The following is another interview with a student who took the MCAT in April 2015. As with the other interviews, these answers simply represent the students' point of view and should be taken as such as you prepare for your own exam. I really like how the student's personality shines through in this interview, especially in the way she urges you to study and prepare for your exam.
Real MCAT vs Official Sample Test and Packets
Have you taken the AAMC sample test?
- Since there are few materials, have a strategy in mind of how you are going to use the practice test. I took it twice; halfway through my study plan and then a week before the test.
- I bought all of the AAMC materials, used Khan, the portal, etc.
What about the exam do you feel was most and least helpful?
- I did not find the “why did I get this question wrong” options helpful. I like the idea, but the choices didn’t fit for me. I made an excel spreadsheet instead.
- I LOVED the solution explanations; especially the breakdown of topic, skill, subject, etc being tested. This allowed for me to target my strengths and weaknesses.
What about the bundles were most and least helpful?
- I did not find the “why did I get this question wrong” options helpful. I like the idea, but the choices didn’t fit for me. I made an excel spreadsheet instead.
- I LOVED the solution explanations; especially the breakdown of topic, skill, subject, etc being tested. This allowed for me to target my strengths and weaknesses.
Compared to non AAMC Test Prep Material
Practice Tests:
- Next Step (5 full-lengths +1 ½ diagnostic)
- TPR
- Kaplan
Other materials (linked on the MCAT Resources Page)
- EK
- Khan
I used my class textbooks, notes, old exams, etc for reviewing concepts.
In my opinion, some MCAT test-prep company products repackage textbooks I already have purchased and used. I focused on which materials would help me hoan in on specific needs/not and give me questions, questions, questions…
KHAN KHAN KHAN KHAN
Do you feel that it prepared you for the real thing?
Any time you have the opportunity to practice questions that you may see on a standardized test is always a good study/practice strategy as a general rule.
What about each one was most/least helpful?
Next Step: sold most full-lengths for the least $ and their exams were closest to the real MCAT after the AAMC sample test.
If more than one company, which do you feel was most useful?
EK; hands down. EK uses a much more streamlined, practical method. EK assumes that you know or at least have had some exposure to the main ideas and they separate it into the “Should”, “Need”, “OMG YOU HAVE TO” know this categories.
Compared to the Old MCAT
Content is content. If you can identify your strengths and weaknesses and use materials to aid you in learning…they are valuable!
Anything that has a description of the solution—why the correct is correct and all the wrongs are wrongs are good ways to utilize materials.
Overall Exam Questions
- The interactive tool/matrix is the best guide. Cross-referencing materials, concepts skills, etc is a good strategy.
- Understanding why the exam was changed is also helpful; especially if you’re comparing old to new.
- https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2013/05000/Redesigning_the_MCAT_Exam___Balancing_Multiple.12.aspx
- MATRIX MATRIX MATRIX MATRIX MATRIX MATRIX
Were the passages comprised of mostly text, graphs, charts?
I felt that all of the formats used were familiar to me from a variety of contexts beyond science and/or MCAT prep
Was there a lot of math? if so was it detailed or simple?
I think Leah’s MCAT Math and EK Math chapters prepared me adequately
Do you feel there was enough time to go through the questions?
Using the practices tests to help gauge and improve time management helped me a lot.
CARS
Were the passages dense or not dense or somewhere in between?
I felt prepared for the CARS section with the materials I used.
Were you able to finish all passages?
- I felt prepared for the CARS section with the materials I used.
- Using the practices tests to help gauge time and improve time helped me.
- EK offers really good CARS strategies.
Science
How much focus on equation/concept memorization was required?
I resonated with the EK strategies given to help with this
Did you see a lot of organic chemistry?
Leah, I don’t know how you don’t want to choke people when you get this question! I don’t teach orgo and I want to choke people. News Flash: Biochemistry = Orgo in the body.
(Leah's Note: This comment was in reply to the rumors that there is ‘little orgo' on the new MCAT)
How difficult are the sciences compared to the old MCAT?
Science hasn’t changed…the MCAT did.
Psych/Soc
Was the psych section very specific or general?
Khan academy helped fill in any gaps of things I didn’t know.
Look at the “official” title of the section and ask the question again. And again…go look at the matrix.
Looking Back:
What do you wish you could have done differently in preparation now that you’ve seen the exam?
Have access to more practice tests AND some idea to scoring.Honestly…my process was simple:
- I read all I could about how and why it changed
- Used Matrix to plan my study
- Questions 1st, Solutions 2nd, resources
3rd; repeat
What advice can you give to students who are about to sit the new MCAT?
Questions questions questions questions! Practice questions. Use the questions as your study map…go over correct and incorrect solutions.
Make questions out of questions that you’ve answered. (eg How would the answer change if chemical x was used instead? Would it? What if I used a catalyst? What would I use? Would it help? If it would does that mean in the body an enzyme needs to activate or inhibit something?) **This is an example I made up to illustrate a study strategy. It is not from or meant to indicate anything from printed material for practice or the exam itself.**
MATRIX….know the matrix…use the matrix…all and everything is in the matrix
Practice making connections! Cause and effect… How does this abdominal process relate to physics, relate to other biology, relate to orgo? Is the question asking me something ‘underneath’ or “between the lines” of what I’m reading?
**This is an example I made up to illustrate a study strategy. It is not from or meant to indicate anything from printed material for practice or the exam itself.**
Orgo Lab…no longer the heaviest work load 1 credit class that you just plow through and get ‘er done! Know why the experiments are working, how they are working, what could change? How this experiment is analogous to a body or molecular function. Go over lab reports…
My plan was simple and practice question driven:
- question set
- review solutions (read every word of every solution)
- Identify things to review; things to relearn, Oh Shit I have no clue…
- Decide which resources are the best to address that.
- Repeat.
Test prep companies use “classroom” learning strategies for learning MCAT material. MCAT is not divided into 5 nicely packaged books. It’s not like your final exam.
Let the questions dictate your study plan—what are your test taking behaviors with certain subjects (mine? I narrow down the correct and the “almost correct” or the “It is correct but the other one is better) what are your patterns with content (Mine? For the life of me I could NOT remember a particular equation when I needed it within a passage during my practice…WTH? I use that all the time…) **This is an example I made up to
illustrate a study strategy. It is not from or meant to indicate anything from printed material for practice or the exam itself.**
Standardized tests are about more behavior than rote knowledge! (True! Pedagogically true!)
I want to hear from you
Did you find this interview helpful? Are there any other questions you'd like me to ask future MCAT testers? Let me know in the comments below.
