Kaplan tests vs AAMC tests

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Are Kaplan's practice MCATs not reflective of AAMC's MCATs? I've heard from several people that AAMC's tests are easier. I have been disappointed with my Kaplan pratice test scores, although I haven't taken one in a while. Should I just take AAMC tests from now on and forget about Kaplan's?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by safeflower

Are Kaplan's practice MCATs not reflective of AAMC's MCATs? I've heard from several people that AAMC's tests are easier. I have been disappointed with my Kaplan pratice test scores, although I haven't taken one in a while. Should I just take AAMC tests from now on and forget about Kaplan's?

Thanks.

I don't have much experience with kaplan, but it seems as though their verbal is too detail orientated and their physical science questions require too much computation.

Originally Posted by Will Ferrell

I don't have much experience with kaplan, but it seems as though their verbal is too detail orientated and their physical science questions require too much computation.

I would definetly have to agree with you there. I thought the real mcat was more conceptual and that kaplan focuses too much on computation.

I have to disagree. It varies from people to people. My highest scores were from Kaplan practice tests. I always score higher (between 5 or even 10 points) in Kaplan tests than in AAMC tests which is not a good sign... I'd rather the other way around since AAMC tests are closer to the real deal

Originally Posted by gujuDoc

Kaplan makes their tests harder and scales harder to create scare tactics. Its something all test prep companies do so they can say "so and so did well because they took our course" "So and so had a x point increase from their diag"

I would have to agree with this statement. They make their tests a lot harder simply to BUFF their own reputation. "Oh yeah, after taking Kaplan I went from a 19 diagnostic to 27 on practice tests to 33 on the real thing!!! Take Kaplan!!"

I'll tell ya one thing, though, one of the dumber things Kaplan does is it slams you with a FULL WHAMMY of a practice test every week right on up to the actual test. They love to think of it as a marathon, but in reality/in practice marathon runners warm up by running SMALL SECTIONS. That's why Kaplan's approach should be to very occasionally scatter full-length tests, and instead give more intense practice sections on a given portion of the MCAT (physical sci, verbal, or biological sciences.) Basically I got so exhausted from those constant weekly bombardments that a.) very quickly I stopped caring about the Kaplan practice tests and just didn't try hard, and b.) I think I had less energy than I ought to have had for the real test.

- my 2cents.

aamc are easier

Originally Posted by crazy_cavalier

I would have to agree with this statement. They make their tests a lot harder simply to BUFF their own reputation. "Oh yeah, after taking Kaplan I went from a 19 diagnostic to 27 on practice tests to 33 on the real thing!!! Take Kaplan!!"

I'll tell ya one thing, though, one of the dumber things Kaplan does is it slams you with a FULL WHAMMY of a practice test every week right on up to the actual test. They love to think of it as a marathon, but in reality/in practice marathon runners warm up by running SMALL SECTIONS. That's why Kaplan's approach should be to very occasionally scatter full-length tests, and instead give more intense practice sections on a given portion of the MCAT (physical sci, verbal, or biological sciences.) Basically I got so exhausted from those constant weekly bombardments that a.) very quickly I stopped caring about the Kaplan practice tests and just didn't try hard, and b.) I think I had less energy than I ought to have had for the real test.

- my 2cents.

as always, crazy cav says it well...

i'll tell you for sure in a few days, but i thought the real mcat was much more like a kaplan test than even the most recent aamc's. once again, not sure if this is the case since i don't have my score yet, but i really got that sense on the day of the test. so don't totally rely on the aamc's...i don't think they are a good predictor!

Originally Posted by gujuDoc

Kaplan makes their tests harder and scales harder to create scare tactics. Its something all test prep companies do so they can say "so and so did well because they took our course" "So and so had a x point increase from their diag"

I tend to agree with this as well -- I think they make their tests (esp. the diagnostic) very tough at the onset, and then gradually make successive tests incrementally easier, so you go into the real test taking a more realistic test in terms of difficulty, and hopefully having seen your score go up throughout the course (which they hope will boost your confidence). But I didn't feel Kaplan was always on the money in terms of the format of questions/paragraphs actually seen. The most useful part of that course was taking all the full length MCATs in proctored test center situations - something that is very hard to simulate via self study. If you have the time, it's certainly best to take both the Kaplan and AAMC tests to get a better perspective.

From taking the April 2005, I thought the Physical Sciences section of the real MCAT was much harder than the AAMC practice exam sections. I would advise trying to do alot of practice with the Kaplan Physical Sciences section just so it could prepare you for the worst case scenario but definitely do the AAMC ones also. As for the verbal section, I think doing the AAMC practice exams would get you better prepared and the the biological sciences was pretty much the same in both Kaplan and AAMC.

Originally Posted by crazy_cavalier

...Basically I got so exhausted from those constant weekly bombardments that a.) very quickly I stopped caring about the Kaplan practice tests and just didn't try hard, and b.) I think I had less energy than I ought to have had for the real test.

- my 2cents.

that's why i decided to skip out on the last full-length in order to spend my time studying and avoid testtaking burnout.