistakes on PS 🙁

Yeah I felt the same I got a 35 on 10 and a 34 on 11. I thought the ps was harder on 11

 

[goft20]

Ironic that I just read a passage on Ebola and someone with Ebola is like just 5 miles away from me. Lol

 

[Shipley231]

Last score update! Just took AAMC #11.
7/03/2014 AAMC 3: 10/10/7 - 27
7/09/2014 AAMC 4: 11/10/9 - 30
7/13/2014 AAMC 5: 10/11/9 - 30
7/16/2014 AAMC 7: 10/11/11 - 32
7/20/2014 AAMC 8: 11/10/9 - 30
7/23/2014 AAMC 9: 12/10/12 - 34
7/28/2014 AAMC 10: 11/11/10 - 32
8/03/2014 AAMC 11 : 12/11/8 - 31

Wow - that biology section.... I was happy that there wasn't much orgo (didn't do that well on the orgo that was there, though =/ ....) and man that ebola passage destroyed me. I even had like 15 minutes to work on it... I'm not sure what happened I just could not decipher what was going on.

Pretty happy about my other scores though, they have been pretty consistent for the duration of the tests, with a slight upward trend in PS.

Definitely planning on continuing to brush up on biology after post-phrasing tomorrow. Going to try to relax some too so that I enter the test with a good mindset.

 

[dumadr.]

Last score update! Just took AAMC #11.
7/03/2014 AAMC 3: 10/10/7 - 27
7/09/2014 AAMC 4: 11/10/9 - 30
7/13/2014 AAMC 5: 10/11/9 - 30
7/16/2014 AAMC 7: 10/11/11 - 32
7/20/2014 AAMC 8: 11/10/9 - 30
7/23/2014 AAMC 9: 12/10/12 - 34
7/28/2014 AAMC 10: 11/11/10 - 32
8/03/2014 AAMC 11 : 12/11/8 - 31

Wow - that biology section.... I was happy that there wasn't much orgo (didn't do that well on the orgo that was there, though =/ ....) and man that ebola passage destroyed me. I even had like 15 minutes to work on it... I'm not sure what happened I just could not decipher what was going on.

Pretty happy about my other scores though, they have been pretty consistent for the duration of the tests, with a slight upward trend in PS.

Definitely planning on continuing to brush up on biology after post-phrasing tomorrow. Going to try to relax some too so that I enter the test with a good mindset.

I'm glad it wasn't just me then. I feel like it wasn't so much the concepts as much as the wording of the questions...

 

[Dr.TonySoprano]

Last score update! Just took AAMC #11.
7/03/2014 AAMC 3: 10/10/7 - 27
7/09/2014 AAMC 4: 11/10/9 - 30
7/13/2014 AAMC 5: 10/11/9 - 30
7/16/2014 AAMC 7: 10/11/11 - 32
7/20/2014 AAMC 8: 11/10/9 - 30
7/23/2014 AAMC 9: 12/10/12 - 34
7/28/2014 AAMC 10: 11/11/10 - 32
8/03/2014 AAMC 11 : 12/11/8 - 31

Wow - that biology section.... I was happy that there wasn't much orgo (didn't do that well on the orgo that was there, though =/ ....) and man that ebola passage destroyed me. I even had like 15 minutes to work on it... I'm not sure what happened I just could not decipher what was going on.

Pretty happy about my other scores though, they have been pretty consistent for the duration of the tests, with a slight upward trend in PS.

Definitely planning on continuing to brush up on biology after post-phrasing tomorrow. Going to try to relax some too so that I enter the test with a good mindset.

You may have posted about this before, but how do you approach the verbal section?

 

[Shipley231]

You may have posted about this before, but how do you approach the verbal section?

I have talked on it before, and I unfortunately don't really have any secrets. I really just make sure I pay attention to timing and read each passage thoroughly, making sure not to go too quickly or too slowly. I try to go quick enough to allow time to refer back as necessary, yet still retaining the main points and tone of the passage. I don't highlight or rank passages or take notes or do anything like that. Wish I had a secret for you =/

 

[OHSDoc1993]

Final Update for my scores:
AAMC 3 - 30 (9/10/11)
AAMC 4 - 30 (10/10/10)
AAMC 5 - 32 (10/11/11)
AAMC 7 - 31 (8/11/12)
AAMC 8 - 29 (10/9/10)
AAMC 9 - 31 (9/11/11)
AAMC 11 - 30 (10/10/10)

Guess being consistent isn't a bad thing, although a constant increase in my scores would have definitely been nice! Took 11 today, gonna review it tomorrow, then I'm not even sure what to do for the last couple days. Maybe go over notes/equations? What are everyone else's plans for these next few days, crazy that the day is almost here finally.

