Practice Tests vs. Real MCAT Scores for April 04

I did much better on the AAMC practice tests than on the real mcat. I had a 36 on 3R, 36 on 4R, 34 on 5R and 35 on 6R, but I had a 12PS-9VR-11BS for a 32 on the real thing. But I'm still happy with my 32...3 points better than last time....

I had between 32-35 on AAMC tests, and ended up with 37 on the real deal.

They are the best indicators, plus or minus a few points.

Treg

My first practice test was a Kaplan practice test, I took the 2nd full length one in their little mcat book that I bought during the fall of 2002.

I got a 13 in bio, a 10 in PS, and an 8 in Verbal.

My next one was AAMC 7, I got a 12 in Bio, a 10 in PS, and a 9 in Verbal.

My next one was test 1 from AAMC, I got an 11 in bio, an 11 in PS, and a 9 in Verbal.

My actual test score was 36N and the week before it I only focused on Verbal using this huge booklet from aamc with only verbal questions in it (and the week before that only PS and V).

I got a 14 in PS, a 12 in Bio, and a 10 in Verbal.

I was getting anywhere from 29 to 33 on the practice tests (AAMC and the one in the Kaplan Big Book). On the real thing, I got:

Verbal: 15 (I was averaging about 13 on practice)
Physical: 12 (9 or 10 on practice)
Biological: 9 (Right at practice score)
Writing: R (cool)

Practice: 4 AAMC tests, low of 23, high of 28
Real deal: 29, with a big ass smile.

dc

My highest practice scores were 11 for each section.

My real scores were: 11P 10V 13B.

Verbal I think is a crapshoot, you can get dicked or maybe get lucky, but the difference between a 10 and an 11 on verbal is pretty random (that one "killer" passage can **** you over), so anyway... I think my scores were pretty consistent with my practice tests. On the real thing, there was a lot of neuroscience in BS, and that was my major, so that is probably why I did two points higher than my practices.

1st practice (no studying yet and it was one of Kaplan's) - 24

2nd practice (no studying yet and it was one of TPR's) - 25

3rd practice (a month's worth of good studying and from the Kaplan Comprehensive review book, taken at home) - 26

4th practice (4R taken a week after the 3rd practice test and taken at the library) - 30

real thing - 30

i never had more than a point differential between sections.

In general, I think the Kaplan tests are a bit harder. I got a 28, 30, 35, 34, 34 on the 5 Kaplan tests. I got a V15, B13, P14 on the April. I would say in general that physical is harder in Kaplan, Bio is probably comprable, and Verbal is really a crap shoot as someone else has said. It all depends on the passages you get.

avg 35 on kaplan tests, 34 on aamc, 11 and 12 on each section.

got 34 on the real thing, 9 on vr. therefore i will not capitalize my sentences. english is not my bestest language.

Highest practice test I got a 29.
Real deal I got a 32. Luck was on my side..... except for PS

Here's my complete breakdown:

TPR 4902: 9B 8P 11V
TPR 4911: 9B 9P 11V
TPR 4921: 10B 7P 10V
TPR 4931: 9B 11P 13V
AAMC 5R: 13B 14P 11V
AAMC 6R: 13B 12P 12V
------------------------
April MCAT: 12B 14P 14V

So it looks like the AAMC ones are the best indicators; then again I took those last and by then had studied pretty much all the material. I came out of the test day feeling good about verbal and bio, but not so much about physical sciences. Initially I thought I'd bombed it but after I calmed down I realized that I was worrying about only a few questions. My prediction was a 13B 10P 13V. Apparently I was totally wrong about that.

13 on PS (usually averaged an 11)
12 on Verbal (averaged 12-13)
10 on Bio (averaged 10-11, usually an 11)

My composite score was usually in the range of 32-35, so I scored at the upper-end of my range.

As an aside, I usually scored higher on Kaplan tests, but those things have such a weird curve that I don't think they are fair guages of your progress.

Here's a curveball for ya:

Practice test scores (3 Kaplan) 24, 25, 26

Real MCAT: 35

I will admit to drinking during all of my practice MCATs (to make them bearable on a saturday afternoon) and that may have something to do with the difference between practice and actual.

stoic said:

Here's a curveball for ya:

Practice test scores (3 Kaplan) 24, 25, 26

Real MCAT: 35

I will admit to drinking during all of my practice MCATs (to make them bearable on a saturday afternoon) and that may have something to do with the difference between practice and actual.

