Verbal Passage Lengths

[granitebaybrad]

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While this is my first post on this forum, I've been a long-time reader.

In preparation for the upcoming MCAT, I've been practicing verbal passages with Princeton Review books, and all of them have passages 65-90 lines in length. Yet, I've seen some books where a passage may consist of 120 lines. Given the time constraints of the section, a great increase in passage length could foul up time management and increase anxiety. I haven't seen any long passages on the AAMC tests, but I fear they may appear on the actual exam.

Has anyone taken a real MCAT where the verbal passages were very long compared to their practice materials? Should I anticipate long passages on the real test?

Brad

 

[lotrfan81]

To be honest Brad, if you haven't seen too many long passages on the AAMC practice tests then I don't think it is going to be any different on the real test. I think all the passages should take the same amount of time anyway. The questions and passage most times compensate. In other words, longer passages have less in depth questions and shorter passages have more in depth questions. Of course, there are going to be killer passages and this is naturally only my opinion.

 

[stillpremed]

honestly, you will probably never see a 120 line passage. if you do aamc materials, and past aamc tests, it ranges from about 50 -85 lines. thats why i heard its so hard to pace on verbal

 

[Ramoray]

i have taken the mcat 2 times, i have seen plenty of passags on the real thing that are roughly 90 to 100 lines, beware the real deal is what i would call death.. i woudl be worried if i wer eu only praciticing those short ones.. good luck, try not to get bombed