To Anki or not to Anki

[DPTinthemaking15]

I am caught between a rock and a hard place. During my content review, I have been using Anki for Biology, Biochemistry, and Psych/Soc. At first it wasn't too bad, because I could handle the amount of note cards. Now, the cards keep piling on and it takes me a solid 1-2 hours to complete everything.

Anyways, I will be completely finished with content review next week, and I will begin passage review/FL's until my exam date (May 24th). Should I continue with Anki in order to understand the remaining material, or should I power through the rest of my study material and begin passages ASAP? If it helps, I am a non-traditional student and A LOT of this material doesn't even ring a bell (That is the main reason I have been using Anki). I am afraid to stop reviewing material, because I want it to be somewhat fresh when I begin FL's. Any help would be appreciated.

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[I'mJustCurious]

I'm definitely in the same situation as you. All I can say is start with a FL so that you can get used to taking the test. It's more than content (endurance, graph analysis, etc) so by taking the FL it'll give you a good idea where you're at. Any questions you got wrong or right go over it and take notes or make flashcards to minimize content gap.

 

[hkdude97]

which decks are you using for those topics?

 

[Blanky]

Anki.

 

[Zharp]

Isn't the answer always anki?

I started to taper off my anki once I started FL's for biochem/bio as those were my strongest subjects. But for P/S I would anki all the way to test day.

 

[DPTinthemaking15]

Thank you guys!!!

I'm definitely in the same situation as you. All I can say is start with a FL so that you can get used to taking the test. It's more than content (endurance, graph analysis, etc) so by taking the FL it'll give you a good idea where you're at. Any questions you got wrong or right go over it and take notes or make flashcards to minimize content gap.

Definitely! If you don't mind me asking, because it looks like you are ahead of me on the whole studying process. What is a good first FL score to get after content review? I assume there is no magic number, but I was wondering if there is an average.

which decks are you using for those topics?

I'm using cards that I have made. I put them in a question form, because that is the only way I will ever learn this material lol.

Isn't the answer always anki?

I started to taper off my anki once I started FL's for biochem/bio as those were my strongest subjects. But for P/S I would anki all the way to test day.

Definitely! Thank you so much!

 

[Zharp]

Definitely! If you don't mind me asking, because it looks like you are ahead of me on the whole studying process. What is a good first FL score to get after content review? I assume there is no magic number, but I was wondering if there is an average.

Now that there is 3 AAMC Fl's I started with FL 1, scored a 510 about a month and a half out. Not sure how that compares, but I continued to improve my score steadily as I did more FL's. I felt like I learned more taking and reviewing FL's than I did reviewing content.

Don't underestimate the concept of building test-endurance. I'd try and take as many FL's as you have time for, and do your best to mimic test day scenarios with break lengths. It's a loooooong test.

 

[I'mJustCurious]

Thank you guys!!!


Definitely! If you don't mind me asking, because it looks like you are ahead of me on the whole studying process. What is a good first FL score to get after content review? I assume there is no magic number, but I was wondering if there is an average.




I'm using cards that I have made. I put them in a question form, because that is the only way I will ever learn this material lol.



Definitely! Thank you so much!

You just answered your question, there is no magic number. The higher the better! Just keep working on the weaker area to improve your score.

 

[DPTinthemaking15]

Now that there is 3 AAMC Fl's I started with FL 1, scored a 510 about a month and a half out. Not sure how that compares, but I continued to improve my score steadily as I did more FL's. I felt like I learned more taking and reviewing FL's than I did reviewing content.

Don't underestimate the concept of building test-endurance. I'd try and take as many FL's as you have time for, and do your best to mimic test day scenarios with break lengths. It's a loooooong test.

I never even thought about taking the AAMC FL first! I am enrolled in NS study course and they suggest taking their FL first, AAMC practice test, FL 1,2, and 3 (in that order). Is it better to take the AAMC first to get an estimate of where you are at?

You just answered your question, there is no magic number. The higher the better! Just keep working on the weaker area to improve your score.

So true! I guess I was completely afraid that they will "miss" something that I need to review, but I understand after going through the question packs, SB, FL's, etc.. I should see almost everything that I should know on test day.

 

[Zharp]

I never even thought about taking the AAMC FL first! I am enrolled in NS study course and they suggest taking their FL first, AAMC practice test, FL 1,2, and 3 (in that order). Is it better to take the AAMC first to get an estimate of where you are at?