Click to expand...

Haha, how shocked were you to get your score?

Kazema said:

Haha, how shocked were you to get your score?

Click to expand...

I broke my jaw when it hit the floor.

Kap Diag: 23 - 6ps, 10vr, 7ps

kap test 3 (two months before real deal) - 8, 9, 7 - 24

Kap test 4(one month before) - 8ps, 10vr, 9bs

TPR A-D: 25A, 23B, 23C

AAMC 4r: (1.5 week before): 24

AAMC 5r: (1 week): 27

AAMC 6r: (4 days): 31 - 10ps, 11vr, 10bs

Real deal: 30 - 11ps, 9vr, 10bs

1st practice test: 27: no studying yet
VR10 PS10 BS7
2nd practice test: 31: month of studying
VR11 PS11 BS9
Real thing: 31N Couldn't be happier
VR11 PS9 BS11

AAMC 3R 11P, 12V, 10B
AAMC 4R 11P, 12V, 11B
AAMC 5R 11P, 11V, 12B
AAMC 6R 12P, 10V, 12B
AAMC 7_ 13P, 10V, 11B

Real Test 14P, 11V, 13B


the columns almost line up perfectly, damn it

only took one full length practice - aamc 7 - 30

real deal - 30Q

To the dude that drank during all his practice exams then got a 35 on the actual test, I hate you. But my amusement at the idea of you drunk while a bunch of sweating, anal premeds scribbled away trumps my hatred - nice work.

krebse said:

only took one full length practice - aamc 7 - 30

real deal - 30Q

To the dude that drank during all his practice exams then got a 35 on the actual test, I hate you. But my amusement at the idea of you drunk while a bunch of sweating, anal premeds scribbled away trumps my hatred - nice work.

Click to expand...

Here's to poetic justice!

I took Kaplan's practice tests and got the following scores:
31,31,32,32,33. The real thing: was a 32- VR:13 PS:9 BS:10. Now I'm just happy it's over!

EK 1g: P9, V11, B9
EK 2f: P9, V9, B8 (taken very late at night)
AAMC I: P10, V11, B11
AAMC II: P9, V10, B11
AAMC III: P10, V9 B11
AAMC IV: P9, V12, B12
AAMC V: P12-13, V10, B11
AAMC VII: P10, V 11, B12

Real MCAT this past April: P11, V10, B11

I think I got a really hard PS section (Form EM) so that probably helped me get higher in the PS section than I usually got on the practice tests. Verbal was a pretty easy section, so I did worry about the curve here. Bio was just about right.

My suggestions:

-Take the practice tests seriously! I got up at 9am, took each practice test like the real deal with the exception of EK2f. Use your bf/gf as a proctor if you need to.

-No matter how you feel when you walk away from the real thing, it's very likely going to produce scores like the practice tests if you've been taking them like the real deal. In the past, my mistakes were breaking up the sections, giving myself lots of breaks. That's not realistic. The test is about timing and stamina. You don't have to be a genius to get 30+ scores.

-Finally, I felt really awful about my PS section when I walked away because I miscalculated the time I had left. I was 10 minutes too early, which means I unduly rushed on the last three passages. The PS section is first so you'll probably feel worst about it when you walk out because of the shock and intensity of it being the first section. But don't let it get you down when you take the verbal and bio sections. And trust me, your scores will turn out better than you think.

In my experience and opinion (ha), practice tests don't indicate ****.

Don't get a false sense of security out of a high practice test score.

Of course, if you're scoring 24s and 25s and your goal is a 32, maybe you should worry. There are too many factors on test day (such as the fact that it's the actual MCAT) that just can't be replicated.

Oh, but practice tests ARE the best way to prepare.

I never took a practice test before the MCAT, but I had no qualms about getting mentally exhausted.

I also did not take any review courses.

My study habits: EK Comprehensive Series, Kaplan Big book and course texts.

score: 33q

kaplan practice tests 1-5: 20-something, 29, 33, 32, 33

aamc iv: 34 (i think...something like 12-13P, 10-11V, 11B)
aamc v: 10-11V, 11B (i didn't take physics)
aamc vi: 13Physical (i didn't take the others)

Real deal in April: 34Q (11P, 11V, 12B)

Pretty much what I expected from my last few practice tests. Coming out of the exam I was afraid I tanked physics cuz I barely had enough time to finish, which was never the case in practice, but if you tough it out it's ok to get through).

my advice to future takers: don't go in trying to get every question right; that's why i didn't have enough time to finish physics, but when i chilled out i did a lot better.

holla

AAMC 4R 32 10V 11P 11B
AAMC 5R 33 10V 13P 10B
AAMC 6R 35 10V 13P 12B
AAMC 7 34 10V 12P 12B - Day before actual test

April 04 34 10V 12P 12B (consistency be thy name!)

