accuracy of practice scores

[polargirl]

Anyone else afraid that their practice scores won't correlate to the actual MCAT? I've taken 4 full length practice exams through Kaplan and have another two scheduled for this weekend. I'm very happy with where my scores are right now and will be excited if I can maintain them for the MCAT, but I can't help worry that they won't correspond to how I actually do. I know there are threads where people post how they've done on practice tests compared to the actual MCAT, but I can't help the doubt. Anyone else feel the same way?

Also, does anyone think you can predict your score based on how hard/easy the MCAT feels on test day. It seems to me that how had a test seems is not indicative of the score I'll get because if it's a harder test you can miss a lot more.

Hope everyone's studying is going well!

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[willthatsall]

Yeah, I'm worried. Months of studying and it all comes down to 5 hours worth of testing. One lapse in focus or one misunderstanding of a passage and you could drop way below where you were on practice tests. A few unlucky guesses on VR and there goes 2 more points. Definitely feeling some pressure.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

i don't even want to think about that now. From what i was told you can't estimate how you did based on how hard you think the test was. If it's a systematically difficult test and many people didn't do well the curve will reflect that..likewise for an easy test or section.

I'd be surprised if anyone honestly is not worried.

 

[willthatsall]

I would rather come out of there feeling like it was the hardest MCAT I've ever seen compared to the Kaplan and AAMC tests that I've taken than have an easy test. I want a generous scale. 😀

 

[Psycho Doctor]

I only want to feel it was the hardest MCAT i ever took if everyone else also felt that way...otherwise i'd be convinced i got about a 15 and i'd never survive two months of waiting...

on second thought, i'd actually rather think i knew most everything on the test and not need a curve.

 

[MoosePilot]

Psycho's first post is the right attitude.

Given the number of different versions, don't worry about what other people think. They're probably on a different version than you are. My friends from my TPR class all thought they did miserable, but they did better than on their diagnostic tests (37 for two of them). You can talk with the folks that have your same form number (something like BT), but even then I wouldn't get too hung up about their opinion. Just chill for 60 days

 

[bella_dottoressa]

ugh, guys lets not talk about this. 🙂 the thought of seeing something in october way lower than my practice tests makes me sick almost! let's stick with the fact that most people do not do way worse on the real deal than they did on the representative practice tests. 🙂

 

[the_equalizer]

I personally would not trust the scores you get on the kaplan/tpr practice tests. They should be used more as a relative measure, to show improvement. The best practice tests that actually reflect what your real MCAT score may be are the AAMC 5 and 6 exams.

 

[MoosePilot]

I personally would not trust the scores you get on the kaplan/tpr practice tests. They should be used more as a relative measure, to show improvement. The best practice tests that actually reflect what your real MCAT score may be are the AAMC 5 and 6 exams.

I would agree with that. I don't know that many people that scored much different on the real thing than they did on 5R or 6R. 7 is so knew I'm betting it's very good, but haven't heard from enough folks to have a firm opinion.

 

[BisMuOxo]

My real score did not match up with my scores on the practice tests at all. I scored 8 points higher on the real thing than any of my practice tests 😀 Hope that gives everyone something to look forward to.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

why not AAMC 7???

 

[rapshi]

i scored right on my average of the kaplan tests i took (1-7). my science scores went up, but my verbal was significantly down.
the advice i would give is to let all the science you know settle in your head, and do aamc verbal sections, they are the only ones that are accurate.
review microbiology and genetics+ drink beer. 😀

 

[rockstar2525]

I was also worried that my Kaplan tests were just a fluke and that I would drop, but I jumped UP three points from my highest Kaplan score and six points from my average. If you are doing well on the practice, you will be FINE on the real thing.
DON'T, I repeat DON'T judge how you did by how you feel after you're done. I was wrong after every single Kaplan test and very wrong after the actual test. It's a test where 65% correct is a good score, but anytime you leave a test not knowing 35% of the info you are going to feel like ****.
Relax, you'll be fine 😛

 

[45408]

Nah, I feel like I'll do fine on the real thing. You can't psyche yourself out like this.