Why does Kaplan give this impression?

[mredgreen81]

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For the longest time, I had the wrong impression of the MCAT.
That is, until I started taking practice tests.

I realize, the MCAT isn't what Kaplan made me believe it was. There is no "organic chemistry" section. I don't need to have a bunch of formulas memorized, and there is no reason to be nervous about the physics section.

So, why does Kaplan send out e-mails like this one?
"If you're like a lot of pre-meds, there are two science

sections in particular on the MCAT that make you anxious: physics and organic chemistry."

On my practice tests, I think there were 2-3 questions on organic chemistry.

I guess I'm just irritated I wasn't told to just start taking practice tests freshman year. Most of it is simply getting used to understanding data and what not.

Do you guys think that it would have been a lot less stressful if you would have told that you'll do great on the MCAT if you just practice, rather than study???

 

[ilovebiology]

For the longest time, I had the wrong impression of the MCAT.
That is, until I started taking practice tests.

I realize, the MCAT isn't what Kaplan made me believe it was. There is no "organic chemistry" section. I don't need to have a bunch of formulas memorized, and there is no reason to be nervous about the physics section.

So, why does Kaplan send out e-mails like this one?
"If you're like a lot of pre-meds, there are two science

sections in particular on the MCAT that make you anxious: physics and organic chemistry."

On my practice tests, I think there were 2-3 questions on organic chemistry.

I guess I'm just irritated I wasn't told to just start taking practice tests freshman year. Most of it is simply getting used to understanding data and what not.

Do you guys think that it would have been a lot less stressful if you would have told that you'll do great on the MCAT if you just practice, rather than study???

I've heard the same about there isn't that many organic chemistry questions on there...so it looks like you've taken the MCAT and you took the class with Kaplan. Do you recommend Kaplan for studying for the MCAT? Thanks 🙂

 

[mredgreen81]

No, I don't recommend Kaplan for studying, per se. You don't need to spend 200 hours learning organic chemistry facts, but rather, spend 200 hours strictly practicing taking the MCAT. The next time I hear an adviser telling a student to "study" for the MCAT, I am going to smack him or her in the face.
Just go online and order practice MCATs. That's all you need to do. I had a buddy who was a French major take the MCAT (he was pre-med). He had no physics, no organic chemistry, and only a little biology in his background, and he got a 31.
Just goes to show....it's about whether or not you know HOW to take the test.

PRACTICE..don't study.

 

[leonc]

I believe you took the June 18th MCAT. My friends who took that one said they were overwhelmed by the physics and o-chem passages. When I took mine back in April, I believe that was only ONE physics and ONE ochem passages. You do not have to worry because most people Ive talked to tell me about the same thing.

 

[dynezxice]

I realize, the MCAT isn't what Kaplan made me believe it was. There is no "organic chemistry" section. I don't need to have a bunch of formulas memorized, and there is no reason to be nervous about the physics section.

You keep telling yourself that until the day of your MCAT.

 

[Mattabet]

Why does Kaplan give this impression?

TO... SELL... THINGS.

For the record, though, I had TWO o-chem passages (though I'm nearly 100% sure one of them was new material they were testing, there was some overlap in the questions).

 

[ksmi117]

Moving to the MCAT forum.

 

[MBigD011]

yesterdays morning MCAT had 3, yes THREE orgo passages + orgo discretes.

And the physics was a lot more like Kaplan in the sense of having to do actual calculations where as AAMC you mainly manipulated formulas.

 

[Stixman28]

yesterdays morning MCAT had 3, yes THREE orgo passages + orgo discretes.

And the physics was a lot more like Kaplan in the sense of having to do actual calculations where as AAMC you mainly manipulated formulas.

On my physics section a year ago, I had 6 physics, 1 gen chem question. So I think you should be careful spreading the notion not to study formulas etc.

Orgo, I only had one of the 7 questions in bio about, but i sure needed to be comfortable with orgo to answer the questions.

MCAT exams vary widely, sounds like you had a nice exam.

 

[cher25]

For the longest time, I had the wrong impression of the MCAT.
That is, until I started taking practice tests.

I realize, the MCAT isn't what Kaplan made me believe it was. There is no "organic chemistry" section. I don't need to have a bunch of formulas memorized, and there is no reason to be nervous about the physics section.

