Insights About the MCAT

An increasingly common MCAT question on the new MCAT is QB4: "

"Draw a Conclusion from Passage Data." This question type will require you to analyze a graph, diagram, or figure, and form a conclusion based on that data. This question was asked on the older MCAT form, but is increasing in frequency on the new MCAT. Common stems may include: "Based on Figure 1, which conclusion is most reasonable regarding the influence of Drug A on hemophilia?" or "The results of Experiment 1 suggest which relationship between TNF- and macrophage function?"

Another common MCAT question is QB6:

"Explain Why." This question type asks you to explain why something happens. "Which of the following best explains the observation that humans cannot digest the beta-glycosidic linkages in cellulose, but can digest the beta-glycosidic linkages in lactose?" or "The sRNA molecule in Experiment 2 binds with less affinity than the nucleotide model synthesized in the lab. Which statement best explains the increased binding strength of the synthetic RNA?" Expect to see QB6 several times on each section. The observation you are asked to explain could be stated directly in the question stem, or may have been explained only in the passage. These observations are rarely something with which you would be familiar. Instead, they require you to use your basic understanding of science to explain why something happens, more or less on the spot.

Another common question type is QB7:

"Why a Specific Tool, Step, or Reagent?" This question type is likely to ask something like this: "The researcher separated the bacterial cultures following Step 2, because:" or "The purpose of acidification prior to addition of the inhibitor was to:" These questions require you to explain the specific purpose for conducting an procedure or experimental step, for selecting one reagent or compound over another, or for reporting data via one particular type of graph or data output.

How to Approach MCAT Questions:

1) Master and Use the Socratic Method. 2) Read the entire question stem very carefully. 3) Rephrase the question stem in your own simplified words. 4) Read and consider each answer choice, A through D, individually. 5) As you consider each answer choice, restate it with your paraphrased question stem. 6) If an answer choice is wrong, consider it a "probably not." If an answer choice is correct, think of it as a "maybe." 7) Be extremely careful of questions with the words NOT, EXCEPT, LEAST, WEAKENS, or STRENGTHENS. 8) What to do when you get completely stuck. When you come to a question that completely perplexes you, the first thing you must do is employ the Socratic Method. Have you asked yourself enough questions to draw out everything you know? The following steps are additional physical and mental actions you can take to help your brain work toward the correct answer. ▪ Write down everything you can ▪ List all related formulas ▪ Draw pictures and diagrams • Write it Down and Draw it Out! ▪ Go back to the passage ▪ Go back to the question stem ▪ Look for clues in the answers choices ▪ Remind yourself that there is a simple explanation using only basic science or reading comprehension.

What you need to do to prep for the exam:

1) accept advice from tutor 2) fallow program guidelines well 3) Study to the point you get tired of studying.

90/10 rule:

90% of the questions you will face on the MCAT will require conceptual thinking, reading comprehension, logical inference, analysis, or synthesis of information, and only 10% of the questions you will face will require memorized vocabulary, background knowledge, formulas, or calculations.

JOURNAL-ADAPTED ARTICLES Passage:

As described earlier, this is the future of the MCAT and all indications are that this passage type will only become more and more frequent. Already, it would not be surprising if on test day 100% of your BB passages, and perhaps 80-90% of your CP passages, were adapted from actual experiments published in peer-reviewed journals.

LAB OR TEXTBOOK EXTRACTS Passages:

As noted previously, while this passage type is decreasing in frequency, you will still encounter some of these passages on MCAT-2015. These passages could be seen as much as 50% of the time on CP, but somewhere closer to 25% is more likely. They will only appear on the BB section occasionally, and you shouldn't be surprised if your actual MCAT exam doesn't include any of these easier-to-read textbook-like passages.

Question Blueprint #31 (QB31):

By contrast, one of the least frequent AAMC blueprints is the "Identify an Example of a Theory, Principle, or Term" question format. In the aggregate, only 1% of all AAMC questions use QB31. This question type asks the examinee to recognize an example or illustration of a theory, principle, or term. Examples of QB31 question stems include: "Addition of either reactant to the Reaction 1 mixture increases the production of hydrazine. This is an illustration of which chemical principle?"; "The increased willingness of study participants to purchase a car after purchasing parts from the dealership's parts department is an example of which phenomenon?"; "The results of Experiment 3 most strongly support which theoretical model of learning?"

