Are the AAMC practice MCAT exams constant throughout the years?

[EthylMethylMan]

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That meaning, AAMC's practice MCAT 4, for example, is the same as practice MCAT 4 from 2007 or earlier even? I'm asking because I've been looking around for people's opinions on the exam so I can gauge how I did.

Also, if anyone cares to give some input, I got 13-11-9 on practice MCAT 4. In any of your previous test-taking experience, is that good for it?

 

[Jepstein30]

That meaning, AAMC's practice MCAT 4, for example, is the same as practice MCAT 4 from 2007 or earlier even? I'm asking because I've been looking around for people's opinions on the exam so I can gauge how I did.

Also, if anyone cares to give some input, I got 13-11-9 on practice MCAT 4. In any of your previous test-taking experience, is that good for it?

Pretty sure they haven't changed. Though before it was a CBT, there were paper AAMC exams available. They're labeled with an "R" in addition to the number and are typically longer.

13-11-9 on AAMC 4 is a pretty good start overall. The test has changed though- ALOT.

Recent MCATs/later AAMCs are trending towards a more calculation intensive PS (less testing of concepts directly), a VR that may have easier passages but the questions are less detail-orientated and a BS that is heavily molecular biology based rather than physiology. The biggest change is BS tends to typically have multiple experimental passages rather than the typical "talk about a topic and ask you questions." This requires an extra emphasis on analysis skills.

 

[mcat prep]

"R" stood for Revised and it was the shortened version of the longer pre-2007, pre-CBT MCATs like test 4. After a few years, the AAMC dropped the R.

Generally, the AAMC materials that would best correlate with the difficulty and score of a real MCAT experience is: test 10, test 11 and the official MCAT Guide which is approximately equal to one FL test. Earlier tests are considered to be easier.

However, your score on Test 4 is a good start!

 

[Jepstein30]

"R" stood for Revised and it was the shortened version of the longer pre-2007, pre-CBT MCATs like test 4. After a few years, the AAMC dropped the R.

Generally, the AAMC materials that would best correlate with the difficulty and score of a real MCAT experience is: test 10, test 11 and the official MCAT Guide which is approximately equal to one FL test. Earlier tests are considered to be easier.

However, your score on Test 4 is a good start!

Ah right. There are full length non-R versions that are longer. The R versions are the same (I think) as the currently offered CBTs. Also note that most of the passages that are on the non-R versions are now used by AAMC in the self-assessment package (which is another really great resource that you should use).

I disagree that earlier tests are 'easier' though. They're different.. but the differences don't lie in the level of difficulty of the concepts but IMO what they are asking of you. Current MCAT/late AAMCs emphasis much more analytical skill in all three sections than the early AAMCs which were much more content-driven (there are questions that are straight up content-recall, which you don't find that much on the real thing). That's why most people perceive it as harder.. because analytical skills are tougher to develop than a grasp of the content.

 

[aspiring20]

what do you guys think of the MCAT exams offered in 2011? how are they compared to exams in 2013?

no difference? or did the 2013 exams become much more difficult?

 

[Jepstein30]

what do you guys think of the MCAT exams offered in 2011? how are they compared to exams in 2013?

no difference? or did the 2013 exams become much more difficult?

Do you mean the actual MCATs that were administered?

Or the practice exams? Because the practice exams are the same. No-one can really gauge the difficulty between years unless they took multiple each year which is unlikely.

 

[aspiring20]

Do you mean the actual MCATs that were administered?

Or the practice exams? Because the practice exams are the same. No-one can really gauge the difficulty between years unless they took multiple each year which is unlikely.

i mean the actual MCATs

i just hope that if the exam is getting harder month after month, then the curve will be adjusted to reflect that.