How well does the AAMC 3R-8 exams represent the actual test?

[Gonzo12164]

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I'm not taking a review class, but have all the books from people who have taken them. I am using these exams to test myself and wanted to ask how well they represented the true exams. I know that these are suppose to be past real exams, but someone told me that they are easier than the real thing. Is this true? Thanks.

 

[prana_md]

This will probably get bumped to the MCAT section, but I found the AAMC tests to be pretty representative of the real thing. The books from the prep classes ask *way harder* questions than the AAMC tests, so when you start taking the AAMC tests, your score jumps.

If you're prepping for the August MCAT, *do not* waste your time doing the Princeton tests. They're just way too hard. Your time is better spent reviewing material or taking the AAMC tests. I'm not familiar with the Kaplan tests.

Also, the Kaplan books you can get retail were really helpful -- good, challenging questions, but not ridiculously hard like the PR tests.

Good luck!

 

[microgin]

After I got my score back from the actual MCAT, I went back and averaged my scores from 3R-7R (8 wasn't available at the time I took the test), and it worked out to the exact same score as the real deal. So, why you may score a point or two higher/lower on each particular test, in my experience, if you take the series of tests in a simulated testing environment, and average them, it should be pretty representative of how you'll do on the actual test.

 

[blee]

I bought a crapload of books to study for the MCAT; out of everything I had, I used the EK bio book, a store-bought Kaplan book with two practice tests, and all of the AAMC tests. Everything else was just paperweight material. I used my textbooks and notes for reference on everything else.

On the real thing, my score was exactly the same as my highest AAMC practice score and equal to the average of the two Kaplan (store-bought) practice scores. Looking back, I'd say that the AAMC tests -- particularly 7 and 8 -- gave the closest approximation to the real thing. I wish I hadn't spent the money on everything else, but the AAMC tests were well worth the dough.

 

[pseudoknot]

1. You should have posted this in the MCAT forum. That's the kind of attention to detail you need to do well on the MCAT as well.

2. The AAMC tests represent the real thing very well, since they were real tests. After taking the MCAT people will say that it was much harder, but they're just being pathetic whiny babies. My score on the April 2005 MCAT was the exact average of the five AAMC practice tests I took.

 

[Gonzo12164]

Thanks for all the replies!!

 

[gujuDoc]

1. You should have posted this in the MCAT forum. That's the kind of attention to detail you need to do well on the MCAT as well.

2. The AAMC tests represent the real thing very well, since they were real tests. After taking the MCAT people will say that it was much harder, but they're just being pathetic whiny babies. My score on the April 2005 MCAT was the exact average of the five AAMC practice tests I took.

at your first point.

As per your second point. I couldn't have said it better myself. 😀

 

[frostynorthwind]

Perhaps Gonzo was trying to get the perspective of veteran test takers, assuming (s)he would find quite a few helpful ones in here... just a thougtht.

Anyway, I agree that AAMC's practice exams are the best indicators of the real deal, but in terms of difficulty, the most recent ones (6-8) reflected the difficulty of my test most accurately. Oh, and yeah, my practice averages turned out to be a little higher than my actual score, with lots of fluctuation in the individual sections (particularly VR... because I suck at it).

good luck! 👍

 

[gujuDoc]

Ben and I are both former MCATers, who've sat in for the real deal, so we were doing just what you pointed out wanting done. In other words, we were giving our two cents as a former MCATer. But ok if you say so.

 

[exmike]

I got the exact same score on the real thing as I did on my AAMC V practice test. that was the most recent test when I took the MCAT - geeze does that date me or what?

 

[gujuDoc]

Let's see if you really want to know how individual scores compared to my actual score I'll give it to you, though I've already stated this before..........

Test 5R and 7 gave me the same exact PS score as I got on the real deal.

Test 3R and 4R were one point higher then my actual PS score.

Test 8 was one point lower then my actual PS score.

Test 6R I never took.