Used main EK books and AAMC practice exams. I have been out of school for 3 years and have mastered the art of procrastination. Therefore, I only studied 3.5 weeks (in addition to working 60+ hours a week) - but I attribute my success to the AAMC practice exams. I was amazed on the actual MCAT how little information I was required to regurgitate. It was mostly reading comprehension and a comfort level achieved from previous practice exams. Moral of the story - practice! practice! practice! You do not need to study 4+ months worth of material that you will most likely never use on the real deal!

On AAMC, Kaplan, and Examkracker practice MCATs I ranged from 30 to 35; kaplan and examkrackers in the low 30s and AAMC in the 34-35 range.

Pratice Tests:
PS: 10-13
VR: 9-11
BS: 12-13
*Total: 30-35 (The last practice, AAMC 7, being 35)

Real Deal:
PS: 13
VR: 9
BS: 11
Total: 33Q

After I took the exam I felt like I had wasted Bio, did good in verbal, and failed PS and I am the type of person that always knows how they did on a test. Shows how hard it is to judge this test!

AAMC 4: 30
AAMC 5: 33
AAMC 6: 34
AAMC 7: 33

Real deal: 32Q (VR 10, PS 11, BS 11) ... so my practices were a pretty good indicator!

Kaplan (they have you take a diagnostic and five full-length exams):

Diagnostic: 26
Prac. 1: 30
Prac. 2: 33
Prac. 3: 35
Prac. 4: 32
Prac. 4: 33


Real deal: 36Q

willthatsall said:

If all you guys getting your scores now would take the time to post your practice test scores (AAMC, TPR, Kaplan, etc.) alongside your real thing it would be great. Include the score breakdowns and any commentary if you feel so inclined. Thanks!

Click to expand...

I did TPR/EK.

1st diag: 18 (don't despair, this score is to get your butt studying!)
2nd: 17
3rd: 23
AAMC 5R: 25
AAMC 6R: 28
AAMC 7: 29 (I took this on my own between 6R and the real thing)
Real thing: 30

I made the mistake of using TPR's verbal strategy most of the time and scoring in the 5-6 range. Then, 4 weeks before the MCAT I quickyly switched over to EK Verbal and was thankfully able to raise it to an 8. Imagine if I had used their strategy from the beginning?

Good luck!

Good luck!

-tx

AAMC practice: 34, 31, 33, 31, 33
that's 32.4 avg

Real thing: 32 O

Pretty close, I'd say

AAMC 4R: PS 10 VR 10 BS 11
AAMC 5R: PS 11 VR 12 BS 11
AAMC 6R: PS 12 VR 12 BS 10
AAMC 7: PS 12 VR 12 BS 10
Real Thing: PS 12 VR 11 BS 12
Writing: R

I took berkeley review. their material for the sciences is good, but on the hard side. the verbal is not very similar to the aamc. their passages are long and questions are too detail oriented. overall, i thought they did a great job of preparing you for the sciences, but verbal is a little weak. you should supplement the verbal material they give with princeton ones and especially 101 passages from examkrackers. the berkeley review practice exams are harder than the aamc's, but they scale it in a way that the score comes out about the same.

AAMC tests: 30-36
Kaplan Diag: 30

Real test: 29 wtf?

Cerbernator said:

AAMC tests: 30-36
Kaplan Diag: 30

Real test: 29 wtf?

Click to expand...

you got a 30 on the diagnostic and a 29 on the real deal??? wtf???

3R: 36 11P 13V 12B
4R: 29 10P 10V 9B
5R: 34 11P 11V 12B

Real test: 33R 10P 13V 10B

PT3R 12PS 14VR 12BS (taken piecemeal 4-6 weeks before the test)
PT4R 11PS 13VR 11BS (taken on a Saturday 3 weeks before)
PT5R 12PS 13VR 12BS (taken piecemeal 1-2 weeks before)
PT6R 12PS 13VR 12BS (taken on a Sunday 1 week before)
PT7R 13PS xxVR 13BS (taken two days before, skipped verbal)

So I was getting pretty consistently in the 35-38 range.

