Would appreciate some feedback

[giguerex35]

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I posted on the MCAT page but haven't gotten any responses so i was hoping someone would be willing to answer here. I am going to be taking the MCAT within the next two weeks and am averaging around 500 but obviously want to do better and have been wondering how people get such high scores like 515+ on this test. I understand it is not primarily content so i started looking at more passage questions and just doing lots of practice but i fear i am still making some fundamental error. If anyone, especially those with high MCAT, could give some insight as to how they were able to do so, or if there was some trick or something that triggered the light bulb it would be much appreciated. thanks

 

[NeuroSoph75]

Have you taken the AAMC practice exams yet?

 

[giguerex35]

Have you taken the AAMC practice exams yet?

ya scoring about 500 and im hoping to score a 504 which i feel is reasonable

 

[NeuroSoph75]

ya scoring about 500 and im hoping to score a 504 which i feel is reasonable

I took the MCAT last May. On the AAMC scored test I got a 515 which was my actually score (129/129/127/130). If you are not scoring in the range that you want to be in, I would recommend pushing back your test because two weeks is not enough time to make drastic improvements. Is there one section in particular that is giving you trouble?

 

[Dr. Stalker]

OP @NeuroSoph75 gave the best advice. I cannot emphasize how bad it is to take the MCAT unprepared. I did that and got hit with a score that is following me forever. When I apply now, despite it being a new score, medical schools will see and interpret that old score. It doesn't just disappear.

If you're hellbent on taking your MCAT, as far as the 515 goes, these students tend to have complete mastery of every single content review topic. You know how sometimes reviewing questions or practice exams, you'll say to yourself, "Oh, dam, I know what that enzyme does, I just picked the wrong answer..." these students don't do that. They know everything about everything. If you throw some random psy/soc term at them, it isn't foreign; they'll nail the question perfectly. On top of that, these students are able to adapt and modify their thinking to critically think, analyze, and answer all the questions they're blasted with.

 

[raiderette]

I got a 516. The best thing that I did was take tests, then focus my studies on my weaknesses. Don't take take the test until you are scoring at the score you need. Buy additional tests from the companies and find your weaknesses. Save at least one or two to practice timing and prepare for the test day.

 

[giguerex35]

I took the MCAT last May. On the AAMC scored test I got a 515 which was my actually score (129/129/127/130). If you are not scoring in the range that you want to be in, I would recommend pushing back your test because two weeks is not enough time to make drastic improvements. Is there one section in particular that is giving you trouble?

OP @NeuroSoph75 gave the best advice. I cannot emphasize how bad it is to take the MCAT unprepared. I did that and got hit with a score that is following me forever. When I apply now, despite it being a new score, medical schools will see and interpret that old score. It doesn't just disappear.

If you're hellbent on taking your MCAT, as far as the 515 goes, these students tend to have complete mastery of every single content review topic. You know how sometimes reviewing questions or practice exams, you'll say to yourself, "Oh, dam, I know what that enzyme does, I just picked the wrong answer..." these students don't do that. They know everything about everything. If you throw some random psy/soc term at them, it isn't foreign; they'll nail the question perfectly. On top of that, these students are able to adapt and modify their thinking to critically think, analyze, and answer all the questions they're blasted with.

Much appreciated. I have to say that i have been working on this for roughly 3 months now and i feel like this may be the best that i am going to get. My original goal was a 508 but i would be fine with a 504 at this point. I am not applying to MD school, i am applying to DO school and so i feel like a 504 MCAT would be fine, obviously not great but its above the average for many schools. As far as one section chem phys is easily my worst then cars. I usually score at or above 125 for BB and PS so im not terribly worried about those. I just cant seem to get around the bull s*** answer choices in cars that mess me up. C/P i simply struggle with.

 

[giguerex35]

I took the MCAT last May. On the AAMC scored test I got a 515 which was my actually score (129/129/127/130). If you are not scoring in the range that you want to be in, I would recommend pushing back your test because two weeks is not enough time to make drastic improvements. Is there one section in particular that is giving you trouble?

perhaps if you wouldnt mind, could you tell me what the process you did when you got something wrong was as far as how to correct it.