 

[dbgehle]

Final Update for my scores:

Guess being consistent isn't a bad thing, although a constant increase in my scores would have definitely been nice! Took 11 today, gonna review it tomorrow, then I'm not even sure what to do for the last couple days. Maybe go over notes/equations? What are everyone else's plans for these next few days, crazy that the day is almost here finally.

Yeah I haven't been making much improvement in total over the summer, haha. Hoping I score at least my average though!

I plan on taking one or 2 more practice tests on Monday/Tuesday (AAMC 10/11), reviewing/skimming biology lectures from the EK book, practicing speeding up my reading on verbal passages.

Oh, and praying.

 

[ciestar]

Yeah I haven't been making much improvement in total over the summer, haha. Hoping I score at least my average though!

I plan on taking one or 2 more practice tests on Monday/Tuesday (AAMC 10/11), reviewing/skimming biology lectures from the EK book, practicing speeding up my reading on verbal passages.

Oh, and praying.

I don't normally pray, but ive noticed while studying I've been doing it A LOT. Need all the guidance I can get!

Best of luck to all of you these next few days 🙂

 

[clairephillips]

I can barely believe I'm getting to say this. I just took AAMC 9 and scored a 12 on Physical Sciences. My jaw dropped open and I started leaping up and down. You guys know I've been struggling to hit a 10 and had only done it on AAMC 3 previously, so while that might not sound like a big deal to some of you guys, I'm positively elated. So, with that said, here are my AAMC scores so far, in the order I took them.

4: (7/9/11) 27
5: (8/12/11) 31
6: (9/12/9) 30
7: (9/10/11) 30
8: (8/10/11) 29
3: (10/12/10) 32
9: (12/10/11) 33

Sooo incredibly happy!

 

[jenniferrae]

I can barely believe I'm getting to say this. I just took AAMC 9 and scored a 12 on Physical Sciences. My jaw dropped open and I started leaping up and down. You guys know I've been struggling to hit a 10 and had only done it on AAMC 3 previously, so while that might not sound like a big deal to some of you guys, I'm positively elated. So, with that said, here are my AAMC scores so far, in the order I took them.

4: (7/9/11) 27
5: (8/12/11) 31
6: (9/12/9) 30
7: (9/10/11) 30
8: (8/10/11) 29
3: (10/12/10) 32
9: (12/10/11) 33

Sooo incredibly happy!

Congrats @clairephillips!! You've definitely earned it 🙂

 

[sps27]

Does anybody have a pdf or a link (something concise) where I can familiarize myself with evolutionary biology concepts like 'coelom', 'protochord', 'notochord' etc., stuff like that? Thanks for your help. My evolutionary biology concepts are limited to 'k'ing 'p'hillip 'c'ame h'o'me 'f'or 'g'reat 's'oup....and terms like platyhelmintes, annelida, eichniodermata ......etc. which sound like accusations.....ha ha...

 

[sps27]

I can barely believe I'm getting to say this. I just took AAMC 9 and scored a 12 on Physical Sciences. My jaw dropped open and I started leaping up and down. You guys know I've been struggling to hit a 10 and had only done it on AAMC 3 previously, so while that might not sound like a big deal to some of you guys, I'm positively elated. So, with that said, here are my AAMC scores so far, in the order I took them.

4: (7/9/11) 27
5: (8/12/11) 31
6: (9/12/9) 30
7: (9/10/11) 30
8: (8/10/11) 29
3: (10/12/10) 32
9: (12/10/11) 33

Sooo incredibly happy!

Great job on your scores. I hope I can get similar nos by Aug 21. I just did 5 and got a 27...:-(.

