GS vs TBR CBT

[ridethecliche]

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Does anyone have a preference? The TBR exams are more than twice as expensive, and I'm wondering if the cost is worth it.

Sorry to belabor the point, but I'm planning on buying the exams this week and would really like some sort of consensus as to which is:
-More realistic
-A better diagnostic
-Better practice
-Better at explaining answers in the exam.

Thanks in advance!

 

[apumic]

Does anyone have a preference? The TBR exams are more than twice as expensive, and I'm wondering if the cost is worth it.

Sorry to belabor the point, but I'm planning on buying the exams this week and would really like some sort of consensus as to which is:
-More realistic
-A better diagnostic
-Better practice
-Better at explaining answers in the exam.

Thanks in advance!

TBR x 4. There's really no debate here. Do a search. 😉
(Sorry... GS only wins out in terms of price.)

 

[Swagster]

TBR x 4. There's really no debate here. Do a search. 😉
(Sorry... GS only wins out in terms of price.)

I've done this search and read these polls and BR gets the nod from pretty much everyone. I'm really budget conscious, and I plan to get all of the AAMC exams and nearly all of the BR exams. I'll be cheap and buy used books, but I plan on spending $$$ for the best exams. To me the exams are the most important part of studying.

 

[ridethecliche]

I've done this search and read these polls and BR gets the nod from pretty much everyone. I'm really budget conscious, and I plan to get all of the AAMC exams and nearly all of the BR exams. I'll be cheap and buy used books, but I plan on spending $$$ for the best exams. To me the exams are the most important part of studying.

I plan on doing all the AAMC exams and was just looking for additional practice. I was asking about these exams because of what sn2ed said on the following thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=670092

I can get 10 of the GS exams for about $70 which frees up more funds for AAMC exams and such. I guess since it's just practice, that might be fine. I would also get access pretty much instantly which would be much nicer than mailing in a check...

 

[Swagster]

I plan on doing all the AAMC exams and was just looking for additional practice. I was asking about these exams because of what sn2ed said on the following thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=670092

I can get 10 of the GS exams for about $70 which frees up more funds for AAMC exams and such. I guess since it's just practice, that might be fine. I would also get access pretty much instantly which would be much nicer than mailing in a check...

When it comes to exams, I'm more interested in quality than quantity. I read in some thread Khatsik (something like that) say that the MCAT he took was more like BR exams than AAMC, so that was enough to make my decision. I'm not taking the MCAT for a while, so the timing isn't an issue for me. But even if it was an issue, I'd still go for the best tests. I'd rather do three BR exams than ten GS exams. If I need more practice passage I'll get some used passage books.

 

[SN2ed]

That information is a little old. As others have written, go with BR. They're much better than GS for the current MCAT. Honestly, they always were, it was just the price. However, now they're considered so much better, that they're worth the extra cost.

Now if you just want practice passages, I'd hunt down the TPRH Workbooks which pop up in the For Sale forum every so often. Sometimes people also sell their BR books at reduced prices.

Here's my current recommendations from my schedule thread:

I've already taken the AAMC FLs, are there other practice tests you recommend?

Both Gold Standard and Berkeley Review offer practice tests. Currently, BR FLs are your best bet despite the increased cost and hassle of ordering them. They're great practice for the science sections and okay verbal practice. However, their verbal is much better than GS's which is almost always hated and thought of as very unrealistic compared to the AAMC and the real MCAT. I believe BR's better verbal author wrote those sections which is why they're alright (BR's worse verbal author wrote the passages in the verbal workbook with the lengthy answer explanations).

Conversely, Gold Standard has decent science sections, but their scaling is harsh. Expect a couple points lower than normal. As mentioned, their verbal is bad. The only real positive to GS is their price.

Overall, spend the extra money on BR's tests. Of course, if you haven't used the AAMC FLs, buy those before any other FLs.

 

[ridethecliche]

Ah thanks for the clarification sn2ed.

I haven't used all the AAMC FL's yet but wanted to intersperse those among another practice method since my exam is in may and I only have 6 of the AAMC FL's left. Trying to take about one FL every weekend to get in the groove.

