Just wondering how this MCAT compared to your previous MCAT testing experience. I am still in shock because this test wasn't even close to what I was expecting. I feel like I prepared for the wrong test. Compared to the AAMC tests, the real deal was like another language.
For Retakers: How does August 2004 MCAT compare to your previous MCAT experience?
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JDAD said:
Yea, this was my 3rd time to test.. and it was f*cking hard as hell. Harder than the ones before and the diags.. so I'm in shock too.. don't worry, hopefully everyone across the US f*cked up so we have a nice looking curve. 👍
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blz said:
That makes no sense at all.
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themadchemist said:
I second that.
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I think AAMC compares performance of current test takers to the test takers in the past. So curve not only depends on August 2k4 test takers, but also all test takers since 1991.
This is only way to make sure that scores from different administrations are comparable to each other.
This is only way to make sure that scores from different administrations are comparable to each other.
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blz said:
😕 😕
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This is a good question. I took the MCAT 8/03, and although at the time I thought I was prepared I felt much more so this time--I could really tell the difference. I do think the Kaplan course helped in this way, at least in terms of the practice tests. Last time, I studied on my own, and I took several full-lengths under timed conditions, in different locations (not just at home). But taking the Kaplan full-lengths each week for 5 weeks , with the proctors and other students, did provide a more realistic simulation, and going to the real thing yesterday more or less felt like just going to another practice test (with a little more nerves involved).
I also liked the test center better this time. When I took it last year, they split a large group into only 2 rooms, so there were probably 40-50 people in each room. The desks were small and uncomfortable, the ventilation was crappy, and the proctors not very helpful. This time, a similar size group was split into 4 or 5 rooms, with comfortable office-style chairs and huge desks, and the proctors were really friendly. Portland people, take the MCAT at U of P!
As for the test itself, the PS seemed similar to AAMC 7, and I felt okay about it (hopefully my perception of this section was accurate, as this is the part I'm most worried about). VR also seemed comparable to a lot of the practice tests, I would say average in difficulty. For me, BS was the surprise--more difficult than I anticipated. I finished this section on AAMC 7 with 20 minutes to spare, but on the real thing there were a lot of confusing questions and passages and I felt unsure about more of the answers that I put down then I am comfortable with. Last year, I felt bad about PS (got a 7), okay about VR (got a 12) and okay about BS (got a 10). So we'll see...
I also liked the test center better this time. When I took it last year, they split a large group into only 2 rooms, so there were probably 40-50 people in each room. The desks were small and uncomfortable, the ventilation was crappy, and the proctors not very helpful. This time, a similar size group was split into 4 or 5 rooms, with comfortable office-style chairs and huge desks, and the proctors were really friendly. Portland people, take the MCAT at U of P!
As for the test itself, the PS seemed similar to AAMC 7, and I felt okay about it (hopefully my perception of this section was accurate, as this is the part I'm most worried about). VR also seemed comparable to a lot of the practice tests, I would say average in difficulty. For me, BS was the surprise--more difficult than I anticipated. I finished this section on AAMC 7 with 20 minutes to spare, but on the real thing there were a lot of confusing questions and passages and I felt unsure about more of the answers that I put down then I am comfortable with. Last year, I felt bad about PS (got a 7), okay about VR (got a 12) and okay about BS (got a 10). So we'll see...
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I took the test in April 2001 and August 2001
Then I took it yesterday. And I was very suprised with the test. I also felt like I had studied for the wrong exam. The questions seemed so much advanced than previous tests.
I also feel that the AAMC practice tests, are too old. Even AAMC 7 did not correlate with this past August test.
Then I took it yesterday. And I was very suprised with the test. I also felt like I had studied for the wrong exam. The questions seemed so much advanced than previous tests.
I also feel that the AAMC practice tests, are too old. Even AAMC 7 did not correlate with this past August test.
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AAMC 7 PS was a joke compared to real one. B**l ****
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I took my first MCAT last Aug '03. I thought the PS was way harder this time. And that's my strongest section too.
I had form FK a.k.a the F**K ed up version (for PS at least).
VR (I had to retake just because of this stupid section): It was almost like 6R. I actually finished all the passages with 1.5 min to spare. I usually have 1.5 passages left over!
BS: Similar to all the AAMC exams 2 physio(I think), microbio, molec/cell bio, bio chem. Organic was not bad. They did have an ecology passage which was a VR passage in disguise. No outside knowledge needed to answer the questions. I hate those passages. I was pissed I didn't have any genetics passages. I wanted them so bad 🙁
I had form FK a.k.a the F**K ed up version (for PS at least).
VR (I had to retake just because of this stupid section): It was almost like 6R. I actually finished all the passages with 1.5 min to spare. I usually have 1.5 passages left over!
BS: Similar to all the AAMC exams 2 physio(I think), microbio, molec/cell bio, bio chem. Organic was not bad. They did have an ecology passage which was a VR passage in disguise. No outside knowledge needed to answer the questions. I hate those passages. I was pissed I didn't have any genetics passages. I wanted them so bad 🙁
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I'm one of the MCAT "veterans" here - yesterday was my fourth time sitting for the exam. Here are my thoughts...
I had form AS. One of my goals yesterday was to finish every section (i.e., read every passage fully, and attempt every question). That has been a problem for me in the past, mostly on PS. I did finish everything, which was great, but there were some calculations on PS that I had no idea how to do. And why on earth I had trouble determining the oxidation state of N in nitroglycerin is beyond me. I think I randomly guessed -4 or something.
