The Official August 9, 2013 MCAT Thread

[IL Pre Med]

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Just started studying today. Anyone else with me?

 

[Synapsis]

Good luck! Your average is still solid. My BS has been constantly increasing from 11 on my first practice test to 14 on my last. Hopefully I can land a 15 on the real deal 😀.

Honestly though, on PS I feel like most of the questions I'm missing are because of misinterpreting the question.. either AAMC tries to ask potentially misleading questions or I need some better verbal reasoning skills 😳. Probably the latter 🙁.

I have the same problem sometimes with PS. What did you think of 11's BS (without spoilers of course)?

 

[MangoPlant]

I have the same problem sometimes with PS. What did you think of 11's BS (without spoilers of course)?

It was different from the other AAMCs in that it required reading the passages much more closely (i.e, I couldn't answer the questions without going back to the passage for details). Some of the other AAMC BS sections relied much less on passage information and more on background knowledge. But nonetheless, a strong background knowledge in biology is probably also needed to answer the AAMC 11 BS questions.

 

[ar00n]

For me, I keep missing stuff that's in the passage in PS questions - feels like I'm doing VR sometimes haha

 

[Synapsis]

It was different from the other AAMCs in that it required reading the passages much more closely (i.e, I couldn't answer the questions without going back to the passage for details). Some of the other AAMC BS sections relied much less on passage information and more on background knowledge. But nonetheless, a strong background knowledge in biology is probably also needed to answer the AAMC 11 BS questions.

Interesting. A lot of people say AAMC 10 and 11 require little knowledge but I found myself using a lot of knowledge for 10. I felt I used the passage and outside knowledge about equally.

 

[inycepoo]

It was different from the other AAMCs in that it required reading the passages much more closely (i.e, I couldn't answer the questions without going back to the passage for details). Some of the other AAMC BS sections relied much less on passage information and more on background knowledge. But nonetheless, a strong background knowledge in biology is probably also needed to answer the AAMC 11 BS questions.

Great. That's the stuff.

 

[Heday]

Tpr2 - 28 (8/9/11):cry:

 

[Synapsis]

Omg TPR online is down. I get to all my AAMCs through TPR so if it's not up tomorrow morning I'll have to buy AAMC 11. And I won't be able to look at my results for my old AAMCs til it comes back up. Of all the times to go down it had to pick just before my test date? :l

 

[ar00n]

Omg TPR online is down. I get to all my AAMCs through TPR so if it's not up tomorrow morning I'll have to buy AAMC 11. And I won't be able to look at my results for my old AAMCs til it comes back up. Of all the times to go down it had to pick just before my test date? :l

It's working fine for me?

 

[inycepoo]

"We apologize, but we are experiencing very heavy traffic due to the launch of our Best Colleges Ranking Lists. As a result, it will take considerably longer than normal to navigate our site. Thank you for your patience. — The Princeton Review Team"

UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, no. That's not acceptable. The rankings are bull****, anyway.

 

[inycepoo]

lollllllllllllllll they have a "students study the most" rankings list. WHAT A JOKE.

Also, my college has the best newspaper, AHEM. RUDE. 😡 😡 😡 (But actually, doe; WHO READS THE CORNELL NEWSPAPER?!?!)

 

[Synapsis]

It's working fine for me?

I haven't been able to log in since 10 this morning :l

 

[deleted393595]

lollllllllllllllll they have a "students study the most" rankings list. WHAT A JOKE.

Also, my college has the best newspaper, AHEM. RUDE. 😡 😡 😡 (But actually, doe; WHO READS THE CORNELL NEWSPAPER?!?!)

How is this even objectively measured???

And does it even mean anything?

 

[inycepoo]

How is this even objectively measured???

And does it even mean anything?

Oh, I'm sure they did comprehensive interviews with a representative sample of students from those campuses and asked them for their utmost truthful answers about how much they study and how much their peers study.

Of course, this was all controlled by a multi-regression Kaplan-Berkeley statistical model for age, gender, major, high school experience, EC involvement, GPA, and most importantly, partying time.

 

[ar00n]

Finally finished AAMC 11 with 13/11/15 - my first 15 on Bio! Last day of review tomorrow then I'm going to take it easy until test day...

