Diagnostic exams results

[hkdude97]

Hi, I just took a 2015 Altius prep initial diagnostic exam and these are my results
Composite- 489
CP- 121
CARS- 122
BB- 122
PsS- 124

I am about 110 days away from my actual exam
How much do people's scores usually increase from their initial diagnostic without studying?
Also, I know I need to focus on CP, but does anyone have any tips on the best and most efficient way to study for this section?
Thanks

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[ArteryStudyPainting]

Hello! And good luck with studying.

I can tell you scores vary from test to test, with the companies trying to get you to buy more of their material. The difference in material to the actual test is very small, but remember: they want you to buy their test prep, and will make their initial tests harder to show you "how much help you really need." Look up and research how similar certain sections are to the real test. From personal experience, Altius does a great job and their deals cannot be beat.

As for your scores improving, they won't do that without putting work into studying and learning how to take the test. The diagnostics give you a baseline. I personally compiled diagnostics to just gather more and more questions to practice from. The key (for me and a lot of people) is emphasis not on content, but more so on taking tests, and questions from reputable sources; I can say AAMC has a ton, straight from the horses's mouth. And speaking of AAMC, their full-lengths can consistently predict what you will get. But they only have three of these. I saved these until the end so I could see what I'd be getting come test-time.

CP: the worst. Practice it the most if it's your worst section. It's like taking tests in classes you hate and are bad at. It feels terrible to get a 50% on a test, but the goal is to bring it up. Learn relationships and work-out things logically. Don't try to memorize everything. That way, you can say, "wait...it's negative? So it's giving off heat? So the answer is the surroundings heat up?!?11" If you logic things out, some of the questions become stupid easy.

Again, good luck!

 

[Zenabi90]

Hi, I just took a 2015 Altius prep initial diagnostic exam and these are my results

Rule: Diagnostic exams are worthless

How much do people's scores usually increase from their initial diagnostic without studying?

You're kidding right? This question tells me you're already off to a bad start. It says "What is the minimum effort I can get away with" and this attitude is going to hurt you so much. You should be asking "with proper preparation, how much can I realistically raise my score?"

Also, I know I need to focus on CP, but does anyone have any tips on the best and most efficient way to study for this section?

My friend, you need work on ALL subjects. Use the search function. Read the 509+ study habits thread, and the mega thread with the popular strategies. It's all here, you're an adult now, do your own research and come back with specific questions.

 

[Swagster]

Zendabi speaks with great wisdom. Diagnostic exams are pretty much worthless. I found that questions I missed early on had more to do with not knowing how to approach questions more than not knowing the material or concepts. Ignore all scores until you are ready to sit for an AAMC exam.

 

[BBBallIsLife]

lol I started with a 478 diagnostic and brought it up over 505+ consistently. Don't worry about it, its gonna come up.

 

[hkdude97]

Rule: Diagnostic exams are worthless



You're kidding right? This question tells me you're already off to a bad start. It says "What is the minimum effort I can get away with" and this attitude is going to hurt you so much. You should be asking "with proper preparation, how much can I realistically raise my score?"



My friend, you need work on ALL subjects. Use the search function. Read the 509+ study habits thread, and the mega thread with the popular strategies. It's all here, you're an adult now, do your own research and come back with specific questions.

Let me rephrase. On average, how much do people's scores increase from their initial diagnostic exam in which they haven't studied at all yet to their actual exam score?

 

[ArteryStudyPainting]

Let me rephrase. On average, how much do people's scores increase from their initial diagnostic exam in which they haven't studied at all yet to their actual exam score?

A very large amount. Between the tests being easier, harder, and the actual test differing, and your performance at any given time, you're probably around the high 490 to 500 range.

If you're worried about your score now, don't be. Get better, but don't get anxious at any given score. Like VS, a trend is more telling than single numbers.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using SDN mobile

 

[Zenabi90]

Let me rephrase. On average, how much do people's scores increase from their initial diagnostic exam in which they haven't studied at all yet to their actual exam score?

