Best MCAT preparation book.

[clumsy_gurl]

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I was looking at one of the practice tests and i was CLUELESS !! I have yet to take my second general organic and inorganic chemistry class. But I got pretty stressed out looking at that practice test.
Which is the best book to prepare for MCAT? After that I will think about doing practice tests (minimum how many shoud i do?) Right now I am looking for preparation material.
I heard extracts are good. what do you ppl think?
Also, I heard princeton books are way too hard.

[olek]

What class are you referring to? Are you taking chem classes at college or an MCAT prep program??

[monsmojo]

either kaplan or princeton review. doesn't matter.

[monsmojo]

i should tell you that the materials are almost exactly the same from yr to yr with little change. so if you want to go cheap, just buy used books off of someone.

[monsmojo]

also-kaplan showed us a graph of how people did on the exam based on how they studied (there was even research done on students making them study poems and take an exam on them). apparentely, the ppl who did the best did the most practice problems and exams, not the most studying time going over content. just a tip...

[FOID]

do as many practice questions as you can. taking a prep class is a good idea. take the class after you've taken bio, chem, ochem, and physics.

[clumsy_gurl]

Thanks all.
Yes I am taking classes at the community college and honestly, I dont think it is gonna make much of a difference if I take MCAT after taking my last 2 classes.
Thats why I want review books and study everything all over again myself.
Prep courses are wayy too expensive !!
So kaplan or princeton review books? Do you think 2004-2005 review books would be fine? (not too old)? Is there any specific name of the book or something?
How abt AAMC review books? and practice tests?

[swimchick]

I took a Kaplan prep course (really don't recommend it...go with Princeton Review if you have $$ for a prep course) and it helped me as far as understanding the material. I also purchased Exam Krackers 1001 Questions in MCAT Bio, Chem, Orgo and Verbal (4 books each with 1001 questions)....definitely worth the money!

Like others have said....you obviously need to be comfortable with the material tested on the MCAT....but you must also practice, practice practice! Taking practice MCATs helps you build endurance for the actual exam, familiarizes you with how concepts are tested on the exam and helps ease the anxiety of finishing the exam within the allotted period.

I believe you can purchase MCAT exams from AAMC....I don't think we're supposed to post links so PM me if you're interested.

[clumsy_gurl]

yeah... courses are too expensive for me !!
I want a book to study the MATERIAL first !! like i mentioned before, when i looked at one of the free practice tests or i think it was a test paper, i was CLUELESS !!
So, I am looking for a book which covers the material thorougly, and then i ll go with practice tests and previous MCAT papers.
Any more suggestions ??

[olek]

Princeton Review books are good, however they tend to go into more detail than you need for the MCAT. But I totally agree on prep courses. Well worth it. Do as many AAMC practice tests (I think there's 10 of them or a bit less) they are very close to the real thing.

You must be very comfortable with the material. Which kind of chemistry have you taken already? If you've only had high school chemistry and you think you know all you will need for MCAT... you are wrong. Organic chem can be pretty involved on MCAT so you might need those college courses.

Good luck.