So, why does Kaplan send out e-mails like this one?
"If you're like a lot of pre-meds, there are two science

sections in particular on the MCAT that make you anxious: physics and organic chemistry."

On my practice tests, I think there were 2-3 questions on organic chemistry.

I guess I'm just irritated I wasn't told to just start taking practice tests freshman year. Most of it is simply getting used to understanding data and what not.

Do you guys think that it would have been a lot less stressful if you would have told that you'll do great on the MCAT if you just practice, rather than study???

I took the MCAT yesterday and as others have noted, there was definitely alot of OChem and Physics on the exam. What gives you the impression that there isn't? Half of my physical sciences section required calculations for both Physics and General Chemisitry. Also, imo, the ochem wasn't easy. But I'm weak on ochem so that may be the reason. I was a retaker and I must say that 'studying' for the MCAT is as crucial as doing practice tests. I used Kaplan and the MCAT passages were very similar to the passages I encountered with Kaplan. The PS section was more dense with Kaplan, however. The BS section was on par though I found the MCAT Bio to be more difficult only because of the three OChem passages. Kaplan verbal was extremely dense. I eventually moved over to practicing with EK verbal, which I personally felt helped, but wasn't representative.

 

[DrDre2001]

I totally disagree with the OP. Apparently, the OP just took the MCAT. Based off what he is saying, he must have had the easiest MCAT in recent years.

Instead, I agree with Cher25. There are two components to the test: 1. Knowing the material (which you will not know unless you study the material) and 2. Knowing how to take the test.

On my real test (summer of 2008), I certainly used many formulas that I had memorized. I also certainly had to recall detailed bits of information that I had memorized.

Study the material just as much as you take practice tests.

 

[sv3]

6 physics to 1 chem? Jeez......i thought that kinda ratio only occured in Bio. I have no idea what the AAMC is thinking. That's just a little too much. Talk about ignoring an entire major subject. Well at least its a good heads up.

 

[Red Leader]

Look you are jumping to the opposite extreme. It won't help you to just keep taking exams and improving little by little and then falling 2 steps back. You cannot improve by ONLY practicing the exams. This is NOT the SAT. You need both smarts and knowledge (different things) to do well on this exam. You gotta know the material and you gotta know how to critically think about the problems presented to which you then apply aforementioned material. Kaplan overemphasizes studying I agree, and I took one of their expensive ass courses, but the material they gave me was worth it and I mapped out my own study plan which is paying off.

The max you will get on the MCAT without knowing the formulas well or orgo reactions well is probably around 30-ish*. From there you gotta actually know stuff man.

* based on my own experiences, definitely not universally true, just sharing my exp.

 

[DrDre2001]

Look you are jumping to the opposite extreme. It won't help you to just keep taking exams and improving little by little and then falling 2 steps back. You cannot improve by ONLY practicing the exams. This is NOT the SAT. You need both smarts and knowledge (different things) to do well on this exam. You gotta know the material and you gotta know how to critically think about the problems presented to which you then apply aforementioned material. Kaplan overemphasizes studying I agree, and I took one of their expensive ass courses, but the material they gave me was worth it and I mapped out my own study plan which is paying off.

The max you will get on the MCAT without knowing the formulas well or orgo reactions well is probably around 30-ish*. From there you gotta actually know stuff man.

* based on my own experiences, definitely not universally true, just sharing my exp.

I agree with all that.

But did Kaplan really over-emphasize studying (as opposed to practicing)? I took the class, and within our class "schedule", we had 5 Kaplan tests to take at a designated time. They also gave us all access to all AAMC practice tests and my kaplan teacher stressed the importance of those. They also had many practice passages and questions given to us each week during our class for "homework". And during the classes themselves, as a class we would run through many practice passages together.

 

[Red Leader]

I agree with all that.

But did Kaplan really over-emphasize studying (as opposed to practicing)? I took the class, and within our class "schedule", we had 5 Kaplan tests to take at a designated time. They also gave us all access to all AAMC practice tests and my kaplan teacher stressed the importance of those. They also had many practice passages and questions given to us each week during our class for "homework". And during the classes themselves, as a class we would run through many practice passages together.

You're right, and I think it must vary a little from instructor to instructor. I did not feel 5 practice exams were enough so instead I reorganized their syllabus to give me another 10 extra practice exams to do in the same time they put in 5. It was hard to do with school, but now I have some of the summer to finish up before taking it.