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The 2026-2027 DO School Specific Threads are now available in the School Specific Discussions forum. The 2025-2026 discussions are now available in the prior year discussions forum.
Do Mcat Score
Started by vincenzo87
I wouldn't worry about your Kaplan diagnostic score too much. I took it and was disappointed with my score for a while, only to find I scored 11 points higher on my actual MCAT. I think they also may slant it to score low because they often use it as a reference for their higher score guarantee
My first kaplan diagnostic was a 27. My MCAT score was a 32.
The experience is different for everyone, but it is common for people to have an initial score close to yours and then to raise it significantly.
I think I started with a similar score. Not to worry but time to study. If you put the time in to study for the exam your scores will go up. Two points:
1. Try the MCAT thread for studying advice, etc. Kaplan did work for me since I hadn't seen some of the material in ten years.
2. Don't actually sit for the exam until you are scoring on the AMCAS test exams your desired score. It is easier to pay another couple of hundred for a latter exam than trying to explain a bad score.
Good Luck
1. Try the MCAT thread for studying advice, etc. Kaplan did work for me since I hadn't seen some of the material in ten years.
2. Don't actually sit for the exam until you are scoring on the AMCAS test exams your desired score. It is easier to pay another couple of hundred for a latter exam than trying to explain a bad score.
Good Luck
I remember my first Kaplan diagnostic being pretty low as well. I ended up scoring 28 the first time I actually took the MCAT, but I didn't follow the Kaplan course as I should have and didn't really spend much time preparing. I wasn't happy with my 8 in the physical sciences so I focused on that section and retook the test and scored 32. PS-11; BS-10; V-11. The point is, if you study and practice your score will improve....significantly. It might take a few more practice tests to improve though, so don't be discouraged if you take another test in 2 weeks and score the same or a couple points better. It takes time, but I'm sure you'll improve your score.
One more thing. Your score might even go down next time you take it. Just keep studying.
My practice test scores went something like
27
33
27
29
27
I was really discouraged when my score didn't seem to go up. Just keep studying though because I ended up doing better on the actual test.
My practice test scores went something like
27
33
27
29
27
I was really discouraged when my score didn't seem to go up. Just keep studying though because I ended up doing better on the actual test.
agreed. moving.
Keep in mind that Kaplan and others have a guarantee that your score will increase after taking their class. For this reason, they make the initial diagnostic exam harder, probably harder than the real thing. While your scores will certainly vary in practice tests, you can usually expect your final score to be higher than your diagnostic. Otherwise, they would be out of business rather quickly, don't you think? 🙂
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T
Tepi
I wouldn't worry about the MCAT. You get 45 points for signing your name correctly, right? I think thats how it works. Still haven't figured out what the T stands for yet. 😀
Seriously though, don't sweat it. Just study and do your best. I have heard that Kaplan and the like make their tests harder, but I have nothing to back this up.
Seriously though, don't sweat it. Just study and do your best. I have heard that Kaplan and the like make their tests harder, but I have nothing to back this up.
Kaplan is known for its notoriously difficult diagnostic test, so nobody will be able to claim their money back guarantee. When I took it I got a 27N and it freaked me out, but at the end I scored a 36O.
So am I totally hopeless then? I got an 11 on my Princeton Review diagnostic.
Have you started your college science/premed classes yet?
I finished them.
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People put WAY too much stock into the diagnostic. The point of the diagnostic is to see what you need to work on. You aren't expected to do well. Sure, there are people who get 30+ on the diagnostic, but who cares? You just use these practice tests to see what you need to work on. I pretty much stuck exclusively with aamc after about 2 kaplans. I'm retaking them now, but I am 3+ months removed from a few of them. It isn't like I remember 22: "a" and 23: "c". In fact, retaking them kind of caused me to be worse at first. I would try to reflect on that moment and misremember, so I just rethink every question and go through the thought process now.
I had a 20 diagnostic (or 21..can't remember). My last practice tests were a 33 and a 32. The mistakes I made weren't on hard questions either. I just wasn't mentally "there". (My good friend died the day before) So, yea...plenty of time and room for improvement. Just keep testing and finding out what you're screwing and why.
I had a 20 diagnostic (or 21..can't remember). My last practice tests were a 33 and a 32. The mistakes I made weren't on hard questions either. I just wasn't mentally "there". (My good friend died the day before) So, yea...plenty of time and room for improvement. Just keep testing and finding out what you're screwing and why.
Mine were similar.
Diagnostic: 20
Then it was something like
24
26
28
30
25
27
32
33
(I take lots of practice tests since I am trying to get over that whole problem. Excluding organic stuff, it is rarely because I don't know how to do it)
Definitely not totally hopeless. Just shows you, that you have a lot of work to do. With a score that low I would think you were having trouble comprehending some of the passage questions, I think I'd do a couple more diagnostics if I were in your shoes to see where you are struggling, and if it is comprehension your scores should rise fairly quick. After which you can dissect the tests and find out where you're having more specific problems
My first MCAT Diagnostic was an 18....haha
I'm in the same bunch. I remembered that you were given less time per question as well as it being significantly harder. I think I got around a 24 or so but my practice mcats were then 30,31,33,35,34,33,35 or something like that with my real one being 29 *yup pretty pissed about that one*. Kaplan really got me worried initially
Yep!
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I received an 18 on the Kaplan diagnostic back in the beginning of the year, studied a lot over the next two months, and took my first full length and got 29. I've been increasing my score over the past few months and am around my goal of 32 (based on full length practice tests) for the real thing. Hopefully I'll be able to increase to a 34 (my new goal) by my test date.
Moral of the story: the diagnostic means nothing. Granted I took my prereq. two to four years ago, but I don't think it matters. You're score reflects your commitment, at least up until 32 I would say, then luck plays a bigger factor (esp. above 35).
Moral of the story: the diagnostic means nothing. Granted I took my prereq. two to four years ago, but I don't think it matters. You're score reflects your commitment, at least up until 32 I would say, then luck plays a bigger factor (esp. above 35).
I got a 24 on my diagnostic.
I got a 25 on my MCAT.
I should clairify that so I don't look like a total *****. My test scores through the course of the class were something like:
28
30
33
35
32
Part of that is because on all of those I scored 13 or higher on verbal.
Test day I had a lovely back spazam the night before the test at like 4:30am which woke me up and kind of messed me up for the whole day.
...that might explain the 25. lol. But it got me where I wanted to go, so eh!
I got a 25 on my MCAT.
I should clairify that so I don't look like a total *****. My test scores through the course of the class were something like:
28
30
33
35
32
Part of that is because on all of those I scored 13 or higher on verbal.
Test day I had a lovely back spazam the night before the test at like 4:30am which woke me up and kind of messed me up for the whole day.
...that might explain the 25. lol. But it got me where I wanted to go, so eh!
I think I did the same, except I took TPR instead of Kaplan.
