<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I have rather an odd request here... For my SAT preparation, I improved my score in verbal by 180 points (I started off REALLY low) by doing lots of prep questions but also writing practice SAT questions on my own. It really helped me to think like problem-writer and build my critical thinking.</p>
<p>Now, for MCAT in two years away, I want to slowly develop my reading skills and thinking. I'm not asking for MCAT Verbal help because I think that's pointless at this point. There are far important things like grades and other ECs. But what I am going to do now is write papers, pick out passages from them, and build my own "mock" passages with questions.</p>
<p>I am genuinely looking for some people who scored well in MCAT verbal, and equally importantly, who are willing to help me with my English. My native language is not English so I always have been struggling and will combat with English. But that's not valid excuse at all so I'm always challenging myself.</p>
<p>If you can help me with this by looking over grammar and content, and most importantly, quality of questions and stuffs, please send me a private message. Thank you very much!</p>
<p>~Happy New Year~</p>
<p>I copied this from another one of my posts regarding MCAT prep.</p>
<p>If you would like to improve your verbal abilities, you can read several different magazines that are said to write in the style of the MCAT verbal passages. The only one I can remember off the top of my head is the Economist, but for fiction I think the New Yorker may also be helpful. I'm sure other people on this board can recommend other magazines that might be helpful to you.</p>
<p>Thanks I remember reading that actually by you or other people. And yes, I already do this. I read those and some other newspapers in regular basis (try to) and I also read some PDFs on certain topics that I'm not familiar with (to broaden my area of knowledge).</p>
<p>But what you did not see was what I'm asking. I'm asking for someone who can look over the papers I write because writing papers on those magazines/books/articles not only improve reading skills but also, critical thinking since you really have to understand the article to take notes. And furthermore, you get to write so you're practicing writing skills as well.</p>
<p>So anyone wants to help me with this? My papers often have article problems, and yes, I know that I can get good grammar book and fix this. I have tried this but regardless, non-native speakers will always have trouble with articles, and that's why I'm asking for this.</p>
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I also read some PDFs on certain topics that I'm not familiar with (to broaden my area of knowledge).
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<p>This is useless. No outside knowledge is needed for the verbal passages - in fact, outside knowledge may actually lead you astray when it comes time to answer the questions.</p>
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I'm asking for someone who can look over the papers I write because writing papers on those magazines/books/articles not only improve reading skills but also, critical thinking since you really have to understand the article to take notes. And furthermore, you get to write so you're practicing writing skills as well.
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<p>Taking appropriate notes is sufficient for MCAT success. Writing about passages is also a waste of time because MCAT essay writing has a highly stereotyped form and content - the sort of essay that the MCAT demands is nothing like the passages the test wants you to read and analyze.</p>
<p>I looked through the Writing Section samples and got Q. They give you a huge list of scenarios and ask for situation. Now, how specific do they want? Like... if you basically know about the event and can elaborate into the question, do you get a high score?</p>
<p>I'm confused about writing score. I know certain range of alphabet represents a score but I'm confused on what standards define it. Thanks.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>As specific as possible. Events that everyone would know about are better than personal events (stay updated with current and historical events).</p></li>
<li><p>Your score isn't so much a function of the examples you choose so much as your ability to follow directions. The essay should be written in a specific format: example, counterexample, synthesis.</p></li>
<li><p>The writing score is essentially useless for US med school apps. No one looks at it.</p></li>
</ol>