i speak from only taking the exam once...yes, kaplan does overkill most of the sections but the cliff's practice exams were easier than the pcat itself...i personally didn't use barrons, but from a handful of friends who did, they said it was on the easier side in comparison to the test...in my opinion, even though kaplan goes further into depth than sometimes necessary, it gives you a broader review...i guess i come from the "more is better" school of thought....whatever you choose good luck on the exam!