GS CBTs vs AAMC CBTs

[matthew]

GS-1 23/40: 6
GS-2 22/40: 5
GS-3 25/40: 6 (but while reviewing an answer, i got -1 wrong b/c the answer i put was wrong not what key said, though still gave me the a +1, so really it is 24/40)

and then today
GS-4 30/40: 8

I have yet to take AAMC 9. I have decided to hold off on it until I carefully finish all GS CBTs. I paid a $100 dollars on EBay for these exams. I spent nearly 2 months not really using them and just doing EK 1001 and booklet questions. I thought that the exam just wasn't cutting it, but I never really stayed with it til now, and can see what a mistake it was.

The best way for me studying for this exam is 1) finding the location in your room, coffee maker near, only ONE comprehensive book in front of you and take the CBT exams, reviewing the answers with your book reading the specific section. EK did not work for me b/c too much color and too many books. It seemed like I would never finish and I wasn't really getting anywhere. Now I just use a 14 dollar book I bought on half.com as my comprehensive, Columbia Review book (1996). Too much prep books was my mistake, hope this advice helps some one. And EK 101, everyone was telling me get it you will improve. The MCAT is on computer now, so think about it. The questions were ridiculously hard. Seemed to "detail". I thought something was wrong with me, so I re-ordered the book and have sold it again. It didn't seem like it was helping. On a full-length I took on EK101, I received a 4. This was after the AAMC 7 which I got an 8. But I guess some folks find it really helpful, the EK series. In my 3+ month of studying, I didn't.


And I treat the AAMC CBT like a present that I received lets say from a grandmother or grandfather; very special. Special occasion as if the real exam day.

[Jen42987]

GS-10/GS-9 BS I scored a 9.

AAMC 8S BS 9 as well. (took this before doing head on GS CBTs

[chantal]

GS-4 PS scored a 9 (38/52) I can't really count this one though b/c before I started to sit through these exams I reviewed the problems as practice. It was a while ago, but still, it doesn't count. Just practice.

[Guest]

GS5 VR scored a 6. 23/40.

This was a big difference from GS4. My concentration on the last one wained.

My weakness is not in answering questions (if that makes sense) but really focusing when I am reading.

[admin]

There are 2 things that you should try, one of which you have probably done already.

1) You must try both techniques for VR to determine which one is best for you. In other words, try reading the passages first for an entire test, then try quickly taking a peek at the questions then reading the passage once while answering the questions. Students usually find one of these techniques helps most but everyone is different so the technique varies with the student. Now is the time to determine what is best for you which you have likely done by now.

2) Imagine a young relative in your family, a brother/sister/cousin, just starting junior high or high school. Before you read any passage, take 2 seconds to think of that person and tell yourself that you need to explain this passage in basic terms to them and in a way that would sound interesting to them. Think about that image. Now go for it! It will help you stay focused if you know you have to explain it to someone you care about.

[gavin]

On my most recent AAMC practice MCAT I briefly looked at a couple of the questions prior to reading the passage. I felt that it gave me a heads up on what the passage is about, and then I highlighted the answers to the questions that I had read. My VR score bumped up 3 points, so I am going to continue to develop that particular strategy. Maybe it will help you too.

[msamadia1231]

GS8-BS: 38/52, 10/15

Comments: The quality was tough, yet made it sure that you knew what you were talking about. Definately on the harder side. I found question 45 taking me back and forth checking data and so forth. From experience this was AAMC style. As far as "roundedness" I felt it tested more on specifics, yet, if this makes sense, it was a far large range.

Let me say this, I have been studying for a very long time, just reading concepts in my thick book and posting comments on learned concepts thread. Anyone have comments on how this compared to a recent AAMC exam? I have left to take AAMC 9 and 10, so won't be able to take till later.

OK, I have not seen a harder GS-BS exam ever. Maybe it is just me. The range covered genetics (in depth), physio, digestive, little organic (pretty deep), plus others I can't think of right now.

I also took GS4-PS and scored a 38/52, which was a 9. But I am not counting this one b/c I have seen the questions a couple or 3 months ago. With this said, I can't really take any other GS-PS exams that I haven't really seen before.

Don't worry, I have ordered more practice exams on the way.

[mmatthew]

Hey everyone, just order the ten tests and began to read all of your comments.

