Doing horrible on Kaplan materials. Stressed.

[apoptosis123]

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This is something that has been worrying me for the past couple weeks since I started using all of the online material associated with the Kaplan class.

I've been steadily improving on AAMC tests (started with a 30 on #3 and now am scoring in the 35-36 range), but my performance on all the Kaplan material is horrible, especially in PS. I get around 70% right on the PS section tests but get 12-13 on the AAMC's. I've done about half of the Qbank and my % correct is just under 70%. I got a 29 on Kaplan FL 1 recently.

Which is more indicative of how I will do on test day? A lot of people say you'll score close to your AAMC's, which is reassuring, but the Kaplan material is harder than the AAMC's and supposedly so is the MCAT, so I don't know what to think.

Thanks

 

[sphun65]

Some people find Kaplan harder and some say it's easier (because of the curve). Only one this is definite: it isn't a good predictor of your actual score. Try to use your Kaplan tests as study guides and not diagnostic tools. You will find the most benefit out of them this way.

 

[phatlineman]

I'm doing poorly on Kaplan tests too. My scores on the section tests range from 50 to 75%, with most of them around 60-65%. Without taking the curve into account, Kaplan is harder (and more like the real test, in my opinion) because you have to rely on memorized content to do well. While on AAMC you can get by if you simply have good logical reasoning skills. I'm assuming that's why you've been able to get 12-13 on AAMC but get less then 30 total on Kaplan.

People say AAMC tests are good predictors, but I don't see why...The MCAT has changed and has been made harder in recent years...supposedly requiring you to have more stuff memorized. I took the 8/20 test and there was a ton of stuff that you couldn't answer by simply using logic, you had to actually have stuff memorized.

 

[UnclePhil]

kaplan's tests are definitely more reflective of the content on the actual exam. i'm not so sure the curve is accurate though, i've gone through kaplan sections, missed ~15 questions and still got scores like 12-13. i highly doubt its like that on the actual MCAT.

the kaplan section tests are ridiculous though, seriously, they're overkill. the only thing they're good for is destroying confidence. best i ever did on a PS subject test was 80%.

 

[phatlineman]

.

 

[Acp2010]

don't worry too much about the kaplan scores. i didn't find those tests to be realistic predictors of score. with AAMC, i was scoring between 32-35 before I took the MCAT and ended up with a 34 on the real thing. with kaplan, my scores at that point were still below 30. i would use both tests as studying tools but don't stress when your kaplan scores are not stellar.

 

[sphun65]

I'm going to go ahead and just disagree that the Kaplans are closer to what the actual test is like today. Kaplan VR sections, especially the questions, are not very reflective of the actual test. I found using them to be counterproductive.

I also believe that the Kaplan tests are older than many of the AAMC's.. I could be wrong there, but to suggest they are more in line with the current MCAT is a little silly. Having taken the MCAT, the only thing it had in common with the Kaplan tests was the difficulty. Even then, there were still plenty of gimme questions, a la the AAMC tests.

 

[hiyaman]

I personally think Kaplan sucks.

 

[UnclePhil]

fwiw, my MCAT scores came today, my score was exactly that of my Kaplan average.

However, my Kaplan average was also the same as my AAMC average.

 

[Mithril]

Kaplan PS is much harder, but they have an easier curve. Kaplan BS is pretty similar to the real deal. If you're getting 14s-15s on Kaplan BS, it's anywhere from 12-14 on the real thing.

Personally, I found the real MCAT PS to be a hell of a lot easier than the Kaplan PS; the real PS was on par with the AAMC PS. The Kaplan PS makes you want to jam your laptop into an oven.

During my time studying, I did 5 Kaplan FLs and 1 AAMC FL. My Kaplan average was 36.2 and I got a 36 on the only AAMC I did. I got the same score on the real thing.

 

[apoptosis123]

Ok maybe my FL 1 score (where I got a 29) was a fluke because I just took FL 2 and got a 37??? It seemed pretty easy and the PS seemed way easier than the section tests.

P.S. thanks for the responses everybody.

 

[phatlineman]

Ok maybe my FL 1 score (where I got a 29) was a fluke because I just took FL 2 and got a 37??? It seemed pretty easy and the PS seemed way easier than the section tests.

P.S. thanks for the responses everybody.

yeah but the difficulty varies between different tests so you can never be sure. FL2 has a tough curve though so you may be ok. I remember for one of the FL's I got 29/40 on the Verbal and it was scale to a 12. now thats totally unreliable.

 

[apoptosis123]

Alright I'm starting to like Kaplan more now... just got a 40 (13/12/15) on FL 3 haha. The curve is definitely too generous for PS but the PS was super hard.