harcourt practice tests

[pharm89]

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Has anyone taken the practice tests on the harcourt website. I just took a practice test and on the reading comprehension section I got 16 out of 20 questions correct and my approximate percentile was 26-50. Are these percentile ranges correct? Even though I received higher percentiles in all other areas this is really scarying me.
For those who have already taken the pcat how did you think the practice tests compared with the actual pcat and were the scores that you received on the practice test similar to the percentiles they gave you on the harcourt practice exam.
Thanks for all the help and best of luck to all taking the pcat on Saturday!

 

[cancerian26]

Has anyone taken the practice tests on the harcourt website. I just took a practice test and on the reading comprehension section I got 16 out of 20 questions correct and my approximate percentile was 26-50. Are these percentile ranges correct? Even though I received higher percentiles in all other areas this is really scarying me.
For those who have already taken the pcat how did you think the practice tests compared with the actual pcat and were the scores that you received on the practice test similar to the percentiles they gave you on the harcourt practice exam.
Thanks for all the help and best of luck to all taking the pcat on Saturday!

I asked the same question on a different thread and this is the answer I got...

The harcourt website is not accurate at all. It will tell you like, 75-99 percentile. Wow, thanks! haha
Also, I found the practice questions on the website to be much harder than the actual test. It really had me freaked out!
And I agree that Kaplan was harder than the PCAT too... so even though no one will actually take this advice- try to relax!!!! Easier said than done, I know. But good luck everybody!!

I hope that helps...because I got a 1-20percentile on a section when i only missed 5 and was shocked!

 

[BackeyWackey]

I asked the same question on a different thread and this is the answer I got...

The harcourt website is not accurate at all. It will tell you like, 75-99 percentile. Wow, thanks! haha
Also, I found the practice questions on the website to be much harder than the actual test. It really had me freaked out!
And I agree that Kaplan was harder than the PCAT too... so even though no one will actually take this advice- try to relax!!!! Easier said than done, I know. But good luck everybody!!

I hope that helps...because I got a 1-20percentile on a section when i only missed 5 and was shocked!

Yeah, I took the practice test just now. Here's my scores:

Verbal abiliity: 18/25 correct; 72% correct; approx. percentile 51-75
Biology:21/25 correct; 84% correct; approx. percentile 76-99
Reading comp.: 17/20 correct;85% correct; approx percentile 76-99
Quantitative: 14/25 correct; 56% correct; approx percentile 51-75
Chemistry: 15/25 correct; 60% correct; approx percintile 26-50
COMPOSITE: 85/120 correct; 71% correct; approx percentile 51-75

so, tell me why that on the chemistry, I got 60% correct giving me a approx. percentile 26-50, when in the quantitative I got 56% correct giving me a 51-75 approx percentile? I know, I sucked at those two, but those are my weakest subjects, especially since I have only had a semester of pre-calc and only 1 semester completed of Gen. Chem I.

All in all, if this really does reflect my future PCAT score, I am semi-happy about it, being that I haven't taken barely any chem and math. What do you guys think if I got a 71 percentile on the actual PCAT, that is decent, no? Do you guys think I'd have a chance with a 71 scored on the actual test and a 3.67 GPA? Cuz I also plan to re-take it in November if I don't do so hot now.

Im really nervous about this Sat. morning. Good luck to everyone, and Ill hopefully see all of you in my future pharmacy classes!

 

[DownonthePharm]

No, they are not correct. The Harcourt practice gives you your literal percentage (right answers/total question) but thats not how the PCAT scores your exam. The percentages on the actual exam are based against their standard plot from previous first time test takers. So you dont have to get 99% right to get a 99%.

 

[PCAT_gal]

Am I glad to hear that! If it was literal totalling of scores, I would be very unhappy right now!

 

[SCCpharm]

Just took the first practice test, heres my scores if you want to compare:

----# Correct % Correct Approximate Percentiles
1. VA 19 of 25 76% 76 - 99
2. BIO 20 of 25 80% 76 - 99
3. Read 14 of 20 70% 51 - 75
4. Q/A 19 of 25 76% 76 - 99
5. Chem 21 of 25 84% 76 - 99
Comp 93 of 120 78% 76 - 99

 

[dave233]

Just took the first practice test, heres my scores if you want to compare:

----# Correct % Correct Approximate Percentiles
1. VA 19 of 25 76% 76 - 99
2. BIO 20 of 25 80% 76 - 99
3. Read 14 of 20 70% 51 - 75
4. Q/A 19 of 25 76% 76 - 99
5. Chem 21 of 25 84% 76 - 99
Comp 93 of 120 78% 76 - 99

Just took the test myself and heres the stats...

---# Correct % Correct Percentiles
1. VA 17 of 25 1-25
2. BIO 14of 25 1-25
3. Read 17 of 20 26-50
4. Q/A 21 of 25 76 - 99
5. Chem 20 of 25 76 - 99
Comp 89 of 120 51 - 75

*** Not i was hoping for.. 30 odd hours before the test.. but owell!
I found this percentile thingi very weird.... 26-50 after i got only 3 rong in read comp...

 

[janeno]

I took both of the practice tests...

Practice Test 1
Subtests # Correct % Correct Approximate Percentiles
1. Verbal Ability 17 of 25 68% 26 - 50
2. Biology 18 of 25 72% 51 - 75
3. Reading Comprehension 16 of 20 80% 51 - 75
4. Quantitative Ability 20 of 25 80% 76 - 99
5. Chemistry 23 of 25 92% 76 - 99
Composite 94 of 120 78% 76 - 99

Practice Test 2
Subtests # Correct % Correct Approximate Percentiles
1. Verbal Ability 17 of 25 68% 26 - 50
2. Biology 17 of 25 68% 51 - 75
3. Reading Comprehension 18 of 20 90% 76 - 99
4. Quantitative Ability 23 of 25 92% 76 - 99
5. Chemistry 20 of 25 80% 76 - 99
Composite 95 of 120 79% 76 - 99

I took Practice Test 1 before I started studying for PCAT, and Practice Test 2 this week. I do not see much improvement which is kind of sad, but I thought Practice Test 2 was so much harder than the first one.

 

[wucool33]

wait so the pratice test on harcourt only have 20 some questions for each section? but doesnt the real test have 50 some questions?

 

[janeno]

wait so the pratice test on harcourt only have 20 some questions for each section? but doesnt the real test have 50 some questions?

Yes, the practice test has only 20-25 questions from each section while the real test is around 50 or so questions. However, taking at least one practice test gives you a good feel of the test's format. In fact, practice test 1 completely consists of the questions from the real tests in 2005.