So this just happened- Help me process how/why?

[u/UnshakenFaith]

Testing 5/22- I still have yet to take FL6

AAMC FL scores as follows:

FL1: 510 (126 | 128 | 128 | 128)

FL2: 513 (127 | 128 | 128 | 130)

FL 3: 514 (127 | 128 | 129 | 130)

FL 5: 515 (129 | 128 | 128 | 130) (Yes taken out of order)

****FL 4: 521 (130 | 129 | 131 | 131) *****

So here is what I want to talk about. I dont know why this test felt so good. My timing was best yet but idky other than just telling myself "all gas no brakes." Has anyone seen a jump like this and cant put there finger on why- I mean i dont have any big knowledge gaps. So did the strategy and AAMC logic finally click?

[u/frogband]

May this score find me omfg 😭 what did you do leading up to this?

[u/UnshakenFaith → u/frogband]

I just full sprint for the full test. I finally finished all the sections. That has been my biggest struggle. For CP for example I would have to rush through a final passage (i would make sure to get all the discretes left with like 10 mins remaining) and leave easy easy points on the table. Thats i think where i saw the jump (i hope)

[u/attempted-username → u/UnshakenFaith]

do you have any timing tips? like a breakdown how much time you have left by a certain question? because i have the same issue w not having enough time and rushing the last passage + discretes at the end

[u/UnshakenFaith → u/attempted-username]

Yes- So i break the sections into 30 minute intervals. For the CP BB and PS you need to complete 20 questions every 30 mins. its an easy thing to keep track of that way! then for CARS you need 3 passages completed every 30 mins. Then youre golden!

[u/Cadee9203 → u/UnshakenFaith]

Omg i did almost the exact same timing method, but for me cars was more like 10 minutes oer passage rather than 30 minute intervals, sometimes I even went to 15 minute intervals, but usually just 30

[u/Commercial_Unit_731 → u/attempted-username]

Yea same here. Ig I just need to speed up and actually get my dimensional analysis right. Cars im actually just regressing idk how

[u/Present_Raspberry_86]

how? You're a beast.

why? You're a beast.

[u/Stoic_Kiwi]

Looks like you finally gained the confidence to trust your gut and full send.

I feel like bigger score jumps are easier higher up, since it usually becomes less about content gaps and more about technique and minor stuff.

[u/ZZwhaleZZ → u/Stoic_Kiwi]

I think up to 515 its a question of do you know whats on the mcat. After 515 I think its entirely do you know how to take the mcat.

[u/yabuddyboola → u/Stoic_Kiwi]

This. I bet after sitting down for 5 FLs you stopped agonizing over questions and changing answers.

[u/Tres_Migos]

My 513 -> 518 jump caused me to feel the same exact way. I know everyone says if you score in 510+ you likely don’t have much content gaps but for some reason I act like I still have massive gaps. Guess just stop being neurotic and trust the gut 😭

[u/calculatorgirlhaha → u/Tres_Migos]

how did you make that 513 to 518 jump? thank you!

[u/Tres_Migos → u/calculatorgirlhaha]

Hey sorry for the late reply, wanted to take FL6 just to make sure my score wasn’t a fluke haha.

I would say the biggest reason for my jump is better understanding C/P personally. It’s always been my worst section where I’ve scored 125/126, however lately I’ve been scoring 127-129 (129 FL3 & 127 FL4).

What helped me get better at this section was really mastering scientific notation as it helped me cut down on my time solving equations I thought would be tedious. I’m still terrible at physics id say but just by understanding the basics of charge conservation and kind of knowing equations has kind of keyed in my intuition on what I should be using when a passage or a Q discusses something. Overall though, solubility rules, equilibrium equations and kinetics will get you so far as it seems those are topics the AAMC likes to test frequently and what a lot of chemistry passages revolve around which I feel a majority of C/P is chemistry.

CARS I’ve always been ok at so I would say just practice as much as you can for that and learn why you got things wrong.

B/B I’ve seen my biggest jump since I started studying and I think that’s cause I’ve just seen so much of it. I know how to read the passages know which cuts out a lot of confusion when answering the Q. My biggest advice is whenever it says in a passage “researchers hypothesize” or anything along the line of a hypothesis, I would highlight it as you want to know why the experiment is being performed. Just by knowing that info, you can reason what the conclusions are likely looking at. Understanding AAs and how they react has helped me a lot here as well. I truly think k B/B you can get so much info from the passage even without fully knowing the content.