 

[Synapsis]

Let me just go ahead and buy AAMC 11 now. I cannot believe I don't get access to this site with this prep for my test for medical school, two days before the test! This is ridiculous.

Finally finished AAMC 11 with 13/11/15 - my first 15 on Bio! Last day of review tomorrow then I'm going to take it easy until test day...

Congrats!

 

[bwest406]

Let me just go ahead and buy AAMC 11 now. I cannot believe I don't get access to this site with this prep for my test for medical school, two days before the test! This is ridiculous.



Congrats!

Good luck today! Sorry about getting shut out of the site :/
Don't let it throw you off

 

[Sithis]

Hey all! Been keeping track of this thread and others while studying and finally taking the time to register and post.

Taking my final practice here in a few minutes(AAMC 9), so i'll post all my scores later. Getting nervous about these last two days before the test. Good luck to everybody!

 

[inycepoo]

Aw yeah AAMC 11 let's go

LONG HURR DON'T CURR

 

[inycepoo]

Let me just go ahead and buy AAMC 11 now. I cannot believe I don't get access to this site with this prep for my test for medical school, two days before the test! This is ridiculous.



Congrats!

Call TPR and demand for something after the exam. This is ridiculous.

 

[inycepoo]

Dude I use TPR for all my AAMCs as well and I just got in. The trick is that you have to click "login" manually and get to the special login site to get on. Then it works.

 

[MangoPlant]

Finally finished AAMC 11 with 13/11/15 - my first 15 on Bio! Last day of review tomorrow then I'm going to take it easy until test day...

Congrats!


Looking at the score conversions I just realized on AAMC 11 I was 1 question away in each section from scoring 1 point higher in that respective section.

3 questions = difference between 36 and 39

Hopefully I get lucky on test day.

 

[ar00n]

Congrats!


Looking at the score conversions I just realized on AAMC 11 I was 1 question away in each section from scoring 1 point higher in that respective section.

3 questions = difference between 36 and 39

Hopefully I get lucky on test day.

I know that feel...best of luck this Friday! Hopefully test-day adrenaline makes you a little more attentive so you can get those extra few points.

Don't know if anyone has suggested it but mcat-review.org is awesome - goes through the AAMC outlines pretty much so I'm using it for some confidence building.

 

[inycepoo]

Hrm...mixed feelings.

AAMC 11 13/11/12 = 36. Makes my AAMC average a 36. 37 on #10, 36 on #11. Average raw score 125. If I discard AAMC 4 and 5, which were littered with careless mistakes as I wasn't too serious in my mindset yet, I get boosted up to a 37 average, but that's not saying too much.

I don't want to sound ungrateful for the sake of everyone who is struggling to get those averages and honestly I wouldn't be that sad with a 36 on the real thing, but...I'm still kinda (>50%) disappointed. 🙁

Edit: this is my 911st post. I live in NYC. Fitting..............

 

[bwest406]

Hrm...mixed feelings.

AAMC 11 13/11/12 = 36. Makes my AAMC average a 36. 37 on #10, 36 on #11. Average raw score 125. If I discard AAMC 4 and 5, which were littered with careless mistakes as I wasn't too serious in my mindset yet, I get boosted up to a 37 average, but that's not saying too much.

I don't want to sound ungrateful for the sake of everyone who is struggling to get those averages and honestly I wouldn't be that sad with a 36 on the real thing, but...I'm still kinda (>50%) disappointed. 🙁

Edit: this is my 911st post. I live in NYC. Fitting..............

Same here. Just finished AAMC 11 for a 36 11/13/12

Ive got similar sentiments to the ones you expressed. Id be happy with a 36 on the real deal, but also a little bit bummed knowing that I could have done better.

Did you feel that the PS on 11 was much more time/calculation intensive? I ran out of time and had to guess on three problems and I normally finish with 5-10 minutes to spare. Verbal was really easy again as has been the trend in the last AAMCs. BS I had to take a dump about halfway through and lost 3 minutes... 😡 haha

 

[Synapsis]

Hah! Ebola passage can kiss my @$$! Spent 16 minutes on that passage but got em all right lol.

Hrm...mixed feelings.

AAMC 11 13/11/12 = 36. Makes my AAMC average a 36. 37 on #10, 36 on #11. Average raw score 125. If I discard AAMC 4 and 5, which were littered with careless mistakes as I wasn't too serious in my mindset yet, I get boosted up to a 37 average, but that's not saying too much.

