Best total # of practcie tests

[DaAlienist]

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Just to be sure, "FL's" stand for "full-length" practice MCAT test" right?

What is a ballpark recommended figure of how many I should take to prepare myself?
Are the ones on the AAMC official mcat website enough? If I purchase them, I can get them instantly right? ie. they're not shipping them to me or waiting for some time to elapse? Can I get a hardcopy or pdf version If I need/want accommodations?

Thanks

 

[dokte]

Yes, FL=Full length

 

[I'm ugly and I'm proud]

No, 3 practice FL's are definitely not enough. The tests are online only, there is no pdf version. You'll have the option to adjust the settings for any accomodations before you start the practice test. The usual recommended # of FL's is around 6-8.

 

[NextStepTutor_3]

Hi there! First of all, you do receive the AAMC exams instantly after purchase. They're online only, and even if they weren't, it's highly recommended to take practice exams online (and even to complete other practice questions online if possible). This way, you're getting used to the feel of the official exam.

The above advice about 6-8 FLs is the conventional wisdom and typically works well. It's not advised to take fewer than 5 FLs, because it takes quite a bit of time to get used to the length of the exam alone. Score improvements also aren't linear (meaning that your score isn't likely to go up on each consecutive test in a consistent pattern), so it may take 6 or more FLs to get a reliable feel for where your score is at.

And of course, some students need more than 6-8 FLs, or want access to more FL exams so they can break some into sections, etc. Definitely spend some time getting a feel for what's out there! Finally, a last somewhat-related piece of advice - don't wait too long before taking your first FL (or at least your first half-length or partial FL)! Getting an early feel for the MCAT style is highly valuable and can help you guide your studying.

Good luck 🙂

 

[Altius Premier Tutor]

In addition to the early experience with FLs wisely suggested by @NextStepTutor_3, I would IMPLORE students to get at least some of that early experience with actual AAMC materials. So many of the problems students have could be solved if they began early with real AAMC materials and learned what a real exam should look and feel like. The best possible option, in my opinion, is to get that experience via the AAMC Section Bank. First, it exposes you to the MCAT-2015 level of difficulty that seems to be surprising many examinees on test day. Second, SB is not a full-length exam so no one will be concerned about burning an AAMC full-length too early. Even so, I suggest you avoid the "hold all the AAMC FLs to the very end" approach. Even when students do 100% content review first and then full-length practice later (NOT what I recommend), they often take all the prep company FLs first and AAMC FLs last. That can lead to some unpleasant surprises when you finally take an AAMC FL. That kind of realization is no fun at any time, but is even less pleasant close to your actual exam!

 

[5words]

In addition to the early experience with FLs wisely suggested by @NextStepTutor_3, I would IMPLORE students to get at least some of that early experience with actual AAMC materials. So many of the problems students have could be solved if they began early with real AAMC materials and learned what a real exam should look and feel like. The best possible option, in my opinion, is to get that experience via the AAMC Section Bank. First, it exposes you to the MCAT-2015 level of difficulty that seems to be surprising many examinees on test day. Second, SB is not a full-length exam so no one will be concerned about burning an AAMC full-length too early. Even so, I suggest you avoid the "hold all the AAMC FLs to the very end" approach. Even when students do 100% content review first and then full-length practice later (NOT what I recommend), they often take all the prep company FLs first and AAMC FLs last. That can lead to some unpleasant surprises when you finally take an AAMC FL. That kind of realization is no fun at any time, but is even less pleasant close to your actual exam!

To be fair, AAMC FL (at least 1) isn't representative of the actual exam , in terms of content. So, people ought to really focus on the SB and Unscored sample (which is more representative)

 

[I'm ugly and I'm proud]

To be fair, AAMC FL (at least 1) isn't representative of the actual exam , in terms of content. So, people ought to really focus on the SB and Unscored sample (which is more representative)

Isn't the unscored sample supposedly easier than FL 1 or 2? I've only taken the unscored so far so I wouldn't know how they compare, but that's what I've heard. Definitely agree about focusing on SB over everything else though.

 

[AnotherLawyer]

Just to be sure, "FL's" stand for "full-length" practice MCAT test" right?

What is a ballpark recommended figure of how many I should take to prepare myself?
Are the ones on the AAMC official mcat website enough? If I purchase them, I can get them instantly right? ie. they're not shipping them to me or waiting for some time to elapse? Can I get a hardcopy or pdf version If I need/want accommodations?

Thanks

It really depends on the person. The key is having some way to measure your performance throughout the prep process so that you don't get to AAMC FL1 three weeks before your test date and realize you're not where you need to be. At that point, there's not a lot of time to fix things. If your study plan isn't working, you need to know early and change course. For me, all signs pointed to me exceeding my score goal, so I ended up only taking the three AAMC FLs. But in retrospect, I would have taken a few more just to work on nerves and increase my confidence with the timing. I think five is a safe recommendation for the minimum someone should take. For someone who finishes content review and is sitting well below where they want to be, 10+ FLs may be in order. Lastly, make sure you're using good second party FLs. Some are total junk and should be avoided.

 

[5words]

Isn't the unscored sample supposedly easier than FL 1 or 2? I've only taken the unscored so far so I wouldn't know how they compare, but that's what I've heard. Definitely agree about focusing on SB over everything else though.

Yeah, the unscored is def easier, but the FL (at least the first one) has lot of pre-2015 passage, like only 3 or 4 question total about AA or Sugar combined! In terms of content, def SB! The FL sure are difficult.

