How subjective is MCAT verbal?

[zoner]

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ok, so i was doing one passage today and came across a question that asked something about an actress that can "realistically portray" blah blah blah...

I understood that question to mean just that, in whatever way possible but the answer was based on using "realistically portray" as meaning can mimic the best.

The answer could have been chosen based on how you interpreted "realistically portray." What does that really mean?

Is real MCAT like this?

 

[phltz]

ok, so i was doing one passage today and came across a question that asked something about an actress that can "realistically portray" blah blah blah...

I understood that question to mean just that, in whatever way possible but the answer was based on using "realistically portray" as meaning can mimic the best.

The answer could have been chosen based on how you interpreted "realistically portray." What does that really mean?

Is real MCAT like this?

I did a fair number of verbal passages from Kaplan and Exam Krackers, as well as all the AAMC FLs. With Kaplan and EK, after reading the explanation of the "correct" solution, I often wanted to argue with the people who wrote them. This was only very rarely the case with the AAMC FLs, which I assume are more representative of the real MCAT. They're generally written quite well.

 

[zoner]

oh i c...

cool, thanks

the passage i did was from TPR

 

[Techmed07]

i did a fair number of verbal passages from kaplan and exam krackers, as well as all the aamc fls. With kaplan and ek, after reading the explanation of the "correct" solution, i often wanted to argue with the people who wrote them. This was only very rarely the case with the aamc fls, which i assume are more representative of the real mcat. They're generally written quite well.

+1

 

[mitchlucker]

Uhm MCAT verbal is extremely subjective, even from the AAMC I found. My reasoning skills are quite good in most aspects of my life and I only got a 7 on my MCAT verbal.

I took the PCAT as well and got 88th percentile for reading after only doing a couple practice passages (not exams) a couple days before the test. I think this reading was way too easy, but it was very straight forward.

There are so many times when I want to argue with the MCAT test/practice test makers because the questions are so biased, or rather subjective.

Not saying my verbal skills are spot on by any means, but I feel I have a firm grasp of reading comprehension, and my scoring a 7 (40th percentile) on MCAT vs. 88th percentile reading on PCAT seems like too large of a range for 1 person.

Note: PCAT is MUCH easier than MCAT, but you're still not competing againstvmorons, I just feel PCAT is very straightforward and the MCAT beats around the bush a little too much.