Kaplan Full-Lengths vs. AAMC

[GeorgianCMV]

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I am totally confused about how accurate Kaplan full-length scores are. I just took Kaplan Test 7 and scored 33: 8 in Phys, much lower than my normal AAMC score of 10 or 11, 10 in Verbal, about a point higher than my normal AAMC score, and 15 in Bio, which I usually get 12's in. I think Kaplan physical sciences are abnormally hard and biological sciences are abnormally easy. Does anyone else agree with this???? I don't want to take all AAMC's right away because I still have over a month left and I want to space out the AAMC's.

 

[SgtDoc]

I took a Kaplan test and did not do well, I think I scored in the low 20s. I then took an AAMC test and got a 29. I personally think that Kaplan makes their tests harder to freak you out, so you will take their course.

 

[koojo]

Which Kaplan test did you take? They all differ, just like the AAMC tests. There is some luck associated with the MCAT, so some tests will be easier to YOU and some will not be. On my last four Kaplan MCAT full length breakdown is: 18, 21, 26, 27, 22 🙂( took it at home..big mistake). I have heard that the Kaplan tests are somewhat harder. It would make sense from their perspective, since making them harder and thus getting better scores on the real thing will make you recommend Kaplan to other people.

 

[J ROD]

Generally speaking, Kaplans are harder but have a more generous curve so your scores work out somewhat the same.

I took two Kaplans last year (1&3) got 36 on each.

Then, I took four AAMCs and got a 34,34,33,32.


I found Kaplans sciences closer to the real thing except for the many PS calculations. I think Kaplans verbal is bad.

The main difference I saw was my sciences were higher (12 v 11) on Kaplan because of the more generous curve. I missed about the same on both.

I would not worry about the score and focus more on thinking and reasoning. On practice tests, I could get away with just answering questions and not really "thinking". On the real one, my lack of being prepared to "think" and nerves got me a 24. Hence, I am back for round 2 this summer.

 

[wannabedocta]

yea i have to agree with you all. I scored 8's in bio and phys, 9 on verbal on Kaplan but I've been getting 10's on tpr exams and some aamc exams.

 

[GeorgianCMV]

I got a similar score last May, J DUB. I didn't prepare near as well as I needed to, and I shouldn't have even taken the test in the first place.

The Kaplan test that I got a 33 on was test 7. The physical sciences just seems outrageously difficult and the bio was extremely easy. Physical sciences has traditionally been my strongest.

I've been taking Kaplan subject tests for verbal and my scores are steadily decreasing. I hope this is because the tests are getting sequentially more difficult.

 

[iA-MD2013]

I got a similar score last May, J DUB. I didn't prepare near as well as I needed to, and I shouldn't have even taken the test in the first place.

The Kaplan test that I got a 33 on was test 7. The physical sciences just seems outrageously difficult and the bio was extremely easy. Physical sciences has traditionally been my strongest.

I've been taking Kaplan subject tests for verbal and my scores are steadily decreasing. I hope this is because the tests are getting sequentially more difficult.

Yeah! I was doing PS for kaplan 7 and it was a killer. I gave up on it half way through to go memorize the equations...but damn, that was a hard section. PS is also my strongest. This was the first PS practice that gave me a lot of trouble.

 

[yaba]

I've been taking Kaplan subject tests for verbal and my scores are steadily decreasing. I hope this is because the tests are getting sequentially more difficult.

I've noticed the same thing with there verbal subject test, my scores are decreasing but when it comes to the actual practice test they are getting better so I think that there just making them harder.

 

[Schemp]

I think another possible explanation for the Kaplan being harder is that they just want to make sure you're fully prepared. In other words, if you can do the Kaplan you can easily do the MCAT when the time comes. Of course, if the BS isn't really reflective this may not be entirely correct, but like other people said, try some more of them! I'm taking the MCAT next year and I've only just started looking at the practice tests and stuff, and the PS is definitely way harder. I tried the first test in their latest practice test book and didn't even know how to do half the problems since I haven't taken all my chem or physics, and missed 20! Their curve is so huge that this still got me 11 points though. My (newbie) advice would just be to try a few more and see if you get similar results.

 

[What up doc]

wow..a year in advance....lol....gunnnnnnnnnnnnner

 

[GeorgianCMV]

jgberken, glad to know you experienced the same thing. i think i feel that way with every single practice test though. i think kaplan tries to make their passages so crammed with difficult text and pictures that when you get to the aamc, it seems like a breeze. however, i think kaplan goes a bit overboard, because the PS is so intimidating that it makes me want to quit. i don't think their PS is accurate at all.

guys, i am having major problems being motivated to study physics. i feel great with biological sciences, and i like studying gen chem, and verbal is ok--but at this point, i'd rather claw out my eyeballs than study physics. anyone have any advice for this? how do you make yourself motivated when the thought if studying a certain subject is awful?

 

[Sillyshoes]

Yeah! I was doing PS for kaplan 7 and it was a killer. I gave up on it half way through to go memorize the equations...but damn, that was a hard section. PS is also my strongest. This was the first PS practice that gave me a lot of trouble.

I definitely agree! very hard. I could only manage a 7 for that section. 😱

 

[iA-MD2013]

jgberken, glad to know you experienced the same thing. i think i feel that way with every single practice test though. i think kaplan tries to make their passages so crammed with difficult text and pictures that when you get to the aamc, it seems like a breeze. however, i think kaplan goes a bit overboard, because the PS is so intimidating that it makes me want to quit. i don't think their PS is accurate at all.

guys, i am having major problems being motivated to study physics. i feel great with biological sciences, and i like studying gen chem, and verbal is ok--but at this point, i'd rather claw out my eyeballs than study physics. anyone have any advice for this? how do you make yourself motivated when the thought if studying a certain subject is awful?

I've taken 2 kaplans about 4 months ago 😛 so I don't exactly remember how hard their PS is. This is basically the first one, and I see what people mean when they say kaplan tests are hard. Sillyshoes seems to agree as well...it's nice to know we all feel the same.

 

[J ROD]

jgberken, glad to know you experienced the same thing. i think i feel that way with every single practice test though. i think kaplan tries to make their passages so crammed with difficult text and pictures that when you get to the aamc, it seems like a breeze. however, i think kaplan goes a bit overboard, because the PS is so intimidating that it makes me want to quit. i don't think their PS is accurate at all.

guys, i am having major problems being motivated to study physics. i feel great with biological sciences, and i like studying gen chem, and verbal is ok--but at this point, i'd rather claw out my eyeballs than study physics. anyone have any advice for this? how do you make yourself motivated when the thought if studying a certain subject is awful?

I just think about the consequences if I do not study Physics...

 

[Futuredoctors]

Practice and Practice!!

 

[GigEm91]

Hmmm it didn't really matter to me to be honest. The lowest score I have gotten for the PS and BS sections for both kaplan (done 7 of them now) and aamc (done 2 of them now) is a 14. Typically, I finish both sections with about 25 minutes to spare and check my work. In my opinion, to get a 15 on PS or BS is easy for kaplan ones because the passages are easy. To get 15 on PS or BS is a bit harder for aamc ones NOT because the passages are harder (the passages typically are even more stupid), but because one stupid mistake means a 14.

Lol.. I'm glad to know your doing sooo well! thanks for the update.