Real test: 14PS 15VR 14BS, overall 43R.

I was blown away, let me tell you. Apparently I work better under pressure.

You verbal gods really amaze me. you're on a completely different level.

In order of score: BS, PS, VS

Princeton Review Test 4911 1/27/2004 9 6 6

Princeton Review Test 4921 2/21/2004 9 7 9

Princeton Review Test 4921 2/25/2004 9 7 9

Princeton Review Test 4931 3/6/2004 9 8 9

Princeton Review Test 4931 3/9/2004 9 9 9

AAMC Practice Test 5R 3/27/2004 11 9 11

AAMC Practice Test 5R 3/30/2004 11 9 11

AAMC Practice Test 6R 4/3/2004 12 11 9

AAMC Practice Test 6R 4/6/2004 12 11 9


On the real test: BS: 13 PS: 14 VS: 11 Writing: R

I took the Spring TPR course

still shocked...

The highest I ever scored on a practice test in each section is V 12 Bio 10 Phys 9. On the real thing I got V 13 Bio 9 Phys10.

.

Me...
Kaplan Diag 29
Prac Test 1 28
Prac Test 2 33
Prac Test 3 31
Prac Test 4 35
Prac Test 5 29
Real Thing 35

So, I was all over the place and feeling lucky to have scored so high in the end.

Guess I'll add mine, for what it's worth (Took the Kaplan course, so all my practice exam scores are from the "full-length, real testing conditions" tests that they have on Saturdays):

Diagnostic: 25 (10 PS, 9 VR, 6 BS)
Test #1: 30 (9 PS, 12 VR, 9 BS)
(Didn't take full-length tests #2 or #3)
Test #4: 32 (10 PS, 13 VR, 9 BS)
Test #5: 31 (9 PS, 12 VR, 10 BS)
Test #6: 32 (9 PS, 13 VR, 10 BS)

Actual April 2004 MCAT: 38Q (11 PS, 15 VR, 12 BS)

Don't ask me how I managed to score six points higher than I ever had on my practice exams...I have no idea. I studied a lot in the week between the last practice exam and the actual MCAT, which apparently helped, but I still had to guess on an entire passage at least in PS (I'm pretty slow with mental math.) I did think that the actual MCAT seemed pretty easy compared to the Kaplan tests, especially the verbal, but that's just me. I also thought I rocked the writing sample, which I didn't, so there you go.

These 15 VR scores being thrown around the forums! WOW!!! See you guys in Harvard!

Since someone wanted breakdowns and commentary of practice exams, I'll post again. I'll put my Berkeley Review practice scores, too. These are for the most part in order of taking them.

Berkeley Exam 1: 12 BS, 11 PS, 11 VR (first test)
AAMC 4: 11 BS, 10 PS, 9 VR (after not studying for the MCAT for two weeks because of finals)
Berkeley Exam 4: 9 BS, 9 PS, 9 VR (this depressed me so much)
Berkeley Exam 2: 32 total (not sure of breakdown ... )
AAMC 5: 12 BS, 11 PS, 10 VR
AAMC 6: 12 BS, 12 PS, 10 VR
Berkeley 6: 12 BS, 12 PS (didn't take VR)
AAMC 7: 13 BS, 11 PS, 9 VR

Real test: 11 BS, 11 PS, 10 VR

I took some other Berkeley exams, but don't remember my breakdown. I took 10 practice tests total.

Hope this helps!

I found the tests below to be the most similar to the mcat that I took this past April. I took many more, but these are the ones that resulted in the same scores that I received: 10 8 R 10

Kaplan Full Length 2 Verbal

Kaplan Verbal Practice Test 3

Examcrackers 1001 verbal passages test 10

Kaplan Full Length 4 Verbal

Kaplan Full Length 5 Biological

AAMC 2 Physical

AAMC 4R Physical & Biological

AAMC 7R Physical & Verbal

Princeton Review 1

BS-PS-VR

1st TPR test... 8-7-7

2nd TPR test...10-8-10

3rd TPR test...10-12-12

I don't remember my scores for the AAMC tests, but I do know the highest score I ever got for any section was a 12, I just never seemed to get all three of them at that level, at the same time.

Real MCAT...12-13-13

2001 MCAT 9-10-8