Writing Section

[SomaCNS]

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Hi... I'd appreciate hearing from those who scored well on this section as to how they organized and wrote their essays. The Kaplan PCAT materials contain a method identical to what is set forth in their MCAT materials. However, the MCAT instructions essentially instruct the test-taker to perform 3 tasks: (1) define the statement; (2) provide a counterexample in which the statement is not true; and (3) determine when the prompt should be applied.

Per the Candidate Information Booklet, the PCAT directions are: "The topic on which you will write is in the form of a statement that presents a problem. Your essay should present a solution to the problem presented in the statement. Your essay should be of sufficient length to adequately explain your solution to the problem presented in the statement. In your response, you should observe the following: Suggest a solution to the problem presented. State a clear thesis and present relevant support that draws upon credible references from your academic or personal experience, reading, or studies. Discuss and evaluate possible alternative solutions to the one you are suggesting. ..."

A sample PCAT prompt is: "Discuss a solution to the problem of America's dependence on imported non-renewable fossil fuels such as oil."

A sample MCAT prompt is:
The object of education should be to teach skills, not values.
Write a unified essay in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which the object of education might be teaching values rather than skills. Discuss what you think determines when the object of education is to teach skills and when it is to teach values.

To me, it seems that the MCAT is specifically requiring 3 tasks to be addressed, whereas the PCAT is requiring you to identify the problem and discuss solutions. Thus, it seems the PCAT instructions and the MCAT instructions are NOT the same, thereby requiring different approaches. But that's my opinion. I saw that someone who posted previously indicated that he wrote an essay similar to the Kaplan MCAT method and received 4s. So maybe that is, in fact, what the PCAT wants? It would be helpful if Harcourt provided a sample "5" essay, but I don't see any sample essays from them.

Anyway, just wondering how others approached this section.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Pharmacyguy4]

dude the writng sections should be the least of your worries. It's a pain now that there are two writing portions, but it's gonna be obvious which one is the graded, and which is the experimental. If you can read and write english pretty well, then there is no reason why you shouldn't get at least 3's on both sections. Follow kaplans strategy..1) write an intro stating the topic, 2) give at least 2-3 examples of why you're for something or against, 3) give a counter example for #2, 4) conclusion...dude when I took the exam, I had no clue what the experimental question was talking about and I still got a 3 on it. Like I said, if you can read/write well, it shouldn't be bad. Peace out.