Advice needed!! PLEASE! Is going from 21 to 32+ doable?

[Heisenberg1]

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I am awful at standardized exams!! At least that's what I've believed since I took the ACT when I got a 23, but I didn't study a minute for it. Then again, does anyone really study for the ACT? I just took my first MCAT practice exam and scored a 21. I haven't done any studying for this exam either, I was just curious to see where I stand. Will it be possible for someone who is only capable of a 21 on the MCAT to go up 11+ points? How long do you think it would take? Any and all advice/anecdotes would be very much appreciated!

 

[mcloaf]

A score you get when you haven't studied at all is pretty much meaningless.

 

[Temperature101]

I am awful at standardized exams!! At least that's what I've believed since I took the ACT when I got a 23, but I didn't study a minute for it. Then again, does anyone really study for the ACT? I just took my first MCAT practice exam and scored a 21. I haven't done any studying for this exam either, I was just curious to see where I stand. Will it be possible for someone who is only capable of a 21 on the MCAT to go up 11+ points? How long do you think it would take? Any and all advice/anecdotes would be very much appreciated!

Very possible....Even 34+ is possible if you start with 21 with NO study at all.

 

[Spinach Dip]

Yes. Absolutely possible.

How many points you can gain depends mostly on your own dedication to smoothing out your weaknesses. With enough time and dedication, you could bring your score as high as you want.



See my sig if you want more of my thoughts on how to beat this monster of an exam.

 

[HesitantManatee]

I started with a 18 on free kaplan diagnostics and ended up with a 36 on the actually thing. I use Sn2ed study guide and it prepares me really well.

 

[kmp0410]

Of course.

Without any studying I would get about a 4 on PS, because I just don't retain that info.

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

OP: Whether it is possible to go from a 21 to 32 depends on many factors.

(1) What practice exam did you get a 21 on? There are some tests out there that give low scores, perhaps for a reason that seems to fit the developer's interests. If you got a 21 on one of those, you may actually be a 27 on something on par with an AAMC using a valid scale. Climbing to a 32 with dedicated study should be viable.

(2) As mcloaf pointed out, without studying at all a 21 (average of 7 in each section) is pretty much meaningless. If you can learn from that exam how you could have done better, that's a great start. Was it lack of information or poor test-taking skills that caused most of your errors?

(3) Was it a balanced 21 or was there one score well above the other two? If you start high in one area, then you'll be able to focus more on the other two areas, which should help you climb.

There are so many factors at play here. The main thing is that if your biggest concern is test-taking abilities, then you need to design your preparation strategy and schedule with that in mind. Make sure you spend plenty of time after each homework and practice exam going over the solution and test logic (POE in most cases) of every question.

 

[Back 5]

I am awful at standardized exams!! At least that's what I've believed since I took the ACT when I got a 23, but I didn't study a minute for it. Then again, does anyone really study for the ACT? I just took my first MCAT practice exam and scored a 21. I haven't done any studying for this exam either, I was just curious to see where I stand. Will it be possible for someone who is only capable of a 21 on the MCAT to go up 11+ points? How long do you think it would take? Any and all advice/anecdotes would be very much appreciated!

I'm uncertain...

 

[AlaJ2012]

I made a 24 the first time I took the MCAT, even after studying and making 29+ on my practice exams for NINE MONTHS! After I got my score I studied my weak areas in detail/took more practice tests and made a 32 two months later... So my answer is: definitely possible.

 

[SN2ed]

Of course it's possible. However, that's not the real question. Rather the question is whether you can. To that end, no one knows. All you can do is formulate a solid plan and execute it.

 

[Alejandro]

agreed with Sn2. In fact, that was my case in the past. See my link below.

 

[valkener]

I was like you but ended up in the mid 30's. When you think you are ready, you can take the full-length practice tests and they will tell you, on average, if you are ready. Don't take the MCAT unless you know you're ready.