I recently took AAMC 3,4,5, and 6. Scoring a 25 on 3R, a 27 on 4R (9,9,9), another 25 on 5R, and a recent 29 on 6R (10,9,10).

I will begin testing with GS CBTs on monday and just wanted to get some opinions on how the test reflect the AAMC ones? Should i be surprised or worried if my score drops? Any feedback would be awesome!!

[msamadia1231]

[mattaalla]

[msamadia1231]

Tomorrow, I am taking AAMC 9S CBT. I am very nervous. I am going to take 0800 to match the exam time. I will post the results here with a comparison of past GS CBTs I took.

Thing is that July 6 at 2359 hours is the last date you can reschedule for July 13. Having rescheduled from April 12, I have been trying to get as much resources on my weak topics.

If I may share, studying for the MCAT feels like I just started last week, but I began this head-on in Dec. 15. I still trying to wonder what to eat for breakfast that will last 4 hours and where to take it. Home is out of question b/c too many in the morning leaving to work. If I go to the library then people walk around you and make noise. I don't know where to go.

Edit: I have considered doing AAMC 9S CBT on Friday 0800 to make it official (my July 13 is on a Friday, too). This way I can finish my task in the morning for something important and still finish up last minute reviews.

[msamadia1231]

Just took GS 8 Verbal: 28/40, 7/15

I had less trouble reading them; more interesting. Also I learned that just seeing the time in the beginning (make sure it showed count down from 60) and not looking at it til end helped me focus on just reading the passage for comprehension. In the end, I had 7 minutes to spare and clicked end test. Doing this kept me more relaxed and less nervous worrying about time. If you are confidant that you can finish just reading regularly, you will be fine. You will know if a passage is taking a lot of time.

The score is definately an improvement on GS verbal tests. In the past I usually got 5-6's (mostly 5's). I only made an 8 on GS verbal once.

There are no "easy tactics" for verbal, as I am learning. You just have to read the passage for comprehension.

[msamadia1231]

Just took AAMC 9S CBT. Score 11PS[41/52], 6VR[19/40], 8BS[34/52]

Comments: On verbal I just couldn't read b/c time was running out. I ended up just guessing and reading sentence here and there seeing what "sounded right." Lost all train of thought. I don't know what happened. About 4 passages, I skimmed and looked for "nice answers" sometimes going back to passage trying to see if I can read the answer in the passage. Normally, I just read it, but I just went off course after the 3rd passage, and I saw the time and it was downhill from there.

On PS, I spent going through most of my studies on PS, mostly physics.

On BS, I am shocked. Some questions, quite a few, I didn't have that quick "Oh yes, this wants me to know this" but "Could it be this, or what are they wanting me to know, again? One more time..." On organic, I only missed 2 questions, but basic things like eukaryotes and evolution and microbiology, I got stumped. I thought I read through them and understood, but I am missing something.

I am seriously thinking of delaying this again, for the second time. I have until 10:00 and I don't think I can waste another diagnostic 10S CBT on AAMC, that is the last one I have left. The consequence of such another delay to late August or September would mean calling TMDSAS (TX application primaries and notifying them), not as hard as it sounds, in fact quite fast, but will put my application on longer. They have all my secondaries and fees and for AMCAS, I only applied to 3 and 2 have sent secondaries, but competively, as a TX resident, maybe I shouldn't apply to Baylor, Meharry and Howard's secondaries. (too expensive already).

I am not sure what to do. Any advice for me, Dr. Ferdinand?

I'll post my August diagnostic 2006 for others: 5PS, 3VR, 5BS

If I had an 11 in BS today or even a 10, I would take it next week, and work on verbal before then, but an 8 in BS is pretty harsh, no?

[msamadia1231]

I started the test around 0830 hours, due to technical difficulties at university's WiFi login. It turned out I received a guest login for the moment. But I think during the testing center, there may be here and there tech problems or time for signing in, etc. I brought my healthy snacks, and drank water from the fountain, walked out, rest room breaks, etc. Try to simulate the nearest thing. Even wore the blue head phones from Academy.

[admin]

I think that you have assessed your situation properly. If your objective is a 30 then you are not quite ready. You need to bring up the BS and VR. You need to pour over that AAMC 9S CBT to determine what patterns you did not recognize in the passage or questions and how you can assure yourself that you would be successful with those question types in the future (creating your own high density Gold Notes which you review before each test).