 

[ciestar]

Does anybody have a pdf or a link (something concise) where I can familiarize myself with evolutionary biology concepts like 'coelom', 'protochord', 'notochord' etc., stuff like that? Thanks for your help. My evolutionary biology concepts are limited to 'k'ing 'p'hillip 'c'ame h'o'me 'f'or 'g'reat 's'oup....and terms like platyhelmintes, annelida, eichniodermata ......etc. which sound like accusations.....ha ha...

.

Every review I've done on these touch on it sooo lightly. If I come across anything, I'll post it. I've taken a million Evo courses, and I doubt you'll need anything as in depth.

 

[clairephillips]

Great job on your scores. I hope I can get similar nos by Aug 21. I just did 5 and got a 27...:-(.

The best secret I can tell you is to do passages until you find a weakness, then do all you have to do to make it make sense to you. I see that there are three reasons I miss questions: 1) Math error - My brain is not the best in math. I suck at exponents. I've worked with them and pushed myself to do better and gotten more comfortable, but for whatever reason, I still want to drop negative signs, add when I should subtract, etc. 2) Weird question - AAMC's goal is to delineate between the @jenniferrae types who are ungodly smart and the @clairephillips types that work hard and are above average, but aren't exactly geniuses. Because of that, things are often written in strange ways that will throw the me's of the world off. That's okay. 3) The Content errors - this is the type I can do something about. When I find one of those, I push like crazy, using Chad's videos, my PR Workbook, the Berkeley Review, online tutorials, whatever I need to do to make it so I understand the concept. I have the old (circa 1991) MCAT Practice Items for Physical Sciences and I have worked my heart out on those to make the passages make sense. I hear the Self Assessments can be used in the same way, but I had enough to work through that I haven't bought them. Anyway, use something like that to find your weaknesses, one at a time so you aren't overwhelmed, and root them out like evil dung! If I can do it (I took my prereqs 10+ years ago), you can too!!!

 

[jenniferrae]

The best secret I can tell you is to do passages until you find a weakness, then do all you have to do to make it make sense to you. I see that there are three reasons I miss questions: 1) Math error - My brain is not the best in math. I suck at exponents. I've worked with them and pushed myself to do better and gotten more comfortable, but for whatever reason, I still want to drop negative signs, add when I should subtract, etc. 2) Weird question - AAMC's goal is to delineate between the @jenniferrae types who are ungodly smart and the @clairephillips types that work hard and are above average, but aren't exactly geniuses. Because of that, things are often written in strange ways that will throw the me's of the world off. That's okay. 3) The Content errors - this is the type I can do something about. When I find one of those, I push like crazy, using Chad's videos, my PR Workbook, the Berkeley Review, online tutorials, whatever I need to do to make it so I understand the concept. I have the old (circa 1991) MCAT Practice Items for Physical Sciences and I have worked my heart out on those to make the passages make sense. I hear the Self Assessments can be used in the same way, but I had enough to work through that I haven't bought them. Anyway, use something like that to find your weaknesses, one at a time so you aren't overwhelmed, and root them out like evil dung! If I can do it (I took my prereqs 10+ years ago), you can too!!!

Oh you. 😉

 

[clairephillips]

Oh you. 😉

Sorry, you just made a convenient example, and I know you work hard too. 🙂

 

[bambam92]

Hey so many of you guys have been doing great on your practice tests…so congrats! Sure you will kill real thing. Any advice for me in regards to organic chem?I have TBR for content but can't seem to justify reading all 10 of those dense chapters for organic, any particular chapters you would say are worth the read? And what topics in particular besides sn1, sn2, e1, e2? Thanks so much guys for any input!!👍

 

[clairephillips]

Hey so many of you guys have been doing great on your practice tests…so congrats! Sure you will kill real thing. Any advice for me in regards to organic chem?I have TBR for content but can't seem to justify reading all 10 of those dense chapters for organic, any particular chapters you would say are worth the read? And what topics in particular besides sn1, sn2, e1, e2? Thanks so much guys for any input!!👍

If you need help in OChem, I swear by Chad's videos and the books Organic Chemistry as a Second Language, 1 and 2.

 

[bambam92]

If you need help in OChem, I swear by Chad's videos and the books Organic Chemistry as a Second Language, 1 and 2.

Thanks! Do you feel Chad covers everything needed? I.e. watch chads vids then cover material in organic chem as a 2nd language as extra clarification be adequate? And I have organic chem as a 2nd language for organic I and it was awesome! So gonna have to get it for orgo 2 as well!!

