AAMC Practice exam didn't go so well.....

[Lola222]

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I'm taking the test in less than 2 weeks and this is what I got on my practice exam:
Chem: 68 (bummed)
CARS: 89
BIO:61 (harder than EK )
PSYCH:90


Should I postpone? I am worried about chem and bio...

 

[Lola222]

Also, i've heard bio is easier on this exam compared to the real thing...i'm really nervous now. Idk what to do.

 

[heybubbaa]

Don't take the test in 2 weeks, unless this was an extreme outlier with a known cause for the abnormal results.

 

[Lola222]

Don't take the test in 2 weeks, unless this was an extreme outlier with a known cause for the abnormal results.

I mean..I've studied for 4 months, and know the material inside and out. This test was hard- I don't know what postponing would do? Since i've studied so much already. What score are my scores equal to approx?

 

[heybubbaa]

I mean..I've studied for 4 months, and know the material inside and out. This test was hard- I don't know what postponing would do? Since i've studied so much already. What score are my scores equal to approx?

Oh, I'm sorry, you were listing your percentages, not raw scores. 507ish - not bad, a little below the average MD matriculant, but you should be OK. Sorry about that.

 

[Lola222]

Oh, I'm sorry, you were listing your percentages, not raw scores. 507ish - not bad, a little below the average MD matriculant, but you should be OK. Sorry about that.

I missed a bunch of biochem questions bc I forgot to brush up on them. Like about 10 questions that I could've gotten right. Do you think there's a chance I could hit 510 on my real thing?

And no problem! Haha you worried me there for a second.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Is this the sample test or the scored test? If it was the scores test what was your overall score and subsection breakdown?

 

[heybubbaa]

I missed a bunch of biochem questions bc I forgot to brush up on them. Like about 10 questions that I could've gotten right. Do you think there's a chance I could hit 510 on my real thing?

And no problem! Haha you worried me there for a second.

Yes - especially if it is just one weak area holding you back. Brush up on the biochem, and try to take another practice test before the real thing.

 

[Lola222]

Is this the sample test or the scored test? If it was the scores test what was your overall score and subsection breakdown?

Sample test, i'm planning on taking the scored test later this week. I heard that the sample test is easy compared to the real thing though, so that's why i'm bummed about my scores. For bio, like I said above, I missed 10 easy questions, but I also need to bump up chem a bit. I'm aiming for a 510.

 

[Lola222]

Yes - especially if it is just one weak area holding you back. Brush up on the biochem, and try to take another practice test before the real thing.

Thanks! I'm planning on taking one later this week. Do most people score lower on the real thing though?

 

[heybubbaa]

Thanks! I'm planning on taking one later this week. Do most people score lower on the real thing though?

Not necessarily - if you take ~5+ AAMC (or other types of representative practice tests, then you your actual score should be within a few points. Sometimes people score a little higher than their average practice test, sometimes lower. If you have test anxiety then you could expect to score slightly lower than your average, though.

 

[dreee]

Thanks! I'm planning on taking one later this week. Do most people score lower on the real thing though?

The first time I took it, I scored average of all my practice scores. The second time, I scored about 7-8 points higher than my averages on the real thing.

If you work best under pressure there's a good chance you'll do better. If you tend to worry under pressure, you'll may only hit your average/do worse.

The first time I took it, I panicked throughout the entire exam. Second time, I didn't allow myself to panic. I used the stress to my advantage and was exceptionally keen/highly focused on exam day.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Yes - especially if it is just one weak area holding you back. Brush up on the biochem, and try to take another practice test before the real thing.

^This

Sample test, i'm planning on taking the scored test later this week. I heard that the sample test is easy compared to the real thing though, so that's why i'm bummed about my scores. For bio, like I said above, I missed 10 easy questions, but I also need to bump up chem a bit. I'm aiming for a 510.

Like the above post said brush up on the concepts you missed. Also go through the questions you missed and see if you can notice any trends in the question types you missed. The scored test is a really good predictor. But with 2 weeks left you should be able to add 3-4 points on your test if you focus on your weaknesses. Goodluck!

 

[Lola222]

The first time I took it, I scored average of all my practice scores. The second time, I scored about 7-8 points higher than my averages on the real thing.

If you work best under pressure there's a good chance you'll do better. If you tend to worry under pressure, you'll may only hit your average/do worse.

The first time I took it, I panicked throughout the entire exam. Second time, I didn't allow myself to panic. I used the stress to my advantage and was exceptionally keen/highly focused on exam day.

I was freaking out this test! I felt that it was hard- and I started to doubt myself.

 

[Lola222]

^This


Like the above post said brush up on the concepts you missed. Also go through the questions you missed and see if you can notice any trends in the question types you missed. The scored test is a really good predictor. But with 2 weeks left you should be able to add 3-4 points on your test if you focus on your weaknesses. Goodluck!

Thanks! I actually went through my exam and spent a while going over the ones I got wrong, and I've made a list of the topics I need to work on.

 

[dreee]

I was freaking out this test! I felt that it was hard- and I started to doubt myself.

