Things to write down during ten minute tutorial?

[user2992]

Hi everyone,

What kind of things would you recommend writing out on the scratch paper during the 10 minute tutorial for the MCAT 2015? I'm thinking of both formula stuff and just motivational sayings haha. I'm probably doing some kinetics, maybe trig, E&M formulas, not sure what else. What would you write down, or what has been helpful to write down?

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[DanniD]

Hi everyone,

What kind of things would you recommend writing out on the scratch paper during the 10 minute tutorial for the MCAT 2015? I'm thinking of both formula stuff and just motivational sayings haha. I'm probably doing some kinetics, maybe trig, E&M formulas, not sure what else. What would you write down, or what has been helpful to write down?

how cool u are and things you're ganna do once u finish the exam

 

[studentdocftw]

Eh...at this point...if it's in your head..you'll pull it out when you need it. I don't think I'll write anything.

 

[lilian3]

positive affirmations!

 

[bngli]

I wrote down every MCAT equation I learned that popped into my head. It may seem unnecessary, but I found it to be really helpful during crunch time towards the end of the PS section.

 

[studentdocftw]

So I wrote down the tough single letter abbreviations..along with letters for positive and negative side chains

 

[Dreamstoo]

I will probably write down certain formulas for like 5 minutes and some mnemonics for bio that help me memorize certain separation techniques. Take 2-3 minutes of quiet deep breathing and keeping calm. From people I know almost everyone just writes as much equations they know for 5 minutes or skip the section entirely just to get to the PS section (on the old MCAT).

Make sure to take your breaks. I met a TPR instructor who didn't take a single break on the old MCAT on his first or second? attempt (he applied really late in the cycle around October/November and got a few acceptances at good MD schools but I'm assuming it's because he pushed off the MCAT for awhile. Didn't take a gap year so maybe he decided to give it a shot instead of taking a gap between undergrad and med school) and regretted it even though he turned out fine. I know he got a score he was satisfied with. He said the nerves got the best of him and he just wanted to get the test done as soon as possible. He said if anything not taking breaks made him more nervous and made him feel he did horrible after the MCAT. Apparently he had some serious MCAT blues for a day or so lol but about 28 or so days later, he got a score that he was happy with ahah.

 

[NextStepTutor_3]

The first time I took the MCAT I wrote down a ton of formulas (kinematics, some electrostatics stuff, etc.). I don't think I ended up using any of it. Personally, I think the most important thing by far to do during the tutorial is to stay relaxed. If you worry about frantically writing down every formula you can remember, you start off the test with a "rushed" mindset that can be overly stressful in the long run.

Here's what I now believe is best (curious to see what all of you think too, though!): during the week before the test, think carefully about 5 things you always forget / that irrationally stress you out / that you see all the time on practice tests. These can be literally ANYTHING, from amino acid characteristics to "don't make this mistake during CARS" to a couple of especially annoying formulas. Then limit yourself to writing only those five things down, and spend the remaining seven or so minutes of the tutorial relaxing, breathing deeply, etc. It cuts down your worry that you'll see "that one thing you always forget" on the test, while not starting everything off in freak-out panic mode, haha.

 

[user2992]

Thanks for the tips everyone! I wound up writing some E+M equations and electromagnetic spectrum stuff. Also came back from lunch break early to write down some positive/soothing thoughts and affirmations before bio started haha.

 

[tenblackalps]

On Friday I wrote down the values for sin and cos at 0, 30, 60, 90, 180 degrees and all the SI prefixes and powers of ten.

 

[EverStriving]

So... am I the only one who actually went through the tutorial? I tried out the noise-cancelling headphones too; I'd never tried a pair on and I have to say they're pretty awesome. Didn't end up using them the rest of the test though - I like background noise.