MCAT: Debrief

I've been writing this post since Friday after the test, but I haven't been feeling it since. My brain has been off since Friday and I haven't been able to concentrate for long periods of time. Any tests, important dates, and homework that has been scheduled after the test date has been filed in the "irrelevant" box. I now need to dig in that box to find out what I need. I think I have a test this week and homework due tomorrow.

Immediate Thoughts
I didn't the urge to immediately go out and sign up for another test as soon as I was done to make up for the crappy performance so I guess that's a good sign. I understood what they were asking for each questions. Whether I got it right is another story. I felt the same feeling like when I took my first couple practice tests. I certainly couldn't recall some of the facts that I should have but I made my educated guesses. From my past performance, it sounds I'll get around 50 percentile.
I'll probably end up taking the test again.


Mental Preparation
Know what's up: Tips that will help you prepare mentally if you're going to take the test. Take at least 3 of the AAMC practice tests. They are exactly like the real thing and it will help you prepare for it. Since I took mostly all of them, taking the real test was just like going through the motions. I knew which screens were coming up and in turn I could concentrate on the facts. Get comfortable with the format so it won't catch you off guard.

Stamina: The practice test will help with stamina. Be prepared to be in there 5 hours. Know when breaks are coming up and use the breaks. I took a low sugar cranberry drink with me and took a couple sips every break. I also brought some almonds and crunched on some half way through. The brain uses a lot of energy when it's being used. Feed it.

Knowledge Preparation
After taking the test, I highly suggest knowing the following if you want to do well.
Chemistry:
Rates, how to calculate
pH (logs man, logs!)
Trends on the periodic table (electronegativity, atomic size, how orbitals are filled s, p, d, f)
Balance Equations

physics:
The formulas. Yes, there are a lot.

Organic Chemistry:
Identify functional groups
Know the NMR(doublets, triplets, etc), IR spectra(ranges of functional groups)
Reactions. Carboxylic acid and NaAlH4 makes what?

Verbal Reasoning:
Read like hell. It's mostly about timed reading. Read fast and understand what you're reading.

Biology:
Prokaryote vs eukaryote
Heart and kidney (I'm going to repeat this. Know the heart and kidney inside out)
Genetics
Vocab terms