Verbal Reasoning: Higher Score

[NinjaMed]

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For those who scored an 11 or higher on verbal reasoning, how did you do it? What were your preparation methods? Did you use any extra materials? Did you read a lot more?

For those who improved and made it to the 11 or higher range in verbal reasoning, what helped you to improve?

 

[da Vincis World]

For those who scored an 11 or higher on verbal reasoning, how did you do it? What were your preparation methods? Did you use any extra materials? Did you read a lot more?

For those who improved and made it to the 11 or higher range in verbal reasoning, what helped you to improve?

I used the ExamKrackers 101 Verbal Reasoning Passages book and the AAMC practice tests. The first practice test that I took I got a 6 by the end of this book I was consistently getting 10-12...I scored an 11 on the real thing.

 

[da Vincis World]

And No, I did not read a lot of extra stuff....this seems like a waste of time to me.

 

[Pet of the Week]

I wish I could help. My VR score started out at 15 (on aamc practice tests) and dropped in the last few weeks before the test. (I got mono, and it affected my VR score more than the other sections.) On practice tests (under timed conditions), I was consistently only missing 0 to 3 questions. I must have missed quite a few more on the real thing because I ended up with an 11.

I'm not sure it this will help, but I think I am good at verbal because I am a big picture learner. I don't worry about the details when I'm reading a passage. I just make sure to understand what the passage as a whole is trying to tell me. The details can be picked out as needed later based on the questions. This way, you don't waste time cramming unnecessary info in your head.

 

[ABRuniverse]

I just got my retake score and I went from a 10 to a 13 on verbal. I consistently scored a 10 on practice tests and didn't do much verbal practice until two weeks before the test. Definately use Exam Krackers for this... especially the section from the EK Math and Verbal book as the strategy is laid out very well. I would also get Audio Osmosis and listen to the verbal section. PM me if you want to know how to get it.

 

[NinjaMed]

I just got my retake score and I went from a 10 to a 13 on verbal. I consistently scored a 10 on practice tests and didn't do much verbal practice until two weeks before the test. Definately use Exam Krackers for this... especially the section from the EK Math and Verbal book as the strategy is laid out very well. I would also get Audio Osmosis and listen to the verbal section. PM me if you want to know how to get it.

If by getting it, you mean some sort of "download" in some "special" way, then I think I know the means. But, shouldn't I just try and pay for it?

 

[anon1]

I took kaplan then 2 weeks before the test I started doing EK for verbal, although it was pretty demoralizing because I was making 9's and 10's. Got a 12 on the real thing

 

[ABRuniverse]

If by getting it, you mean some sort of "download" in some "special" way, then I think I know the means. But, shouldn't I just try and pay for it?

I wouldn't say it's a "special way" as it's pretty readily available if you know how to use Google... just though I would spell it out via PM w/o broadcasting it to the world. If you want to be out some more $$ then by all means, go ahead.

 

[NinjaMed]

I wouldn't say it's a "special way" as it's pretty readily available if you know how to use Google... just though I would spell it out via PM w/o broadcasting it to the world. If you want to be out some more $$ then by all means, go ahead.

It's not the $$ I am worried about being out, but the morality and the ethics.

I'd say it's pretty close to stealing, whether physical, or electronic property, and for that reason I don't want to be a part of it.

 

[SN2ed]

For some in-depth strategies for verbal, try checking out the MCAT Guide sticky.

Here's a link to post 2 of that thread with the verbal threads:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7723925&postcount=2

I especially like Vihsadas' verbal post: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6022602&postcount=96

 

[scummie]

I didn't do any preparation for this section of the exam and squeaked by with an 11. I think the best thing to do is take lots and lots of practice exams. This isn't enough by itself though. You really need to review why certain answers are correct. You gotta get it down to two correct answers. If you fall for the wrong one, means you're falling for an MCAT trap. Figure out what the trap is, and stop picking that one. After awhile, you'll develop an intuition of sort for what the correct answer is.

Also, not stopping to make sure you understand every single detail is important. I finished with about 10-15 mins to spare. This gives you time to go back and double check. Use the questions as an extra piece of information to help you answer other questions for that passage. Just my two cents.

 

[ball1313]

personally, ive run out of GOOD materials. i'm retaking in january and have already done EK and TPR (all of them!), which seem to be the best options for verbal study. i was doing well but just got nervous on my actual exam. what should i do?

 

[fatalerror]

I got an 11 without even really doing last passage. Was I just lucky on my guesses? I have no idea. I think this section is all about comfort, I didn't use any real strategies. If I was panicky or nervous I might have really screwed up, but because I was sleep deprived at the time of the exam (no sleep the night before), I was fairly calm, not perturbed by anything, not second guessing (not enough energy). I did space out for a bit there and and didn't really get to the last one (I read it, but didn't realize I had 45 sec for the questions), but at least in the VR section it seemed to work out fine.

