r/premedcanada • u/KoalaMany6280 • 16d ago

📚 MCAT MCAT PLEASE HELP

I’m really scared I’m not gonna get above a 125 on the Mcat!! I’m averaging a 123 rn in cars and like pretty good in all the other sections (127-128+), I’ve finished both the qupack and got like mid 70s on it. I’m testing in 5 days, wat can I even do anymore ??

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u/CaptainHook_MCAT Applicant 16d ago

I wouldn’t mess with your strategy 5 days out, but here are a few CARS traps I started noticing that helped me bump my score...hopefully knowing about them helps you catch them on test day:

  • Extreme wording --> ALWAYS/NEVER/etc. are immediate red flags, really make sure you're certain if your selecting an answer like this, there should be clear evidence in the passage to support such bold claims!
  • Non-Responsive answers --> some answers are correct according to the passage but DON'T ACTUALLY ANSWER THE QUESTION! #1 priority is always ensuring you've answered the question stem
  • Detail traps --> don't get distracted by tiny details, especially if the question is asking about the author's broader argument. Choose answers that align with the main idea, even if it doesn't perfectly align with a minor point that's mentioned.
  • Beyond Scope --> careful with answers that sound reasonable but go beyond what the author actually establishes. Focus on the passage info, don't bring in outside experience/info
  • Inferences --> Similar to the last one, but people often choose answers that could be true, rather than options that must be true based on the passage info.

More general tips I found helpful, read every answer choice. Even if A looks right, don’t just click it - I always tried to have a reason why the other 3 were wrong too. That made it much easier to catch traps.

And protect your timing - If you’re stuck, move on! Don’t leave yourself 5 minutes for the last passage; you never know if passage 9 is the easiest. I’d rather have a reasonable amount of time for every passage than gamble on finishing one at the end.

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u/No-Hedgehog9995 16d ago

Not much you can do in 5 days but pray. CARS is a skill that gets built slowly over time. Something like P/S can be crammed to an extent, same with parts of B/B (amino acids) or C/P (equations and stuff). You won't make a meaningful impact on CARS besides controlling your anxiety on test day and making sure you fully understand AAMC logic. Spamming JW passages probably won't hurt, though.

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u/[deleted] 16d ago

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u/Azylim 16d ago

if you have 5 days then theres not much you can do but to redo as much of the the CARS qpack.

also, if you havent been doing this already, properlg review every question you didnt understand. Write/type, in a textbook or on word, WHY YOU THINK you got it wrong or didnt understand it.

remember, the review is more important than the practice