I don't want to sound ungrateful for the sake of everyone who is struggling to get those averages and honestly I wouldn't be that sad with a 36 on the real thing, but...I'm still kinda (>50%) disappointed.

Edit: this is my 911st post. I live in NYC. Fitting..............

No one can get mad at anyone for having high standards tbh. Personally, I'd be bothered with a 36 to the extent of knowing that the work I put into all this this summer should be worth more than a 36 (which I'd wager to guess is part of the reason it'd bother you too).

Anyway I though this PS was harder than 9 and 10, but maybe not that much harder.

 

[oxelhs]

Good job on the scores guys. I'm finally feeling better - decided to do Kaplan section tests for bio and orgo yesterday and today.

As for review tomorrow, yay or nay? I feel like I should given I missed almost 4 days but maybe I just need the extra time off?

 

[bwest406]

Well now that Ive finished the AAMCs here are my results:

3: 33 12/11/10
4: 36 12/11/13
5: 36 12/12/12
7: 35 13/10/12
8: 36 13/10/13
9: 39 14/13/12
10: 38 12/13/13
11: 36 11/13/12

Avg: 36.13 12.4/11.6/12.13

 

[bwest406]

Good job on the scores guys. I'm finally feeling better - decided to do Kaplan section tests for bio and orgo yesterday and today.

As for review tomorrow, yay or nay? I feel like I should given I missed almost 4 days but maybe I just need the extra time off?

Im going to review lightly but definitely nothing fatiguing.

Im glad youre feeling better

 

[bwest406]

Hah! Ebola passage can kiss my @$$! Spent 16 minutes on that passage but got em all right lol.



No one can get mad at anyone for having high standards tbh. Personally, I'd be bothered with a 36 to the extent of knowing that the work I put into all this this summer should be worth more than a 36 (which I'd wager to guess is part of the reason it'd bother you too).

Anyway I though this PS was harder than 9 and 10, but maybe not that much harder.

Howd you do overall on 11?

 

[Synapsis]

Howd you do overall on 11?

38 (13/11/14)

When I got up from the computer at the library during my break from the PS section, some knucklehead X'd out of my testing screen to look up a book so I had to start over and just remember everything that I picked in the PS section. Since I was thinking about that in verbal, I'm sure it hurt me. Also baby mistakes all around. Idk I really thought I was there today and I'm so frightened for verbal. The fact that I keep getting 10s and occasional 11's makes me nervous that I might have a low on test day and get a 9, which I wouldn't want even if I managed to pull two 15's in the others...

 

[bwest406]

38 (13/11/14)

When I got up from the computer at the library during my break from the PS section, some knucklehead X'd out of my testing screen to look up a book so I had to start over and just remember everything that I picked in the PS section. Since I was thinking about that in verbal, I'm sure it hurt me. Also baby mistakes all around. Idk I really thought I was there today and I'm so frightened for verbal. The fact that I keep getting 10s and occasional 11's makes me nervous that I might have a low on test day and get a 9, which I wouldn't want even if I managed to pull two 15's in the others...

Wow that would definitely throw me off! Youve got to keep a positive mental attitude about verbal. Ive noticed a good increase in my scores when I stopped worrying/stressing about it and just took each passage and question as it came. Having my mind more relaxed helped me to think clearly and focus on what I was reading.

Hey great job on that bio though. If 10/11 really are the most representative of the real deal you look to be very prepared

 

[oxelhs]

Im going to review lightly but definitely nothing fatiguing.

Im glad youre feeling better

Thanks man - I hope the missed days won't be much of a detriment.

Final AAMC practice test scores:

#3: 11/11/10
#4: 12/11/11
#7: 10/9/13
#8: 14/10/11
#9: 13/10/12
#10: 14/11/13
#11: 12/9/11

Avg: 12.3/10.1/11.6

Overall average = 34.0

Would be delighted with a 34 on the real thing - as long as it's a sum of double-digit scores.

 

[Synapsis]

Wow that would definitely throw me off! Youve got to keep a positive mental attitude about verbal. Ive noticed a good increase in my scores when I stopped worrying/stressing about it and just took each passage and question as it came. Having my mind more relaxed helped me to think clearly and focus on what I was reading.

