<p>What was the score for your first-ever nonreal MCAT Verbal test?
Out of curiosity I tried it for the first time yesterday using the Examcrackers's 101 MCAT verbal book. I took approx. three times as much time to complete it (comfortably in my pace without any time pressure) and still ended up scoring a 4 LOL!! I feel dumb... If I took exactly the time given, I'd have scored a 0 or 1, or even -3.. But I don't need to worry that much now because I still have two years left until the real MCAT.</p>
<p>Trying this exam made me realize that I really lacked the ability to:
-read very fast and accurately. (English is my 2nd language, and I'm not very proficient in it compared to my native language)
-be logical and reasonable.</p>
<p>I figured that if I hone these two main skills, I'll be able to do much better. But the question is how? What is the best way of increasing those two abilities?</p>
<p>As for the first one, I think that reading great magazines like the Economist constantly will do the trick, as has been mentioned before. The second one, I don't really know. Maybe read books on logic and reasons, especially the books in the discipline of philosophy?</p>
<p>Any advice and tips would be really appreciated.</p>
<p>I read just about anything that has words on it.However, I think reading what interests you is more efficient and more comfortable in the long run. I mean...the Economist = zzz to me but random books from the library about sushi history piques my interests and would encourage me to read/finish it. </p>
<p>Also, I don't think reading books on logic and reason would necessarily increase logic and reason (unless this is an RPG). Just general thinking increases logic..do some crosswords?</p>
<p>Kaplan had a free practice test at my campus... I'm guessing it was the diagnostic? PS: 10, VR: 8, BS: 13</p>
<p>VR was my lowest section, and the one I'll have to work on the most. I haven't started any prep for the exam yet, so I can't help you with strategies... from what the others have said on this forum, reading and English classes help the most.</p>
<p>I did the free Kaplan test as well, at the beginning of the fall semester before I had physics or organic (yes, probably a waste of time, but the word "free" will make me sign up for anything). I think my verbal section was a 12, although I've heard the shortened practice exam is easier than the full-length ones.</p>
<p>Since then, I've read the Economist as often as time allows for (it not only informs you, it tells you <em>what</em> to think! haha). It might not be your thing though. I'd second the advice of just reading as much as you can. I'd think your struggles with English probably are most influencing your score, and any reading material will help with that. Read your school paper, the state paper, Sports Illustrated - "high level" material isn't going to help you any more than simple reading if you're having problems at a very basic level.</p>
<p>yeah i was always told that the diagnostic kaplan gives you has a crazy curve to pretty much guarantee that you'll do better on the real thing.<br>
i got a 29 on the diagnostic (the one that determines your baseline if you take the class), and within a few weeks of studying it jumped up to around 37. so i'm skeptical about kaplan's diagnostic, both from my friends' experiences and my own</p>
<p>don't use kaplan VR, it sucks. use the AAMC ones. they are the closest to the real test.</p>
<p>I scored 9 on my first and wasn't able to start the last passage since i ran out of time so had to randomly guess. i fixed my timing so i'd spend no more than 8 minutes per passage and thus have 4 minutes left over. i did this on my 2nd test and on and consistently scored 10s. </p>
<p>i don't know....my score never went up from 10s. got a 10 on the real thing too. i honestly don't know how to improve your VR. ppl say to read more, like the New Yorker and stuff.</p>
<p>Kaplan suggests a lot of good techniques for covering passages, including specific ways to outline and mark key parts of the passage. Using those well should result in at least a couple points' worth of gain.</p>
<p>To the OP: I guess you can think of it this way. Kaplan says that even with their course, the average improvement is about ten points. Assume that Kaplan's course is utterly useless (which I think is false) and that everybody's going to get ten points anyway. Across three sections, that's about three points. Verbal is the hardest of the three to improve, but you're starting from a lower point so you'd expect more improvement anyway. The question is, do you think you can get the ten-point improvement that you'd want?</p>
<p>hmm i don't know if i would use kaplan's verbal strategy. they tell you to write a short sentence for each paragraph summarizing the main point of that paragraph. everyone tells me they do worse using it because it is way too time consuming.</p>
<p>i'm just speaking on every person i know who has taken the kaplan course. they all say kaplan's verbal strategy is garbage and don't use it.</p>
<p>you can try it, tho, if you think you'll still have enough time.</p>
<p>As any Kaplan instructor will tell you, the strategy does, in fact, cost you points while you're still getting used to it. Your score initially drops. Eventually, as you get faster and faster at it -- which comes with practice -- you realize that it's not any slower and allows you to catch a lot more of the details.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, some students start off with it, it goes poorly, and then they drop it. So they end up not improving their verbal scores.</p>
<p>I agree with bdm.. don't dismiss kaplan's verbal strategy right off the bat.
when i first started taking the class, i thought it would be worthless as well. but once you get faster at it, it can help. i use it primarily for the more complicated passages, where trying to understand each paragraph takes a bit of work and i often forget what i've read already haha
i don't use it much for referencing like kaplan says you should, but it can help solidify the content of difficult passages for you so when it comes to answering questions, you don't have to reread things over and over</p>