Test 5R verbal and bio I never took.

Test 4R, 7, and 8 were 2 points higher in my Verbal then the actual test score. Mainly, I was too tired, had to pea, and couldn't focus properly during that section and it was already my weakness. Hence, why I didn't get 8 on test day as well, rather then my measly 6 on VR. 3R's verbal was much higher then my actual verbal.

For bio, my scores were 1 pt lower the my 4R score and same as my AAMC 7 score. It was actually much higher then my 3R score.

Overall my score fell within my range.

 

[frostynorthwind]

My point in having posted what I did was to lay off the guy/gal for just asking a question... who cares what forum it was posted in. Also, sorry for not emphasizing the "HELPFUL veteran test takers" part of my comment. I know you two have previously written the MCAT. 🙂

It just seems like a lot of people are quick to jump down someone else's throat for the most trivial "offenses." I apologize as well if I misinterpreted either of your posts quju or ben.

peace. 🙂

 

[gujuDoc]

My point in having posted what I did was to lay off the guy/gal for just asking a question... who cares what forum it was posted in. Also, sorry for not emphasizing the "HELPFUL veteran test takers" part of my comment. I know you two have previously written the MCAT. 🙂

It just seems like a lot of people are quick to jump down someone else's throat for the most trivial "offenses." I apologize as well if I misinterpreted either of your posts quju or ben.

peace. 🙂

I think you are overreacting. I reread both my response and Ben's response, and no one was being insulting. We were just stating the facts that most people tend to whine after taking the test only to get a score similar to their score.

Also, Ben's first point had to do with the fact that this was posted in this forum rather then the MCAT forum, not to say that no one should ask it. So I don't see the problem there. But I already answered the original question anyhow.

 

[frostynorthwind]

I think you are overreacting. I reread both my response and Ben's response, and no one was being insulting. We were just stating the facts that most people tend to whine after taking the test only to get a score similar to their score.

Also, Ben's first point had to do with the fact that this was posted in this forum rather then the MCAT forum, not to say that no one should ask it. So I don't see the problem there. But I already answered the original question anyhow.

hey, quju (and ben)- my sincerest apologies. i must have misread your posts. my fault. 🙂

 

[lastrun82]

i wouldn't call the people who said the real thing was harder than the practices whiny babies, being one of them myself
i thought that the verbal and bs were exactly the same, but the ps was a doozy on the real test
and i actually averaged 13.5 for ps on aamc 3-8, so i do think that my assessment has some merit

so basically i felt like crap after ps, regrouped and was fine for the rest of the test, and ended up scoring one point less than my average on 3-8 (all of which were within a 4 point range)

so don't freak out if the real thing is harder or easier than the practices, cause the curve will be the same

good luck

 

[gujuDoc]

i wouldn't call the people who said the real thing was harder than the practices whiny babies, being one of them myself
i thought that the verbal and bs were exactly the same, but the ps was a doozy on the real test
and i actually averaged 13.5 for ps on aamc 3-8, so i do think that my assessment has some merit

so basically i felt like crap after ps, regrouped and was fine for the rest of the test, and ended up scoring one point less than my average on 3-8 (all of which were within a 4 point range)

so don't freak out if the real thing is harder or easier than the practices, cause the curve will be the same

good luck

Frosty,

Apology accepted and I apologize too if I overreacted any as well.

Lastrun,

While it is true that tests are slightly harder then the practice tests, the fact of the matter is that data has proven that most people fall within the range of their practice scores. Generally, this is probably due to the way in which they standardize the scores by scaling against each others scores and past test takers scores, etc.

So regardless of how hard the test is, fact of the matter is most of the time, people will still do similar to their diagnostic tests.

Hence, while it is nerve wrecking, I wouldn't recommend people to worry as much if they have good diagnostic scores. Of course, that said, that is probably easier said then done since we are all neurotic and worrysome anyhow, as premeds. 😀 😉