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- Feb 1, 2007
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I took the Kaplan course and found it extremely helpfull. My instructor gave me a few indespensible test-taking skills I will try to pass on.
First of all I will say that I am not traditionally good at standardized tests. My SAT score was about 1060 (with no prep).
OAT Scores:
AA: 390
TS: 400
1) If you take a prep course, use it to the fullest extent. The most helpfull thing is taking LOTS of practice tests.
2) THIS IS MY MOST IMPORTANT POINT. For the math section (and any other sections in which time is an issue for you) GUESS ON ANY QUESTION THAT WILL TAKE TIME. Almost no one finishes the math section. All questions are worth the same amount. Even if you know how to answer a question, if it will take awhile, make a best guess, mark it to review later, and move on. This is one of the best things you can do to improve your math score.
3) Learn all your Chemistry equasions in a general way. The problems are solved in equasion format. Knowing concepts can score easy and quick points.
4) Know nomenclature for OChem. This scores easy points.
5) For the reading comp section my strategy was this. Read the first question or 2, then start the essay. On scrap paper write a few things (1-3 lines at most) on the gist of each paragraph and some statistics. If you answer your first question before you are done (likely), answer it and read the next questions, then continue reading the paragraph and so on. Number your paragraphs. When you go to start the questions you have not answered, you can look on your summary sheet at what paragraph to look at. IF THE QUESTION REQUIRES TOO MUCH TIME SKIP IT AND GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
Main Point: EVERY QUESTION IN EACH SECTION IS WORTH THE SAME VALUE FOR THAT SECTION. While it may be hard for overachievers to skip questions they can answer, test taking skills are the key to the OAT.
Good luck.
First of all I will say that I am not traditionally good at standardized tests. My SAT score was about 1060 (with no prep).
OAT Scores:
AA: 390
TS: 400
1) If you take a prep course, use it to the fullest extent. The most helpfull thing is taking LOTS of practice tests.
2) THIS IS MY MOST IMPORTANT POINT. For the math section (and any other sections in which time is an issue for you) GUESS ON ANY QUESTION THAT WILL TAKE TIME. Almost no one finishes the math section. All questions are worth the same amount. Even if you know how to answer a question, if it will take awhile, make a best guess, mark it to review later, and move on. This is one of the best things you can do to improve your math score.
3) Learn all your Chemistry equasions in a general way. The problems are solved in equasion format. Knowing concepts can score easy and quick points.
4) Know nomenclature for OChem. This scores easy points.
5) For the reading comp section my strategy was this. Read the first question or 2, then start the essay. On scrap paper write a few things (1-3 lines at most) on the gist of each paragraph and some statistics. If you answer your first question before you are done (likely), answer it and read the next questions, then continue reading the paragraph and so on. Number your paragraphs. When you go to start the questions you have not answered, you can look on your summary sheet at what paragraph to look at. IF THE QUESTION REQUIRES TOO MUCH TIME SKIP IT AND GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
Main Point: EVERY QUESTION IN EACH SECTION IS WORTH THE SAME VALUE FOR THAT SECTION. While it may be hard for overachievers to skip questions they can answer, test taking skills are the key to the OAT.
Good luck.
