Think like a Chem/Phy Pro

Session 303

We cover what approaches you should be taking to nail the Chem/Phys section of the MCAT. Hunter is back from Blueprint MCAT to join our discussion today. If you would like to follow along on YouTube, go to premed.tv.

Listen to this podcast episode with the player above, or keep reading for the highlights and takeaway points.

[02:37] The Importance of Prior Knowledge and Conceptualization in the Chem/Phys Section

Hunter discusses the importance of prior knowledge and conceptualization when it comes to understanding the Chem/Phys section of the MCAT exam. Simply memorizing content is not enough, as the exam expects a certain level of understanding and application. While this may seem daunting, Hunter encourages learning through practice and experience.

'The MCAT doesn't reward you just for having your content memorized, it expects it.'Click To Tweet

The Chem/Phys section is one of the three science sections of the MCAT where it is essential to have a strong foundation in formulas and concepts. Memorization is expected rather than rewarded, and it is crucial to know all the concepts and formulas. Although physics and orgo make up only about 50% of this section, it is important to know them, which is like the bare minimum. Knowing these subjects really well can help students achieve the upper 60th percentile or higher.

[05:23] Concepts Over Memorization: Understanding the Chem/Phys Section of the MCAT

It’s the concepts that will get you the points in the Chem/Phys section, not just memorizing formulas. To succeed in this section, you need to understand how to apply the knowledge to different scenarios. Hunter uses an example of a car on a slippery road to illustrate the importance of understanding. You need to recognize the forces at play and visualize the situation rather than just memorizing equations. Simply having the equations memorized is not enough if you don’t understand the bigger picture.

The MCAT: A Specific Skill, Not a Predictor of Intelligence

When you give intelligent people something predictable, they naturally figure out how to become efficient at it. The problem with this approach is that many students only study the week of the exam, memorizing one chapter and one formula at a time. This method may allow them to rock the exam, but their grades are not necessarily reflective of their understanding.

'The MCAT is not at all a predictor of like intelligence or competence or anything like that… it's a very specific skill.'Click To Tweet

Many students with sub-3.0 GPAs worry they are not smart enough to get into med school when, in reality, they are excellent critical thinkers.

Conversely, students with perfect 4.0 GPAs can struggle to score well on the MCAT. The exam is a specific skill, not a predictor of intelligence or competence. And so, a lot of times, they can get the concepts and content on their own, but it’s all the other stuff that goes into it. At the end of the day, the MCAT is a test to see how well you can take the MCAT.

Why the MCAT is a Brick Wall for Some Student

Lots of students ace their GPA by memorizing formulas, but they lack a deep conceptual understanding because they never faced challenges during their undergraduate studies. They excel at scoring high grades and performing well on exams, so when they confront the MCAT, they feel like hitting a brick wall.

[10:37] Think Like a Chem/Phys Pro: Follow the Trail of Breadcrumbs

Using Units as Breadcrumbs

Understanding unit conversion is key to excelling in chemistry and physics. It can help you decipher a difficult question and give you a starting point to solve it.

Units can act as breadcrumbs when you have no idea how to begin solving a question. If you see “Joules,” you know it’s related to energy equations, and if you see “watts,” you know it’s related to energy per second. By understanding the units, you can start piecing together a solution.

'Units are just a really good breadcrumb… you have to follow the breadcrumbs, you can't just immediately leap to the loaf.'Click To Tweet

Many students make the mistake of jumping right to the answer before following the breadcrumbs. Instead, follow the trail of units to the solution, rather than immediately leaping to the loaf. Following the breadcrumbs will lead to a deeper conceptual understanding and will help you approach challenging questions with greater confidence and success.

Pay Attention to the Questions

Hunter emphasizes the significance of paying attention to clues in the question as they provide a starting point for solving the problem. The question is designed to be challenging and requires one to think critically and conceptualize.

Hunter advises taking inventory of the variables given in the question and using them as breadcrumbs to solve the problem.

For example, in a basic kinematics equation, the variables of velocity, mass, and starting at rest can be used to solve for acceleration. Similarly, in chemistry, understanding units is crucial when analyzing the information given in the question. Hunter provides an example of a question that asks for watts but gives options in kilojoules, leading to the conclusion that the smallest unit is the correct answer.

The Importance of Critical Thinking During Problem-Solving

In Gen Chem, questions may reference unfamiliar information, such as glycosphingolipids. However, simplifying the question by rephrasing it into more straightforward terms leads to a deeper understanding of the problem.

The key is to simplify, conceptualize, and follow the trail of breadcrumbs provided in the question to find the answer.

Overall, Hunter encourages students to focus on conceptual understanding and critical thinking rather than just memorizing content or relying on the answers to fall in their lap. By following the breadcrumbs in the question, students can become successful problem-solvers and achieve better test scores.

[16:01] Should You Memorize Equations for Tests?

Many students wonder whether they should use the tactic of memorizing equations and brain-dumping them on paper during exam time. Is this approach helpful, or is it just a gimmick?

It’s a 50/50 opinion on this topic, but the best advice is to lean towards not bothering with memorization. While it can provide comfort to some students, and feeling comfortable can lead to better performance, memorizing equations may not be necessary with a good conceptual understanding.

Additionally, having a list of equations in front of you can lead to a subconscious word bank mentality, which might hinder critical thinking skills. Having a strong conceptual understanding is often more important than memorization. Even if you forget a formula, you can still get pretty close to the answer using critical thinking skills. Memorization can be stressful and detract from the enjoyment of learning. It’s much more fun to think about a problem rather than stress about memorization.

While having a list of equations in front of you can be comforting for some, critical thinking skills are often more important. Memorizing equations can lead to a word bank mentality that might hinder performance. Instead, focusing on conceptual understanding will lead to better results on tests.