Hey great job on that bio though. If 10/11 really are the most representative of the real deal you look to be very prepared

Thanks for the encouragement, you're really right. I've developed such a negative outlook toward verbal that I'm sure it's hurting me at least some. I've decided today I'm going to postgame this test, finish the last passages in TPRH SW (only a couple left!), hammer more verbal, and do some flashcards. Then tomorrow (and this might be a good idea for everyone), I plan on spending two hours just reading through alllll my postgame notes from all the problems/tests/passages I did this summer so that I can see every mistake that I've ever made and at least be cognizant of it. And of course a little bit of verbal.

Yea I feel solid on the sciences. It would shower my heart with joy to see myself step up and pull 15s on both of them for test day, especially because it seems that, at least relatively often, you can get one wrong on BS and get a 15. But can anyone go into this test and expect a 15 in any section?

Jeez it's just so close...

 

[danny89]

It seems like there won't be a favorable curve for Friday's test, thanks to some members in here 😛

 

[MedOldAge]

It seems like there won't be a favorable curve for Friday's test, thanks to some members in here 😛

The old saying........if you can't beat them, join them 😎😀

 

[bwest406]

Thanks for the encouragement, you're really right. I've developed such a negative outlook toward verbal that I'm sure it's hurting me at least some. I've decided today I'm going to postgame this test, finish the last passages in TPRH SW (only a couple left!), hammer more verbal, and do some flashcards. Then tomorrow (and this might be a good idea for everyone), I plan on spending two hours just reading through alllll my postgame notes from all the problems/tests/passages I did this summer so that I can see every mistake that I've ever made and at least be cognizant of it. And of course a little bit of verbal.

Yea I feel solid on the sciences. It would shower my heart with joy to see myself step up and pull 15s on both of them for test day, especially because it seems that, at least relatively often, you can get one wrong on BS and get a 15. But can anyone go into this test and expect a 15 in any section?

Jeez it's just so close...

Good idea! I'm going through all my old aamcs again today. I'll do a little verbal tomorrow and look over some notes before running a good 10 miles so I can fall asleep easily 🙂

I'd love to see 13s across the board on test day. I think that is realistic for me if everything comes together at the right time

 

[ShySpliceosome]

Oh. My. Gosh. I seriously got a 25 on AAMC #11 today, even after studying my behind off the entire summer...I feel like just throwing in the towel right now...

If I'd be fortunate enough to get a PS section similar to AAMC #8 and VR and BS sections similar to AAMC #10, I could probably get a 32...but with the supposed similarities of AAMC #11 to the real thing, test day looks pretty bleak for me.

Well, enough of my pity party...

Good luck to you guys; most of you have solid scores and I'm sure you'll do great!

 

[Synapsis]

Oh. My. Gosh. I seriously got a 25 on AAMC #11 today, even after studying my behind off the entire summer...I feel like just throwing in the towel right now...

If I'd be fortunate enough to get a PS section similar to AAMC #8 and VR and BS sections similar to AAMC #10, I could probably get a 32...but with the supposed similarities of AAMC #11 to the real thing, test day looks pretty bleak for me.

Well, enough of my pity party...

Good luck to you guys; most of you have solid scores and I'm sure you'll do great!

Don't give up. If you go through the 30+ thread you'll see a lot of people who beat out their averages and AAMC 11 scores by multiple points.
:

 

[ar00n]

Did anyone find their pacing on AAMC 11 to be completely whack? BS in particular was weird for me. I was shredding through the free standing questions and the first few passages but I'd spend ages on experimental qs. Pretty much spent half the exam on the Ebola and the T cells/melanocyte passages lol

 

[Sithis]

Did anyone find their pacing on AAMC 11 to be completely whack? BS in particular was weird for me. I was shredding through the free standing questions and the first few passages but I'd spend ages on experimental qs. Pretty much spent half the exam on the Ebola and the T cells/melanocyte passages lol

Its definitely more inferring information and passage reading than the rest of the FLs have been. I kept reading the Ebola questions like "what are you even asking me?!"

 

[Heday]

I hate TPR.

TPR 4 - 30 (10/9/11). It helps to know which content areas I'm weak in, but seriously, I hope I don't get below 35 on the actual thing.