Important to keep in mind:

Don't Memorize, Conceptualize! We are also fond of reminding our students that on the new MCAT: How You Think ≫ What You Know

The MCAT Journal:

Each Altius student is encouraged to regularly maintain an MCAT Journal. Keeping this journal will allow you to systematically move toward "Becoming an MCAT Author" in an organized way. In this journal, each student will take careful notes on MCAT trends, passage types, question types, passage design, and so forth. Always have your journal with you during Group Sessions so that you can immediately note observations from the MCAT questions you are attempting. We suggest that you separate your journal into multiple sections. For example, you will want to have a section on "Passage Types." In this section you would make a small note about the basic characteristics of each passage you attempt during Group Session. What was the topic of the passage? How was the information presented? Were equations included? What about charts, graphs, diagrams, flow-charts, or mechanisms? Was the passage difficult, moderate, or easy? Was the topic something most premeds would be familiar with, or did the authors intend for the question to cover new territory? Another logical section would be one on "Question Types." In this section you would take notes on the format, design, and difficulty of each question. It would be a wise idea to track the occurrence of the most frequent question blueprints. As your journal of observations grows, begin looking for trends. For example, how frequently do they ask a question about graphs when one is included in the passage? What types of questions are commonly asked about graphs? A third section might be focused on "Types of Question Stems" and a fourth section on "Types of Answer Choices." You will discover clear, repeatable trends in the way the AAMC authors phrase or organize question stems, answer choices, and nearly every other aspect of the exam. As you synthesize all this information, use it to write your own AAMC-style MCAT questions that are as close to the real thing as possible. Recall that you should be writing ten (10) of your own AAMC-style MCAT questions each week: five science questions, plus five CAR questions. Writing these questions in your journal will make it easy to share them with your tutor and with other students. Seek regular feedback from both your tutor and the members of your SRS Group on the quality of the AAMC questions you are writing. Do your questions match the tone, style, format, and feeling of the real AAMC questions you have seen previously?

Master the Socratic Method:

Later in this same chapter, we will describe how to use the Socratic Method. It is also the first of the Weekly Strategy Sessions. If you learn only one thing from the Altius program, learn to use the Socratic Method. The 90% question types on the MCAT require certain kinds of conceptual thinking, such as analysis, comparison, contrast, evaluation, extrapolation, inference, and so forth. Proper use of the Socratic Method leads your brain naturally, almost automatically, into these exact avenues of thought. Use the Socratic Method on every single question on the MCAT and your score will increase tremendously. As with so many things, you cannot become proficient at using it just by reading about it. You will need to practice applying it as you attempt practice questions—constantly evaluating how you can do it more effectively.

STORY PASSAGES:

Leading up to the MCAT-2015 transition, these were already rare, occurring at a rate of 1-2%.

What does the new MCAT focus on?

MCAT-2015 is a test that focuses primarily on the conceptual understanding of basic science principles

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE TOPICS OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE passage:

Most PsS passages will be about sociology or psychology experiments that sound tame by comparison. Examples of such passages include: "The Effect of Stereotype Threat on Women," "Why African-American Males Visit the Doctor Less Frequently," or "Memory Recall Tests Before and After Head Trauma." The challenge presented by this kind of passage is that it will force you well outside of your normal

Has the new MCAT cars section changed?

No, the "new" Critical Analysis and Reasoning Section (CAR) is identical to the old Verbal Reasoning Section:

How are abscure passages used:

OBSCURE PASSAGE TOPICS: On the BB and CP sections, most of the passages you encounter will discuss obscure science topics that are clearly beyond the scope of sophomore-level science classes. They never require prior knowledge, but ability to apply basic science.

Question Blueprint #1 (QB1):

Overall, and by a large margin, the most frequent AAMC question blueprint on the CP and BB sections is the "Make a Prediction" blueprint. In the aggregate, 10% of all AAMC questions use the QB1 blueprint. This question type asks the examinee to use basic science knowledge to predict the outcome of something. Examples of QB1 question stems include: "Which set of experimental conditions will result in the greatest increase in inflammation among the patients in Experiment 1?"; "Based on the passage information, administration of an acetylcholinesterase agonist will have what impact on nerve transmission?"; "Which change to Trial 1 will result in the least chromatic aberration?"; "All of the following changes will increase the speed of the block depicted in Figure 1, EXCEPT:"

What question is frequently asked in Pss section?

