Kaplan's free "MCAT Test Drive"?

[KeyLime]

Has anybody taken the free "MCAT Test Drive" from Kaplan? They offer it on Saturdays from 8:45-12:00 where I live. Is it worth it, or are they just trying to scare students into taking their prep course.
I would like to take the mini test if it is anything like the real thing, but if it is just a ploy to get us to spend $$$, I won't do it.
Thanks!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[lorelei]

They're obviously trying to get you to sign up for a class; that's how they make their money. I haven't been able to discern whether the Kaplan test is harder than the real thing - they claim it isn't, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was.

Although it may be a little harder than the real MCAT, the questions should be of similar types, so it would likely be a good starting point, just to get a personal feel for where you are. I'd say go ahead and take it, but don't sign up for the class right away if you aren't sure about it. Just use it for what you can get out of it.

 

[liverotcod]

It's a good idea to take a practice test under simulated conditions like that, but you probably should pay no attention to your score on it. Rather, take the free online AAMC 3R full-length practice test, under your own simulated conditions (e.g. timed, short breaks between sections, all in 1 day, etc.). That will give you a much better sense of where you are, preparation-wise.

Some claim that 3R is too easy. I didn't find it so, and wound up improving only 3 points from 3R (unprepared) to the real thing several months later. You will certainly want to purchase and take the remaining AAMC practice tests (4R, 5R, 6R, 7R), though. These are the best possible preparation for the real thing.

 

[45408]

Go ahead and take the mini-test. If your score is REALLY low, then you have cause to be concerned, but most people make quite a leap from their first practice to the real thing (I went up 8 points).