I thought VR was easier than any of the practice exams I took. I will be shocked if I made less than a 10 on it. The only really challenging passage was the one on natural rights, and I was unsure of several questions on that one. I thought that BS was fairly straighforward. It had a lot of genetics, as was expected. I was a little surprised that some of the questions were merely reading comprehension and graph interpretation. Others were difficult and seemed to require more than basic genetics knowledge.
I have poured my life into this test - especially this time with the Kaplan course and quitting my full-time job so I could devote the last six weeks to studying - and I have to believe that the effort will show up in my score.
Yesterday's was harder than I had remembered - and the last time I took it was in August 2003. I took a Kaplan course, did six Kaplan full-lengths, and two AAMC full-lengths to prepare for this one, and yesterday's test was much different from all of them. It is frustrating that even AAMC stuff is easier than the real thing. Some of those questions seem to require more than "basic science knowledge." I feel that I hit my goal of 30, but I was certainly guessing more than I did on the other exams. Hopefully the grading scale accounts for the difficulty. I just have to trust that my score yesterday will approximate the 30 I was averaging on the practice tests.
How does everyone else feel?
I had form AS. One of my goals yesterday was to finish every section (i.e., read every passage fully, and attempt every question). That has been a problem for me in the past, mostly on PS. I did finish everything, which was great, but there were some calculations on PS that I had no idea how to do. And why on earth I had trouble determining the oxidation state of N in nitroglycerin is beyond me. I think I randomly guessed -4 or something.
I thought VR was easier than any of the practice exams I took. I will be shocked if I made less than a 10 on it. The only really challenging passage was the one on natural rights, and I was unsure of several questions on that one. I thought that BS was fairly straighforward. It had a lot of genetics, as was expected. I was a little surprised that some of the questions were merely reading comprehension and graph interpretation. Others were difficult and seemed to require more than basic genetics knowledge.
I have poured my life into this test - especially this time with the Kaplan course and quitting my full-time job so I could devote the last six weeks to studying - and I have to believe that the effort will show up in my score.
Yesterday's was harder than I had remembered - and the last time I took it was in August 2003. I took a Kaplan course, did six Kaplan full-lengths, and two AAMC full-lengths to prepare for this one, and yesterday's test was much different from all of them. It is frustrating that even AAMC stuff is easier than the real thing. Some of those questions seem to require more than "basic science knowledge." I feel that I hit my goal of 30, but I was certainly guessing more than I did on the other exams. Hopefully the grading scale accounts for the difficulty. I just have to trust that my score yesterday will approximate the 30 I was averaging on the practice tests.
How does everyone else feel?
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what?? that is nuts!!! where did you hear that from???
no offense but i'm actually glad toi to see most people (at least here) thought the test was as hard as i did. i was sur ei was going to be the only one who felt that way...
no offense but i'm actually glad toi to see most people (at least here) thought the test was as hard as i did. i was sur ei was going to be the only one who felt that way...
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I took the exam in aug 03 and then yesterday.
I felt the one I took yesterday was harder (form DH). It could be psychological though. Last year, I HAD to take the exam in order to apply and if I wasn't sure of the questions, I was just like "Oh well..." and moved on. But now, I found myself cursing myself more if I was unsure of problems because there's greater pressure for me to do better than my last (not too bad, 30). But there's no denying, I was better prepared. I felt yesterday's test was harder but I probably just harder on myself.
BTW, never bet on the curve. If you look at the back of your old score report, you'll see an ubelievably perfect parabola of composite scores and percentages who scores them. Curves may help in micro situations but when thousands of test takers are involved, chances are, the shape of the curve would not change at all.
I felt the one I took yesterday was harder (form DH). It could be psychological though. Last year, I HAD to take the exam in order to apply and if I wasn't sure of the questions, I was just like "Oh well..." and moved on. But now, I found myself cursing myself more if I was unsure of problems because there's greater pressure for me to do better than my last (not too bad, 30). But there's no denying, I was better prepared. I felt yesterday's test was harder but I probably just harder on myself.
BTW, never bet on the curve. If you look at the back of your old score report, you'll see an ubelievably perfect parabola of composite scores and percentages who scores them. Curves may help in micro situations but when thousands of test takers are involved, chances are, the shape of the curve would not change at all.
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i like 400th it ..YOU MAKENO SENSNSNEAjay said:
I HATEYOU
MCAT MONKEY MAN
why do u wnat to hurst us ALLL>?????
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This was my 2nd time taking the test. I am worried about bio. The first time I took it (April '04), I got an 11. I'm afraid my score is going to drop because my test asked a lot of RANDOM questions.
This test was a lot different than the previous tests. I don't think there will be a "curve", but I think a person can miss more to get a high score.
Hopefully I will get my 30 this time! <crossing my fingers>
This test was a lot different than the previous tests. I don't think there will be a "curve", but I think a person can miss more to get a high score.
Hopefully I will get my 30 this time! <crossing my fingers>
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This was my 2nd time taking it and found it be harder than the April test...especially verbal. The April test had easier passages to read, but the sciences were a bit tougher. Now I feel the sciences were easy, but the verbal was a killer. However, I found the test very similar to AAMC 7...with the verbal being more harder on the real test. 😡
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First time here, but I took Kaplan's full deal with five full-lengths and a diagnostic - this felt like nothing more than Full-Length #6 would've been for me. I've been taking them every Saturday since the first week in July, and this didn't seem a whole lot different - certainly not harder. Maybe I'm misgauging, but man, some of you people sweat it WAY too much.