I wish I'd seen your response last night because I bid on some of the GS tests online, so I'm probably going to go with those if I win. I just want to throw some in here and there so I have the last AAMC's left till before the exam.

I think I'll use some of the $$$ left over to buy the EK101 verbal passages book as in 2 AAMC's that's the only one that hasn't budged yet. There's still time though, so if in april I find myself peeved at the GS exams, i'll likely just nab 3 of the TBR ones.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[ridethecliche]

And to add:

If anything, it sounds like TBR followed by GS are better than TPR or Kap etc, so I guess this isn't all that bad.

 

[apumic]

And to add:

If anything, it sounds like TBR followed by GS are better than TPR or Kap etc, so I guess this isn't all that bad.

Not from what I've seen. Kap and TPR aren't really included simply because they don't sell their FLs individually. Kaplan's FLs tend to be strong on science (although their curves are a bit too generous) but weak on VR. TPR's ratings are all over the map. GS is of questionable quality in all areas, but esp. VR. Their science is passable but really only as an inexpensive last option. Honestly, there are simply too many good options out their for the sciences to choose a mediocre practice test (unless it's free, in which case use the free GS, Kap, and TPR diags online to at least get something for free, not that they're of much value, but beyond that, avoid).

Generally: AAMC>TBR>>Kap>TPR≥GS. I'm not quite sure where I'd place EK in all of that. They tend to be too easy on the sciences, IMO, so I'd probably place them down w/ GS for passages/practice/FLs.

 

[ridethecliche]

Oh snap, I didn't realize it was that far down the totem pole...

I guess it isn't that much money if I do end up blowing it. I'll probably use these early and then get 3-5 of TBR's exams with AAMC thrown in.

I do really wish TBR updated their website and took payments online. I would have ordered a week ago if that was the case...

They can do this atleast for the exams online. I can see they might have trouble meeting high volumes for books depending on their supplies/printers.

 

[SmurfinUSA]

yea, all they have to do is put up a paypal number 😴

 

[apumic]

Oh snap, I didn't realize it was that far down the totem pole...

I guess it isn't that much money if I do end up blowing it. I'll probably use these early and then get 3-5 of TBR's exams with AAMC thrown in.

GS will still be helpful, but I think grabbing some TBR and doing all the AAMC tests will be a big help. Good luck!

I do really wish TBR updated their website and took payments online. I would have ordered a week ago if that was the case...

They can do this atleast for the exams online. I can see they might have trouble meeting high volumes for books depending on their supplies/printers.

I get the feeling it's more of a political thing. The guy who designed the website was a close friend of the founders or something like that. Even though it undoubtedly hurts their business, I can totally understand letting that go in order to maintain a good relationship w/ the guy who designed it....

yea, all they have to do is put up a paypal number 😴

True.... But from what BRTeach has said, I don't think they're open to this for whatever reason.

 

[tttgo]

maybe they're doing it to be more exclusive-kind of like how pr doesn't release hyperlearning to bookstores. I honestly don't mind going through the process as long as the material's good. I would get the better one (or get both) because it probably isn't worth it to save that $100 in the long run. Would you save money by not getting the aamc fl's? It also depends on how much time you have. No use in getting 10 fl's if you're only going to have time for 3.

 

[raltima07]

This is very informative - i know what to get now

 

[ridethecliche]

This is very informative - i know what to get now

Yeah, I wish I'd known before I ordered.

In any event, I'm going to stick with GS. I ordered EK 101 verbal passages and I'm just going to use GS for the science sections and do passages from EK for practice.

 

[Ailleurs]

I know that it's not proper to bring up old threads, but didn't want to create a new one since this one exists. Anybody have recent information whether TBR is still way better than GS? I'm guessing it is, but I just want confirmation from someone who's taken both!

 

[lazyindy]

I know that it's not proper to bring up old threads, but didn't want to create a new one since this one exists. Anybody have recent information whether TBR is still way better than GS? I'm guessing it is, but I just want confirmation from someone who's taken both!

This I'm using GS now and their VR is a little weird and very different from AAMC.

Anyone know if TBR FLs are worth it for their science sections because I've heard their VR is a little easy?

 

[HCHopeful]

TBR is much better than GS. Having said that, GS still helps, as does any and all practice.