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Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:07 am
by sfoglia
Was thinking that it might be beneficial for those who retook in September 2014 and scored their average or better to explain their study strategy to December 2014 and February 2015 re-takers. What do you think effected your performance during your first take? How did you approach studying differently for the retake? If you are comfortable, PT averages would be very helpful to include.

P.S. I hope everyone is feeling a bit better the morning. If not, there's always chocolate macaroons.

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:16 am
by ChemEng1642
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Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:22 am
by xhe02
this is incredibly helpful!

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:26 am
by Smallville
xhe02 wrote:
this is incredibly helpful!
ur an ass giving benefit of the doubt... she asked not to quote

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:40 am
by sfoglia
So helpful, thank you so much. I definitely could have been more organized. I did not follow a study schedule, and I'll definitely do so for my retake. I hated blind reviewing, so I definitely could have spent more time understanding why answer choices were incorrect.

Can you tell me, did you feel confident going into the test and afterwards? Really concerned that this "setback" will leave me insecure to detriment.

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:53 am
by Smallville
sfoglia wrote:
ChemEng1642 wrote:Ok sure!

NOTE: I will probably be deleting this information before I send my applications out which could be as soon as later this week. Please don't quote!
Congratulations!!

So helpful, thank you so much. I definitely could have been more organized. I did not follow a study schedule, and I'll definitely do so for my retake. I hated blind reviewing, so I definitely could have spent more time understanding why answer choices were incorrect.

Can you tell me, did you feel confident going into the test and afterwards? Really concerned that this "setback" will leave me insecure to detriment.
gotta make it noticable next time Chem

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:19 pm
by DuncND2013
166 in June, 172 this time.

1) I let the first section get the best of me the first test and it mentally screwed me up for the rest, even though it didn't even end up going that bad.

2) I learned firsthand how burnout works. I was completely wiped out when I took it the first time. I could barely open a book the last few weeks. I work full-time as well, so I learned that the second time around, if there's a particular day where you're completely spent, just take the night off and wake up early and refreshed. Pacing yourself and focusing on staying rested, focused, etc. is huge.

3) I only took 2/8 practice tests for the June one 5-section. I took all of the tests this time around 5-section. It makes a huge difference.

The burnout thing is the most helpful one. I think I would've gotten a 170+ if the first one had been in April and not June.

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:25 pm
by ErgoSum
How would you all go about making the decision between retaking in December vs. February? I'm not sure I would even get waitlisted at some of my reach schools with a 168, making a Feb retake kind of pointless, right? I'm trying to make this decision myself.

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:11 pm
by ChemEng1642
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Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:22 pm
by Smallville
ChemEng1642 wrote: oh PS: I am a girl!
dam, I purposefully made sure to avoid this when commenting my first time, but let it slip my mind when editing and giving slack to the first commentor :p my b

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:30 pm
by ChemEng1642
Jgoods wrote:
ChemEng1642 wrote: oh PS: I am a girl!
dam, I purposefully made sure to avoid this when commenting my first time, but let it slip my mind when editing and giving slack to the first commentor :p my b
Haha no problem :)

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:33 pm
by sfoglia
ChemEng1642 wrote:
Jgoods wrote:
ChemEng1642 wrote: oh PS: I am a girl!
dam, I purposefully made sure to avoid this when commenting my first time, but let it slip my mind when editing and giving slack to the first commentor :p my b
Haha no problem :)
Sorry, sorry fixing now!!!

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:34 pm
by sfoglia
Jgoods wrote:
xhe02 wrote:
this is incredibly helpful!
ur an ass giving benefit of the doubt... she asked not to quote
I was wondering why you were saying that. I was like, "I've never seen Jgoods insult anyone, what did this dude do?"

I'm sorry, I'm not functional before two coffees, chem!

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:36 pm
by Smallville
sfoglia wrote:
Jgoods wrote:
xhe02 wrote:
this is incredibly helpful!
ur an ass giving benefit of the doubt... she asked not to quote
I was wondering why you were saying that. I was like, "I've never seen Jgoods insult anyone, what did this dude do?"

I'm sorry, I'm not functional before two coffees, chem!
:mrgreen: yeah thats why I changed it... I saw you do it and came to me that maybe they didnt realize and felt bad :P

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 2:18 pm
by ChemEng1642
sfoglia wrote:
ChemEng1642 wrote:
Jgoods wrote:
ChemEng1642 wrote: oh PS: I am a girl!
dam, I purposefully made sure to avoid this when commenting my first time, but let it slip my mind when editing and giving slack to the first commentor :p my b
Haha no problem :)
Sorry, sorry fixing now!!!
No problem! :)

Now only if the other person would do this too...

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 2:38 pm
by sfoglia
ChemEng1642 wrote: No problem! :)

Now only if the other person would do this too...
Maybe you can try a mod if you can't reach him/her?

Re: Advice from High-Score Retakers in September 2014

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:04 pm
by ChemEng1642
sfoglia wrote:
ChemEng1642 wrote: No problem! :)

Now only if the other person would do this too...
Maybe you can try a mod if you can't reach him/her?

Yeah...that's what I'll do if the poster doesn't take it down in a couple of days.

Anyway good luck! :)