 

[I'm ugly and I'm proud]

It really depends on the person. The key is having some way to measure your performance throughout the prep process so that you don't get to AAMC FL1 three weeks before your test date and realize you're not where you need to be. At that point, there's not a lot of time to fix things. If your study plan isn't working, you need to know early and change course. For me, all signs pointed to me exceeding my score goal, so I ended up only taking the three AAMC FLs. But in retrospect, I would have taken a few more just to work on nerves and increase my confidence with the timing. I think five is a safe recommendation for the minimum someone should take. For someone who finishes content review and is sitting well below where they want to be, 10+ FLs may be in order. Lastly, make sure you're using good second party FLs. Some are total junk and should be avoided.

When would be the ideal time to take FL 1 and 2?

 

[Altius Premier Tutor]

Isn't the unscored sample supposedly easier than FL 1 or 2? I've only taken the unscored so far so I wouldn't know how they compare, but that's what I've heard. Definitely agree about focusing on SB over everything else though.

I would recommend that you envision the "actual test day experience" as a semi-moving target that is not exactly represented by any of the currently-released AAMC materials. However, you can get very near the bullseye by considering AAMC practice tests with some caveats:

Real Exam = Harder than AAMC Sample Test, AAMC Scored 1, or AAMC Scored 2. Easier than the Section Bank overall, but greater than/equal to SB for 50-90% of passages.

Similarity to Real Exam: SB > AAMC Scored 2 > AAMC Scored 1 > AAMC Sample Test > AAMC Question Packs

It is not a coincidence that the above series progresses from AAMC resources that include 100% passages written by AAMC authors for MCAT-2015 (i.e., after the MCAT-2015 transition) down to AAMC resources that include 0% passages written by the AAMC for MCAT-2015 (the Question Packs are all from the OLD MCAT). Some folks on SDN will tell you that SB is way harder than the real exam; I do not see how this can be when as recently as Sep 16/Jan 17, entire sections have seemed to be 80-90+% SB-type passages. I would say that currently, the Exam is: "the same as SB when you are doing an SB-like passage" and "the same as AAMC Scored 1/2 when you are doing a non-SB-like passage." It's kind of a crap shoot what mix of SB-like vs. AAMC FL-like passages you get on test day, but the scaled score system will more or less even that out. The real value, therefore, in recognizing the growing trend in SB-like passages is to feel more calm on test day and be better prepared for the hardest passages. That same scaled score that helps other students who were "blind-sided" by SB passages on test day to receive a reasonable score, will CATIPULT YOUR SCORE INTO THE SKY if you go into test day prepared to tackle all, or nearly-all SB-like passages.

 

[the Mannis]

I would recommend that you envision the "actual test day experience" as a semi-moving target that is not exactly represented by any of the currently-released AAMC materials. However, you can get very near the bullseye by considering AAMC practice tests with some caveats:

Real Exam = Harder than AAMC Sample Test, AAMC Scored 1, or AAMC Scored 2. Easier than the Section Bank overall, but greater than/equal to SB for 50-90% of passages.

Similarity to Real Exam: SB > AAMC Scored 2 > AAMC Scored 1 > AAMC Sample Test > AAMC Question Banks

It is not a coincidence that the above series progresses from AAMC resources that include 100% passages written by AAMC authors for MCAT-2015 (i.e., after the MCAT-2015 transition) down to AAMC resources that include 0% passages written by the AAMC for MCAT-2015 (the Question Banks are all from the OLD MCAT). Some folks on SDN will tell you that SB is way harder than the real exam; I do not see how this can be when as recently as Sep 16/Jan 17, entire sections have seemed to be 80-90+% SB-type passages. I would say that currently, the Exam is: "the same as SB when you are doing an SB-like passage" and "the same as AAMC Scored 1/2 when you are doing a non-SB-like passage." It's kind of a crap shoot what mix of SB-like vs. AAMC FL-like passages you get on test day, but the scaled score system will more or less even that out. The real value, therefore, in recognizing the growing trend in SB-like passages is to feel more calm on test day and be better prepared for the hardest passages. That same scaled score that helps other students who were "blind-sided" by SB passages on test day to receive a reasonable score, will CATIPULT YOUR SCORE INTO THE SKY if you go into test day prepared to tackle all, or nearly-all SB-like passages.

are there any resources besides the section bank that are section-bank like? EK 101 passages for biology and biochemistry is pretty good I think but I haven't done the SB so I have no idea how they compare.

 

[Altius Premier Tutor]

are there any resources besides the section bank that are section-bank like? EK 101 passages for biology and biochemistry is pretty good I think but I haven't done the SB so I have no idea how they compare.

You should definitely crack the SB and do at least 2-3 passages so you can see and feel it for yourself. I believe there are passages that reflect SB difficulty appropriately, and as my students use them they have not felt that the real exam was surprising in any way. However, I'm not at liberty to direct you to any third-party resource on this public forum. You can PM me if you want my unfiltered opinion on SB-like resources.

BUT, you don't really need my opinion. Go take some SB passages and analyze them heavily. This is an IDEAL way to start your prep anyway. If you want to see how SB differs from some of the easier AAMC passages on other AAMC resources, do a few passages from AAMC Sample Test, or just take that as your first full-length (though unscored) experience. Then go investigate the following full-length resources: Kaplan, PR, NextStep, Examkrackers, TBR, and Altius Test Prep. I believe they all have free 1/2-lengths or diagnostics you can see without paying; or you can just buy one full-length exam at first. Do your analysis and decide for yourself. It's not rocket science; I think the differences are pretty clear.

 

[deleted853480]

On my first attempt I did zero fl tests and just memorized all tpr books back to front. I got 132/124/127/127 I am a chem major so that 132 is no shocker. I took the test again and did 10ish Fls mainly from altius.

 

[DameJulie]

Would you recommend mixing the AAMC material with 3rd party (like TPR workbooks) for practice? Or just strictly AAMC-only?

 

[deleted853480]

If you don't have much time for practice then aamc all the way. If you have more time, then mix it up.