Depends on where you are when you started, what you study, how you study, how long you study, and which initial diagnostic exam you used. If you use the forum's search function, you will see numerous threads and posts with story after story about how bad someone's diagnostic exam was. Let me make this clear: diagnostic exams were created to sell product.

Create a product, then generate the need for it. Like the old business example "sell me this pen." I can extol the virtues of a review program until I'm blue in the face, but if I give you a free diagnostic exam that says you'll get a 475, and then tell you my program is guaranteed to improve your score by 30 points, AND since you took my diagnostic exam I will give you 15% off, BOOM I just sold you a product.

Not the answer you're looking for, but I refuse to baby/handhold/comfort adult test takers these days. Get your nose in the grindstone, set up a decent plan with research done here, and it absolutely won't matter what the hell your diagnostic exam was. I could retype SN2ed's but I'll just link you:
Why Diagnostic Tests are Worthless

A good diagnostic exam tests you individually on every single topic you could be presented with, using a format similar to the actual MCAT. Do you see how those two are in conflict? It's impossible, it doesn't exist.

 

[Zenabi90]

Let me just tell you my story, in a good faith effort to answer your rephrased question.

I used the AAMC Sample Exam as a "diagnostic" (thanks Reddit) and to get a feel for how much I would need to work on my timing and stamina for the exam.
I used a couple of crowd-sourced calculators that takes your Sample Exam percentages and converts it to a "score."

I got a "515" on my Sample Exam. Elated, and highly encouraged, I plowed right into the material, expecting it to be a breeze.

It was not a breeze. Not even close.

I was so overwhelmed and discouraged by how much I didn't know from the first chapter of my TBR Physics book. I had to take a step back, regather myself and look on here for strategies (check the stickied megathread and 509+ habits). I managed to get through all the material before my exam. Looking back, I probably had 5% of the material down cold when I came across it, 50% was somewhat familiar, and the rest was stuff I had no clue on (looking at you gen/org chem/socio/psych). That level of preparedness would never have equated a 515 on the actual MCAT.

Five weeks after my sample exam (yes, short, but it was intense. I put in 300 hours of pure studying in that five weeks), I took the actual MCAT. Got a 517.

So let me answer your question: I improved TWO points from my practice exam. Technically, I lost a point in CARS and B/B and gained four in P/S.

But no way in hell did my "diagnostic exam" serve any kind of diagnostic purpose.

 

[hkdude97]

Let me just tell you my story, in a good faith effort to answer your rephrased question.

I used the AAMC Sample Exam as a "diagnostic" (thanks Reddit) and to get a feel for how much I would need to work on my timing and stamina for the exam.
I used a couple of crowd-sourced calculators that takes your Sample Exam percentages and converts it to a "score."

I got a "515" on my Sample Exam. Elated, and highly encouraged, I plowed right into the material, expecting it to be a breeze.

It was not a breeze. Not even close.

I was so overwhelmed and discouraged by how much I didn't know from the first chapter of my TBR Physics book. I had to take a step back, regather myself and look on here for strategies (check the stickied megathread and 509+ habits). I managed to get through all the material before my exam. Looking back, I probably had 5% of the material down cold when I came across it, 50% was somewhat familiar, and the rest was stuff I had no clue on (looking at you gen/org chem/socio/psych). That level of preparedness would never have equated a 515 on the actual MCAT.

Five weeks after my sample exam (yes, short, but it was intense. I put in 300 hours of pure studying in that five weeks), I took the actual MCAT. Got a 517.

So let me answer your question: I improved TWO points from my practice exam. Technically, I lost a point in CARS and B/B and gained four in P/S.

But no way in hell did my "diagnostic exam" serve any kind of diagnostic purpose.

Thank you so much Zenabi. I really appreciate your kind help and effort! This makes a lot more sense now 🙂