AAMC 8 vs AAMC 7

[flodhi1]

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I thought there was a significant difference in the complexity of both exams. AAMC#7 seemed like a walk in the park compared to AAMC 8. I ended up scoring 3 points lower on my composite score on AAMC 8 compared to AAMC 7. Now I kind of lost some confidence to be honest I mean I went over the exam and it just seems so different from AAMC 7 and definitely a lot different from 3-5 so I'm not even mentioning those. I thought AAMC 7 was very straight forward the sciences actually revolved around basic scientific concepts and I understood every passage where as the sciences, both the PS and BS, for AAMC 8 seemed more like a VR section than a science section. Is it just me or do you guys feel the same way. Is it justifiable to be slightly nervous knowing that I made a serious dip on the score and comprehension of a practice exam exactly 14 days (300-310 hours from now) before the real deal. Which style is the closest to the actual exam! I've been researching through previous posts people have posted different things. I'm trying to get an opinion from guys that just took the exam in the past 6 months or so 😕

 

[ridethecliche]

I thought there was a significant difference in the complexity of both exams. AAMC#7 seemed like a walk in the park compared to AAMC 8. I ended up scoring 3 points lower on my composite score on AAMC 8 compared to AAMC 7. Now I kind of lost some confidence to be honest I mean I went over the exam and it just seems so different from AAMC 7 and definitely a lot different from 3-5 so I'm not even mentioning those. I thought AAMC 7 was very straight forward the sciences actually revolved around basic scientific concepts and I understood every passage where as the sciences, both the PS and BS, for AAMC 8 seemed more like a VR section than a science section. Is it just me or do you guys feel the same way. Is it justifiable to be slightly nervous knowing that I made a serious dip on the score and comprehension of a practice exam exactly 14 days (300-310 hours from now) before the real deal. Which style is the closest to the actual exam! I've been researching through previous posts people have posted different things. I'm trying to get an opinion from guys that just took the exam in the past 6 months or so 😕

The more recent exams are better indicators.

 

[thomasfx10]

for AAMC 8 seemed more like a VR section than a science section.

This seems to be the consensus if you look in the MCAT Clubs just after people take the exam ... Less Plug and Chug and more Read and Seed.

 

[Northwesterly]

Enh... YMMV. I scored a point higher on AAMC 8 and a point lower on the AAMC 7 than I did on the real test. Every practice test and every MCAT will be easier or harder depending on your personal strengths, weaknesses, how much coffee you've had to drink that morning, and whether the moon is in the second house of Pisces. Seriously, it's a crap-shoot. Individual AAMCs are data points. Look at the average. The trend-line. It's not perfect, but it'll give you a good enough idea.

 

[flodhi1]

Enh... YMMV. I scored a point higher on AAMC 8 and a point lower on the AAMC 7 than I did on the real test. Every practice test and every MCAT will be easier or harder depending on your personal strengths, weaknesses, how much coffee you've had to drink that morning, and whether the moon is in the second house of Pisces. Seriously, it's a crap-shoot. Individual AAMCs are data points. Look at the average. The trend-line. It's not perfect, but it'll give you a good enough idea.

I had stabilized in the low 30s but because of AAMC 8 back into the high 20s again which is so disappointing considering the fact that I have put so much effort. I totally agree with you though, I was telling my dad the MCAT is like at least 50-60 % luck depending on what type of topics you end up getting. AAMC 8 had a lot of stuff that I'm obviously not good at. Well I guess it was better to figure it out now and resolve it before the real deal.

 

[blackandgold1]

Every practice test and every MCAT will be easier or harder depending on your personal strengths, weaknesses, how much coffee you've had to drink that morning, and whether the moon is in the second house of Pisces. Seriously, it's a crap-shoot.

Truer words have never been spoken

 

[blackandgold1]

I had stabilized in the low 30s but because of AAMC 8 back into the high 20s again which is so disappointing considering the fact that I have put so much effort.

I completely feel you. I called my mom and literally cried for two hours over my practice test score today. Its the worst feeling in the world to feel like youve put in so much effort, given up everything else to study, and the results are still nowhere near the target score. It sucks alot.

