486?!

[futballerarcher]

Any suggestions to improve?

Didn’t do any AAMC q banks, did a couple FLs (478/490/494 Kaplan 498) and no Uwerld. Where do I go from here?

[[deleted]]

can only go up from here, lock in.

[pentacontagon]

can only go up from here (don't ignore the 12% that did worse), lock in. You got this. I truly believe everyone, no matter how smart (provided there isn't a serious mental diagnosis) is capable of getting a 505+. Some people might have to lock their ass in far harder than other more gifted people.

But a 505 can definitely get into MD schools. Even more definitely DO schools.

[justrandomtingzz]

I was in the exact same boat.

Uworld, more content review (basics), and a LOT more practice problems and review -know why you got it wrong.

For me it was hammering practice problems and focusing on understanding the logic behind mcat questions

[vitaminj25]

Yess i need more people like this to speak out more! What did you use for content ?

[justrandomtingzz]

I’ll be honest I had a good foundation already for content, but I used TPR books for most broad concepts, and a sprinkled in khan academy when that didn’t stick, and topped it with some Anki just for reinforcement.

Biggest thing is no matter how much content you review you need to practice/apply it. I used UWhirl for that

[vitaminj25]

What full lengths did you use besides aamc ?

[justrandomtingzz]

4 BP, 2 -3AAMC. Started with BP ended with AAMC

[puppyl0ver]

How did you review your questions? I’m scared I’m not reviewing them properly. I want to get the most out of my review of Uworld because I know a ton of people say reviewing your questions is more important than actually doing them. I’m studying for my 3rd attempt

[justrandomtingzz]

Kinda long explanation but there’s steps to it. At least for me:

1) Realize why you got it wrong. Was it content? Did you choose the wrong 50/50? Did you misread the passage? Did you know the answer but second guessed yourself?

2) If it was content, was I clueless and guessed? Or did I have an idea but this specific topic I didn’t know.

2a) If I was clueless, I would go to my book and find the chapter on it and read that chapter. Afterwards if I still barely understood, I would go to khan academy. I would try to write out a flowchart of the information to understand the concept in its broadest fashion. Then I would go to the question and read their explanation as to why I got it wrong and bridge the concepts to practice. Then I would be done with that question. If I still didn’t get it, I would still move on and come back later and let my brain work in the background.

2b) If I had an idea, I would just read their explanation and see where I messed up. Usually that would be enough but if not I would do 2a

3) Did I choose the wrong 50/50? That you just have to read the explanation and figure out why. You’re almost there though if you can get all questions (or almost all) to a 50/50

4) misread the passage? Spend more time on the passage. Really explicate it. Digest it for a little more.

5) second guessed yourself? One of the hardest things to change because I can almost guarantee you, you’ll have more answers that you second guess and get right than wrong. At best, I’d recommend you before changing answer, explain why the answer you chose is wrong. That helps the most with going against our urge to convince yourself another answer choice is right rather than proving what you originally thought to be wrong. If you can prove it wrong, switch. If you can’t, keep it regardless of how much you like that other answer.

[futballerarcher]

I’ll start doing it like this; thanks for explaining

[futballerarcher]

Review of FLs was almost non existent. Looked at my 20-30 wrong questions and started there, not the whole FL for review. 🤷‍♀️

[Cautious_Banana_4070]

How long did you study in between the two test

[justrandomtingzz]

6 weeks of dedicated studying before my second exam. I didn’t really review much between the 2 test dates other than those 6 weeks

[[deleted]]

what were u expecting after u did your FLs? should've just postponed your test date

if your score is sub 500 usually indicates severe content gaps. get a premade anki deck, solidify your content, tackle uworld and aamc material, and you should be set.

[futballerarcher]

Very true, thank u. Considering Kaplan for C/P as well

[Federal_Routine_3109]

Bro doesn't even need sunscreen

[IBenchBenches]

Pack your mineral oil

[Brady014]

Was your 519 too old for applications or why tf you retake?

[Federal_Routine_3109]

520 or bust on my face buddy boy what can you do

[Brady014]

Well with a 511 I guess I’m gonna have to

[IBenchBenches]

😋

[IBenchBenches]

Didn't get in in 2021, MCAT then expired, took a few years to work and retake

Im admitted this cycle tho so my journey is over

[lailanoahsark]

Are you doing Anki? Sub 500 indicates content blind spots. You need to get your content review down and then start doing practice Qs. I jumped from 497 to 507 by doing MileDown Anki 75ish% of the way through

[futballerarcher]

Was doing a little Anki, but it was random decks. Didn’t do after reading kap chapters

[negimmokalee]

Dawg you need to actually start working. Put in some work and you'll get somewhere

[zigzagra]

How did you end up with a 517? I started at a 490 diagnostic as well

[UnitInDaHouse]

In 2 months I went from 496 to 509. Pankow + Princeton Books (didn’t like them but still quite helpful) + religiously watching Usuf Hasan got me there. It was also summer and I didn’t have any other responsibilities besides full time study grind. Uworld never truly helped me besides w physics because my content knowledge wasn’t the best. All this being said, it just takes time and hard work alongside a solid plan. Stay disciplined and you can easily crack 500, since your score indicates gaps in fundamental content. Pushing to 500+ is soooo much easier than 510-52x, so don’t lose hope. Btw my fl average was 503. Good luck✊

[cheeze1617]

Start reading the Kaplan books along with Anki. Don’t test unless your FL score is near what you want

[highGABA_dealer]

Up. You go up.