The frequencies do NOT hold true for the PsS section. In fact, the PsS section is a startling reversal. Based on all currently-released AAMC MCAT materials, QB31 is the most frequently used question blueprint on the new PsS section! Approximately 1 out of every 7 questions on PsS will use QB31!

What does the new MCAT PSS depend on?

The new PsS section is a noticeable departure from the concept-over-memorization trend.

Become an MCAT Author:

There is nothing that would be of greater value to the commander of an army than to have his opponent's battle plan. In a similar way, there are few things that will benefit you more in terms of earning a high MCAT score than being able to confidently break down, analyze, understand and reproduce the exact "battle plan" used by the authors who create the MCAT. As we attempt real AAMC questions during the Group Sessions, we will point out common MCAT trends, question designs, passage types, and so forth. This will be no substitute, however, for analyzing each passage and question you attempt and drawing up your own "MCAT Battle Plan." To Become an MCAT Author means to analyze, evaluate and categorize each real AAMC question you attempt until you can confidently reproduce your own practice questions—questions that are near-perfect replicas of a real AAMC question in terms of style, content, difficulty, design, and delivery. We promise you that if you can develop that skill the MCAT will suddenly "open itself" to you. Your confidence will soar. You will not be intimidated because you will be able to see and predict exactly what the MCAT authors are going to do. For example, for a student who has taken the advice to Become an MCAT Author, our strong emphasis of the 90/10 Rule would not even be necessary. Through the process of Becoming an MCAT Author, this student would have already recognized the approximate 90/10 distribution of each question type.

Take Classroom Sessions SERIOUSLY:

This includes Group Sessions, Mastery Sessions, and Proctored Study Hall Sessions. These interactive group components are one of your greatest tools in mastering the 90% question type. First, attend every single session offered at your program level—without exception. Second, attend every session with an aggressive attitude that you are there to learn as much as humanly possible, within that short time frame, about yourself and about the exam. As you faithfully maintain your MCAT Journal, you will have several items you know you want to focus on and try to improve. For example, you may have noted over the last few sessions that you tend to miss questions that involve the introduction of new information within the question stem. As a result, you may have spoken with the proctor or with your tutor about possible ways to improve and, hopefully, have been carefully observing other students in the group who tend to answer these questions correctly. You might have also noted that you tend not to read the passages carefully enough to tease out the necessary information. As you attack the practice problems presented on that particular day, you have a few specific things in the forefront of your mind on which to focus. Begin every session with a specific goal in mind. Isolate one particular strategy, skill, problem, or error and intentionally attack that goal during the session. As you analyze practice MCAT questions, don't allow yourself—or other students—to flippantly gloss over a question, answer, explanation, or strategy. Simply explaining how to answer the question correctly is far from sufficient. For each question, the group should discuss questions such as these: • In what unique or characteristic way was the question written? • What did the question author intend to evaluate/test? • What approach or strategy was necessary to reach the correct answer? • What aspect of the question made it most difficult? • How is this question similar to other questions we have attempted previously?

The most common MCAT question type is QB1: "Make A Prediction"

This is the same question blueprint described previously. It requires the examinee to make a prediction about a reaction product, physiological change, or other outcome, based only on basic science knowledge. You will encounter this question frequently; about 1 out of every 10 questions will match QB1.

COMPETING THEORIES OR EXPERIMENTS Passage:

This passage type presents two or more competing theories, hypotheses, or experiments. These passages are very similar to CAR passages and focus primarily on your ability to understand, contrast, and evaluate the two theories. Questions often ask things such as: "Which of the findings from the passage most strongly supports the Induction Hypothesis of embryological development?" or "Which finding, if true, would most WEAKEN the hypothesis that the PARK-3 gene is necessary for decreased dopamine production and PD onset?"

The second-most common MCAT question type is QB2: "Application of Conceptual Knowledge to a Real-Life Scenario."

