kaplan topical test difficulty level

[fneverforget]

---

Members don't see this ad.

1. How difficult are the kaplan topical tests when compared to the actual mcat?

2. For those of you who have scored a 35+, what were you scoring on the topical tests? I took the kaplan diagnostic and scored a 25. My goal for the MCATs is a 34-35, so for those of you who did score in that range or above, what were you scoring on these topical tests?

3. I took my FIRST three topical tests today and I am a little bummed out. I made a 58 on the first, 70 on the second and a 70 on the third. These were for the first physics tests.

 

[Ismet]

1. How difficult are the kaplan topical tests when compared to the actual mcat?

2. For those of you who have scored a 35+, what were you scoring on the topical tests? I took the kaplan diagnostic and scored a 25. My goal for the MCATs is a 34-35, so for those of you who did score in that range or above, what were you scoring on these topical tests?

3. I took my FIRST three topical tests today and I am a little bummed out. I made a 58 on the first, 70 on the second and a 70 on the third. These were for the first physics tests.

I took the MCAT today and won't get my scores until the end of June, so I'm sure someone else can give you better answers, but here's what I can tell you.


1 and 3) The topical tests bummed me out too. Kaplan overprepares you for the MCAT in physical and biological sciences. The topical tests are tough, but then when you start taking the AAMC tests, you'll find the science is a lot easier. In my mind, it's better to be overprepared than having to catch up. For verbal, supplement the Kaplan books with EK 101. I really didn't do the majority of the topical tests because I took the class in the Spring with a full courseload, so I basically went to class and did the assignments.

2) The Kaplan diagnostic is in no way indicative of what you'll get after you complete the class and study on your own. They give you that diagnostic test to establish a baseline for the higher score guarantee. They want to make sure that you don't score lower than that on your real MCAT, or else you can ask for your money back. I got a 22 on my diagnostic, and I never scored below a 30 on my subsequent 8 practice tests, 4 of which were AAMC. My high was a 35, low was 31.

Don't let how you started get you down. Just keep practicing, reviewing, practicing. 🙂

 

[fneverforget]

^^^ thanks for the reply

I also keep getting screwed on the subject tests. Averaging a 75 on those..... 🙁

 

[fneverforget]

Anyone else wish to shed some light on the topic?

 

[Tep]

I haven't taken the kaplan topical tests, but in my opinion, practice tests are more useful in giving you experience with the test type/content than actually predicting scores.

I think it's much more useful to use practice tests that way than attempting to use them in score prediction; It's impossible to simulate the nerves and emotions that accompany the real test.

edit: 35P last september, and finished my second test today. T-1 month for scores. I took three full length practice tests before my first real one. All were from the Princeton Review website. None accurately reflected my real score.

 

[fneverforget]

So for the physics topical tests in Physics 1, I average a pathetic 66.

However on the gen. chem topical tests in Gen Chem 1, I averaged a 90.

Are the gen chem tests just easier than the physics? I know that there are more kaplan course takers on this forum!

lol, seriously though your input is greatly appreciated. 🙂

 

[giraffe17]

i took kaplan. i'm fuzzy on the details since i took the mcat last year, but i seem to recall doing pretty horribly on most of the kaplan physical science tests that weren't actually full lengths (especially the physics topics - honestly i think i got 50% or less on many of them). anyway bottom line, on the kaplan FL tests my scores were always 35+, a couple were in the 40s. AAMC practice tests i think my range was like 34 or 35-38. on the real thing i got a 35. so i wouldn't stress too much unless you start doing terribly on the full length material, esp AAMC.

one caveat, i do think physics brought down my score somewhat as i found the PS physics questions on my test very hard. i had generally been scoring 12-14 on that section though (both kaplan and aamc) so probably just bad luck that i got my weakest topics on the actual mcat.

 

[fneverforget]

i took kaplan. i'm fuzzy on the details since i took the mcat last year, but i seem to recall doing pretty horribly on most of the kaplan physical science tests that weren't actually full lengths (especially the physics topics - honestly i think i got 50% or less on many of them).

^^^ Thanks for the response man and congrats on a great mcat score.

The tests I was referring to were the topical tests,which have passages and discrete questions. They are review material for each class and they cover the material that was covered in the previous class. Is that were you were referring to? I wasn't referring to actual kaplan section tests (I haven't started those yet, and I won't start for another 1.5 months, when I have done most of the content review).