Kaplan book are bad ?

[Docta Rod]

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Throughout the forums i havent heard anyone recommending the kaplan review books to study from only their full lengths. I am currently studying fo the mcats using the kaplan review books, but am i wasting my time ?

Also, the scores that i have recevied thus far from the kaplan are different from the aamc. So should I focus on the aamc exams instead ?

 

[SN2ed]

Here is the book ranking so you can see how Kaplan stacks up and why it's not recommended:

Biology: 1. EK Bio + EK 1001 Bio, non-detail oriented 1. BR/TPR Hyperlearning, detail oriented 3. Kaplan

Physics: 1. BR 2. Nova 3. TPR Hyperlearning 4. Kaplan

Verbal: 1. EK Verbal + EK 101 Verbal 2. TPR Hyperlearning 3. BR 4. Kaplan (Avoid if possible)

Organic Chemistry: 1. BR, by far 2. TPR Hyperlearning 3. EK/Kaplan

General Chemistry: 1. BR, by far 2. TPR Hyperlearning 3. EK/Kaplan

Extra Practice Material: 1. TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook + TPR Hyperlearing Science Workbook, good source of practice passages 2. EK 1001 series, helps nail down basics


It's tough to say whether you're wasting your time or not. Kaplan isn't the best resource, so you aren't giving yourself the best possible chance. Yet, it's not like people can't score well studying solely from Kaplan. If you have the money, I suggest you get better books.
Focus on the AAMC tests and mix in Kaplan #1-6 as well. If you only have enough time for 10 tests, take Kaplan #1-5 followed by AAMC #6-10.

 

[Sharka]

I thought kaplan bio and phys sci were pretty decent. The verbal was terrible

 

[ronmillsey]

kaplan book are not bad, they are good

 

[ronmillsey]

Here is the book ranking so you can see how Kaplan stacks up and why it's not recommended:

Biology: 1. EK Bio + EK 1001 Bio, non-detail oriented 1. BR/TPR Hyperlearning, detail oriented 3. Kaplan

Physics: 1. BR 2. Nova 3. TPR Hyperlearning 4. Kaplan

Verbal: 1. EK Verbal + EK 101 Verbal 2. TPR Hyperlearning 3. BR 4. Kaplan (Avoid if possible)

Organic Chemistry: 1. BR, by far 2. TPR Hyperlearning 3. EK/Kaplan

General Chemistry: 1. BR, by far 2. TPR Hyperlearning 3. EK/Kaplan

Extra Practice Material: 1. TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook + TPR Hyperlearing Science Workbook, good source of practice passages 2. EK 1001 series, helps nail down basics


It's tough to say whether you're wasting your time or not. Kaplan isn't the best resource, so you aren't giving yourself the best possible chance. Yet, it's not like people can't score well studying solely from Kaplan. If you have the money, I suggest you get better books.
Focus on the AAMC tests and mix in Kaplan #1-6 as well. If you only have enough time for 10 tests, take Kaplan #1-5 followed by AAMC #6-10.

ok your name is SN2ED. thats very clever, SN2 reactions in organic chemistry is a backside attack, and so if someone got SN2ED then that means he got owned or whatever. am i interpreting this right? if so, then this name is very clever, and i want to thank you for using it, its really clever, thanks

 

[IndianVercetti]

ok your name is SN2ED. thats very clever, SN2 reactions in organic chemistry is a backside attack, and so if someone got SN2ED then that means he got owned or whatever. am i interpreting this right? if so, then this name is very clever, and i want to thank you for using it, its really clever, thanks

lol

 

[Doodl3s]

oh man, there was just a thread about this... Kaplan books are NOT BAD... they are in fact GOOD. Its just the other books are seen as a better. but theres nothing totally wrong with kaplan.

 

[LittleRichard]

.

 

[Vince86]

I used mainly the kaplan books and they served me well. And remember, the books are there to teach you the material and not help you with critical thinking- which is what the MCAT is all about. Kaplan gives great online practice questions - better than EK and Princeton I think. I used EK for supplement info.

So the books can only help you so much and then after that, you have to do as many questions as you can to solidify what you have learned. I keep hearing Berkley review is good for physics. Saw the book, and it seemed OK - but kaplan was more than sufficient for the exam.

 

[J ROD]

Kaplan sciences are okay, but I think there are better sources.

Kaplan verbal is crap!!

 

[NNukibw77]

Kaplan is fine. I studied solely from Kaplan for two months, diagnostic at 30 - scored a 40 (14,13,13).

As far as the tests being different from the AAMC: Kaplan tests are harder but with a WAY easier curve. That said, I say do all of the Kaplan tests you have first. When you mess up on these tests, its likely because you didn't know / undersetand some science material. So when you get things wrong go back and understand what you didnt know.

Then once you've exhausted Kaplan, take AAMC's up until the day (before the day) of your test. This will help you get the timing of the actual MCAT down. When you get stuff wrong here, its likely because your critical thinking skills were off. Not a lot of "difficult" science topics here. Maybe you'll not know a discrete here or there. No big deal.