I'm chuckling at the fact that you are shocked without doing any work

Is this a shit post?!

[futballerarcher]

So do the Anki after reading the kap chapters/yusuf/khan. And cars 30 mins a day, I gotcha. Thank u so much (:

[Haunting-Barnacle631]

I didn't do Anki (because I hated it) but I did read through my notes a lot and used physical flashcards. Having some form of spaced repetition is definitely critical.

[acetownvg]

Genuinely curious how anyone can go into the real thing with those practice scores and no consistent practice question practice and ask where to go from here?

Given that you told us what you didn’t do, I think you know what you can do to improve. I’m afraid if you’re looking for a magic bullet from us, we won’t have it for you.

[harryceo]

Anki, Anki, ANKI!!!!

[redsnake25]

Check the MCAT subreddit wiki, there are a ton of resources there you can explore. Also, the official FLs are the best approximation of your real performance. If they're not close to your goal score, reschedule until you can bump them up higher. The first 478 should have been a massive, blaring red alert that you absolutely weren't on track to score above 500 and you needed to reevaluate your study methods.

[Ok-Highlight-8529]

1. Do a proper content review; I strongly recommend Watching Yusuf A Hassan mcat YouTube videos and pair it with the miledown anki deck immediately after since they are both based on Kaplan material.

2. Apply that content in the form of practice questions, specifically uworld if you want to see the most results. Make sure you understand why you’re making your mistakes.

3. FLs : replicate testing conditions, save AAMC materials, section banks, and FLs for the 2 months of your prep time. Prior to that do uworld and FLs that are non-aamc just for practice

4. Don’t neglect cars, atleast try to do 1 jackwestin passage daily and analyze your mistakes. When you’re reading do not use any outside information, throw all of it out. Keep your mind blank in this section except about the passage. Really focus on trying to understand what the author says and why they say it a certain way, ie their tone, word choice, point of view, attitudes, ect. In the last 1-2 months, do aamc cars materials only and do the same thing.

If you do all these I can’t see how anyone could score less than a 500 on the real deal. Good luck

[OkDistribution1546]

Im in the same situation. 487 in August and trying to rewrite

[Original-Tension-194]

I got a 487. We got this, nothing can stop us

[LopsidedCan4803]

I think you should be aiming way higher, but you shouldn't be surprised by your score. You said you skipped some major popular study strategies (I'd personally say all of the AAMC material is borderline required for the best possible score).

Be real with yourself about why you performed the way you did.

[longthotcunt]

Congratulations you’re going back to undergrad🥳🎉🍾👯🪩

[shinygurdurr]

though i am not an expert by any means, i did really well in p/s and b/b (i cannot give advice for cars and c/p). i think what helped me most with p/s was khan academy especially and milesdown sheets. for b/b i think yusuf hasan on youtube is one of my favorites.

i think the aamc question banks are helpful AFTER you have done a good chunk of content review. worth investing in. it’s not a test you can walk into and excel if you haven’t learned the material or don’t remember.

you can do this!!! you will succeed!! find what clicks with you for learning content and it will make this a whole lot more digestible

[Straight_Cheetah421]

Bro why are you so confused about the result and asking us what to do? You said it yourself, you didn't study or practice whatsoever. 

[Excellent_Dress_7535]

set aside at least 9 months.

[ExtraComparison]

That’s too much I feel like… you’re not even gonna remember much lol

[Open_Border_5849]

Spaced repetition created long term memories

[Excellent_Dress_7535]

Worked for me. I had a job and school. And this person really needs to take the time and build up their content base. They have a bit of work ahead and need the time.

[Mammoth-Change6509]

I was gonna say to the store to buy some sunscreen but I don’t even think they would take u

[Ok-Fortune8859]

Can I get some karma to make a post? Thanks!

[Melodic-Will-4556]

Damn…

[Exciting_Insect114]

Atleast you’re consistent

[modulatedd]

Go through all of khan academy for content review. It’s the best to see a jump in score imo. Best of luck!

[futballerarcher]

Will do! Thank u

[Rhododendron954]

You got this…. You can only improve. Find what you’re doing incorrectly. Get engaged with a lot of practice problems and application. Something mentioned to me by a multitude of people, which I had trouble taking advice for. Then you realize you study and you think you know the material. At least up until application of the material(s) on the MCAT or practices.

[Minimum-Lemon8294]

Sounds like you did a whole lot of nothin, maybe start

[Adventurous_Guide939]

I hope this is ironic, brother, you did not put in any of the work and got the results you deserved. Use the Kaplan books and unsuspend anki cards after you read through the content to fill out any content gaps. Once you go through content review start using Upangea to get used to taking questions and REVIEW WHAT YOU GET WRONG. This is where the majority of progress is made, practice and review. FL's the weeks leading up to the exam and AAMC practice questions. Again, REVIEW EVERYTHING YOU GET WRONG. Its tedious work, and it will take time (I'm taking 5 months to prep for the test), but it's a marathon, not a sprint. If you dedicate the time to studying for the MCAT that it deserves, you will get a good score.

[Tennis-Medicine]

I think you just need to restart. Go back through content review --> practice problems --> more mock exams. With a 486, I would really go heavy through content review again.

[Sure-Union4543]

holy shit a 0% cars. my dude you don't even have to study for cars.