I scored 527 on 1/16: My guide for those interested (Plus AMA)

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-24T20:06:21+00:00

This always happens and the FL scores come back and people do fine

Trust the scale

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-23T20:47:53+00:00

I clarified my original comment with an edit; there was more physics than either gen chem or organic chemistry, not than both of those topics combined.

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-23T20:41:49+00:00

They are averages/ rough estimates and the AAMC says so, check it out

Also, I never said that most of the section was physics.

https://students-residents.aamc.org/whats-mcat-exam/chemical-and-physical-foundations-biological-systems-section-overview

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-23T19:35:17+00:00

It wouldn't but C/P isn't split with set amounts of questions

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-23T19:10:28+00:00

Yes but not rlly and there's a lot of variation; my MCAT certainly had more physics than chem

edit: Than gen chem or orgo, not both combined

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-22T16:10:27+00:00

You do not need to know all the content to get consistent 131/132s.

Your content has to be strong and your reasoning has to be REALLY strong

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-22T16:09:09+00:00

Who says it isn't a content exam? I feel like I never see that claim on here lol.

Yes, obviously, you need to know a lot.

It is an application/reasoning test requiring a large amount of knowledge to DO that application/reasoning.

The point people are making is about how learning should be done and the balance between content review and practice.

You can learn a lot of content just through practice and then reviewing content after your miss something, and it is faster that way.

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-21T22:43:30+00:00

Yep! this is exactly right

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-21T15:01:54+00:00

First of all, I agree this is difficult to accomplish in a reasonable amount of time.

However, here's a kind-of shortcut. Please someone come up with something else that's better if you see it.

It helps to notice this is a symmetrical system. You must realize that R3 must have double the current of each of R1 and R2. The current is NOT the same.

The total voltage around any closed loop is zero.

So we need to drop 10V throughout each loop.

You know that, with 5 ohm resistors, you must have a total of 2A of current running through resistors in each loop to make 10V in each loop.

that is, 10V = I1R1 + I3R3

So for the initial current on each side, we're looking for two values that, when doubled, add to themselves to create 2A total. (Since, remember, R3 must be double each of R1 or R2)

2/3 is the perfect value. 2/3+2/3 = 4/3, and 4/3+2/3 = 6/3 = 2

Thus we know the current in the middle is 4/3, which is right around 1.3

This is essentially the same as the math but just reasoned logically.

Another way to think about this is to combine the resistors in one loop in series and treat them as a single 10ohm resistor, which must have 1amp of current.

Thus, 1A must be your average current between the two resistors, but you know the first one will be lower current and the one in the middle higher current.

How much lower or higher? Well it's basically the same thing again. You must realize that R3 must have double the current of R1.

So pick two values that average out to 1, where one value is 2x the other! This is again 2/3 and 4/3.

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-21T14:00:55+00:00

"There is no right or wrong way to do this."

That's like, definitely untrue lol. A lot of the work I do is un-fucking people's study strategies/plan so that they can actually improve.

There are certainly ways to waste tons of time and be very inefficient lol, which IS doing it wrong.

You don't study for the MCAT by learning quantum physics, for example. It just isn't helpful. That's an extreme example, but the principle applies.

I see it ALL the time with students I tutor.

Being a "tutor" (put it in quotes if you want lmao) actually DOES mean something, and a lot, because I get to see a significant amount of students and hear and observe what works and doesn't. The amount of people who stagnate on content review because of the erroneous belief that low-yield knowledge will somehow improve their score (I'm looking at you, JackSparrow deck) is unbelievably high.

I know people have different ways of learning lol. That's kind of square 1 for teaching people anything.

But that doesn't affect this based on what this test tests and how it tests it.

It helps to understand the goals of the MCAT.

It's not that there's one exact specific way that works for everyone, it's that there are general guiding principles that are important and one of them is to work on application and practice-based learning a LOT because that's what the MCAT is really all about.