This question blueprint tests subjects you have probably heard about before, but tests them at a deeper, more conceptual level. Memorized knowledge will never suffice on this question type, as critical thinking and solid understanding is always required. Examples of such stems include: "What is the principle quantum number of the orbital from which electrons are removed when Mg(s) becomes Mg2+(aq)?" or "At a certain point, 75% of the crotonic acid in solution is deprotonated. At which point in the following titration curves could this ratio of molecules be found?" This is where an overreliance on memorization will come back to haunt you and do serious damage to your score. You may have memorized the quantum numbers and the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, but they will be of no use to you here. To answer confidently, you will need to understand at a subatomic and molecular level what is actually going on in these real-life scenarios.

Timing Rules:

Timing Rule #1: Spend a total of eight (8) minutes per passage on the science sections: CP, BB and PsS. This includes the time needed to read the passage and the time you spend answering the questions. Here is a summary of the important characteristics of each section and passage, and how these factors dictate this allocation of timing: ▪ There are always ten (10) Passages per science section ▪ You are given ninety-five (95) minutes to complete each science section ▪ Fifteen (15) minutes should be reserved to answer exactly fifteen (15) stand-alone questions ▪ Eighty (80) minutes are therefore available to complete all ten (10) passages ▪ 80/10 = 8 minutes per passage Timing Rule #2: Spend exactly one (1) minute on every question, whether passage-based or stand-alone. Strategy, Math & Research Methods Altius Timing Rule #3: Spend three minutes reading and analyzing each science passage. Most MCAT passages will have either four (4) or five (5) accompanying questions. Passages with six (6) questions do appear, but are quite rare. If the passage you are attempting has only four questions, you will technically have one extra minute available that you could spend analyzing the passage. If the passage has five (5) questions, you will have exactly five minutes to attempt those five questions, after having spent three minutes reading the passage. If you happen upon a passage with six (6) questions, you will have either slightly less time to read the passage, or slightly less than one minute per question. Regardless of the number of questions presented, you should spend a total of eight (8) minutes per passage. This is easy to remember and allows you to consistently stay on course throughout the exam. As you prepare for the MCAT, try to get a natural feel for what 1-minute and 8-minute time periods "feel like." Timing Rule #4: Always maintain a timing chart on your scratch paper throughout the exam; use it every single time, period. The cost-benefit analysis (or if you prefer, the risk-reward ratio) for getting off track on your timing is grossly skewed. If you lose track of your timing, your chance of scoring well on the MCAT is close to zero. Losing track of your pacing will cause you to miss several questions that you absolutely would have answered correctly had you remained on track. Avoiding such a disaster is the benefit of perfecting your timing. What is the cost? Almost nothing. To maintain a timing chart, you must first determine to do so. Next, you must form the habit of using a timing chart throughout the program. Third, you must take approximately three to five seconds at the end of each passage or stand-alone set to update your timing chart. No cost, high risk of disaster if you do not, huge benefits and rewards if you do. This is a no brainer. Timing Rule #5: Do NOT go over your assigned time limit on any question, period.

CARS timing rules:

Timing Rule #1: The amount of time you will spend on each CAR passage is determined by the number of questions: ▪ 5 Questions = 9 MINUTES ▪ 6 Questions = 10 MINUTES ▪ 7 Questions = 11 MINUTES Timing Rule #2: Spend exactly one (1) minute on every CAR question. Timing Rule #3: Spend a maximum of four (4) minutes reading and analyzing each CAR passage. Timing Rule #4: Always maintain a timing chart on your scratch paper throughout the exam; use it every single time, period.

How Do I Study for the 90% Question Type (Conceptual/Critical-Thinking-Based)?

To perform well on the 90% of the MCAT that tests conceptual thinking, reading comprehension, analysis, logic, etc., you will need to: 1) Master the Socratic Method, 2) Study Conceptually, 3) Become an MCAT author, 4) Take Classroom Sessions Seriously, and 5) Attend Student Review Sessions Regularly. Let's examine each of these important components in more detail:

Use these valuable insights to improve your MCAT performance!

