Verbal section is killing me. Please HELP!!!

[speedyIs]

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I plan to take MCAT in April, but I am scoring so low on the verbal section. Even without any time limit, I score 7-8 on the practice exams. My scores for PS and BS sections are not high either... Some people tell me that the real MCAT's much easier than the practice ones... is it really so? I have done many many passages but the score's not going up at all, if not going down. Please let me know what more I can do to improve my verbal score... I would really appreciate any advise you toss at me.

Also, should I still take the real test even if I am not confident at all? I really need mid-30s... but I am scoring 27-30 on the practice exams and I haven't done anything to prepare for the writing section. I know that it's disadvantageous to apply late, and I know that higher score is not guaranteed even if I take it later... but I feel like I am not ready at all. Is it really that hard to get accepted if you apply late? Thank you.

 

[Lizzie]

I would wait if you feel you can do better and will have time to study for the August MCAT. Half of the battle of the MCAT is confidence. It is scary waking up and taking that beast of a test. So even if the test questions might seem easier, your confidence and peace of mind will help get those extra questions and the higher score. If I were you, I would wait.

 

[Long Dong]

Get a hold of all the verbal questions you can and do them. Get princeton, berkeley and kaplan and do them all. Verbal was my worst score but I got it up to a 9 at least by doing this.

 

[Brain]

How are you practicing for your verbal? I did all of my practice tests on the computer. When it came time for the real test, I actually scored a couple of points higher on the verbal. I think it had something to do with actually being able to write on the test. I know some prep books recommend not doing this, but I found it helpful to skim the questions briefly before reading the passages so that I had an idea of what to look for while I was reading. However, you need to come up with a strategy that works for you. Get as many practice tests as you can to develop a method that works for you. Best of luck.

 

[DrHopeless]

Yeah just tons of passages. ExamCracker might help also. The 101 passages.

 

[Babooshka]

When I want to study for the MCATS, I go to SDN forums, and then I read the "MCAT DISCUSSIONS" portion of the forums. And then I critically analyze the meaning of "MCAT DISCUSSIONS", carefully re-reading the phrase "MCAT DISCUSSIONS" if I have any spare time when looking for MCAT DISCUSSIONS. There are several possible other sections of the SDN forums, for instnace Pre-Allopathic, Pre-Osteopathic, Re-Applicants, and Postbaccalaureate Programs. However, if you can eliminate one of those forums, you should guess. But if you know the definition of MCAT and DISCUSSIONS, you should deduce that, in fact, "MCAT DISCUSSIONS" is the correct section of the SDN forums to post this thread under. 👍 Good luck with the Verbal.

 

[elicash]

don't waste your time with anything else -- examkrackers. it will improve you 1-2 points at least.

one of its main points is to waste less time by just keeping info in your head-- buy the book (it's short) and read it.

 

[guoboy]

dude, take the real practice exam and see how you do on those first. Those are most realistic and can give you a better idea of where you weakness are.

the real mcat is published by the MCAT people and the first one is free of charge at www.e-mcat.com. i highly recommend the whole package.

if you did poorly on this practice exam, then you should definitely invest more time and money for serious improvement. my weakest area was verbal, too. but after extensive review using exam kracker verbal 101, i did alot better, and i turned out to do just fine on the actual august MCAT.

i'm sure other study guide will deliver the similar result. life is alot like the stupid verbal section of mcat... it will be tough, but don't give up!!

 

[masterMood]

you have enough time to write a good essay, so practice on that, it won't take more than 3-5 well thought out essays to do a good/respectable job ont he writing.

As to verbal, read like crazy in the next weeks. Instead of wasting time now asking people what to do, lock yourself up where you can't be disturbed by food, games, people, and just read like mad.

In a sense it is a bit your fault for not improving on the verbal. If foreign students can beat us on these things where english is a foreign language to them, then you can definitely do well.

You'll do better on test day also. But study hard, because you have enough time. I wouldn't recommend taking the august one because it's gonna be very tough getting into med. school (most people seem to have a very hard time getting admissions to schools of their choice after taking the august ones it seems).

So take the april ones. You're saying you're already getting 27-30s on them. Which is already good enough to get into respectable med. schools (if you have the other sufficient criteria), and if you boost it into 30-33 range or even better, you'll be better off.

What's better? Taking the april test now, (worst case scenario), getting a 25 and getting into a lower tier med. school (probability game though), taking it again some other time. But your chances to get into med. school are stronger becausey ou applied earlier, beating half of the applicants (statistically) to applying.

OR

Waiting til August where it's going to be extremely difficult to get into a med. school since many of them have rolling decision and rejects "average" MCAT scorers?

The former sounds better. Thus, take the April test.

 

[Will Ferrell]

I really need mid-30s... but I am scoring 27-30 on the practice exams ...

You don't NEED mid-30s...

 

[speedyIs]

Thank you all for your replies!!! I really appreciate it!!! Thanks!!!