 

[Dr. Stalker]

Much appreciated. I have to say that i have been working on this for roughly 3 months now and i feel like this may be the best that i am going to get. My original goal was a 508 but i would be fine with a 504 at this point. I am not applying to MD school, i am applying to DO school and so i feel like a 504 MCAT would be fine, obviously not great but its above the average for many schools. As far as one section chem phys is easily my worst then cars. I usually score at or above 125 for BB and PS so im not terribly worried about those. I just cant seem to get around the bull s*** answer choices in cars that mess me up. C/P i simply struggle with.

For DO schools, 504-510 is recommended, so be sure you don't hit below a 504. What is your CARS score like? Unfortunately, that isn't an overnight fix.

As far as BB and PS go, those can a good amount of content. Do you know all the basic psy/soc terms (fundamental attribution error, kohlberg stages, piaget stages, james lange/cannon-bard/schacter-singer)? Do you know your basic BB (all amino acids structures, names, 3 letter abbreviation, 1 letter abbreviation, glycolysis+krebs intermediates and enzymes)? If not, those are some easy points to buff up.

 

[giguerex35]

For DO schools, 504-510 is recommended, so be sure you don't hit below a 504. What is your CARS score like? Unfortunately, that isn't an overnight fix.

As far as BB and PS go, those can a good amount of content. Do you know all the basic psy/soc terms (fundamental attribution error, kohlberg stages, piaget stages, james lange/cannon-bard/schacter-singer)? Do you know your basic BB (all amino acids structures, names, 3 letter abbreviation, 1 letter abbreviation, glycolysis+krebs intermediates and enzymes)? If not, those are some easy points to buff up.

ya my BB and PS are the areas im not worried about. I am more concerned with CP. Cant seem to understand whats going on there.My cars score is roughly 125. i just have to work on time management with that section.

 

[Dr. Stalker]

ya my BB and PS are the areas im not worried about. I am more concerned with CP. Cant seem to understand whats going on there.My cars score is roughly 125. i just have to work on time management with that section.

Timing...hmm, I see. For me, for Phys/Chem I'd spend no more than 8 minutes per passage (that includes reading and solving all questions). This left ample time to review everything. For CARS, I's spend 10 minutes per passage, but that includes ZERO time to go back and read/re-do difficult questions and passages.

 

[giguerex35]

Timing...hmm, I see. For me, for Phys/Chem I'd spend no more than 8 minutes per passage (that includes reading and solving all questions). This left ample time to review everything. For CARS, I's spend 10 minutes per passage, but that includes ZERO time to go back and read/re-do difficult questions and passages.

well i really only have a problem with timing for CARS. I just really dont understand C/P it may very well be that im just not smart enough for it but i consistently score around 123-124. Just cant seem to figure it out...

 

[Dr. Stalker]

well i really only have a problem with timing for CARS. I just really dont understand C/P it may very well be that im just not smart enough for it but i consistently score around 123-124. Just cant seem to figure it out...

Hey, don't say that. No need for negativity, especially against yourself mate. The Phys/Chem section is, albeit, the weirdest, but not impossible. Something I found helpful while studying was to remind myself that it is, at the end of the day, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Yes, biology and biochemistry will be splashed in here and there, but its still, at its core, a physical science section. You need to be able to navigate your way through physics and chemistry in the context/realm of biology/biochemistry, kind of like how scored AAMC FL 1 and scored AAMC FL 2 present it. Approaching the section (and studying) this way really helped me pick up my scores from where you're at to 128s.

 

[giguerex35]

Hey, don't say that. No need for negativity, especially against yourself mate. The Phys/Chem section is, albeit, the weirdest, but not impossible. Something I found helpful while studying was to remind myself that it is, at the end of the day, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Yes, biology and biochemistry will be splashed in here and there, but its still, at its core, a physical science section. You need to be able to navigate your way through physics and chemistry in the context/realm of biology/biochemistry, kind of like how scored AAMC FL 1 and scored AAMC FL 2 present it. Approaching the section (and studying) this way really helped me pick up my scores from where you're at to 128s.

well i appreciate the help guess well have to wait and see not to sure how much i believe itll go well but. As of now im thinking i might just polish my skills in SP and BB to make up for the downfall of CP.