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These are the only five companies that offer CBT practice materials after doing some searches on the forum. Please vote and post your experience(s) with these sample tests.
Question for SN2ed:
If the Kaplan are better than and BR are better than those AAMC, then why not include them in your guide instead?
ive heard firsthand that the BR tests are actually easier than the actual mcat, which makes them pretty useless in some sense
ive heard firsthand that the BR tests are actually easier than the actual mcat, which makes them pretty useless in some sense
I beg to differ here. I have to ask "First hand from who?" In about ten years at UCLA (undergrad and grad student), I have heard the same comments year in and year out from hundreds of people: "The BR tests are a little harder than the real test, but very helpful to do." They will beat you up and make you think, which is a perfect balance to the AAMC materials.
Having taken the class and taught for them for a few years, I know a bit about the exams. You are pretty far off the mark if you are expecting the MCAT to be harder than BR exams. The verbal scale may be a bit too generous on the early exams, but other than that there's not too much to complain about. About half to two-thirds of their exams are a good over-prepare (I didn't like all of the exams). The sectional exams are exceptional, but those aren't in a CBT full-length format.
Only 6 voters with 6 votes. Apparently, everyone has been advocating what he/she thought to be the best CBT material. You can actually have multiple selections. For instance, if you think both TBR and TPR are good, pick two instead of one.
ive heard firsthand that the BR tests are actually easier than the actual mcat, which makes them pretty useless in some sense
I voted for two. The early returns are:
The Berkeley Review 6 60.00%
The Princeton Review 0 0%
Kaplan 1 10.00%
Gold Standard 2 20.00%
MCAT Achiever 1 10.00%
I don't mean to bring up something unspeakable, but how can you do the Kaplan/PR tests without paying for entire courses?
Most people refer to the free Kaplan and TPR. Also, if you buy the princeton cbt book they give you access to 4 practice tests. the old kaplan tests are available if you use your imagination.
I don't mean to bring up something unspeakable, but how can you do the Kaplan/PR tests without paying for entire courses?
I bought access to all nine CBTs and all the online practice material for TPR from ebay for $108. Look around, you don't have to buy the $1800 course. GS was $42.
Who says we should only choose one company to take CBTs from? Get them all! They're the best kind of practice and relatively inexpensive (compared to the price of a course, which you only need for review if you didn't do well in the college courses).
Im taking the MCAT on Jan 28 or whatever the saturday date is.
I was planning on doing all the AAMC practice tests and buying the BR CBTs. Turns out It going to be alot of trouble to get the BR tests (I have to go get a money order, mail it, wait, and then the tests wont even work on my dorm IP if I start them at home)
Would it be a bad thing if I just bought the Gold Standard tests instead?
Often, if a person is selling their TPR hyp books, they have taken the class. They may, if you message them about it, offer to give you the login to the website with the books. Make sure they can guarantee that the login will not expire before your test date.
I didn't need the books, so I browsed the completed listings and messaged sellers about buying their TPR login. I think it also includes the AAMC CBTs, too.
Im taking the MCAT on Jan 28 or whatever the saturday date is.
I was planning on doing all the AAMC practice tests and buying the BR CBTs. Turns out It going to be alot of trouble to get the BR tests (I have to go get a money order, mail it, wait, and then the tests wont even work on my dorm IP if I start them at home)
Would it be a bad thing if I just bought the Gold Standard tests instead?
Would they not track IPs and deny your access to those CBTs?
Hasn't happened to me. All I needed was the login info, and I've been able to login from my laptop anywhere to access the TPR exams.
short response:
Be a smart consumer. Use a credit card.
long response:
You need to trust that the seller is honest about the login info, expiration date, etc. and trust that they will refund you before you actually make the purchase.
As soon as you've payed for it, make sure the login info works, check the account that you've been given login info for, and confirm that the exp. date is what the seller said it would be.
If anything seems sketchy or inaccurate about the account (blocked IP, wrong login, etc), communicate with the seller. If they are obstinate, kindly inform them that you have the power to stop payment from your credit card. If that doesn't get them, they are a scam, and you simply exercise your privilege, and tell your credit card company not to pay them.
How can you get a hold of the kaplan CBT tests if you didn't take their MCAT course? Can you?
First off, don't buy MCAT Achiever. The only reason why it got votes last time was due to some reps from the company.
Here's last month's thread on the same topic: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=661832
In terms of easily accessible tests (tests that are available to non-class MCAT studiers), BR and Gold Standard are your best bets. BR is generally regarded as better, but they're quite expensive. On the other hand, GS is much cheaper and one's average is usually about -2 due to the tough science sections. Both BR and GS are not known for good verbal.
When considering all four, unlike MCAT prep books, I don't think the agreement on practice test ranking is that strong. Most tend to agree that the later AAMC tests are the best, but beyond that, there isn't much of a consensus. There's even an argument to be made that the AAMCs are only really good for verbal since there are more accurate CBTs in regards to the sciences.
1. AAMC #7-10
2. Kaplan #1-6
3. BR #1-7/GS #1-10
4. AAMC #3-6
5. TPR
6. Kaplan #7-10
The reason why TPR tests are so low is because the opinions are too mixed to gain a good read.
Do you think its better to go with BR #1-7 instead of Kaplan #1-6 since 1) its easier to get BR and 2) Kaplan's verbal is not that good ?
I have taken Kaplan 1-6 , and just started BR 1-7 (I took the first one today). Personally, I find BR to be better and more realistic. But both are pretty lousy for verbal, compared to EK.
yeah kaplan is worse, but the choice is not between good and bad for verbal. It's really between bad and worse....focus on EK/AAMC for verbal for good practice
I have taken Kaplan 1-6 , and just started BR 1-7 (I took the first one today). Personally, I find BR to be better and more realistic. But both are pretty lousy for verbal, compared to EK.
These are the only five companies that offer CBT practice materials after doing some searches on the forum. Please vote and post your experience(s) with these sample tests.
Interesting poll again. No one seems to be using TPR CBT and recommending it?
hi,
for the kaplan practice test, must we register for the course to have access to them? Can they be purchased independently?
Cheers!