The tips begin at a different place in each module. The advice moves along with the stages of the course.
A person will inevitably perform a large number of quantitative problems during MCAT preparation. Why do all this work? In the physical sciences section of your exam, you'll probably need to do math a dozen times at most. Most of the questions are conceptual. Why do all these quantitative problems? Firstly, you want to get those dozen problems correct. It's not huge, but they're important. Quantitative problems take a larger share of time per question, so you need to be fast with them, but most importantly, you perform the quantitative problems to gain tacit knowledge of how physical science represents the world. Quantitative problems build conceptual understanding.
Module 1 Science Focus
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You will find different sets of assignments within a module, ie. Science Focus, Conceptual Integration, Biology Cycle, CARS, and Psychology. Science Focus assignments represent the careful topic by topic progression through science content review. In module 1, the topics of Science Focus are kinematics, Newton's laws, work & energy, and electricity. In module 2, atomic theory, periodic trends, etc.
Completing the assignments for a topic in Science Focus does not mean that the topic is finished. It is a new row in a garden. It will need weeding and watering. The topic enters the cycle of spaced repetition. You might be tempted to get bogged down. Remember that you will keep coming back to things. It may not be the first study session that you achieve your strongest understanding but sometimes days or weeks later when you return to a subject and see it in a new light.
Good sequencing to a physics topic within Science Focus might include:
1) Study the conceptual materials in Kaplan (or TBR). 'Conceptual materials' means simply the portion of the chapter that explains and teaches the concepts. Instead of closing the circle on the subject, think of this phase of study as opening the door into it. An MCAT book doesn't teach. It reviews. It's okay to have open questions. Get a sense of the structure and scope of the topic. Get the formulas talking to you. Often in physics there is a model system you can imagine. Learn to use the formulas to project understanding on changes in the model system.
2) Do the odd problems in Kaplan or TBR, basic bread-and-butter problems to get you on the board. Also the physics concept and question cards. These are purpose built to get you situated in MCAT physics.
3)Watch the videos. The videos in module 1 present mechanics and electrostatics. In addition to the fundamentals, we begin the spiraling theme of how mechanics and electrostatics ideas are key to understanding internal energy change in chemical transformations. While we are covering these physics topics we are also working on our chemistry ideas.
4) Do the Integrated Course practice items after watching the videos. In both science and psychology, completion of the course practice items marks your graduation to the next subject.
5) Each of the seventy two science topics from physics to biology has its own resource page. There is a library of useful links. There are also links to the Khan Academy MCAT Course videos in good organization topic by topic.
In addition to Science Focus, there are assignments within Conceptual Integration, Biology Cycle, Psychology and CARS. A helpful strategy is to devote time to various tasks in one hour increments. Give yourself a change of pace each hour.
In our experience, a strong student can get through the assignments in a module in about 25 hours. Use the check-boxes to record your progress!
Completing the assignments for a topic in Science Focus does not mean that the topic is finished. It is a new row in a garden. It will need weeding and watering. The topic enters the cycle of spaced repetition. You might be tempted to get bogged down. Remember that you will keep coming back to things. It may not be the first study session that you achieve your strongest understanding but sometimes days or weeks later when you return to a subject and see it in a new light.
Good sequencing to a physics topic within Science Focus might include:
1) Study the conceptual materials in Kaplan (or TBR). 'Conceptual materials' means simply the portion of the chapter that explains and teaches the concepts. Instead of closing the circle on the subject, think of this phase of study as opening the door into it. An MCAT book doesn't teach. It reviews. It's okay to have open questions. Get a sense of the structure and scope of the topic. Get the formulas talking to you. Often in physics there is a model system you can imagine. Learn to use the formulas to project understanding on changes in the model system.
2) Do the odd problems in Kaplan or TBR, basic bread-and-butter problems to get you on the board. Also the physics concept and question cards. These are purpose built to get you situated in MCAT physics.
3)Watch the videos. The videos in module 1 present mechanics and electrostatics. In addition to the fundamentals, we begin the spiraling theme of how mechanics and electrostatics ideas are key to understanding internal energy change in chemical transformations. While we are covering these physics topics we are also working on our chemistry ideas.
4) Do the Integrated Course practice items after watching the videos. In both science and psychology, completion of the course practice items marks your graduation to the next subject.
5) Each of the seventy two science topics from physics to biology has its own resource page. There is a library of useful links. There are also links to the Khan Academy MCAT Course videos in good organization topic by topic.
In addition to Science Focus, there are assignments within Conceptual Integration, Biology Cycle, Psychology and CARS. A helpful strategy is to devote time to various tasks in one hour increments. Give yourself a change of pace each hour.
In our experience, a strong student can get through the assignments in a module in about 25 hours. Use the check-boxes to record your progress!
