2 Weeks to Test -- Infinite variation in my scores

[omnxbeast]

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Hey guys,

I take the MCAT in two weeks and cannot seem to find any consistency in my practice exam scores. I've listed them below with my most recent (and lowest score yet wooh) test at the top. Has anyone else experienced such a fate / have any advice on how to sure up your scores? I would really like to get a 36+ on the real exam, and thus am starting to consider postponing

Ranges
Composite: 24-36
PS: 7-14
VR: 7-12
BS: 8-13

MCAT Review Online Practice Test 1: 24 8 8 8
MCAT TPR Practice Test 3: 33 12 9 12
MCAT TPR Practice Test 5: 32 11 9 12
MCAT Cracking Practice Test 3 32 14 8 10
MCAT Cracking Practice Test 2 32 12 7 13
MCAT TPR Practice Test 2: 34 11 12 11
MCAT AAMC Test 5: 32 11 11 10
MCAT TPR Free Demo Practice Test 36 14 10 12
MCAT TPR Practice Test 4: 35 11 12 12
MCAT Cracking Practice Test 1: 30 10 10 10
MCAT AAMC Test 4: 30 9 11 10
MCAT TPR Practice Test 1: 26 7 9 10
MCAT AAMC Test 3: 26 10 8 8
MCAT AAMC Test 10: 27 8 11 8

Thanks!

 

[GodComplex]

Your variation likely exists because you have holes in your content knowledge (based off of the 8's you have gotten on the last few). Go over the AAMC practice tests that you have taken and find out the types of questions that you were missing most. Then, reinforce your knowledge in these areas. You can definitely do better than you have done on your last couple of practice tests and you can have a goal of 36+, but you may have to settle for less.

 

[FindMeOnTheLinks]

The TPR tests are garbage and shouldn't be used as a predictor of your score so that eliminates a bit of the variation towards your upper range. Focus on the aamc's - know why you got things wrong. Take all of the remaining aamc's if you have access to them, and then THOROUGHLY review afterwards. With two weeks left, this is much more important than extensive content review. Yes, review if something comes up that you totally have never seen before or do not understand, but the most important things at this point are 1)practice practice practice and 2)avoid burnout from content review. I suggest taking one AAMC in the morning, then review the test in the afternoon. The next day do some light reading (no more than an hour) and some passages associated with the reading. The day before the test, do something fun.

Edit: this is just n=1, the above strategy is what I did and I improved my aamc test scores from 28 at first (5 months prior to test) to a 38 two days before the actual test, and then got a 38 on the real thing. I attribute this to being familiar with most of the concepts, but mostly being good at using critical thinking and process of elimination. Seriously, the MCAT is not a test of what you know. It's a test of how you think. There will be some parts of if that ask you to just recall information but for the most part, the information you need is in the passage, and you just have to extract it in a way that answers the question. So, the best way to prepare for this test is to PRACTICE. Take my advice with a grain of salt, but I think you can bring your aamc average from the ~28ish it looks like now up to 34 or whatever, and have a chance at a 36 on the real deal if you prepare correctly.

 

[omnxbeast]

Thank you!

I took AAMC 7 today and went 13/10/14 for a 37. It is crazy how much variation there is, but I think you are right about focussing on the AAMC's. This was the first one I took since finishing my content review and it felt much better than the previous ones/the TPR tests. I am going to finish up with AAMC 8,9,11 over the next week and a half and then chill a day or two before the test. Great work on the 38!!

As for your practice...would you just do sections of practice tests or would you just go through random workbook passages?

Thanks again

 

[stitchattack]

I'm told that the AAMC 10 and 11 are more representative of the actual MCAT so your scores from those will probably be similar, give or take 1-3 pts. My verbal score from EK 101 has been ranging from 5-10 range and it's frustrating because you can't really study for verbal or pinpoint that you need to do more content review or something. -_-

 

[GodComplex]

Thank you!

As for your practice...would you just do sections of practice tests or would you just go through random workbook passages?

Thanks again

I would say workbook passages

 

[smpbound]

Anyone who has taken the mcat recently will tell you that none of the Aamcs practice tests are representative of the mcat.

Good luck.

 

[FindMeOnTheLinks]

Thank you!

As for your practice...would you just do sections of practice tests or would you just go through random workbook passages?

Thanks again

I did an entire aamc practice test one day, reviewed it the same day, and then the next day doing some light reading of review materials and then doing passages/discrete associated with the reading I did (maybe like 2-3 passages worth). And then if I felt like it, I worked through some random passages in the TPRsw or hyper leaning verbal workbook.

I am adamant that it is all about your thinking process and how you put it into practice. I urge you to develop your own strategies for thinking critically and logically and then REALLY practicing instead of spending a ton of time going through review books and then just taking a bunch of practice tests without a real strategy. A great way to develop your strategy is to work through random passages from something like TPRsw, then put it into practice on the aamc's. Again n=1, but I improved my score 10 points over a few months by doing this, and I don't mean to brag at all. I just honestly feel that people approach the mcat the wrong way.