Most people will tell you not to take AAMC first... But i wanted to get a better representation of where I was at following content review. I think having FL2/3 to do right before test day is plenty.

 

[ApplicationAnxietatem]

Most people will tell you not to take AAMC first... But i wanted to get a better representation of where I was at following content review. I think having FL2/3 to do right before test day is plenty.

I took AAMC FL #1 first and I believe it was a good decision. It gives you a better rounded feel of how the MCAT is and where you currently stand. This makes the other FLs with deflated scores less depressing haha.

As to the OP's original question, I thought Anki was a waste of time and stopped using it after a week. n=1 but I scored a 520+ without Anki so it definitely isn't needed, some people /really/ love flashcards and others loathe them.

I think at most Anki may be good for Psych/Soc but doesn't really help with other categories. You have to put a lot of time into making these cards and most people sort of shadow the information over rather than integrating it during this process, making this time wasted time. The MCAT stresses use of information more so than rote memorization. Memorization will come with time as you utilize the concepts in practice questions and FLs.

 

[DPTinthemaking15]

I took AAMC FL #1 first and I believe it was a good decision. It gives you a better rounded feel of how the MCAT is and where you currently stand. This makes the other FLs with deflated scores less depressing haha.

As to the OP's original question, I thought Anki was a waste of time and stopped using it after a week. n=1 but I scored a 520+ without Anki so it definitely isn't needed, some people /really/ love flashcards and others loathe them.

I think at most Anki may be good for Psych/Soc but doesn't really help with other categories. You have to put a lot of time into making these cards and most people sort of shadow the information over rather than integrating it during this process, making this time wasted time. The MCAT stresses use of information more so than rote memorization. Memorization will come with time as you utilize the concepts in practice questions and FLs.

I love this! After this comment and @Zharp's, I will definitely use the FL #1 as my first practice test.

 

[Deleted member 737595]

I took AAMC FL #1 first and I believe it was a good decision. It gives you a better rounded feel of how the MCAT is and where you currently stand. This makes the other FLs with deflated scores less depressing haha.

As to the OP's original question, I thought Anki was a waste of time and stopped using it after a week. n=1 but I scored a 520+ without Anki so it definitely isn't needed, some people /really/ love flashcards and others loathe them.

I think at most Anki may be good for Psych/Soc but doesn't really help with other categories. You have to put a lot of time into making these cards and most people sort of shadow the information over rather than integrating it during this process, making this time wasted time. The MCAT stresses use of information more so than rote memorization. Memorization will come with time as you utilize the concepts in practice questions and FLs.

Share your wisdom, master!

 

[Examkrackers]

With the last month of your studying, you'll want to make sure to budget time off leading up to the MCAT so that you're not completely worn out on your test date. Since you have less than a month left to go, I'd recommend you moving on to taking FLs and finishing your content review than repeating anki ad nauseum (although this is coming from someone with a strong anti-anki preference, so take that for what you will).

 

[DPTinthemaking15]

With the last month of your studying, you'll want to make sure to budget time off leading up to the MCAT so that you're not completely worn out on your test date. Since you have less than a month left to go, I'd recommend you moving on to taking FLs and finishing your content review than repeating anki ad nauseum (although this is coming from someone with a strong anti-anki preference, so take that for what you will).

Thank you so much! I am trying to lay off of the Anki except for Psych/Soc, because there are so many terms


To everyone else, if you don't mind answering one last question. What practice material would you suggest going through? I intend on taking all AAMC practice exams (FL 1,2,3 and the practice test), Q-packs, Section bank, and NS FL 1. Would anyone suggest using Uworld's Qbank? Also, I have TBR's material to use as well.

 

[Examkrackers]

Thank you so much! I am trying to lay off of the Anki except for Psych/Soc, because there are so many terms


To everyone else, if you don't mind answering one last question. What practice material would you suggest going through? I intend on taking all AAMC practice exams (FL 1,2,3 and the practice test), Q-packs, Section bank, and NS FL 1. Would anyone suggest using Uworld's Qbank? Also, I have TBR's material to use as well.

AAMC's materials are definitely gold standard, so I would ensure to work through all of those materials. It seems like you have a pretty fleshed out and involved list of practice materials you intend on going through for your last month, so for the sake of not burning out you might have a sufficient list already.