9/10 test--just switched from Kaplan's FL to AAMC: HORRIBLE score drop. Help!

[aspiringmed]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey everyone, with the test arriving in a little less than a week...I am freaking out so I'm resorting to posting here to request some last minute ideas. I've been doing the Kaplan's FL for the past 1.5 months or so, and have improved to decent scores that I felt like were within a desirable range. I consistently made 34s on the last few Kaplan's I took. With that, I deemed myself "ready" to take on the AAMCs, however, the first AAMC test I took I scored a 24 (how is that possible??? I don't even know...). The next one I took, I got a 26...the next I got a 28...and the one I took today I only made a 29. I am sooo freaking out because the test is coming and with my highest AAMC being only a 29....I'm so freaked and baffled I don't even know what to do?? How could my Kaplan's score drop so much? I thought it was an okay predictor?? WTF?? Any tips or trips on how to improve AAMC scores? Any similar experiences with switching from Kaplan's to AAMCs? I plan to do the AAMC 11 and 10 tests within the next week as I heard they are the most accurate predictors. However, with my current dismal trend, I'm almost so discouraged that I don't even want to try...because what if AAMC 10 and 11 ends up even worse than my current performance? Please help! Any advice/tips will be greatly welcomed!

 

[SN2ed]

Why the heck did you wait so long to take the AAMC FLs? Those should have been your top priority for the last month. Kaplan FLs are known to be fairly inaccurate measures of MCAT performance. Their sciences (PS and BS) are typically inflated due to their overly generous curve. Plus, their VR is pretty bad and doesn't resemble actual MCAT VR that well. With less than a week left, it's unlikely you'll be able to consistently score well in time for your test. The best thing you can do is delay and work on fixing your weaknesses.

 

[aspiringmed]

I'm not idealistically hoping for a score that is in the 35+ range, especially considering my test performances lately...I'd be happy with a 31+...and with having dedicated so much time to doing practices + reviewing, I don't really think backing out now just because my highest AAMC is a 29 is really a good option, especially with having to push it till at least January (which means a lot of time in between to forget what I've learned thus far). I feel like I should use the remaining week to push through, cover my top weaknesses and get a better grasp of AAMC testing format so that I can do the best that I can on test day.

Additionally, I left the AAMC tests to do last mostly because it is so important...so I saved it for practice just prior to the exam. However, I had to make a cross country move that was a lot more complicated/troublesome than I had thought (so I lost some time due to unforeseen circumstances). Although I know Kaplan's test format isn't supposed to be exactly analogous to the real MCAT, I had originally heard that their tests were okay score predictors, hence my huge shock.

At this point, I think I'd prefer advice on how to improve/what to do/hear similar stories and how other individuals overcame this versus hearing that I should delay the test...because that is not an option and I'd rather try than not try. Thanks for the help!

 

[matanp]

I'm not idealistically hoping for a score that is in the 35+ range, especially considering my test performances lately...I'd be happy with a 31+...and with having dedicated so much time to doing practices + reviewing, I don't really think backing out now just because my highest AAMC is a 29 is really a good option, especially with having to push it till at least January (which means a lot of time in between to forget what I've learned thus far). I feel like I should use the remaining week to push through, cover my top weaknesses and get a better grasp of AAMC testing format so that I can do the best that I can on test day.

Additionally, I left the AAMC tests to do last mostly because it is so important...so I saved it for practice just prior to the exam. However, I had to make a cross country move that was a lot more complicated/troublesome than I had thought (so I lost some time due to unforeseen circumstances). Although I know Kaplan's test format isn't supposed to be exactly analogous to the real MCAT, I had originally heard that their tests were okay score predictors, hence my huge shock.

At this point, I think I'd prefer advice on how to improve/what to do/hear similar stories and how other individuals overcame this versus hearing that I should delay the test...because that is not an option and I'd rather try than not try. Thanks for the help!

similar thing happened to me, i got a 36 on a kaplan test, then a 31 on one of the AAMCs right after. Kaplan does inflate their scores, i got a 13 in verbal while missing 8 or 9, and in an AAMC test if i miss 7, that gives me an 11 in verbal. I would say just cover the questions you got wrong and see why you got them wrong, plus go over content that you know you're weaker on. Good luck, i'm also taking it in a week!

 

[erure]

Yes, Kaplan is known for being an inaccurate predictor. I had two friends who took Kaplan courses and neither of them took ANY aamc full lengths before their actual MCAT, which I thought was ridiculous. One got a high 20s so she was pissed because her practice exam scores were in the low 30s and the other I don't know how she did because I didn't ask. Anyway at least you know where you are with the aamc full lengths. I'd just review the aamc full lengths that you have done really well and save the others just in case you need to retake. You only have a week left so I don't think it's a good idea to make any huge game changes. Good luck!

 

[aspiringmed]

Thanks for all the advice offered thus far. Yeah the frustrating thing with me is that I think I KNOW the material (besides orgo...cos I suck at that)...but I feel like I just don't test that well...like although I know my bio material probably the best, sometimes I do the worst on bio because I get so tired towards the end that I just become so careless and I make random errors because I don't read carefully or analyze enough.

I just went over the AAMC test that I did yesterday (the one I scored a 29 on), and I can't believe how many stupid mistakes I made (probably at least 10). I think I could've easily made a 31+ if I just paid a bit more closer attention. In my opinion, this carelessness is also a bad habit that I formed from doing kaplan's tests-- where I got so little time on every section that I'd be rushing myself...whereas on the AAMC tests, I do have enough to devote to thinking every question over more thoroughly. So I think I just need to learn from my testing mistakes, and focus more on doing every question with care.

 

[Hotshy]

Thanks for all the advice offered thus far. Yeah the frustrating thing with me is that I think I KNOW the material (besides orgo...cos I suck at that)...but I feel like I just don't test that well...like although I know my bio material probably the best, sometimes I do the worst on bio because I get so tired towards the end that I just become so careless and I make random errors because I don't read carefully or analyze enough.

I just went over the AAMC test that I did yesterday (the one I scored a 29 on), and I can't believe how many stupid mistakes I made (probably at least 10). I think I could've easily made a 31+ if I just paid a bit more closer attention. In my opinion, this carelessness is also a bad habit that I formed from doing kaplan's tests-- where I got so little time on every section that I'd be rushing myself...whereas on the AAMC tests, I do have enough to devote to thinking every question over more thoroughly. So I think I just need to learn from my testing mistakes, and focus more on doing every question with care.

Half the battle is knowing material. The other half is the test-taking skills/practice. The test taking skills come from practicing with materials most similar to actual MCAT exams, which is of course the AAMC full lengths. Timing is also something that you need to develop through practice. I know I finally got my timing down on my last 3 AAMC tests, where I finished the PS and VR sections on time without rushing through stuff (Which I had been prone to do on some practices).

I don't think that in one week you'll be able to get in the necessary practice/timing to be successful on test day. I would register for the January MCAT. It's best to take the exam once and do your best the first time.

 

[Warick22]

Programs such as Kaplan and The Princeton Review have tests that model the MCAT, but their tests are alot more oriented to knowing information. This is a good model for them because it makes them look like they are teaching you significantly more for the mcat. But the AAMC and the real MCAT tests are more on the basis of understanding what you are being told in the passage and applying prior knowledge. Hence, you may just need to get used to applying the knowledge you already know in a different way. Just take a few more and make sure you go over ALL the questions afterwards as to see the train of thought to getting to that answer. I know when i was doing practice tests I would get the correct answer but from a different approach. The more broader you understand things, the better you will do.