This strategy is difficult for most test takers; we’re conditioned to do things in order, but give it a try when you practice. Remember, if you do the test in the exact order given, you’re letting the test makers control you. You control how you take this test. On the other hand, if skipping around goes against your moral fiber and makes you a nervous wreck—don’t do it. Just be mindful of the clock, and don’t get bogged down with the tough questions.
2. LEARN TO RECOGNIZE AND SEEK OUT QUESTIONS YOU CAN DO
Another thing to remember about managing the test sections is that MCAT questions and passages, unlike items on the SAT and other standardized tests, are not presented in order of difficulty. There’s no rule that says you have to work through the sections in any particular order; in fact, the test makers scatter the easy and difficult questions throughout the section, in effect rewarding those who actually get to the end. Don’t lose sight of what you’re being tested for along with your reading and thinking skills: efficiency and cleverness.
Don’t waste time on questions you can’t do. We know that skipping a possibly tough question is easier said than done; we all have the natural instinct to plow through test sections in their given order, but it just doesn’t pay off on the MCAT. The computer won’t be impressed if you get the toughest question right. If you dig in your heels on a tough question, refusing to move on until you’ve cracked it, well, you’re letting your ego get in the way of your test score. A test section (not to mention life itself) is too short to waste on lost causes.
3. USE A PROCESS OF ANSWER ELIMINATION
Using a process of elimination is another way to answer questions both quickly and effectively. There are two ways to get all the answers right on the MCAT. You either know all the right answers, or you know all the wrong answers. Because there are three times as many wrong answers, you should be able to eliminate some if not all of them. By doing so you either get to the correct response or increase your chances of guessing the correct response. You start out with a 25 percent chance of picking the right answer, and with each eliminated answer your odds go up. Eliminate one, and you’ll have a 33 ⅓ percent chance of picking the right one, eliminate two, and you’ll have a 50 percent chance, and, of course, eliminate three, and you’ll have a 100 percent chance. Increase your efficiency by actually crossing out the wrong choices on the screen using the strike-through feature. Remember to look for wrong-answer traps when you’re eliminating. Some answers are designed to seduce you by distorting the correct answer.
4. REMAIN CALM
It’s imperative that you remain calm and composed while working through a section. You can’t allow yourself to become so rattled by one hard reading passage that it throws off your performance on the rest of the section. Expect to find at least one killer passage in every section, but remember, you won’t be the only one to have trouble with it. The test is curved to take the tough material into account. Having trouble with a difficult question isn’t going to ruin your score—but getting upset about it and letting it throw you off track will. When you understand that part of the test maker’s goal is to reward those who keep their composure, you’ll recognize the importance of not panicking when you run into challenging material.
5. KEEP TRACK OF TIME
Of course, the last thing you want to happen is to have time called on a particular section before you’ve gotten to half the questions. Therefore, it’s essential that you pace yourself, keeping in mind the general guidelines for how long to spend on any individual question or passage. Have a sense of how long you have to do each question, so you know when you’re exceeding the limit and should start to move faster.
So, when working on a section, always remember to keep track of time. Don’t spend a wildly disproportionate amount of time on any one question or group of questions. Also, give yourself 30 seconds or so at the end of each section to fill in answers for any questions you haven’t gotten to.
SECTION-SPECIFIC PACING
Let’s now look at the section-specific timing requirements and some tips for meeting them. Keep in mind that the times per question or passage are only averages; there are bound to be some that take less time and some that take more. Try to stay balanced. Remember, too, that every question is of equal worth, so don’t get hung up on any one. Think about it: If a question is so hard that it takes you a long time to answer it, chances are you may get it wrong anyway. In that case, you’d have nothing to show for your extra time but a lower score.
VERBAL REASONING
Allow yourself approximately eight to ten minutes per passage and respective questions. It may sound like a lot of time, but it goes quickly. Keep in mind that some passages are longer than others. On average, give yourself about three or four minutes to read and then four to six minutes for the questions.
PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Averaging over each section, you’ll have about one minute and 20 seconds per question. Some questions, of course, will take more time, some less. A science passage plus accompanying questions should take about eight to nine minutes, depending on how many questions there are. Stand-alone questions can take anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or more. Again, the rule is to do your best work first. Also, don’t feel that you have to understand everything in a passage before you go on to the questions. You may not need that deep an understanding to answer questions, because a lot of information may be extraneous. You should overcome your perfectionism and use your time wisely.
WRITING SAMPLE
You have exactly 30 minutes for each essay. As mentioned in discussion of the seven-step approach to this section, you should allow approximately five minutes to prewrite the essay, 23 minutes to write the essay, and two minutes to proofread. It’s important that you budget your time, so you don’t get cut off.
COMPUTER-BASED TESTING STRATEGIES
ARRIVE AT THE TESTING CENTER EARLY
Get to the testing center early to jump-start your brain. However, if they allow you to begin your test early, decline.
USE THE MOUSE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
If you are right-handed, practice using the mouse with your left hand for Test Day. This way, you’ll increase speed by keeping the pencil in your right hand to write on your scratch paper. If you are left-handed, use your right hand for the mouse.
KNOW THE TUTORIAL BEFORE TEST DAY
You will save time on Test Day by knowing exactly how the test will work. Click through any tutorial pages and save time.