 

[Synapsis]

Did anyone find their pacing on AAMC 11 to be completely whack? BS in particular was weird for me. I was shredding through the free standing questions and the first few passages but I'd spend ages on experimental qs. Pretty much spent half the exam on the Ebola and the T cells/melanocyte passages lol

My pacing was weird for BS and PS, but pretty consistent for verbal (except that I got crunched near the end and had 7mins for the last passage). For PS I normally have anywhere from 10 to 20 mins (on AAMC 9 I had like 17 mins) to check, but today I had 3. And for BS I was in the exact same position as you. I think my guard was up after hearing so many people talk about how important it was to rely on the passage for AAMC 11, so for experimental passages I was reading super closely and trying to be as careful as possible, so as to hopefully mimic how I'll be on the actual exam.

EDIT: I could cry with the mistakes I made in PS today. God I hope my brain is with me on Friday...

 

[ar00n]

I hate TPR.

TPR 4 - 30 (10/9/11). It helps to know which content areas I'm weak in, but seriously, I hope I don't get below 35 on the actual thing.

Do you have access to the AAMC exams? I wrote some TPR practice exams early on in my content review and I was getting low-mid 30s...those were hard, verbal especially. I didn't find them to be accurate representations of AAMC ones at all...

 

[inycepoo]

Just woke Ebola and T-cell were cool, spent lots of time on time but enough to get them right. Pituitary/LH can suck my @$$ because my head is missing a screw (got 4 wrong; wtf). Read "hydrophilic" as "hydrophobic," changed answers last minute.

Same for PS; I need to be more careful and trust my gut. I just took a 3-hour nap because I only got 6 hours last night and that definitely wasn't enough compared to what I usually get.

Ah, well. If I do only get a 36, that'll put my LizzyM right at the average for accepted students from my college to top 20s. That may be thinking a little too far out, but that's what this is all for, right?

Damn you academia and your high standards 😡 😡 😡 😡

 

[bwest406]

Did anyone find their pacing on AAMC 11 to be completely whack? BS in particular was weird for me. I was shredding through the free standing questions and the first few passages but I'd spend ages on experimental qs. Pretty much spent half the exam on the Ebola and the T cells/melanocyte passages lol

I was super messed up.

I normally finish PS with 5-10 minutes but today I had to guess on 3 questions! I've never had to guess on a practice test before due to time.

Verbal was pretty normal for me, finished with around 7 minutes left.

BS wasn't too bad besides the fact that I had to run to the bathroom to drop the deuce half way through. I still finished with time to spare but it threw me off a little. I pray that doesn't happen on friday haha

 

[bwest406]

-

 

[bwest406]

Oh. My. Gosh. I seriously got a 25 on AAMC #11 today, even after studying my behind off the entire summer...I feel like just throwing in the towel right now...

If I'd be fortunate enough to get a PS section similar to AAMC #8 and VR and BS sections similar to AAMC #10, I could probably get a 32...but with the supposed similarities of AAMC #11 to the real thing, test day looks pretty bleak for me.

Well, enough of my pity party...

Good luck to you guys; most of you have solid scores and I'm sure you'll do great!

Hey keep your chin up! Remember that God has a plan for your life whether that includes a good MCAT score or not. Do your best and trust him; that's the only option you've got!

 

[oxelhs]

Cannot focus on reviewing/practicing for the life of me. Thinking of just taking the rest of today and tomorrow off.

 

[bwest406]

Hey all! Been keeping track of this thread and others while studying and finally taking the time to register and post.

Taking my final practice here in a few minutes(AAMC 9), so i'll post all my scores later. Getting nervous about these last two days before the test. Good luck to everybody!

Hey! Howd it go?!

 

[inycepoo]

Hey keep your chin up! Remember that God has a plan for your life whether that includes a good MCAT score or not. Do your best and trust him; that's the only option you've got!

Haha thanks, man. Yeah, yeah, I know, this test doesn't define you, I'm still a full circle regardless, etc., but still. I dedicated this entire summer (whilst foregoing some pretty awesome internships) to this piece of bull**** and the least I want to do is to do well and at least meet my expectations.

Because if not, then I gave up the once in a lifetime opportunity to work on implementing DC's new health insurance exchange for nothing... :cry: :cry: :cry: