Writing equations during tutorial and breaks

[Tarajoy]

I am writing on May 21st. I was all planned to write out some equations and stuff I have had memorized during time left during the tutorial. I feel it helps me focus and gain confidence being able to write down everything I have memorized before the test.

However, I just called the test center and they said I am not allowed to do so!

After reviewing old threads it seems that in some testing centers you are allowed, while other you are not?

I am pissed off.

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[Ismet]

I'm not sure why they say you can't do it. The "MCAT Essentials" says nothing about this. The only thing it does say is that you have to follow the test administrator's directions. So if they say no, don't do it.

However, my Kaplan instructor told us to write down equations before starting PS. I went to my testing center a few days ago just to make sure I knew where it was, and the lady who was working at the front desk (it's a Sylvan learning center that is also a Prometrics testing center) had no idea what the MCAT entails and she didn't even know how to find my name in the registration for May 20 (which made me freak out for several minutes). You might have talked someone who didn't know what they were talking about or maybe they misunderstood you. I would ask again when you get there while you're checking in. Again, if they say no, don't do it. Start scribbling those equations down as soon as the timer starts in PS.

 

[Tarajoy]

Thank you for the reply.

The person I was speaking to was adamant that I cannot write down anything unless the timer is going.

Ugh. So angry.

 

[apumic]

Thank you for the reply.

The person I was speaking to was adamant that I cannot write down anything unless the timer is going.

Ugh. So angry.

If the MCAT Essentials doesn't mention it, just have a copy AND do it anyway. As long as you didn't tell them who you were, all they can do is tell you not to and even then, you've got the test policies right there. Make 'em work a bit. Just don't actually break any AAMC policies and always be respectful (but firm, oh so very firm).

 

[Tarajoy]

You don't think I could get in trouble for that? Go against their rules even if it is not an AAMC rule? Maybe I will call AAMC and see what they say?

 

[Tarajoy]

Does the AAMC specifically say it is OK to write stuff down during the tutorial/breaks, or does it just not mention it? I can't find anywhere where it says it is or is not OK.

 

[thomasfx10]

I would like to know about this as well. Hopefully some prior test takers will give us the 411 ...

My Kaplan instructor told us to use that time for writing out equations.

 

[apumic]

You don't think I could get in trouble for that? Go against their rules even if it is not an AAMC rule? Maybe I will call AAMC and see what they say?

You COULD but only if you were explicitly told not to and then didn't comply. As long as it's not in the MCAT Essentials (and I don't recall it being in there but I can't say that I've checked but I've heard of people doing this and no one caring), they can't report you to the AAMC for behavior they did not specifically tell you not to do.

Now if you told them your name when you called before and they told you no at that pt in time and they made note of your call, then they could go and report your behavior as misconduct. It's all in how you do it.

 

[SN2ed]

Since you called and they said no, I wouldn't risk it. The last thing you need to worry about on test day is getting your test voided. Just take the minute or two and write them when you start PS.

 

[Tarajoy]

So, I called AAMC and they said you absolutely are allowed to write stuff down during the tutorial and breaks! They said if there are issues, the test center (Ottawa) should call AAMC.


When I called the test center to inform them of this, they could not confirm it would be allowed (testing person was not there).

Therefore, now I just requested to get it in writing from AAMC.

Seems crazy I have to do this though!

 

[dreamer67]

Wow I hadn't even thought of this idea. Writing down every single physics and chem equation could take some time but would def be worth it if you have the extra time during the tutorial

 

[rockstarramona]

May I ask which phys and chem equations you will jot down if given the opportunity?

 

[Ismet]

May I ask which phys and chem equations you will jot down if given the opportunity?

The only ones I write down during practice tests are the kinematic equations. (aka d=vt+ 0.5at^2, etc). I tend to forget what is in each equation when I'm freaking out over PS 🙂

 

[Tarajoy]

I write down a lot. It makes me feel better, makes me feel that "ahahaha.. I have all the answers right here!" eventhough I know it is far from the case. In essence I write down.

Special angles
VF/vi/a/d relationships (6 of them)
area and circ of circle
forces (gravity, and relating is to centripetal force)
pv=nrt
effusion
energy (pe and ke)
work, power
momentum/impluse
fluid pressure and buoyency
av=av
bernelli
eletrostatic (forces, volts)
circuit v=ir, p=iv, p=i2r, and briefly series/parallel, capacitors
Magnetism force
in bold i write e=hf and c=vf (seems to be everywhere in the mcat)
spring/pendulum angular freq (always forget)
first few wavelengths and relationships for string/open/closed pipes
n=c/v n1sin1=n2sin2
concave M/convex L converge real/inverted or upright/virtual
convex M concave L diverge upright virtual
1/0+1/i=1/f=2/r
k=hf-W
the 4 decays
ph=-lon(X)
ph=pka +log (cb/wa)

OH, and most importantly I write on the top of my page

p1-p2-p3-p4-p5-p6-p7 (I cross each off after I an done, and fill in the discretes as they come)

55-47.5-40-32.5-25-17.5-10-2.5 (I am horrible at time management, so I pretty much have to look at this often to see where about I should be)


And that is pretty much it! although I may have forgot something really important. Ultimately i just really like to visulize in my head for about 5 minutes before the test every chapter in the book.

THAT BEING SAID... i still only score about 28's... soo...... yeah.

 

[Rabolisk]

I am skeptical of the wisdom of writing every single equation down. It seems like most people who score really high don't need to do those things. Also in my academic experience, cheat sheets, equation lists, and one page notes that are allowed tend to be gimmicks that only help a little. I believe that the key to succeeding on the MCAT and any other exam is to learn the background info and practice, rather than rely on small techniques or gimmicks. Nevertheless, this is a valuable information you have provided many future MCAT takers, and I don't mean to be so critical towards you, OP.

 

[music2doc]

I am skeptical of the wisdom of writing every single equation down. It seems like most people who score really high don't need to do those things. Also in my academic experience, cheat sheets, equation lists, and one page notes that are allowed tend to be gimmicks that only help a little. I believe that the key to succeeding on the MCAT and any other exam is to learn the background info and practice, rather than rely on small techniques or gimmicks. Nevertheless, this is a valuable information you have provided many future MCAT takers, and I don't mean to be so critical towards you, OP.

I think writing equations down could be very helpful and thank you OP for finding out for sure!

Nevertheless, I agree with Rabolisk that people who do really well probably don't have to write much down. In college, I usually did a brain dump at the beginning of tests to help get me in the mode of the test and help build confidence. However, taking the practice exams, I've found I only write down a quick note or two for maybe 2-3 questions per science section and nothing for the VR sections. I've been scoring really well (36-40 on the AAMCs a little over a week out from my exam) and generally finishing with time to spare, so I must be doing something right. To each his own, though! Good luck, everyone!

 

[Tarajoy]

Yes. I see your point. I did AAMC 11 without writing down anything and I got the same mark as all of the others. So, yes, I agree it probably doesn't do any good, but I cannot see how it can do bad, unless of course, I use up to much brain power.

I will most likely just keep it to a minimum. It is not like I cannot come up with the formulas right on the spot anyways. Again, it is just to kind of ease of anxiety.

Any other tips? My exam is on Sat so there is not much more I can do. I have consistently been getting 28's, and although I would be happy with a 28, I would not be happy with anything else. Kind of scary. But, for some reason I have confidence. When I write the tests, there is rarely anything I 'don't know', mostly just silly mistakes. Also, there is not one section I am doing badly on, it just skips around as to which ones I do well in (ie. 11).. therefore.. on the real exam... perhaps I can do well in all! If not, rewrite!

 

[rockstarramona]

Good luck, Tarajoy.

 

[Research3r]

OH, and most importantly I write on the top of my page

p1-p2-p3-p4-p5-p6-p7 (I cross each off after I an done, and fill in the discretes as they come)

55-47.5-40-32.5-25-17.5-10-2.5 (I am horrible at time management, so I pretty much have to look at this often to see where about I should be)

Good idea with for the time management numbers 👍

Why do you have the first time interval as 55? Shouldn't it be 70-7 so 63?

 

[flodhi1]

We are allowed to read magazines during the break though right? like The Economist? just a random question

 

[Tarajoy]

I start with 55 because I am subtracting the 13 discrete. 1 min per question. I realize that it should only take about 13 min to do these, but, these are the questions I know I can pretty much always get write it I spend time on them. "guaranteed points" (kind of).

I do the discretes first

 

[Ismet]

We are allowed to read magazines during the break though right? like The Economist? just a random question

I don't think so, although you can call the test center and ask. I know magazines aren't technically study material (apart from building a database of ideas for writing) but you could theoretically have equations or study material in the margins or something.

 

[bearintraining]

You can't take anything in to the testing room. So no, magazines are certainly NOT allowed. No paper whatsoever.

 

[toxictrix]

No reading anything during breaks. You should be able to write in tutorial though

 

[hookgrip]

You should be able to write in tutorial though

I specifically called my testing center about this today and their reply was also "you cannot do "brain dumps" before the timer for PS begins."

 

[vandyam]

Well that is absolutely bull crap - you are 100% allowed to and not allowing you to gives you a disadvantage that other test-takers don't have. I wrote all my equations before hand. Call aamc if you have to, but that's crap.

 

[Hershi]

Well that is absolutely bull crap - you are 100% allowed to and not allowing you to gives you a disadvantage that other test-takers don't have. I wrote all my equations before hand. Call aamc if you have to, but that's crap.

agreed. So did I, I am retaking next week I better be able to do it again!

 

[Jlaw]

They might not allow it but they don't watch you and with the little divider things they probably can't even see if you are writing anyway.

Do whatever you want they will just give you a warning if by some miracle they actually catch you doing this.

 

[mitchlucker]

When I took it I didn't even think to ask. I had scrap paper in front of me, a pencil and 10 minutes on the tutorial timer. I wrote down all the angles I should know (sin, cos, tan of 0, 30, 45, 60, 90) and the chemistry electron values 2s2, 3s2, 3p6, etc. No one said a word to me.

The way I see it is that it's your break. Do what you want with it. You aren't reading outside information, and you're not using outside materials. It's in your head. It's not mentioned in the MCAT essentials at all.

(However, if you know it enough to write it down, you probably know it anyways. It's the MCAT not a psych midterm you crammed for.)

I just did it for the extra confidence. Didn't even look at it once during my exam.

My test center was somewhat strict, also. I was patted down, scanned and told to turn all my pockets inside out before I could fingerprint back in.

I asked "Is all this really necessary?" and the woman told me "you wouldn't believe what we've caught kids doing." and she proceeded to tell me about 1 kid who would bring small post-it notes with bio/orgo notes on them in the small cargo pockets on jeans and would hide them under the keyboard. He brought a few in every break and she caught him looking at them once the bio section started. She scanned them and sent them to the AAMC along with all of his information and I think she canceled his score but I'm not sure if the test center can do this or the AAMC has to.

 

[mitchlucker]

They might not allow it but they don't watch you and with the little divider things they probably can't even see if you are writing anyway.

Do whatever you want they will just give you a warning if by some miracle they actually catch you doing this.

They do watch you. My testing center had cameras above every student and could be zoomed in and out at the will of the proctor.

They will probably give you a warning or tell you not to do it if they really don't allow it.

 

[commodores12]

You are seriously wasting your time. In fact, you may be hurting yourself. You should be comfortable enough with the material that when you read a question, the equation(s) you need pop up in your head. Even if you like SEEING these equations, you can write it down then and there.

The fact is, you are getting 28s because you still aren't completely comfortable with the material. What you are doing is reading the questions and then looking back to your equations when you don't automatically know what to do. VALUABLE TIME WASTED.

CONTENT REVIEW x100

 

[macsta]

I actually did this on my 7/6 exam, so I know what I'm talking about. As soon as I was walked to my seat, I started writing down all my physics and g chem equations (around 30-40). The tutorial is like 10 minutes and really dumb, so I figured that would be the best time. A proctor actually walked right by me during one of her rounds and she said nothing.

Before all of my AAMC practice exams I went through the same procedure of writing down all my questions, so it became a habit. On my test day, I didn't use a single formula that I had written down (my test was a bitch).

Oh and if you need extra paper, you can always ask them for more.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

 

[AugustMCAT]

Ok, MCAT is in 4 hours.

Can scratch paper used during the tutorial be used in the biology section?

I want to write down orgo reaction mechanisms as I'm fine in phys/gchem with formulas.

Thoughts?

 

[FutureDoctor503]

Ok, MCAT is in 4 hours.

Can scratch paper used during the tutorial be used in the biology section?

I want to write down orgo reaction mechanisms as I'm fine in phys/gchem with formulas.

Thoughts?

At my test center, we had a booklet of scratch papers and we used the same booklet for all the sections. However, I am not sure if that's the case for all the test centers. You can confirm this with other SDNers.
As far as orgo, I doubt there will be many questions (prob. 6 to 7 on the high end) on the BS section. Most of the questions for orgo are straight forward and require general knowledge. You probably won't need to use specific reactions and mechanisms during the exam.

 

[hookgrip]

Ok, MCAT is in 4 hours.

Can scratch paper used during the tutorial be used in the biology section?

I want to write down orgo reaction mechanisms as I'm fine in phys/gchem with formulas.

Thoughts?

Most of the orgo you encounter on BS will probably be very basic stuff like stereochemistry, SN1/SN2, etc. I doubt there will be more than 1 or 2 questions on difficult or obscure mechanisms.