I got a 31 on TPR MCAT test 3. What should I expect on the real MCAT?

[232736r]

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I have heard that the actual MCAT is easier than the TPR practice tests, but how much easier are they?

 

[shh-pthway]

ehhh... tbh, there is validity to that but it is more of a generalization. Some students say the later exams (9-11) are more representative. I think this is because they provide a certain "weirdness" (feeling of unfamiliarity) with the science passages . I am under the impression that AAMC makes the current MCAT in a way that tries to catch students off-guard. There is absolutely no way to predict what you will get on your given exam. It demands critical thinking and an ability to adapt to whatever kind of passages you are given (some MCATs will have more experimental passages than others.... some will have more orgo than others... some verbals will start with hardest[or easiest] and on and on).

That being said, I wouldn't say questions are strictly harder on current MCAT. The bio section on the July 2 seemed on same level of difficulty as AAMC 3 bio section, but the physics section felt more like the latter AAMC's (in fact, there was even more "weirdness" even though the difficulty level wasn't terrible).

To answer your question, you should expect on the MCAT the unexpected. Sounds paradoxical, but the way to do this is to keep taking practice tests. Don't really focus on the number "31" (that is just a scaled estimated score). The more important thing is to track progress and work on timing and why you are getting certain questions wrong. Don't doubt your ability to increase above a 31 (some top scorers start even lower).

 

[orangetea]

ehhh... tbh, there is validity to that but it is more of a generalization. Some students say the later exams (9-11) are more representative. I think this is because they provide a certain "weirdness" (feeling of unfamiliarity) with the science passages . I am under the impression that AAMC makes the current MCAT in a way that tries to catch students off-guard. There is absolutely no way to predict what you will get on your given exam. It demands critical thinking and an ability to adapt to whatever kind of passages you are given (some MCATs will have more experimental passages than others.... some will have more orgo than others... some verbals will start with hardest[or easiest] and on and on).

That being said, I wouldn't say questions are strictly harder on current MCAT. The bio section on the July 2 seemed on same level of difficulty as AAMC 3 bio section, but the physics section felt more like the latter AAMC's (in fact, there was even more "weirdness" even though the difficulty level wasn't terrible).

To answer your question, you should expect on the MCAT the unexpected. Sounds paradoxical, but the way to do this is to keep taking practice tests. Don't really focus on the number "31" (that is just a scaled estimated score). The more important thing is to track progress and work on timing and why you are getting certain questions wrong. Don't doubt your ability to increase above a 31 (some top scorers start even lower).

I REALLY like this response. I too was super excited about my scores on my practice material until I attempted an AAMC and how about a 2 point decrease. The truth of it is that especially the later MCATs are testing more your logic and critical thinking skills rather than content. I mean yest its important to know pv=nrt for example but there will be an instance where you have to apply in the most convoluted way possible.

The MCAT really reminds of those logic/IQ tests that you can take online where it gives you a shape and it's like how many squares do you see and there's 3 but the answer is magically 5. idk.