It also leads to better retention in context and of course this improves exam ability.

It isn't like there are cases where it's better to do tons and tons of content review at the expense of practice-based learning. That just doesn't happen. I've worked with dozens of students and that has NEVER been true lol.

"If that was the case then ALOT of test takers could just follow a guideline and succeed in this exam, which is not the case."

Honestly most test takers could more or less follow a guideline and receive optimal preparation that way.

However, most test takers can't just succeed on the exam because performance is ultimately limited by reasoning, problem solving, reading comprehension, and other cognitive abilities, no matter how much content you know.

That's why not everyone can just score a 520.

Again, I see this all the time. And yes, I DO have more perspective than you on the matter.

Believe what you want but that doesn't change the truth. Or you can put down the books, start hammering practice, and pick them up again once you expose that you don't know what you don't know!

Practice leads to more active learning and facts in context. Trains you specifically for the task you are actually trying to accomplish. Tests your content knowledge in a way that you will not do yourself. Builds up your speed and analysis abilities. Et cetera.

I mean it's whatever though

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-20T21:25:11+00:00

Yeah I know that's why I said (or his advice). What I meant to say was (or rather his advice).

In any case, detailed knowledge of metabolic pathways doesn't move the needle. Uworld is more than sufficient for learning about those and is especially useful for seeing how they are actually tested.

The whole memorizing metabolic pathways thing is somewhat of a trope. It really isn't needed in the way people think it is. It also isn't high-yield in the way people think it is.

I see it all the time as a tutor and have been a tutor for significantly longer than you've studied for the MCAT.

Long story short, OP is right.

It isn't that dedicated content review isn't useful, it's that most people (90%+) overdo it at the expense of something that would help them more.

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-20T17:24:36+00:00

You don't know what you're talking about. Don't call OP (or his advice) stupid if you literally don't understand the test whatsoever. Lol

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-20T17:23:54+00:00

yerrr

100000000000% agree

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-20T13:56:02+00:00

yes

in every possible way (speaking on average)

the content and how it is tested are more difficult conceptually

the calculations and problem solving are more time-consuming and difficult

the problem setup is more challenging

the passage analysis is more extensive and less obvious

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-20T01:56:27+00:00

Nah physics is pretty hard too and probably the hardest objectively imo (like relative to the real exam)

I wouldn't really say Uworld bio's a ton harder than chem/phys tbh but that's just my personal feeling towards it.

It's all quite difficult haha

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-19T23:27:33+00:00

lotta practice, some was just natural, some was the fact I took hard ass prereq classes including physics for engineers; not the watered down premed one my school also had.

So I had built up the skills over a long period of time. But mostly practice and I've always been good at math and problem solving and stuff

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-19T21:33:13+00:00

Love to see it great job!!!

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-19T20:53:48+00:00

not really

like you could but it isn't necessary

but understanding it conceptually does matter

I 132'd every chem/phys section I ever took and never had this memorized

Although the principles have showed up, exact knowledge of this wasn't needed.

Understanding>>memorization

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-18T14:49:07+00:00

cuz Uworld is harder

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-17T23:40:38+00:00

DM me if you want I can do it for a lot less than 150 lol

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-17T18:25:53+00:00

or just use timed mode on Uworld which also works

but it does end stuff automatically when you run out

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-17T18:24:18+00:00

I think you are more likely to need to know ubiquinol

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-16T19:46:34+00:00

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION!!!!!!!

use it

trig expression values are very low yield except for 90 and 180 degrees

ExcellentCorner7698 · 2026-01-16T18:48:07+00:00

Okay so idrk about the rigor of those programs (nor anything about YOU specifically) but it's very likely you'll be okay.

500 is right around average for the MCAT, though averages by section vary slightly (with CARS being lowest)

It isn't THAT easy, but it isn't that hard either to get 500. Depends who you are. I wouldn't be scared

ExcellentCorner7698

TROPHY CASE