Freaking out after massive MCAT FL 3 drop

[Zakzak]

I plan to apply to D.O. med school

My fl scores were:

NS diagnostic: 498

NS FL 1: 502 (126/125/125/126)

AAMCSample: C/P 37/59 CARS 41/53 Bio/Biochem 39/59 Psych 40/59

AAMC FL 1: 503 (126/125/125/127)
AAMC FL 2: 503 (127, 123,125,128)
AAMC FL 3 495 (124, 124, 124, 123) which was taken 7 days later than AAMC FL 2. The big difference was that I switched to using a computer mouse and found that hard (i underestimated the transition, but did not expect that decrease)

I take the mcat june 1. Should I treat the last fl like an anomaly, or is it the strongest predictor?

My confidence has been pretty destroyed since the last FL.

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[Lawpy]

The big difference was that I switched to using a computer mouse and found that hard (i underestimated the transition, but did not expect that decrease)

Not really sure what you mean? Could you clarify?

 

[Zakzak]

I noticed I lost time because of using the mouse for the first time and guessed more and rushed a bit. I thought maybe i would take small loss, but that didn't explain the 8 point drop.

 

[Lawpy]

I noticed I lost time because of using the mouse for the first time and guessed more and rushed a bit. I thought maybe i would take small loss, but that didn't explain the 8 point drop.

I think the recent score is probably a fluke based on the score trend but i'd be careful on test day to avoid getting startled by technical issues.

 

[Blueprint MCAT Tutor]

@Zakzak Thank you for your question! I know it's scary, frustrating, and disheartening to see a score drop, especially as you're getting closer to the exam. I would say what the likely issue is that in some part you were affected negatively by the technical issues, and it's possible that FL3 tested some topics you weren't as comfortable with. Obviously with the latter, it's frustrating because that translates into a lower score, but in actuality that's the going to bode fairly well for your actual exam performance. The reason why is because you got to experience some of your weaknesses before the actual exam, so now you can review and practice them and ensure that you can get them correct on the actual exam!

So I sympathize with you on the frustrations of a score drop, but don't let this psyche you out! Thoroughly review the exam and see what mistakes you made and how you can learn from them, so that you don't make those same mistakes on the actual MCAT. Also, although not extremely likely, it is possible you could run into technical issues during your actual MCAT as well. Now that you have seen that this could adversely affect you, I want you to take some time to mentally prepare for that happening. You need to make sure you stay calm as best as you can and just talk to the proctors into fixing the issue and then moving forward from there the best you can. You have put in so much effort to get to this point and I don't want a technical issue to keep you from reaching your goal!

At the end of the day, trust the trend in your exam scores and keep working to improve your errors and that will most likely translate to a score similar to your practice exams on actual test day! Try to not let this drop in score mentally affect your views on your ability to do well on the actual thing. The key is to just learn from your mistakes and then get those same question types right if they show up on your actual exam.

Good luck with everything and if you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to reach out!

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

@Lawper Thank you for your question! I know it's scary, frustrating, and disheartening to see a score drop, especially as you're getting closer to the exam. I would say what the likely issue is that in some part you were affected negatively by the technical issues, and it's possible that FL3 tested some topics you weren't as comfortable with. Obviously with the latter, it's frustrating because that translates into a lower score, but in actuality that's the going to bode fairly well for your actual exam performance. The reason why is because you got to experience some of your weaknesses before the actual exam, so now you can review and practice them and ensure that you can get them correct on the actual exam!

So I sympathize with you on the frustrations of a score drop, but don't let this psyche you out! Thoroughly review the exam and see what mistakes you made and how you can learn from them, so that you don't make those same mistakes on the actual MCAT. Also, although not extremely likely, it is possible you could run into technical issues during your actual MCAT as well. Now that you have seen that this could adversely affect you, I want you to take some time to mentally prepare for that happening. You need to make sure you stay calm as best as you can and just talk to the proctors into fixing the issue and then moving forward from there the best you can. You have put in so much effort to get to this point and I don't want a technical issue to keep you from reaching your goal!

At the end of the day, trust the trend in your exam scores and keep working to improve your errors and that will most likely translate to a score similar to your practice exams on actual test day! Try to not let this drop in score mentally affect your views on your ability to do well on the actual thing. The key is to just learn from your mistakes and then get those same question types right if they show up on your actual exam.

Good luck with everything and if you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to reach out!

I don't think Lawper had the question, especially since he knows pretty much everything there is to know about this test.

 

[Blueprint MCAT Tutor]

I don't think Lawper had the question, especially since he knows pretty much everything there is to know about this test.

I'm not sure what you're referring to exactly, but I was hoping to elaborate on why he or she may have seen a score drop. In my experience, it's typically the things that i outlined that lead to a score drop, but it's definitely possible that it could have been something else based on their personal situation.

 

[Lawpy]

I'm not sure what you're referring to exactly, but I was hoping to elaborate on why he or she may have seen a score drop. In my experience, it's typically the things that i outlined that lead to a score drop, but it's definitely possible that it could have been something else based on their personal situation.

They're referring to the part where you tagged me in your response as opposed to OP ( @Zakzak ) but no worries. Your answer is helpful and detailed.

 

[Blueprint MCAT Tutor]

@Lawper @PlsLetMeIn21 ohhh thanks for correcting me! If either of you have any questions as well, please don't hesitate to ask!

 

[Zakzak]

Update: Took the MCAT,

got a 504;

Chem Phys: 126
CARS: 128
Bio/Biochem: 125
Psych: 125

I am happy with these results. My goal is a D.O. school.

 

[Lawpy]

Update: Took the MCAT,

got a 504;

Chem Phys: 126
CARS: 128
Bio/Biochem: 125
Psych: 125

I am happy with these results. My goal is a D.O. school.

Congrats!