Are the ExamKrackers practice exams actually harder than the real MCAT

[Lukkie]

reason i ask is, it is listed in each of the subject books that they omit most/all of the easy questions that would normally appear on the MCAT and just leave the hard ones on their practice tests. is there any truth to this. the only experience i have with MCAT is these EK books and i have yet to purchase more company books but i will in the future. i am not doing too well on these EK practice tests (scores of like 10-11 per section) but if they really are harder than a real MCAT i might be more confident towards my goal of 12-14 per test.

thanks

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[BNSN]

The 30-minute quizzes at the end of the EK subject books are harder than the real thing according to what I've heard. The EK book even says so.

 

[BlueElmo]

That's a relief. Because I have been consistently scoring 12s on them. Maybe I will fare better on the real ones.

 

[chemcu]

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[Decicco]

EK practice exams are very low quality IMO.

 

[Lukkie]

EK practice exams are very low quality IMO.

please explain.

 

[JA Prufrock]

please explain.

People say that they are unrepresentative since they tend to stress things discussed in their books alone--it's like a comprehension test rather than a reasoning test. At least that's what I've heard (I haven't taken any yet). But practice is practice, and you can never do enough practice.

 

[engineeredout]

That's a relief. Because I have been consistently scoring 12s on them. Maybe I will fare better on the real ones.

I'm assuming you mean 12/23 and not 12/15.


Anyway yeah I've found them difficult too. Like they said above, they're designed to be difficult but are still good practice.

Don't worry, you're not the only one who scores low on them.

 

[BlueElmo]

no i have been getting 12/15. I have been missing only 3 or 4 questions our of 23. Hopefully that translates to 13-14 on the real ones.

 

[gasdf1234567]

I do think they are much harder. I rarely got over an 11 on any section and NEVER got over a 12. I got destroyed in the verbal 30 min tests. I was really discouraged until I started taking the AAMC practice tests. I ended up with a 12P 12V 14B. I think the 30 min tests are good review material after you have read a section but don't get discouraged by the scores.

 

[Lukkie]

I do think they are much harder. I rarely got over an 11 on any section and NEVER got over a 12. I got destroyed in the verbal 30 min tests. I was really discouraged until I started taking the AAMC practice tests. I ended up with a 12P 12V 14B. I think the 30 min tests are good review material after you have read a section but don't get discouraged by the scores.

thanks, that really gives me motivation.

 

[kwokkit]

How representative is the EK #1H MCAT simulated exam?

 

[BNSN]

I haven't taken the EK full lengths (I will this weekend) but most people sya the EK full lengths are easier. They are just mostly just understanding of the basic science, but I am happy about that because after working with all these Kaplan sectionals/topicals/disceretes/section tests, some easier stuff is a welcome relief.

 

[engineeredout]

no i have been getting 12/15. I have been missing only 3 or 4 questions our of 23. Hopefully that translates to 13-14 on the real ones.

IF you're scoring a 12/13 on the exams what are you worried about?

 

[BlueElmo]

EVEN THOUGH I am scoring in the 12s, I'm worried because the 30-minute topicals really do seem to be only testing concepts on that particular chapter. Thus, they might not be representative of my real scores later on.

 

[Lukkie]

IF you're scoring a 12/13 on the exams what are you worried about?

some of us are shooting for 14/15 👍

 

[moose45]

I feel like the EK Verbal are much easier than the aamc verbal..what do you guys think??

 

[Raigon]

I feel like the EK Verbal are much easier than the aamc verbal..what do you guys think??

Ouch, then you must be good! I get practically half my score on verbal (6~8 out of 15) than on my 2nd worst - physical sciences (average around 12 ~ 13 out of 15 when I took my practice). I'm so scared for my verbal.

Should I get Verbal 101 to practice?

*bites fingernails*

 

[unsung]

I feel like the EK Verbal are much easier than the aamc verbal..what do you guys think??

No frickin' way. EK verbal feels so hard to me. I scored in the 8-12 range. NEVER got a 14 or a 15. Started taking AAMC tests and just got a 15 on #7. I don't think my verbal skills have drastically improved in between doing EK and doing AAMC.

Everyone says TPR & AAMC verbal are harder than EK, but it feels just the opposite to me. EK answer choices, in particular, often stop me in my tracks because they're worded strangely, and I really need to think about them. Never had that happen on AAMC-- the Qs may be hard sometimes, but usually the answers they're looking for are quite straightforward. In that sense, I think the verbal is actually more similar to TPR verbal.

Not many ppl agree with me though.

 

[BlueElmo]

what do you guys think about EK Bio 1001? Is it reprsentative of the real one? I just started the book and I got owned by the FIRST TWO passages in the book.

 

[StayingSteady]

So what is it about EK 101 that makes is "the best preparation for MCAT verbal, aside from AAMC"? Is it the types of passages? or the kinds of questions?

I really hope that the EK101 question styles are representative of the real thing because Kaplan is seriously owning me. I just find the Kaplan questions so specific, requiring a really careful read of the passage, whereas the EK questions are sooo much more general and require a lot more application than anything...

 

[futuredoctor10]

I scored in the 8-12 range. NEVER got a 14 or a 15. Started taking AAMC tests and just got a 15 on #7.

Unsung, this is so encouraging. I hope what you are saying is right and the AAMC verbals are easier than EK101's verbals!!! 🙂

I really hope that the EK101 question styles are representative of the real thing because Kaplan is seriously owning me. I just find the Kaplan questions so specific, requiring a really careful read of the passage, whereas the EK questions are sooo much more general and require a lot more application than anything...

Yeah I agree StayingSteady. Kaplan's are more detail-oriented and less "big-picture"/main idea, which are what real AAMC verbals (and EK101 verbals) tend to reflect in format.

I also don't think Kaplan Verbal is so accurate, so I am using the EK101 book (in addition to AAMC verbal section exams) to work on Verbal... with the assumption these EK101 exams/sections are at least MOSTLY accurate!