I'm not advocating anything here, just saying that the worst thing you can do on VR is second guess yourself constantly. Just relax, and go forth.

 

[BrainBuff]

My highest score was an 11 during all practice exams... I ended up getting a 13 in the real thing.. No idea. I did Kaplan, and AAMCs..nothing else

 

[FutureDoctor015]

I was getting 8-10s on practice exams and got a 6 on the real deal. FML. I don't know what happened.

I started with examkrackers and plan on retaking in January, so I will continue with examkrackers, but I was looking at this book for IvyHall Review for VR. Has anyone heard of it? Is it any good?

Thanks!

 

[Jeff85]

I wish I could help. My VR score started out at 15 (on aamc practice tests) and dropped in the last few weeks before the test. (I got mono, and it affected my VR score more than the other sections.) On practice tests (under timed conditions), I was consistently only missing 0 to 3 questions. I must have missed quite a few more on the real thing because I ended up with an 11.

I'm not sure it this will help, but I think I am good at verbal because I am a big picture learner. I don't worry about the details when I'm reading a passage. I just make sure to understand what the passage as a whole is trying to tell me. The details can be picked out as needed later based on the questions. This way, you don't waste time cramming unnecessary info in your head.

THe consensus on these verbal improvement is to avoid details. Can someone explain what it means to skip details. How do you know if something is going to end up being important or a detail?
If you mean the examples given, how do you understand the paragraphs without the examples in the passage

 

[zetabetazeta]

English is not my first language, and I got 7 on my verbal section. Honestly, I wasn't surprised, but I wish I could score higher.

Total 29Q
Verbal 7
BS 10
PS 12

I'm really good at science concepts but verbal section is my nightmare. I think I'm going to retake MCAT next year, either in Jan or Feb. It seems that I still have a few months to practice, but what am I supposed to do? I did Kaplan and it didn't work out well. I'm depressed =(

 

[PiBond]

I would go purchase EK 101 and start reading the Economist weekly. TPR verbal workbook is very good as well. Practice can cure a lot in verbal reasoning

English is not my first language, and I got 7 on my verbal section. Honestly, I wasn't surprised, but I wish I could score higher.

Total 29Q
Verbal 7
BS 10
PS 12

I'm really good at science concepts but verbal section is my nightmare. I think I'm going to retake MCAT next year, either in Jan or Feb. It seems that I still have a few months to practice, but what am I supposed to do? I did Kaplan and it didn't work out well. I'm depressed =(

 

[loveoforganic]

Got an 11. Did about a third of the EK Verbal 101 using EK's method (very straightforward) and using SN2ed's timing. I think getting used to SN2ed's timing was the biggest deal for me.

 

[justdoit31]

Got an 11- I had the EK Verbal 101 but only did 3 of their tests. I took 6 practice MCAT's online and was consistantly scoring 8-9 on those. I just relaxed and read through the passages and then answered the questions like I did on my SAT during the real thing and my results were good.

The last 2 passages I only had 6 minutes for because I didn't time it well (I thought passages on the real thing were longer so I would suggest practicing with a lil less time than you will actually have)

 

[dandi]

I went from 6-7 to 10-12 almost over-night. I scored an 11 on the real thing. I went completely against what everyone suggested by stopping timing myself, because for me nothing was working.
I decided to use EK 101. I stopped timing myself. I underlined everything that seemed important and never referred back to the passage. For what ever reason this seemed to help me pay attention while reading. I was simply forgetting what was important and by looking back at the passage I was being mislead by wrong answer choices. I practiced everyday. About thirty minutes in the morning and thirty in the evening. I don't know why this worked for me, but after two days my scores jumped between 10-12 on the EK 101's and the aamc FL's, and stayed there. I started doing this only ten days before my real test.

 

[NinjaMed]

Got an 11- I had the EK Verbal 101 but only did 3 of their tests. I took 6 practice MCAT's online and was consistantly scoring 8-9 on those. I just relaxed and read through the passages and then answered the questions like I did on my SAT during the real thing and my results were good.

The last 2 passages I only had 6 minutes for because I didn't time it well (I thought passages on the real thing were longer so I would suggest practicing with a lil less time than you will actually have)

That's fantastic. Congratulations! 👍

 

[NinjaMed]

bump for the summer crew

I have practised the EK method, and am still not breaking the barrier.

Any thoughts on what I am doing wrong?

I am having trouble discerning the main idea while keeping the timing right per passage.

I answer the questions, spotting the really wrong answers, yet I am still getting low scores.

Help, please.

 

[Silverfalcon]

bump for the summer crew

I have practised the EK method, and am still not breaking the barrier.

Any thoughts on what I am doing wrong?

I am having trouble discerning the main idea while keeping the timing right per passage.

I answer the questions, spotting the really wrong answers, yet I am still getting low scores.

Help, please.

Uh you bump an old thread last October now and still looking for an improvement? 😕