Kaplan test as performance indicator?

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savvysearch

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uggh! I just took the Kaplan cd test and scored
17-bio
17-genchem
14-ochem
22-pat
19-reading
17-math

Anyone who has taken the cd test, how was it in indicating performance on actual DAT?

How about topscore indication?
 
I took kaplan as well, and all i can tell you is that i thought that the real dat was much more difficult than the kaplan tests...i know this is not what you want to hear, but i figured honesty would be the best way to go...best of luck to you

Also, get some responses from others and see what they have to say, but unfortunately, i know may others who share in the same opinion.

Just study hard and youll do fine, im not that concerned, i think kaplen really did help.
 
Closest to the real DAT is the old, officially released DAT that u got. (Not surprisingly). I wouldn't use the kaplan as an indicator how well will you do on your DAT. I found the kaplan CD very hard, and I didn't score well on it. Even the topscore, but as your o-chem score looks like it's not in the good range, I suggest you concentrate on this areas of ochem:
1. Resonance structure (which one was the most stable?)
(Read the text book about this subject, it's in the aromatic section, and it's quite a few pages, I had Solomons and it's 7pages long)

2. All the brand name reactions. Whatever reaction that has name, you should know it. Know where the electron goes first.
Know the mechanism of SN1/2 & E1/2 well will help with this process.

If u only concentrate on improving these above 2, you will change your ochem score by at least 2 points.
Good luck and don't panic.
Tink
 
It's funny because on the booklet test of ADA, my ochem score was the highest at 20 with my other scores at 18 or lower.
 
Your practice scores indicate that you do need to kick it up a few notches before taking the real test. As a side note, there have been a lot of posts over the past few years regarding the reliability of the Kaplan Tests as accurate predictors. While every person's situation is unique, the majority of folks have reported that they felt that the Kaplan practice tests were a bit tougher on the academic portions and a bit easier on the perceptual portion when compared to the actual test.
 
I thought that the Kaplan CD was quite helpful. If you print out the progress report that came at the end of the test, it can give you a good indication of what you need to improve upon. For instance, I got a 15 on the O chem section of the Kaplan CD test, and then printed out the score report. It told me that I needed to work on reactions, and synthesis, and oxygen and nitrogen compounds. Then I took my o-chem book, and the kaplan MCAT o-chem book, and worked like a sled dog on those things that I needed to. I did that with the other subjects as well. Then, I took the DAT from DAT registration booklet, and did well, but I reviewed the stuff that I messed up on.
When it came time to take the real DAT, I brought, for instance, my 15 from the Kaplan CD Test up to a 20 on the real one. I did well in the other subjects also.
So, that is my advice. Study what you missed, and take the practice DAT from the registration book, and you should do well.
Good Luck,
P-
 
hey savvy,
im taking my dat on the 18th (soon after yours as well). I just want to say good luck!!
 
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