Are Kaplan's FL 7-9 more difficult?

[mnmoore]

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I'm freaking out I've been studying A LOT and this is my second time taking the Kaplan course. I took the FL 1-5 the first time around so I didn't think I should take them again as they could give me an inaccurate score. I just finished FL #7 and I feel like the absolute dumbest person alive I made a 488. That is where I started out when I first took the Kaplan course a year ago. My highest score has been a 490. I had expected to make a big improvement on this FL! I actually managed to go down! I really need help figuring out what I'm doing wrong!

Bio/Biochem and psy/ soc I have been staying the same 123 and I keep thinking I'm doing great in these sections but my score never improves!! In CARS and Chem/phys I have been doing really really bad! CARS I know is my weakness so I've been reading scientific articles and doing 4 practice passages a week. I've seen no improvement! My Chem/phys I have has wildly different scores, 123- 120. I'm no where near the score I want and I only have a month until I take the MCAT for the second time!
Please help!! I'm starting to think its not even possible for to improve my score

My goal score is a 506

Background:
undergrad: biology degree
Currently working on Masters of Physiology


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[Blaise_AM]

Kaplan full lengths are very different in my opinion. I took the class in January to March, and my MCAT is next week. I took FL 1-9:
1:491
2:504
3:499
4:508
5:505
6:504
7:504
8:506
9: 510

Its a LOT more calculation based than AAMC practice tests, which uses up a lot of time and makes you rush, which in turn leads to more errors. I still think its good practice for timing and strategy development, but don't stress about the actual "score."

 

[betterfuture]

I'm in the same boat. I don't think you should feel dumb. Getting test scores below your expectations can happen, especially when you are starting out. I did Kaplan FL 7 too and scored below my last FL, FL 5. I didn't get disappointed because, I have heard over and over that Kaplan FL's are not really representative of the real thing. In fact, they are consistently ranked last among other Test Prep FL's.

But you seem to be scoring on the low end, and that may have to do mostly with content. Or it could be anxiety or feeling like you don't understand a passage/question and then quitting halfway through. Do you rush when answering questions, do you not read the questions right the first time like mistaking 'which one is NOT such and such' and think they asked 'which one IS such and such'? There are many factors at play. But since you say you have 1 month till you take the MCAT, it might be best to reschedule. Also, use AAMC material. That's the best material out there by far.

 

[mnmoore]

I'm in the same boat. I don't think you should feel dumb. Getting test scores below your expectations can happen, especially when you are starting out. I did Kaplan FL 7 too and scored below my last FL, FL 5. I didn't get disappointed because, I have heard over and over that Kaplan FL's are not really representative of the real thing. In fact, they are consistently ranked last among other Test Prep FL's.

But you seem to be scoring on the low end, and that may have to do mostly with content. Or it could be anxiety or feeling like you don't understand a passage/question and then quitting halfway through. Do you rush when answering questions, do you not read the questions right the first time like mistaking 'which one is NOT such and such' and think they asked 'which one IS such and such'? There are many factors at play. But since you say you have 1 month till you take the MCAT, it might be best to reschedule. Also, use AAMC material. That's the best material out there by far.

I've already reschedule this MCAT 1 I was suppose to take it on April 1.

CARS for me is my absolute worse!! I do not even get through all the passages, on FL 7 I guessed on the last 3 passages because I ran out of time. I suck at reading, and the CARS passages are very difficult for me to understand most of the time! I either understand that passage and get all questions right or do not know what the heck it is talking about, in which case I get 1 question right. I actually have been practicing reading passages from the kaplan question bank and reviewing them but still no improvement. Any suggestions for improving CARS?

What AAMC material? The only material I have come across from AAMC is the list of all the topics on the test.

 

[betterfuture]

I believe you mentioned you are the taking the Kaplan course. If so, Kaplan offers the AAMC Practice Exam, Official MCAT Sample Test, The Section Bank, Q-Packs, and The Official Guide Questions along with their own FL's and Q-Banks, etc.

For CARS, I think the best way to do well is to practice, which you said you already are doing. What works for me was making sure to actually take the time to read the whole passage carefully and thoroughly. This might mean slowing down a bit. And make sure you don't go back to reread the sentence/paragraph as the reason to slow down entails trying to really grasp the idea of the passage. If the author is trying to get a point across, he/she will repeat themselves or provide evidence/examples so don't get hung up on the details. Look out for transition words or contrast words such as 'However', 'But', 'Despite', 'Even though', etc. It kinda shifts the direction of where the author was initially heading by introducing his/her point of view.

I am in no ways really great at CARS, but I feel I have improved my reading comprehension. Now, I am not just reading the passage but actively looking out for the main idea, which is essentially what you should get out of CARS passages. Hope that helps.

 

[cwillman044]

CARS I know is my weakness so I've been reading scientific articles and doing 4 practice passages a week.

Make that 4 passages a day and I know you'll see some improvement.