Khan Academy Sole Prep

[spa]

Hello all,

 

I plan on writing the MCAT in 2017 summer but wanted to start reviewing. Almost no physics/chem/organic/biochem background (except grade 12), but high on physiology, anatomy, psych and soc.. 

 

I got kaplan 2015 entire set, but it seems to have way more info than I may need based on some observations of others.

 

Would Khan academy and just a lot of practice tests be enough? I could also use Kap again to clarify, but am I good with primarily KA?

 

Don't want to spend too much money, and also when is the best time to buy practice exams? I don't want to waste money buying Practice exams when I know close to nothing... so the practice exam would be "wasted"

 

Thanks for the tips!

[Thermophilus]

I supplemented KA with reading primary literature throughout my study and I found it to be incredibly useful on the exam. If you use the material you need to know to understand something new then you are creating a better approximation of what the MCAT is actually like (or was in my experience).

[Thermophilus]

To answer the second part: I sprinkled practice tests throughout the 3 months that I studied for after finishing content review. My logic was there is no point in wasting exams if I had not even seen the material. I found I could not reuse tests as my score would drastically improve due to recall and recognition. It seemed like they were worth reviewing for me, but not retaking. After practice exams I would review each question (whether right or wrong) and had weakness days marked on the calendar where I dug into any material that I either wasn't confident on (ie. guessed and got it right) or didn't know at all (got it wrong). I had to work full time as a tradesperson so I did practice tests every weekend up to a week away from my sitting date as I thought any hiccups in the last week would simply serve to undermine confidence. I always did full length and strictly timed practice to mirror test conditions and often did them in mildly disracting locations. My test center had a loud door I was seated by that slammed about every 10 minutes as students finished sections at different times. There was also one person that broke down crying during the exam.

 

Good luck on your studies and MCAT next year!

[yup]

Definitely possible! I have friends who solely used Kaplan books, Khan Academy (as their primary resource), AAMC materials (section bank, FL test, question bank) and scored 98%tile.