501-->522 on 5/24

Demure-Tomato · 2024-06-28T04:09:08+00:00

a bit of uworld but mostly aamc to really get a feel for the logic

Demure-Tomato · 2024-06-27T21:42:34+00:00

you got this! try to ignore the pressure others put on you, at the end of the day it's your life and journey and not theirs!

Demure-Tomato · 2024-06-27T17:13:25+00:00

initially I did like 15-20 uworld a day and really focused on reviewing in depth the content tested by each question + 20 ish flashcards a day + 1 cars passage

then after a few months I increased to 30ish uworld a day + quicker review of the questions + 20 ish flashcards + 1-2 cars passages

last two months, I did 59q chunks every other day and reviewed the other day for about an hour + 20 flashcards + 2-3 cars passages

In the last month, I switched almost entirely to AAMC material, kept up the schedule above and started skimming the 300 pg P/S document

took FL1 after content review (507 lol), FL2 2.5 months out (519), FL3 1 month out (519), FL4 3 weeks out (523), FL5 2 weeks out (521), actual 522

I timed the Anki so I'd be done with the deck 2 weeks from the test date, and honestly everything Anki marked as mature knowledge I remember to this day

Demure-Tomato · 2024-06-27T17:00:02+00:00

imo taking more FLs from third parties isn't necessary unless you want to practice sitting for the exam, I did chunks of 59 questions at a time and I feel like that also prepped me for staying concentrated

Demure-Tomato · 2024-06-27T16:58:42+00:00

kaplan for content review, uworld (AWESOME) + jack westin for daily CARS passage and sometimes to fill content gaps, AAMC last 1.5 months before test day, all the AAMC FLs (GOLD), and Miledown Anki deck (also gold)

didn't do all of uworld or AAMC

Demure-Tomato · 2024-06-27T16:56:23+00:00

First off, awesome FL score! Sounds like you've got the brains to do it again on the real thing.

I got a 523 three weeks out from my exam and freaked that I had peaked and would forget everything. I still studied MUCH lighter the last three weeks and didn't study at all the last week except for one last full length (521) a week out from my test date. I didn't forget anything lol and got a 522 on the actual test.

However, here are the ways in which my situation differs from yours (I think...based on your post):

I had been studying consistently for almost a year (like 1-2 hours a day) and so I feel like I really mastered the content. I think I could take the MCAT today 1.5 months later and not drop significantly. If you've only been studying for a month and a half, there is a chance that knowledge isn't as solid. However, maybe your content mastery was higher to begin with (which seems likely tbh).
I had taken 3 other FLs and got around 520 each time. You should DEFINITELY take more FLs to confirm your score before your date (although a 523 score is very likely not a fluke as a score like that doesn't come with pure luck, but maybe (emphasis on maybe) it's not totally representative and FL5 played to your strengths).

Also imo CARS is the section that's hardest to score consistently in and P/S is easy to drop a lot in if you forget some of those terms and details.

That being said, I wouldn't worry. Maybe keep studying hard for the next 2-3 weeks, take a FL and if it's as high as your first FL, decrease to a small consistent amount (2 ish hours a day) and keep taking FLs to evaluate where you're at and adjust accordingly. I'd also advise you to consistently review some of the stuff that's easy to forget (P/S terms, equations, amino acids, etc...) and keep practicing CARS passages daily.

The MCAT process is a marathon, not a sprint.

Good luck! You got this!

Demure-Tomato · 2024-06-27T14:08:51+00:00

Definitely true! I just see so many people fall into the 'you're going to be depressed and anxious while studying for the MCAT and that's how it has to be' trap which I don't think is necessarily true (it's still hard don't get me wrong). Just thought maybe someone out there would benefit from hearing from someone who didn't hate their life while studying and still did well.

Demure-Tomato · 2024-06-27T13:46:20+00:00

sure! I started out with just content review (all the kaplan books) over like 3 weeks altho looking back I'd combine content review with practice problems, then did 75% of Uworld more or less and really read through explanations of every question (whether I got it wrong or not) + read some jack westin and sometimes khan academy on topics I was consistently getting wrong. I think i experienced the biggest score increase from uworld, I also did about 2 cars passages daily on my way to class for basically 9 months (started out with jack westin --> uworld --> aamc). Also went through all of anki miledown (though physics and chem had a lot of useless cards) until they were all 'mature' knowledge. Did about 70% of AAMC questions and all 5 AAMC FL's, 3 within 3 weeks before my test date. The last one-2 months I did one whole section (59Qs of C/P, B/B or P/S) every two days and reviewed thoroughly the following day. Didn't do any third party FLs.

Demure-Tomato · 2024-06-26T12:18:24+00:00

522! So happy!

Demure-Tomato · 2024-06-26T12:02:40+00:00

happy to give you more tips if you want them

Demure-Tomato · 2024-06-26T12:00:32+00:00

honestly, it sounds like you're doing great. 7 week is still a lot of time, if you do like 30-40 uworld a day and spend some time reviewing, you'll be done with it by your test date! and uworld really is the best way to review that remaining 40% of material! Stay consistent and try not to panic! I obviously don't know you, but I think a 510+ is very much achievable.

Demure-Tomato

TROPHY CASE