You are entirely dependent on your conceptual understanding of those forces that influencethe motion of an object, your understanding of vacuum conditions, and your ability tosynthesize those concepts to make an accurate prediction. -In other words, for 90% of the questions, you will be entirelydependent on your ability to: read and comprehend the passage, read and interpret graphs anddiagrams, abstract information from charts, apply new information or experimental results to the present experiment and its conclusions, infer logical explanations for scientific observations, and make predictions based on new or changing parameters.

Attend Spaced Repetition Sessions (SRS) Regularly:

You are responsible for finding andmaintaining an active Spaced Repetition Session (SRS) Group consisting of three to fivestudents. You are to meet with your SRS Group a minimum of one time for each chapter ofthe Student Study Manual. Prior to that SRS meeting, you should have divided up the contentfrom a previous chapter into equal sections and assigned each member a section. During theSRS meeting, take turns teaching each other your assigned topics. The ability to teach ascience concept to others at a deep, conceptual level is indicative of having attained one ofthe highest degrees of true conceptual mastery. Meeting with your SRS Group at least one time per chapter is the minimum expectation.However, the most successful students make the members of their SRS Group their go-tostudy partners. We suggest you study together as an SRS group as often as possible. The Altius MCAT program was designed to deliver as many spaced repetitions, in as manyscientifically-proven learning environments, as is reasonably possible in a four- to six-monthtime span. If you are always attending Group Sessions, Mastery Sessions, Proctored StudyHall Sessions, and SRS Groups, you are getting an unparalleled level of problem-basedexperience and repetition. All that being said, there is a point at which we can do little morethan provide you with the opportunity to succeed. The ULTIMATE responsibility for your MCAT score rests with Y-O-U. You must study on your own. You must show up at every course activity. You must be disciplined enough to make yourself do things that you may not want to do. SRS Group meetings are particularly easy to neglect because they are the only portion of the program that is not directly scheduled and proctored by Altius staff. Nevertheless, meeting regularly with your SRS group is one of the most beneficial aspects of this program. These meetings will provide you with "Teaching Repetition." Repetition of a concept by teaching it to others is the most powerful semantic processing activity in which you can engage. Nothing will help you master important science concepts more efficiently. oEXAMPLES OF THE 10% AND 90% QUESTION TYPES: The sample MCAT questions on the followingpage are real-life examples of the 10% and 90% question types, respectively. These two questionsappeared with a passage describing a titration performed as part of an experiment that was reportedin a journal article. The passage included charts, graphs and tabulated results from each trial. We haveomitted the passage itself so that you can focus directly on the questions themselves.

How Do I Study for the 10% Question Type (Knowledge-Memorization-Based)?

You will need to: 1) Memorize some content as directed, and 2) Practice Skill-Based Questions repetitively until they become second-nature. Memorize, but use Elaborative Rehearsal when doing so. Practice Skill-Based Problems Repeatedly: Examples of skill-based questions include such things as: performing a mole-to-mole conversion, reading an H-NMR spectrum, assigning R/S designations to a molecule, or solving a lens problem. relatively easy skill-based question increases significantly. To prevent this, you must repetitively practice such problems, over and over again, until they become second nature. As you encounter skill-based questions during the program, practice them with your tutor-mentor until you can solve at least twenty problems in a row without making an error. Include regular spaced repetition to reinforce these skills.

The old Biological Sciences Section CHANGED significantly over the final decade of its lifespan:

complete—transition from passages adapted from lab manuals or textbooks, to passages adapted from published scientific journal articles. This trend is important for current MCAT examinees because the emphasis on "Journal Adaptation Passages" has not only been conserved, but has been EXPANDED on the new MCAT exam.

TIMING RULES: CRITICAL ANALYSIS & REASONING SECTION (CAR)

o TIMING ADAPTATIONS FOR THE CAR SECTION: The CAR section follows the same basic timing principles, but features slightly different numbers because the CAR section has a different number of total questions and passages, and does NOT include stand-alone sets. Here are the general characteristics of the CAR section that dictate the most logical approach to timing: ▪ There are always nine (9) passages per CAR section ▪ You are given ninety (90) minutes to complete each CAR section ▪ There are no stand-alone sets on the CAR section, so all available time is reserved for passages ▪ 90/9 = 10 minutes per passage