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AAMC FL Difficulty

Discussion in 'MCAT: Medical College Admissions Test' started by AlphaMagnum, Jul 27, 2011.

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  1. AlphaMagnum

    AlphaMagnum
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    Is there some sort of "ranking" for the AAMC tests, in order of least to most difficult? I realize that each one likely focuses on different areas of the various subjects tested, but is there an overall increase/decrease in difficulty?

    I'm asking because I've scored similarly in every exam taken so far, without any significant improvement imo. I'm doing a thorough review of each exam after I take it, but I think I need to spend a little time on straight content review to shore up my weaknesses. Here are my scores; please let me know what you think:

    AAMC 3: 11PS/13VR/11BS (35)
    AAMC 4: 12PS/13VR/11BS (36)
    AAMC 5: 12PS/11VR/10BS (33)
    AAMC 7: 11PS/12VR/13BS (36)
    AAMC 8: 12PS/11VR/13BS (36)

    Tomorrow I'm planning on taking Test 9, FL10 is slated for Sunday, and I'll finish out with 11 a week from today. Maybe I'll see a better trend after the next couple exams?

    My actual test date is Saturday the 6th of August, so I have less than two weeks to whip myself into shape, particularly in the case of the Writing Sample which I have skipped on every exam thus far. I plan to add it into the routine for the last three exams while devoting a solid hour or two each day to brainstorming answers/examples to the list of prompts I grabbed off the AAMC website.
     
    #1 AlphaMagnum, Jul 27, 2011
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2011
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  2. paul411

    paul411 ANES
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    My practice test scores were,

    AAMC 04: 13PS 13VR 12BS (38)
    AAMC 5R: 14PS 12VR 12BS (38)
    AAMC 6R: 13PS 11VR 13BS (37)
    AAMC 7R: 15PS 12VR 12BS (39)
    AAMC 08: 13PS 12VR 13BS (38)
    AAMC 09: 14PS 12VR 13BS (39)
    AAMC 10: 12PS 11VR 11BS (34)
    AAMC 11: 12PS 12VR 14BS (38)

    Real MCAT: 12PS 13VR 14BS (39)

    AAMC 11 was the best predictor for me.

    You look like you're on track for a 35+ score. :luck:
     
    #2 paul411, Jul 27, 2011
  3. GooseWing

    GooseWing
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    Yeah I have a similar question.
    I always hear people say the earlier tests are the easiest and least representative of the current MCAT while the latest are the hardest and most representative of the current MCAT.

    Does this mean that the earlier tests should be giving you inflated scores? Or does with the 'easier' tests come a harsher curve and with the 'harder' test come a more lenient curve?

    I ask this because both of the posters above me seemed to score pretty consistently on all of their AAMCs, despite the variations in difficulty I keep hearing about.

    Just curious because I just scored a 33 on AAMC #3 and am looking for a 2-3 point improvement :)

    Thanks!
     
    #3 GooseWing, Jul 27, 2011
  4. iceman132

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    I really don't understand how the AAMC are scored....

    70% correct on Verbal = 9

    70% of 15 = 10.5? I guess the MCat is just scored differently?
     
    #4 iceman132, Jul 27, 2011
  5. AlphaMagnum

    AlphaMagnum
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    There is a curve of some kind, I believe. On easier exams, the score needed for a 15 is close to 39 or 40 out of 40 on VR or 50-52/52 on PS/BS. On tougher exams the required score decreases.

    However, I don't know if the 'curve' is determined based on everyone else in that particular batch or if it is totally static and decided by the testmakers before anyone even completes the exam.
     
    #5 AlphaMagnum, Jul 27, 2011
  6. PingPongPro

    PingPongPro
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    The curve is preset by the testmakers. They use experimental questions and a combination of other research methods to determine the scale based on the difficulty of the test.

    The performance of the people actually taking any particular test does not change the curve.

    Tougher exams obviously give way to nicer curves. There have been reportedly some exams where a section would be too easy and the highest score possible would be a 13 or 14 even if you got every single question right.

    Here is quick example of a score conversion breakdown. This ones for AAMC practice test 10.

    PS VR BS
    15 52-52 40-40 51-52
    14 50-51 39-39 50-50
    13 49-49 38-38 47-49
    12 46-48 37-37 46-46
    11 44-45 34-36 43-45
    10 41-43 31-33 39-42
    9 38-40 29-30 35-38
    8 33-37 27-28 32-34
    7 28-32 24-26 29-31
    6 23-27 21-23 26-28
    5 19-22 19-20 23-25
    4 15-18 15-18 20-22
    3 11-14 12-14 16-19
    2 8-10 9-11 14-15
    1 0-7 0-8 0-13
     
    #6 PingPongPro, Jul 28, 2011
  7. iceman132

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    Scoring on this test i so strange that I don't know what to think of everything.

    I get scores on the different tests jumping up and down from 2-3 points on each section.

    Hopefully I'm more stabilized by test time.
     
    #7 iceman132, Jul 28, 2011
  8. paul411

    paul411 ANES
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    The scoring is really not all that strange. If you prep long enough, you should be scoring relatively consistently.
     
    #8 paul411, Jul 28, 2011
  9. NickNaylor

    NickNaylor Thank You for Smoking
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    To piggy back off of paul, this isn't a function of how the test is scored. It's a function of preparation. Inconsistent scores are usually indicative of poor studying.
     
    #9 NickNaylor, Jul 28, 2011
  10. AlphaMagnum

    AlphaMagnum
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    I just took FL9 as my first totally full-length, WS included, test day dry run. Here are the results:

    13PS/11VR/14BS (38)

    I'm honestly shocked that I did *better* when I used no more than 2 minutes out of the 10 minute breaks except once when I needed to use the bathroom. I had 4-8 minutes to spare on VR and BS but I finished PS quite comfortably as well. Before this I've always completed one full section, taken a break ranging from 30 minutes to 3 hours, and then returned to complete the next section. Color me stupefied.

    I can only hope that test day goes this well...
     
    #10 AlphaMagnum, Jul 28, 2011
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