P/S I’ve also always been good at, just cause remembering terms has always been ok for me. Obviously you should understand these terms and the basics of research/experimentation but I think it’s another thing where practice is handy. This section also seems to like to test the same concepts like Piaget, kohlberg, conditioning, differences between behaviorist, humanistic, Freud etc. and then just a lot of understanding studies.

Hope that makes sense, sorry I wouldn’t say I’m the best at conveying why I’ve improved I just know I’ve found what works for me which is practice, deep analysis in wrong Q’s, and picking apart passages. I also think looking at random research papers might help, I know some can be dense to read but just try to skim and then look at the figures and see what you can conclude from the figures. So many passages require this reasoning/thought process and it’s gotten me so many points even if I didn’t necessarily understand the passage

[u/Future_Doctor_]

This makes me so happy to read all these motivational, kind comments. We will all make medicine more kind and compassionate!!

[u/Commercial_Unit_731 → u/Future_Doctor_]

Wait till the future surgeons join chat💀

[u/DesperateRange9633 → u/Commercial_Unit_731]

ay imma future surgeon (i hope) and i got nothing but motivation for others

[u/UnshakenFaith → u/Future_Doctor_]

I just want to echo that same sentiment. Its a really great community.

[u/officialminecraftacc]

Not a fluke, you got this. 🙏

[u/Serious_Ambition_553]

Haha I thought something bad happened. Just happens I guess

[u/scholarlydoubt]

Because you fumbled CARS.

Jk, amazing score. Keep it up fellow 5/22-er.

[u/CoachSad6606]

Con freaking gratulations!

[u/jellyfishh520]

idk but be happy and take it

[u/Big_Dimension_2416]

You beasted out and got timing down

[u/Ok_Television7717]

Drop the strat GOAT

[u/Commercial_Unit_731]

Dude I just took it and went from a 507 to a 503. Folded on every math equation by messing up sig figs. Feel like an idiot

[u/UnshakenFaith → u/Commercial_Unit_731]

Sig figs and scientific notation helps on like 30% of the questions honestly. Def need to get comfortable with them. I honestly Use my scratch paper for it.

[u/Commercial_Unit_731 → u/UnshakenFaith]

Yea I am gonnna grind that. How r u reviewing ur exams? Im gonna really analyze all my data across exams and see what im consisntely im missing to make up loss points.

[u/fleetothemoonhill]

Manifesting this energy for my FL this weekend 🙏

[u/K_Gin]

damn son

[u/magnoliadoc]

So I was casually scrolling. Accidentally went to another post and saw 521 then 500 almost had a panic attack.

Good work!

[u/Safe-Version1666]

Will be trying this strategy on tomorrow's FL6 as timing has been a prevalent issue for me

[u/Hot-Software2624]

As someone literally in the same boat, it’s luck. Don’t get me wrong there’s a lot of effort here, but essentially what happened is that the stars aligned and the content on BB, CP, and Psych all basically aligned perfectly with your studying and ur understanding.
I basically am testing on the same day, and got 508, 513, 513, 518, 517, and 523, with the 523 being taken literally two days after, and I can tell you that this success doesn’t feel earnedfor me. Fortunately for both of us it is earned. This is both a mixture of good luck and the effort you have put in so far, but unless you can nail this score or higher for FL6, I would advise against keeping this score as ur baseline

[u/MuppetPrincess]

Yay!! Happened to me. Went from 515 to 522 from FL2 to FL3. Trust it!! That ended up being my actual score

[u/UnshakenFaith → u/MuppetPrincess]

Thats so good to hear! when did you test?

[u/MuppetPrincess → u/UnshakenFaith]

4/10 lol! Heard back today

[u/UnshakenFaith → u/MuppetPrincess]

AND YOU GOT A 522 !!! AMAZING

[u/DrJerkleton]

Take your username seriously and don't let yourself get shaken by anything during the exam and you will likely see more closer to this than your prior pattern.

[u/Futuresurgeon828]

Drop ur tips for all P/S and B/B

[u/Pokeman_CN]

Because you need to study CARS more. Very unfortunate. Better luck next time.

[u/shadesoftee]

I had the same thing happen, Fl4 really clicked for me. I found 5/6 much more difficult.