So I’ve been spending the past couple of weeks prepping for the MCAT with a review course (yes, it’s costly but I figured it’s really the only way to get myself truly motivated to start studying). Thus far I can say that I am terrified of this dreaded exam–so much so I have nicknamed it “the beast.” I was wondering if anyone who has taken the MCAT (and done well on it–that is, 30+) could give me some tips on how to make the most of my prep time? I don’t really plan on taking the real exam until I score at least 30+ on a practice test and from the first couple of diagnostic exams I can tell you that may be as long as a year! Right now I’m just so overwhelmed with the depth and breadth of the information and a bit discouraged that I may not be able to “remember it all”–the formulas, little details, etc. However, I am trying to stay positive and focused and constantly remind myself that this journey is more like a marathon and not a sprint–even baby steps can make a difference. Thanks in advance for your any help/encouragement you can offer!
Our pre-med advisor told us to expect our actual score to be 3-5 points less than our practice test average, and that was true for me. Of course, there are cases where people score higher than any of their practice. The scores on my tests had not plateaued by my test day, and in hindsight I should have waited until my scores peaked. If you’ve only taken 1 or 2 tests, don’t worry - your score will start increasing, even if you don’t feel like you’re doing anything differently. Also, I suggest Exam Krackers for VR - it’s a more intuitive approach. The Kaplan method is cumbersome and time-consuming.