Which book to use for Ochem (less than 2 weeks left)

[JSU]

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Hey everyone, im trying to figure out how to allot my time between Ochem, physics and practice tests. Im taking the MCAT June 17th so its crunch time. I have a decent background in Ochem and miss anywhere from 0-3~ Ochem questions on my practice tests. I have TBR books and did Ochem ch8 but I think the rest of the book may be too much for me. None of the tests I have taken really focused on Ochem and im pretty intuitive about it anyway. Is EK ochem worth it if I just need a quick refresher and plan on blazing through?

P.S. I want to up my bio score as much as possible, though I dont think ochem is holding me back every point helps (esp. around the 12+ range).

Thanks!

 

[Don Draper]

Hey everyone, im trying to figure out how to allot my time between Ochem, physics and practice tests. Im taking the MCAT June 17th so its crunch time. I have a decent background in Ochem and miss anywhere from 0-3~ Ochem questions on my practice tests. I have TBR books and did Ochem ch8 but I think the rest of the book may be too much for me. None of the tests I have taken really focused on Ochem and im pretty intuitive about it anyway. Is EK ochem worth it if I just need a quick refresher and plan on blazing through?

P.S. I want to up my bio score as much as possible, though I dont think ochem is holding me back every point helps (esp. around the 12+ range).

Thanks!

Do the Phase III passages from TBR on your weakest areas, or all the chapters. That is about 40 passages. If you have strengths then don't do passages in those areas. That is time best spent.

 

[JSU]

Do the Phase III passages from TBR on your weakest areas, or all the chapters. That is about 40 passages. If you have strengths then don't do passages in those areas. That is time best spent.

Thanks! Thats a good idea. Is there an advantage of doing Phase III vs. the other phases?

Thanks!

 

[Don Draper]

Thanks! Thats a good idea. Is there an advantage of doing Phase III vs. the other phases?

Thanks!

Yeah, sorry for not telling you why.

Phase III are the passages built for reviewing all the major concepts and for integrating multiple concepts.

I.e. the earlier phases focus on testing a single concept or particular idea, while the Phase III are to be saved to do right before the MCAT because of their nature. If you read any BR scheduling material or even the book, it will say to do phase III right before the test.

Also check out mcat-review.org, I originally heard about this from GC, but it is a great summary site. They take the AAMC topic list and extrapolate the ideas a bit. Read over real fast to ensure your on your A-game.

 

[JSU]

Thanks for all of the advice. It there also a way to break up TBR Bio passages or is it just a big blob of info?

 

[Don Draper]

Thanks for all of the advice. It there also a way to break up TBR Bio passages or is it just a big blob of info?

I actually don't use BR bio, I use TPR SWRKBK/EK1001. I would just do the same thing though, break it into 1/3's.

• Find out your daily passage rate (usually 15-25 min per passage depending on speed)
• Identify weaknesses
• Do passages in those areas

Note: MOST of your time should be devoted to FLs right now. So if you delve into passages, be sure it is for especially weak areas. FLs are the most important thing right now.

 

[JSU]

Ive AAMC7-10 and TBR1-3 CBTs. Should I just finish up the TBR ones or try and squeeze in a few more AAMC ones?

 

[MCAT4life]

I would do everything for the structure elucidation chapter + the last chapter on organic lab techniques, since those do show up a lot.. Also I would focus more on the Carbonyl and Alcohols chapter vs the Carbs/Nitrogen compounds chapters. The carbohydrate chapter is good, but I seldom see any of these on the AAMCs.. And Amino acid sequencing common.. lol. I finished that section today, and i remember doing these in 4000 level cellular physiology class where they give you around 15 min to decipher 1 problem..

 

[JSU]

I would do everything for the structure elucidation chapter + the last chapter on organic lab techniques, since those do show up a lot.. Also I would focus more on the Carbonyl and Alcohols chapter vs the Carbs/Nitrogen compounds chapters. The carbohydrate chapter is good, but I seldom see any of these on the AAMCs.. And Amino acid sequencing common.. lol. I finished that section today, and i remember doing these in 4000 level cellular physiology class where they give you around 15 min to decipher 1 problem..

Sounds like TBR... Thanks for the input

 

[Don Draper]

Ive AAMC7-10 and TBR1-3 CBTs. Should I just finish up the TBR ones or try and squeeze in a few more AAMC ones?

Whoa, AAMC > TBR FLs. Priority #1 is to do AAMC, if you can fit all those in then and ONLY then would you start doing the TBR.

Honestly, just plow through all those FLs... only do passages in an area if you are weak.

 

[JSU]

Whoa, AAMC > TBR FLs. Priority #1 is to do AAMC, if you can fit all those in then and ONLY then would you start doing the TBR.

Honestly, just plow through all those FLs... only do passages in an area if you are weak.

Even the early number AAMCs? Arent they suppose to be too easy?

 

[JSU]

Can anyone confirm that I should take the early AAMC exams vs. TBR.

 

[MCAT4life]

Ya man take all your AAMCS. And if you have time you can do a TBR towards the end, but since those are harder don't let the bad scores affect you mentally.

 

[JSU]

Has anyone done 2 tests per day? I have 12~ days left and the only way im finishing all of the TBR and AAMC exams is if I either do 2 per day and take a day to review or 1 per day and review in the afternoon. Would 2 per day be good for building endurance or do you think my body would just start rejecting the MCAT after a while?