Thoughts on The Berkley Review Physics

[sos5]

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I received my Physics TBR books and so far I completed 2 chapters. I feel the info is more in depth than TPR (maybe a bit too in depth) and the passages are really good. I think TPR is a lot easier. I have yet to take a actual aamc exam so my question for those who have reviewed with TBR and have at least completed an aamc test, is TBR a good estimate of physics in aamc or is it harder? I find TBR is tough and it takes me longer to answer questions and I'm not breezing through like TPR. Is TBR more like the actual physics on the MCAT?

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Hard as hell, IMO harder than TBR Bio. Then again, I'm a (typical) Bio major.

 

[FeinMS]

TBR is a bit harder than AAMC practice tests IMO; however, when it comes to real MCAT, the difficulty is similar. TBR PS will do more good than harm/

 

[sos5]

Ok good to know! I'm going to use TBR physics mostly and TPR as a supplement. They are def. tougher.

 

[smiley27]

I think that TBR physics is slightly more challenging that AAMC physics. For example, I scored slightly higher percentage-wise on the AAMC physics self-assessment than the TBR books.

 

[Sarvish]

I found TBR physics to be around the difficulty of my actual exam. My actual PS score was lower than my TBR average which was maybe due to nerves.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Ok good to know! I'm going to use TBR physics mostly and TPR as a supplement. They are def. tougher.

good,Ok good to know! I'm going to use TBR physics mostly and TPR as a supplement.

lolwut

 

[daleader]

lolwut

hahaha

 

[ChodeNode]

TBR has been pretty demoralizing for me. I'm making it through the readings, doing the questions, and going over what I got wrong. Still not completely understanding things the way I should. The biggest problem I seem to have is I don't feel the explanations are good enough on some questions and going back to certain parts of the chapter don't seem helpful either.

My scores seem to range between 50-70%, but my average seems to be mid-60's. I'm using SN2ed's schedule and really hoping that last half will help me dial in my knowledge some more. But man, some days make me feel like I'm just going to bomb this whole thing.

 

[Roxas]

I guess it's already been said on here, but I felt like my real MCAT PS section was far more difficult than any of the AAMC FLs, TBR Physics or TPR Physics. I still think TBR physics is the best way to prepare, but I had quite a few wtf moments during my exam

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

My scores seem to range between 50-70%, but my average seems to be mid-60's. I'm using SN2ed's schedule and really hoping that last half will help me dial in my knowledge some more. But man, some days make me feel like I'm just going to bomb this whole thing.

An average in the mid-60s is doing fairly well actually. I know it can be demoralizing at times, but the books are designed to have people miss about one out of every three questions so that they learn from the answer explanations. When you go back and thoroughly evaluate a question after the fact, it forces you to learn the material and develop good test-taking habits. The thing about some of the BR questions is that they prey on typical mistakes people make, such as mixing up acceleration with velocity, in the hopes that the user picks up subtle nuances associated with a multiple-choice exam.

What will really help is if you instead of scoring how you did, look at how you'd do if you ever saw that passage (or one like it) again. If you can honestly say that you'd get 80% or higher if you were to repeat the homework, then you are right on pace to get double digits in the PS section (assuming it's true for general chemistry as well).

The thing I hope you get from the books are the short cuts and strategies you encounter in the explanations and the sidenotes in the chapter. Those test strategies, if you embrace them, are amazing.

 

[aspiring20]

An average in the mid-60s is doing fairly well actually. I know it can be demoralizing at times, but the books are designed to have people miss about one out of every three questions so that they learn from the answer explanations. When you go back and thoroughly evaluate a question after the fact, it forces you learn the material and develop good test-taking habits. The thing about some of the BR questions is that they prey on typical mistakes people make, such as mixing up acceleration with velocity, in the hopes that the user picks up subtle nuances asosciated with a multiple-choice exam.

What will really help is if you instead of scoring how you did, look at how you'd do if you ever saw that passage (or one like it) again. If you can honestly say that you'd get 80% or higher if you were to repeat the homeowrk, then you are right on pace to get double digits in the PS section (assumign it's true for general chemistry as well).

The thing I hope you get from the books are the short cuts and strategies you encounter in the explanations and the sidenotes in the chapter. Those test strategies, if you embrace them, are amazing.

hey berkeley review tech...i sent you a PM recently, I am wondering if you can take a moment and respond?

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

hey berkeley review tech...i sent you a PM recently, I am wondering if you can take a moment and respond?

I'll look now; I've been out of town for some time and haven't been on SDN enough.

 

[aspiring20]

I'll look now; I've been out of town for some time and haven't been on SDN enough.

thanks!

 

[Kinch]

I used TBR, averaged around 10/11 on passages, 11/12 on AAMC's, 10 on actual MCAT