1st Kaplan Diagnostic test = extremely inaccurate?

[Doc.Holliday]

---

Members don't see this ad.

i just got my scores back...32..10P,12V,10B

i cant help but believe that is Bull****. aside from the verbal section, i had barely a clue as to what the hell was going on. i cant help but think this test is just giving me false hopes. I took it cold, no review whatsoever. though i did just finish my prereqs this past semester, no real mcat specific sort of review i mean. i really knew quite little about what to expect (as far as test format, other than the sections, i didnt know what sort of questions were asked, surprising really, i expected more fact questions, but on this there wasnt much of that, mostly analising info given to you, very little formula usage and such)., I had heard here i should hope for ~18 on this thing, so i surely wasnt expecting such a score. so is it a lie? or is this a sign i can stop worrying my ass off, i'll at least get a 30 or so on the real thing after a summer of studying?

i suppose this may be proof of my amazing lack of confidence in my own abilities etc....

 

[gujuDoc]

i just got my scores back...32..10P,12V,10B


i suppose this may be proof of my amazing lack of confidence in my own abilities etc....

I think this sums it all. If you did that well, then you are in a good position, providing you study pretty intensely for a month or two. Try taking all the AAMC diags too. PM me for more info about AAMC diags.

 

[gujuDoc]

Oh by the way, I wanted to mention that my friends whom took Kaplan started with 24 for the most part. Most of them went up to 30-33. So it is possible if you study intensely. If you get over your head because you got a good diag and don't study, that's when it will probably not be a good predictor. But if you use this as a starting point, it is definitely possible to be getting a few points higher, especially if your Verbal stays constant, then all you'll need to worry about is the sciences. The sciences are easier to improve upon then the Verbal, so that's always a good thing if you start with a good verbal.

 

[deuist]

i just got my scores back...32..10P,12V,10B

i cant help but believe that is Bull****. aside from the verbal section, i had barely a clue as to what the hell was going on.

Maybe you did a good job of guessing.

Like GujuDoc said, most people do poorly on the diagnostic test. Kaplan intentionally tries to get people to score low on its exam so that when students take the course, they will do better on the actual MCAT---thereby fulfilling the Kaplan guarantee of a higher score.

 

[Doc.Holliday]

Maybe you did a good job of guessing.

yea. ive always been a good test taker in that way, and the mcat really just seems like a slightly more difficult version of the science reasoning and reading sections from the ACT, both sections i consistently scored 35-36 on.

i'm taking a full length this afternoon, i havent decided whether or not to take one of kaplans, or 3R. hopefully after this i'll be able to better gauge where i stand, but lucky guesses or not, i think i can relax a bit since ive been dreading the mcat for quite some time.

 

[gujuDoc]

yea. ive always been a good test taker in that way, and the mcat really just seems like a slightly more difficult version of the science reasoning and reading sections from the ACT, both sections i consistently scored 35-36 on.

i'm taking a full length this afternoon, i havent decided whether or not to take one of kaplans, or 3R. hopefully after this i'll be able to better gauge where i stand, but lucky guesses or not, i think i can relax a bit since ive been dreading the mcat for quite some time.

You just confirmed my belief that you underestimate your own belief. Most people fall within the range of their diags. Generally the AAMC's are the closest predictors even if they seem easier then the real deal. You might not believe it during the 2 months you wait for scores, but 9 out of 10 people whom take the AAMC diags and the real thing see a score similarity between the two and a jump between Kaplan or TPR diag and actual exam. So it is possible in your position to do well, if you are extremely good at test taking. Good luck.

 

[morrisje]

When I took the Kaplan Pretest, I got a 19. On the real thing I got a 31. I'd be happy with your score and keep on studying.

I'm a second year med student now studying for step 1 of the USMLE and wishing I could go back and retake the MCAT instead - be prepared to study even harder for step 1 in a couple of years.

 

[Doc.Holliday]

ouch, i scored my first full length test... 32 again, but 7P,12V,13B.

although i did pretty bad on the physical sciences, which i had expected as it seemed all the scattered concepts i am shaky with made an appearance, this sort of makes me feel pretty good. the 13 on bio especially. i cant wait to see how much i can raise it after a bit of studying. as of now, if i can manage to get my highest scores all in one sitting, id get a 35, which just annialates my expectations, that would be great.

 

[Righty123]

Doc do you read over the passages in the PS and BS or do you just skim and go straight to the questions?

Same question goes out to the rest as well. What methods have proved fruitful to most of you guys?

 

[gujuDoc]

Doc do you read over the passages in the PS and BS or do you just skim and go straight to the questions?

Same question goes out to the rest as well. What methods have proved fruitful to most of you guys?

On the real deal, you will definitely need the info in the passage to do well since it is a passage based test. This is why you only need the basics, cuz it is more a matter of analyzing what's given then memorizing details from your school classes.

 

[gujuDoc]

ouch, i scored my first full length test... 32 again, but 7P,12V,13B.

although i did pretty bad on the physical sciences, which i had expected as it seemed all the scattered concepts i am shaky with made an appearance, this sort of makes me feel pretty good. the 13 on bio especially. i cant wait to see how much i can raise it after a bit of studying. as of now, if i can manage to get my highest scores all in one sitting, id get a 35, which just annialates my expectations, that would be great.

If this is what you are starting off with, then there is definitely hope to improve it 3 more points to a 35. Most people fall within their overall range.

 

[Daichi Katase]

Doc do you read over the passages in the PS and BS or do you just skim and go straight to the questions?

Same question goes out to the rest as well. What methods have proved fruitful to most of you guys?

I tried out a bunch of crazy test taking methods....at the end, book studying and practicing just the normal way helped me most.

normal way = reading, mapping the passage and then going to the questions.


still waiting for my score.... 🙂

 

[gujuDoc]

I tried out a bunch of crazy test taking methods....at the end, book studying and practicing just the normal way helped me most.

normal way = reading, mapping the passage and then going to the questions.


still waiting for my score.... 🙂

I agree with this notion. There are a few tips as far as the sciences go such as knowning how to look at formulas and estimate, but those are more things that are common sense. Outside of that, this advice of yours holds especially true for the Verbal. I tell people not to try those crazy stupid tactics like skipping passages and wasting valuable time. Better if they just try to get used to going in order and looking for the main idea, attitude, purpose, and support. Which is what TPR refers to as MAPS. Seems to be the one most important thing on the Verbal tips that I agree with. The rest is more common sense stuff like looking for extreme wording, etc.

 

[SC Alex]

I started with a 24 on the diagnostic. I don't remmember the subscores but I am pretty sure the bio and phy sections were lower. When I took the actual MCAT I scored a 37. So I would say given your position you should already be in good shape. But if you study hard for two months you might be able to really destroy the test.