 

[ModusProbandi]

I thought there was a significant difference in the complexity of both exams. AAMC#7 seemed like a walk in the park compared to AAMC 8. I ended up scoring 3 points lower on my composite score on AAMC 8 compared to AAMC 7. Now I kind of lost some confidence to be honest I mean I went over the exam and it just seems so different from AAMC 7 and definitely a lot different from 3-5 so I'm not even mentioning those. I thought AAMC 7 was very straight forward the sciences actually revolved around basic scientific concepts and I understood every passage where as the sciences, both the PS and BS, for AAMC 8 seemed more like a VR section than a science section. Is it just me or do you guys feel the same way. Is it justifiable to be slightly nervous knowing that I made a serious dip on the score and comprehension of a practice exam exactly 14 days (300-310 hours from now) before the real deal. Which style is the closest to the actual exam! I've been researching through previous posts people have posted different things. I'm trying to get an opinion from guys that just took the exam in the past 6 months or so 😕

7 and 8 are considered to be harder than the actual mcat, according to TPR

 

[ridethecliche]

My advice to everyone is to not freak out if you end up with one datum that shows a decrease.

At the end of the day, you're looking for a trend of increases. If you slip up once, then you need to figure out why that was so you can get things right the next time. Take the next practice exam. Demolish it. Never look back.

Count that mess up as an outlier and move on with your life. If you are driven just by the numbers, you are going to paralyze yourself with fear.

You've done the work. Just take the damn test and get on with it. Learn from your mistakes. Never make them again. Know that you are ready and keep at it.

 

[jwalla57]

I havent taken 8 yet but 7 actually killed me. I thought I stabilized between 30-32 i got those scores for my last 3 practice exams kaplan/aamc, but i got a 27 on this one!! i feel like its luck whether you get a section you know well or not. That whole earthquake passage threw me off. the verbal questions actually seemed much harder even though the passages were easy to read. ugh!

 

[FutureMD23]

7 and 8 are considered to be harder than the actual mcat, according to TPR

Yeah, I read that on their CBT website. I do not really agree with that, but whatever haha. I feel 11 is harder than either of those.

 

[FutureMD23]

The real BS and PS sections are leaning more towards VR as far as not just plug and chug and having to dig deep in the passages to find hints that you mix with your own science knowledge to get answers. So, definitely be ready for that, especially for BS.

 

[blackandgold1]

I just took AAMC 8 and my composite score was actually in my range. However, I did drop 2 points in PS........freaking MRI passage and all the solution chem.

 

[raltima07]

I took 8 today too...and I was also in my range, just off on BS by 2 points....

 

[ridethecliche]

Yeah, I read that on their CBT website. I do not really agree with that, but whatever haha. I feel 11 is harder than either of those.

Concur.

Though 8 and 11 were the same score for me.

 

[MinitorV]

7 and 8 are considered to be harder than the actual mcat, according to TPR

Who is tpr?

 

[Ismet]

Who is tpr?

The Princeton Review

 

[btc8]

I've yet to take 8, but 11 was challenging. Especially the BS. That Ebola passage gutted me. I also ran down to about 4 minutes after the last passages on PS and BS--which usually doesn't happen.

 

[acromonkey]

Both 8 and 11 killed me also. It seems as if the real thing will be more like these two tests? I'm getting that consensus from reading these things???

 

[ridethecliche]

I've yet to take 8, but 11 was challenging. Especially the BS. That Ebola passage gutted me. I also ran down to about 4 minutes after the last passages on PS and BS--which usually doesn't happen.

I took 11 and had timing issues with it as well.

Honestly, I think that the ebola passage was very poorly laid out. I get that they want us to be able to pick out info from graphs and data, but seriously I could have done a better job of presentation as a frosh.

It took me 5-10 mins to figure it out later. That paper was in science, but it sure as HELL was not displayed that way.

 

[music2doc]

I just took AAMC 8 today. (I took AAMC 7 last week.) My score went up 4 points on AAMC 8 compared to 7 (36 to 40 -- 2 points up on the VR and 1 up on each science section). I would agree that it was a bit more "VR-like" but I liked that. It was a pretty doable test and I sure hope this is what people mean when they say the MCAT BS & PS are getting more "VR-like" and passage based.