 

[HinduHammer]

ANYONE have the Official Guide to the MCAT?!

I have a question about question #24 in the Physics Section. Please let me know if you have it!

I have it. It's a great resource. what's your question?

 

[moop]

TOP

 

[moop]

BUFFER

YESSSSS I have finally accomplished my goal here on this thread!!!!

 

[sps27]

The best secret I can tell you is to do passages until you find a weakness, then do all you have to do to make it make sense to you. I see that there are three reasons I miss questions: 1) Math error - My brain is not the best in math. I suck at exponents. I've worked with them and pushed myself to do better and gotten more comfortable, but for whatever reason, I still want to drop negative signs, add when I should subtract, etc. 2) Weird question - AAMC's goal is to delineate between the @jenniferrae types who are ungodly smart and the @clairephillips types that work hard and are above average, but aren't exactly geniuses. Because of that, things are often written in strange ways that will throw the me's of the world off. That's okay. 3) The Content errors - this is the type I can do something about. When I find one of those, I push like crazy, using Chad's videos, my PR Workbook, the Berkeley Review, online tutorials, whatever I need to do to make it so I understand the concept. I have the old (circa 1991) MCAT Practice Items for Physical Sciences and I have worked my heart out on those to make the passages make sense. I hear the Self Assessments can be used in the same way, but I had enough to work through that I haven't bought them. Anyway, use something like that to find your weaknesses, one at a time so you aren't overwhelmed, and root them out like evil dung! If I can do it (I took my prereqs 10+ years ago), you can too!!!

. Thank you for your response. I appreciate it. I get nervous when I see all this complicated graphs and figures and some psgs are complete over the top. The scale is also un-forgiving sometimes. But I will keep trying......to build on what I have so far. Thanks! once again.

Every review I've done on these touch on it sooo lightly. If I come across anything, I'll post it. I've taken a million Evo courses, and I doubt you'll need anything as in depth.

No 5 has some random q's on that stuff.....so was asking.....Thanks bud. Take it easy....

 

[drrao88]

I have it. It's a great resource. what's your question?

I had a question about why the graph in the correct answer had an exponential shape, but I get it now. I did have other questions about the Physics passages though. Those conceptual questions on the first passage were a killer.

 

[Notepad]

Anxiety is starting to set in a bit!!

 

[jenniferrae]

Anxiety is starting to set in a bit!!

Me toooooo

 

[jenniferrae]

Update:
07/13: AAMC 3 (PS 14, VR 10, BS 13) = 37
07/24: AAMC 4 (PS 12, VR 9, BS 14) = 35
07/25: AAMC 5 (PS 13, VR 10, BS 14) = 37
07/28: AAMC 7 (PS 14, VR 11, BS 11) = 36
08/01: AAMC 9 (PS 13, VR 11, BS 13) = 37
08/03: AAMC 10 (PS 14, VR 9, BS 14) = 37

I'm kind of worried about timing... I only ever finish right on time for VR and ~2-3 minutes early for PS. BS isn't an issue though... usually 7-12 minutes left.

But seriously verbal is driving me crazy... If I have butterflies when I do verbal I do really badly because I can't focus >.>

Great scores!! 👍 I hate verbal. I feel like it is such a crapshoot.

<--- me reading AAMC explanations of "correct" answers in verbal....

 

[jenniferrae]

Thanks! 🙂 You score similarly on PS, can I ask how much you feel like you have to rush and how much time you have left? That's definitely the one thing nagging my mind after a good PS score because everyone says the real thing takes longer :S

Your verbal scores are really good so it doesn't look like a crap shoot for you haha

I find it depends on the exam, but I normally finish with about 10 mins left to look over answers (and same for BS). I almost always barely finish VR (again... hate verbal).

It's just frustrating because I've worked so hard with verbal and I haven't improved since I started my prep. 🙁 oh well! Bring it on, Thursday!

 

[drrao88]

Anxiety is definitely settling in, but what I do to lower it now is 15 pushups between Sections.

..Yea, I'm gonna be THAT guy at the testing center.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Anxiety is definitely settling in, but what I do to lower it now is 15 pushups between Sections.

..Yea, I'm gonna be THAT guy at the testing center.

I would troll you and try to sit on your back during the situps.