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Kaplan Practice Test VS Real DAT
Started by Linden00
I had the same issue with the RC. But I actually felt that the tests were pretty similar, as far as difficulty is concerned.
I got similar scores on the Kaplan practice and the real DAT.
I have found that many who say that their real scores were lower are talking about their very best test. For instance if you took six practice tests and got a 16, 19, 17, 22, 19, 20, and then took the real test and got a 19 you would say you did better on the practice tests, when in reality you scored right around your average.
If you've taken all the Kaplan tests and been all over the place then your score might be all over the place, but if you are consistently hitting 19's and 20's for example, you will generally score in that range, that's true from my experience and a from a number of friends.
I have found that many who say that their real scores were lower are talking about their very best test. For instance if you took six practice tests and got a 16, 19, 17, 22, 19, 20, and then took the real test and got a 19 you would say you did better on the practice tests, when in reality you scored right around your average.
If you've taken all the Kaplan tests and been all over the place then your score might be all over the place, but if you are consistently hitting 19's and 20's for example, you will generally score in that range, that's true from my experience and a from a number of friends.
In my opinion...
Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry: All of these felt about the same to me.
Reading Comprehension: I actually felt the real DAT RC was easier than Kaplan's. I was never even able to make it through Kaplan's in time, but on the real DAT I quickly blazed through and I made a 28 in that section. Of course, that may have something to do with the fact that I didn't do their mapping method (at least not to the detail they recommended).
Perceptual Ability: Harder on the real DAT. Way harder. Especially angles. On Kaplan I could glance at a set of angles and have the correct answer within no more than 5 seconds. I got to the real DAT and they all look almost exactly the same.
Quantitative Reasoning: Harder on the real DAT. The questions weren't exactly that hard in and of themselves, but they were completely different from what I had prepared for, and they were more complicated and harder than what you'll see in Kaplan's practice.
Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry: All of these felt about the same to me.
Reading Comprehension: I actually felt the real DAT RC was easier than Kaplan's. I was never even able to make it through Kaplan's in time, but on the real DAT I quickly blazed through and I made a 28 in that section. Of course, that may have something to do with the fact that I didn't do their mapping method (at least not to the detail they recommended).
Perceptual Ability: Harder on the real DAT. Way harder. Especially angles. On Kaplan I could glance at a set of angles and have the correct answer within no more than 5 seconds. I got to the real DAT and they all look almost exactly the same.
Quantitative Reasoning: Harder on the real DAT. The questions weren't exactly that hard in and of themselves, but they were completely different from what I had prepared for, and they were more complicated and harder than what you'll see in Kaplan's practice.
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321931
I thought kaplan resembled the DAT more than achiever. I consistently got around ~20's on Kaplan. Ended with a 22. I would say Kaplan is a good gauge of how you will do.
I thought the PAT from Kaplan was very close to the actual test except for the angle ranking.
My AA from the kaplant tests were in the ballpark of my actual scores, but the individual scores were quite different. I was 3 points lower in both QR and Bio on the actual test, and about 5 points higher in both O-Chem and G-Chem.
My AA from the kaplant tests were in the ballpark of my actual scores, but the individual scores were quite different. I was 3 points lower in both QR and Bio on the actual test, and about 5 points higher in both O-Chem and G-Chem.
I felt the only differences were that the kaplan math was way easier than the real DAT and the kaplan PAT was easier than the real DAT.
I pretty much agree with everything mentioned. I was getting 18's and 19's on the Kaplan tests and ended up with a 20AA. I think overall the real test was easier. PA was definitely harder especially the angles, QR was about the same in my opinion but I somehow missed the memo that we're allowed a calculator on that section so I spend way too much time on the calculator and ended up being rushed the last 10 questions. RC and OC were much easier in my opinion. Good Luck!
