how do you know what AMCAS will do to the MCAT?

[baby methuselah]

I took the aug 20 and it was almost entirely passage based. Absolutely nothing like the practice aamc tests i took (that I was averaging low 30's on). I scored mid 20's this time and I can only blame it on myself.... but I'd like to blame it on the girl who showed up for her gre an hour late and typed throughout the ENTIRE vr section or the girl working at the test center who talked on the phone in her whiny voice throughout the whole test, and I'd especially love to blame it on the difference in test-style. Obviously I am in total control of my score and it's not really aamc's fault, but how can the aamc justify writing a test that is almost nothing like their previous practice tests w/o any warning? I don't know how to study if I have to take it again because I'm afraid that the AAMC might make all 3 sections like VR again. I might as well just read economic journals and philosophy to study for a test like that.

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[baby methuselah]

and the funny thing is that there are at least four other threads from aug 20 test takers saying that the mcat "screwed them over" or "ripped them off" etc.... If I was just reading those as an outsider, I'd call them cry-babies. but man they aren't lying! AAMC was pretty sneaky on this one. And in May, AMCAS even used a passage from KAPLAN material on their examination (different questions, but same passage). that's pretty messed up. I think I hate AAMC's MCAT dept.

 

[koopa_troopa]

I'm not really sure what your complaint is. Many people find the real MCAT to be different than the real deal. I believe the practice MCATs available are old (maybe even 10 years old?) so I certainly do not expect them to be the same. I don't understand how they were sneaky.

I also took the May MCAT and they did not use a passage from Kaplan. AAMC probably used one of their passages from their question bank, Kaplan took the figures from it and made their own passage and questions from it. The real MCAT and kaplan passages were definately not the same. Just the figure.

 

[baby methuselah]

I'm not really sure what your complaint is. Many people find the real MCAT to be different than the real deal.

read this sentence again and then slap yourself in the face. thank you.

And mine was more of a question than a complaint, but if you don't get it, then read my posts again. and there is more than one administration in may, so don't assume you took the same one that three people from my kaplan class were talking about. The aamc's online statement says, "Each test is representative of the current MCAT, updated with the 2003 changes and revised scoring tables. Because they are all authentic MCATs, they are all good examples of MCATs." Since you didn't take Aug 20, you wouldn't understand. but take a look at the aug 20 thread and 95% of posters point out how different it was from the practice tests. If you want to answer my origional question, then feel free to respond. Otherwise spare me.

 

[emquiksilver]

but how can the aamc justify writing a test that is almost nothing like their previous practice tests w/o any warning?

Simple. They don't have to justify anything. Every test is passage-based. But to what degree? That's impossible to measure and will certainly be different for different exams. Humans write the passages and the questions. You can't possibly demand every test to be equal. That's why the test is curved.

there is more than one administration in may, so don't assume you took the same one that three people from my kaplan class were talking about.

Koopa is right. I don't believe we know whether AAMC copied Kaplan or Kaplan copied AAMC. But what we do know was that the passage and the questions were different. It was only the figure that coincided.

 

[koopa_troopa]

read this sentence again and then slap yourself in the face. thank you.

Sorry, I didn't type properly. I'm sure you understood my point. Lots of people feel practice MCATs are different from the real test.

And mine was more of a question than a complaint, but if you don't get it, then read my posts again and there is more than one administration in may, so don't assume you took the same one that three people from my kaplan class were talking about.

It was the May 31st exam. I took it. In the PS section there was a question about drums.

The aamc's online statement says, "Each test is representative of the current MCAT, updated with the 2003 changes and revised scoring tables. Because they are all authentic MCATs, they are all good examples of MCATs."

They aren't going to make brand new tests just for practice. They take old ones, take out stuff that isn't part of the updated syllabus, make sure the scales are at todays standard. The passages/questions are still going to be written as the old style.

Since you didn't take Aug 20, you wouldn't understand. but take a look at the aug 20 thread and 95% of posters point out how different it was from the practice tests. If you want to answer my origional question, then feel free to respond. Otherwise spare me.

There are always lots of people who find the test too hard and come here to vent. Thats why you see a large proportion of unhappy test takers here. It happens every exam sitting. I don't like AAMC either, they have screwed me before big time.

 

[seaboi79]

My friend took the mcat for the second time on August 9 (2nd testing time) and one of her stand alone questions on PS was an exact question that she had just done on the AAMC practice test 10 the day before! I wish that had happened to me.

 

[WHR]

I took the aug 20 and it was almost entirely passage based. Absolutely nothing like the practice aamc tests i took (that I was averaging low 30's on). Obviously I am in total control of my score and it's not really aamc's fault, but how can the aamc justify writing a test that is almost nothing like their previous practice tests w/o any warning?

I'm a bit confused because MCAT has always been mostly passage based. Also, isn't it the intent of the AAMC to make tests that are novel and different from previous tests to challenge critical thinking, application of concepts, etc.
Although I don't have the examinees data for this particular test (Aug20), I am pretty sure that the distribution of scores are very much comparable to every other MCATs.

 

[Tourterm]

I found the AAMC practice tests to be pretty close to the real deal in both content and format. The most recent practice tests are probably better indicators as they require a better understanding of the passages. I would add in regards to the "95% of test takers in the Aug. 20th thread" that neither SDN, or any forum, is a representative sample of test takers.

I sympathize with your situation, I did not do so well on my first MCAT. I did however find the AAMC tests very useful in raising my score on the retake. Many people retake it, do well, and judging from your practice scores, I'm sure you can as well. I know it can be annoying to have someone typing while you are working on VR. However, almost everyone had to endure the sound of someone else typing while they were working on some portion of the exam. Some people even take the practice exams with some background noise (ex: library) so they are less bothered by any distractions that may come up during the real exam.

The exam is not going to change. And passage based questions are going to make up the bulk of the exam. It won't be exactly the same every time, but the curve should even things out.

 

[durrrr]

I also took the Aug 20 MCAT.

Yes, the Physical and Biological Sciences sections seemed more passage based than the AAMC Practice CBTs. Unfortunately, the AAMC can do whatever they want apparently, since they administer the MCAT. They don't HAVE to make the MCAT a certain way - all they have to do is tell you which topics are covered, and you study those to the best of your ability.

Everyone had the same shock you did. What you needed to do was overcome the shock, and do your best to adapt to an unfamiliar situation.

Sorry things did not work out the way you wanted, but I'm sure it was a good learning experience nonetheless.