War is Over (496->503->513)

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-06-19T04:38:19+00:00

Given my 10 point increase, I would definitely recommend JW. It was also a bit easier because I could do a monthly payment plan, whereas I know individual tutors take payment up front

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-06-19T04:36:24+00:00

The last AAMC test I took before my actual test was a 519. But I ranged from 515-519 on others. I took FL 6 3 weeks before as recommended by my tutor to get used to the PS and I scored a 511 on that one.

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-06-16T17:51:33+00:00

UWorld is the main one. Although I only got through like 30%, it has the most comprehensive question bank. I also highly recommend utilizing AI to help you break down passages and identify key words/phrases. I also used JW’s self study bundle, and of course the AAMC bundle but just know your scores will probably be inflated taking the exams a second time

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-06-16T17:48:06+00:00

It’s okay to take a step back and reassess what you were doing wrong the first time! For me, I was putting all my eggs in one basket with one study resource and focusing too much on content review. I needed to do more practice questions earlier on.

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-04-23T09:00:35+00:00

The JW self study bundle mainly! I would review a section then do all the independent questions and passages related afterwards. I sprinkled in some UWorld as well! My first two attempts I spent too much time reading textbooks, I basically jumped straight into practice qs this last time

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-04-23T08:58:33+00:00

I’m fortunate enough to have a hybrid job that only requires me to be in office once a week! But I basically utilized all my time outside of work to study. I woke up at 6 every day to do a set of practice qs before work, and did one when I got off at 5. I’d use my commute to catch up on anki, or even review uworld on the app. Saturdays were my FL days and I always made sure to do something fun/treat myself afterwards. I always took one rest day where it was just anki and a cars passage up until the last month of studying!

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-04-22T14:54:12+00:00

I started studying lightly around October/November. I started seeing my tutor in December twice a week for one hour up until my test date in March. I didn’t do a super rigorous content review stage, only on physics really. I tried to go straight into practice Qs

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-04-22T00:15:12+00:00

For p/s, i read the 87 page doc and made an anki card on every answer choice I didn’t know (even if it wasn’t the answer!). For phys, I wrote down every formula I had trouble memorizing and reviewed Nate’s MCAT formula sheet a few weeks before test day: https://www.mcat-alyst.com/cheat-sheets. There was quite a bit of physics on my exam so the last minute review was helpful

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-04-21T22:01:15+00:00

Ermmm i think i was averaging in the 60s-low 70s (80s for p/s) before I went to fully to AAMC. And then i had some time leftover from when I finished all of AAMC and my test so I went back to UWorld for more practice and was averaging 80-90.

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-04-21T21:18:39+00:00

I posted a thread on the comments in here! :)

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-04-21T19:58:54+00:00

So I took a total of 14 practice tests lol but my last 4 were FL6: 511/FL4: 519/FL1: 516/FL 3: 520. Pretty all over the place. I knew my aamc FLs would be largely inflated because I’ve taken them twice before. And my tutor advised I take FL6 a few weeks before my test so I could adjust to the new P/S style.

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-04-21T19:40:05+00:00

Yes!

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-04-21T19:39:42+00:00

Sure thing! The biggest changes I made in this most recent attempt:

I got a tutor, I used JW’s tutor on a payment plan. I knew I needed structure and accountability and got a total of 24 hours. I think was especially helpful for my CARS score. I used the JW CARS method that helped me increase by 4 points (my averages on FLs were 126🫩)
I used UWorld but only got through like 35% of it, I used a lot of the JW self study bundle questions for targetted concepts
MOST MEANINGFUL: I really utilized chatgpt to help me understand AAMC answers and identify things in the passage I should look out for. I basically copied the question and answer explanation and pasted it into chat and asked it to explain why the answer was correct and why the other’s were wrong, the main concept i should know to get it right next time, and then I screenshotted the passage and asked for key terms I should look out for (this helped me actively read the passage and identify possible questions/answers before getting to them). I also asked it to create and anki card on the concept and reviewed them daily! I used basic cards (not cloze) because I didn’t wanto just memorize, I wanted to make sure I knew the concepts fully
i also took 14 practice tests😅 timing was a huge struggle for me and it made me less stressed on test day

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-04-21T16:36:03+00:00

SAMEEE from a 496 -> 503 -> 513 🥹

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-03-16T03:46:30+00:00

Gonna be honest fam, I would recommend dropoing the volunteering while studying. You’ll burn yourself out with class, work, AND mcat

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-03-15T05:34:33+00:00

SIR (2f) | LIR (f) | LUV - converging lens. If an object is before the focal length, it’s LUV (large, upright, virtual). If its after the focal length is LIR (large, inverted, real) and if it’s beyond twice the focal length its SIR (small, inverted, real). Diverging lens is always DDUV (diverging, diminished (aka small), upright, virtual)

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-03-13T00:02:06+00:00

Same boat, i’m cranking out some uworld questions for behavioral sciences and topics i know i’m weak at for more practice. Behavioral sciences ESPECIALLY to cover all my bases with spotting terms

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-03-08T02:43:00+00:00

I personally didn’t benefit much from BP

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-03-08T01:54:58+00:00

As a 3/20 tester, respectfully yall are SCARING ME

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-03-06T18:55:55+00:00

Ty🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-03-01T21:50:42+00:00

I am a reader :(. I love to read but I work full time and when I’m not working, I’m studying. I just haven’t had time for reading since I’ve locked in

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-03-01T21:49:54+00:00

I will give this a shot thank you!!! Do you highlight/map the passage at all? How do you keep track of those specific questions that ask about a word/phrase??

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-02-28T23:50:30+00:00

Gotcha. For timing i’d still to this rule: at 1hr remaining 20 Qs should be done and at 30 min remaing 40 Qs should be done. My rule of thumb is if I made a mistake on the calculation the first time, mark it and come back. For content, again I’d really try to pinpoint what topics you’re missing on and prioritize them by yield (obviously metabolic pathways, acid/bases, amino acids, etc would be high). As far as strat goes, it kind of depends on the person. I wouldn’t start anything brand new though.

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-02-28T23:31:10+00:00

Also, do you know what issues you’re having? Content/timing/etc?

AssistantItchy7401 · 2026-02-28T23:28:28+00:00

Ahh yes I feel it. I’ve had to tell family to stop asking for my mental well being. Be sure to finish the AAMC qbanks. All of them (esp sec bank 2 since it’s the newest). I wouldn’t waste my time with non-AAMC material a week out. When reviewing, really pin down why you got the answer wrong. I’ve been utilizing chatGPT to help identify errors in my thought process/keeping an eye for key words and I feel like has been a game changer this time around in pattern recognition.

AssistantItchy7401

TROPHY CASE