 

[ridethecliche]

I just took AAMC 8 today. (I took AAMC 7 last week.) My score went up 4 points on AAMC 8 compared to 7 (36 to 40 -- 2 points up on the VR and 1 up on each science section). I would agree that it was a bit more "VR-like" but I liked that. It was a pretty doable test and I sure hope this is what people mean when they say the MCAT BS & PS are getting more "VR-like" and passage based.

You'll see 'VR-like' when you take 11 😉

 

[music2doc]

You'll see 'VR-like' when you take 11 😉

What does that mean? What should I expect on AAMC 11? Is it more in the direction from 7 that 8 was?

Is it more like how TBR Bio is? (Like teaching you an advanced topic that you are probably barely even familiar with in the passage and then asking a whole bunch of questions about it?)

 

[ridethecliche]

If I was you, I would take 11 as your 2nd or 3rd last FL so you have time to let it digest and review accordingly.

I recommend taking 10 after 11.

11 is very 'VR like'. Very much so.

 

[music2doc]

If I was you, I would take 11 as your 2nd or 3rd last FL so you have time to let it digest and review accordingly.

I recommend taking 10 after 11.

11 is very 'VR like'. Very much so.

So for my last 3, maybe do 9-11-10 or would 11-10-9 be better? (Or 11-9-10?)


Also, do you think I should pretty much dump my science review at this point and just focus on my VR then? I've pretty much maxed out my science scores (13s and 14s consistently) but there are still areas I feel weak in and I haven't done the Phase 3 TBR passages yet. I only have 9 days until my test, though.

Sorry to derail the topic, but maybe your answers will help others, too, since anyone looking at this thread is probably at a similar point in their studies...

 

[ridethecliche]

I'm no pro. I'm taking my test on friday.

11 is the newest exam and I think it's important to take it a week or so before your test so you can let it sink in and learn from it. If you don't do so hot, it's nice to 'chase' it with 9 and 10. The order after 11 doesn't matter. I just think you should do it 1-2 weeks before the test so you can see what it's like. 10 is similar, but still more traditional. I can't explain it. You'll see when you take it.

As far as VR practice, I think the recommendations are to not do anything too crazy towards the tail end because you risk burning it out and overthinking things. Maybe do 2-3 Ek 101 tests or some TPRH practice passages a week, anything more is excessive, especially if you're doing FLs at the same time.

Depending on how much time you have left and what you have left to cover, maybe do some passages, brush up on the weak stuff a little, and take it easy. The last week is critical because you have to manage anxiety, stress, burnout, etc. Doing too much practice is bad because you'll be exhausted.

You have to find your own balance.

You look like you're in a good place. Your practice scores are much better than mine. Just keep your head in the game and you'll do great.

 

[music2doc]

I'm no pro. I'm taking my test on friday.

11 is the newest exam and I think it's important to take it a week or so before your test so you can let it sink in and learn from it. If you don't do so hot, it's nice to 'chase' it with 9 and 10. The order after 11 doesn't matter. I just think you should do it 1-2 weeks before the test so you can see what it's like. 10 is similar, but still more traditional. I can't explain it. You'll see when you take it.

As far as VR practice, I think the recommendations are to not do anything too crazy towards the tail end because you risk burning it out and overthinking things. Maybe do 2-3 Ek 101 tests or some TPRH practice passages a week, anything more is excessive, especially if you're doing FLs at the same time.

Depending on how much time you have left and what you have left to cover, maybe do some passages, brush up on the weak stuff a little, and take it easy. The last week is critical because you have to manage anxiety, stress, burnout, etc. Doing too much practice is bad because you'll be exhausted.

You have to find your own balance.

You look like you're in a good place. Your practice scores are much better than mine. Just keep your head in the game and you'll do great.

Cool. Thanks! Those are helpful comments! I'm sure you'll do great as well. You sound like you're in a good place and going in strong and confident. Good luck and see you in med school...or residency some day!

 

[MalibuPreMD]

I found the off-topic more useful 😉

Great advice, ridethecliche. Thanks