Honestly I think your scores are worth continuing to take it on the day you're scheduled. At this point, do a quick review of formulas/concepts that are your weak point. Come exam day, do not panic and do not doubt yourself.

I'm sure you'll do fine 🙂

 

[Lola222]

Honestly I think your scores are worth continuing to take it on the day you're scheduled. At this point, do a quick review of formulas/concepts that are your weak point. Come exam day, do not panic and do not doubt yourself.

I'm sure you'll do fine 🙂

Thank you! While taking the test I was sure I did horribly, so I think that lowered my moral. Once I started feeling more confident, I started getting questions right. Is the sample test sig easier than the real one though?

 

[Arturiase]

Hi keep working on it, you are solid for cars and psych, have you done the AAMC section bank??

I highly recommend looking at the section bank, it can help you improve your score especially on bio/ chem sections.

I took the sample test about 1-2 months out and i got 68% chem, 92 cars, 76 bio, and 80 pysch, which is similar except for the bio. On the actual MCAT i managed to get a 130/130/130/127 (517) so its definitely doable. Two weeks before the MCAT i got 512 on the scored sample, in fact I did nothing the last week before my mcat, as long as you don't let your nerves get to you its definitely possible to improve.

I also did the bio q packs and chem q packs to review, you still have some time.

Good luck

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

The good news is that your CARS score is high, other scores can be improved with more studying. You definitely need to study more if you are missing that much content in chemistry/bio portions.

 

[Lola222]

The good news is that your CARS score is high, other scores can be improved with more studying. You definitely need to study more if you are missing that much content in chemistry/bio portions.

I actually missed about 10 questions in each simply because I forgot basic biochem haha. I spent a day reviewing and I feel much more comfortable. The good news is that I got 65% in section banks for both C/P and B/B, which apparently isn't bad as they're so difficult.

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I actually missed about 10 questions in each simply because I forgot basic biochem haha. I spent a day reviewing and I feel much more comfortable. The good news is that I got 65% in section banks for both C/P and B/B, which apparently isn't bad as they're so difficult.

Then perhaps it may benefit you to take more practice exams, if forgetting content/running out of time is also a challenge.

 

[Lola222]

Then perhaps it may benefit you to take more practice exams, if forgetting content/running out of time is also a challenge.

By forgot I mean I learned it in college but didn't review it. Most of the stuff I reviewed I remember- I relied on EK which didn't emphasize biochem at all. I didn't run out of time though? I always finish with about 10-15 min left, which I then use to go over marked questions. I'm taking the scored this weekend, so we'll see how that goes.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I think you should take it. You have a good chance of doing well.


How did you do on the scored fl?

I'm worried now because I got: 78%, 91%, 78%, and 75% on the sample. And a 506 on the scored (127/126/128/125). Psych brought me down.

Any suggestions from anyone?


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[mouster]

Honestly if you just need to brush up on biochem I'd say go ahead and take it. I was doing "okay" on practice FLs about two weeks before my test, and I just started targeting areas I was weak on--I'd go through the whole FL and look at why I missed the question. Was it a knowledge problem or just a stupid mistake? All the knowledge errors I spent time on (I'd review that night after a break and then hit it again the following morning while getting ready for work), and the stupid mistakes I'd make a big list of. I ended up doing ~8 points higher on the real thing than my FLs from the two weeks prior to the exam.

Also, RELAX as much as you can when you take the real thing. Freaking out will get you nowhere.

 

[To be MD]

Sample test, i'm planning on taking the scored test later this week. I heard that the sample test is easy compared to the real thing though, so that's why i'm bummed about my scores. For bio, like I said above, I missed 10 easy questions, but I also need to bump up chem a bit. I'm aiming for a 510.

The sample test is much easier than the real thing.

All hope is not lost, though. Study the sample test meticulously and know why you get each question wrong (or right), know the experimental methods (e.g. non-reducing SDS Page), and use each possible answer choice as an opportunity to learn new vocabulary.

If you do that for a week, very carefully, your AAMC FL score will go up. You can't say you know the Bio & Chem material inside out, yet, if you're only getting 3/5ths of the questions correct.

You can do it, amigo.

 

[RN MD 2017]

Unless this is an outlier, think about rescheduling. Obviously your critical thinking skills are there with cars/psych but you need to improve in the sciences. Maybe take the scored and see how it goes.....better to take later on than receive a poor score. Good luck!

 

[Lola222]

Unless this is an outlier, think about rescheduling. Obviously your critical thinking skills are there with cars/psych but you need to improve in the sciences. Maybe take the scored and see how it goes.....better to take later on than receive a poor score. Good luck!

I did pretty well on the section banks, got a 508-510 on the unscored, so i'm feeling pretty good. I'm taking the scored this weekend, but I'm probably not going to reschedule, since after doing the section banks I recognized the 3-4 areas I was weak in, and spent 2 days hammering those in. Thank you for your advice though🙂

I'm hoping that my past standardized test history comes into play: I scored significantly higher on PSAT/SAT on the real thing than I did on practice ones. I'm hoping for a 510, although I know people normally score lower on the real thing.