What to Memorize...

[mbio2015]

So reading on the 509+ forum I saw some people stating that they memorized glycolysis, Krebs, ETC, and amino acids for the bio/biochem section. I just got done with the carbohydrate section of TBR and they state it's a waste of time...that I should just know what's going on.

I've already committed the amino acids and glycolysis steps to memory so should I do the same with Krebs and ETC or just "know what's going on" according to TBR?

Thanks!

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[BerkReviewTeach]

Every MCAT is different, but on average you can say that knowing all of the details is overkill. Many passages will present the details (perhaps as an experiment), and the questions are rarely pure recall. They may ask you to trace a radiolabel through the pathway or ask you what would happen if a certain molecule were introduced. The more you know off the top of your head, the faster you will work through their passages and questions. But at some point straight memorization results in diminishing returns. Except of course for amino acids. Know everything you can, from structure to trivia to behavior in a protein. Know the one-letter and three-letter codes. Know what will happen to the folding of a protein after E27V. Know if EGTK will migrate faster to the anode than DFIS in electrophoresis. Know enough of the basics to answer thinking questions.

 

[AnotherLawyer]

So reading on the 509+ forum I saw some people stating that they memorized glycolysis, Krebs, ETC, and amino acids for the bio/biochem section. I just got done with the carbohydrate section of TBR and they state it's a waste of time...that I should just know what's going on.

I've already committed the amino acids and glycolysis steps to memory so should I do the same with Krebs and ETC or just "know what's going on" according to TBR?

Thanks!

I wonder the same thing. There are ~1750 AAMC MCAT questions available (soon to be another ~250). I think that once I've gone through the q-packs and section bank I will have a much better idea of what AAMC expects me to have committed to memory.

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

The MCAT is a moving target, so the new 250 will likely be the most helpful of all.

 

[DaAlienist]

So reading on the 509+ forum I saw some people stating that they memorized glycolysis, Krebs, ETC, and amino acids for the bio/biochem section. I just got done with the carbohydrate section of TBR and they state it's a waste of time...that I should just know what's going on.

I've already committed the amino acids and glycolysis steps to memory so should I do the same with Krebs and ETC or just "know what's going on" according to TBR?

Thanks!

How did your exam go? Did you have to have the biochemistry details memorized, or was a big picture perspective enough?