MCAT in 2 weeks... Discouraged by practice test scores

[ralphstein]

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[0919mmk]

Hi everyone, I am looking for advice on whether or not to cancel my MCAT that is scheduled for 9/10.

I seemed to be showing a steady improvement, but my last few practice tests are really discouraging to me. I was hoping to score a 30+ on the test. My scores so far are posted below. Thanks everyone for the help!

MCATs
*=taken in sections
Kaplan Free MCAT (6 PS, 4 VR, 6 BS) 16
Diagnostic (7 PS, 6 VR, 7 BS) 20
Kaplan FL 1 (9 PS, 5 VR, 7 BS) 21
*AAMC 3 (9 PS, 9 VR, 8 BS) 26
Kaplan FL 2 (11 PS, 9 VR, 7 BS) 27
Kaplan FL 3 (10 PS, 7 VR, 7 BS) 24
AAMC 7 (10 PS, 10 VR, 10 BS) 30
*Kaplan FL 9 (11 PS, 8 VR, 6 BS) 25 👎 (Forgot to do whole 6 Question Bio Passage)
Kaplan FL 4 (12 PS, 9 VR, 9 BS) 30
*AAMC 4 (11 PS , 10 VR, 9 BS) 30
AAAMC 8 (10 PS, 7 VR, 9 BS) 26 👎
*AAMC 5 (10 PS, 8 VR, 7 BS) 25 👎

EK 101(Verbal)
1- 6
2- 7
3- 7
4- 9
5- 8
6- 9
7- 10
8- 11

If I were you, I'd probably go for it. You've hit 30 a few times, and if you work hard these last 2 weeks, you have a fighting chance of scoring 30+. Make sure you are simulating test day conditions as closely as possible- i.e. start your test at 8am, do the writing section, etc.

Also, if I were you, I'd focus your studying on the Bio section. Verbal is hard to bring up, but bio is just making sure you memorize the material- that is where you can probably make up the most points between now and test day. Good luck!

 

[ralphstein]

Thanks a lot for the advice. Does anyone else have an opinon?

 

[kehlsh]

stop taking FL in sections that's a waste of FL

also, are you analyzing FL's thoroughly? find ur weakness... whether it's test taking or content and nail them as much as possible

 

[byuhusker]

Here's my advice.. I didn't do so hot on practice tests, although I studied a lot for the MCAT. My BEST practice test was 31. The rest were <30. I scored 33 on the real deal. I don't know what my deal on the practice tests were, but maybe I just didn't give them my all because they were "practice". Good luck, and keep working hard. I felt like crap after the test, but I was really happy with a 33.

 

[byuhusker]

But I would also like to add there is no substitution for preparation. I was VERY prepared for the exam. Don't plan on doing better, but it happened to me.

 

[fatsum]

But I would also like to add there is no substitution for preparation. I was VERY prepared for the exam. Don't plan on doing better, but it happened to me.

Hey byhusker,

I asked this question earlier today, but seems like you answered it just now. getting a score that you never got on a practice exam. even tho i scored below 24s on my practices exams for some reason i feel this real mcat i just took yesterday was easier then most of my practice exams, did you feel your exam was easier then your practice? The verbal was one of the hardest to grasp for me the highest i score in a practice was a 9 and i feel like it was a breeze in the real mcat.

anywayz to anyone that has experienced this or know of anyone that has please respond "did you ever score higher than your average on a real mcat or know of anyone that has" Like i said just took the exam and some reason i feel good about it.

 

[notbobtrustme]

Don't bother taking FLs in sections. The whole point of the FL is to use game day conditions. When I was grinding out FLs, I did it completely on schedule (eg 70, 10, 60, 10, 70).

You cannot discount the fatigue factor in the MCAT. That's part of what makes it such a difficult test. Not only does your content have to be solid, but you also need the constitution to sit for 6 hours and not let that impact your performance.

My advice would be to take at least 3 FLs under timed conditions and see how you do. That's a much better indicator of where you stand vs taking the exams in sections.

 

[ralphstein]

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[notbobtrustme]

Thanks for all of the responses everyone. I will definitely be sure not to take any FLs in sections from now on. Does everyone think I should still give the MCAT a shot on 9/10 given my 30+ goal?

it's definitely doable, you have some good scores here and there. Concentrate a lot on understanding passages and you can pull a 30+ I think. 50% of the MCAT is understanding what the passage is asking of you, 50% is content.

 

[ralphstein]

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[KindofBlue]

Is your goal reaching a 30+ score?
You most likely won't see a significant increase in VR, and it seems like your PS is pretty solid. The only chance of you scoring above 30 is if you get at least 11s on both PS and BS, and it seems that would prove pretty difficult.
Your score on BS, IMO, suggests that either your content knowledge is weak, or you have some test taking skill issues. My guess is that you're not able to extract the information needed from the passage to answer the problems well enough.
What do you think is your biggest weakness when you're doing the BS? If it is simply a skill related issue, then it can be fixed, but if it's content, you might want to take the test another time.

[edit]
I took a closer look at your scores and actually seems like your AAMC scores are pretty consistently in the 30 range. If you can keep that trend, then looks like you'll have a pretty decent shot actually. I think VR tends to fluctuate as you get more fatigued due to stress and burn out, so it seems like you could get in the 8~10 range. PS you seem pretty solid, but BS seems like it could use some more work. If you don't think your content is weak in BS and your test taking skills are decent, then it could have just been that you were distracted or tired; if that was the case, you should take the test.

 

[ralphstein]

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[ralphstein]

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[centrigeugle]

If you want a 30+, don't take the MCAT. You're clearly not ready.

26 on AAMC 11 is particularly worrying.

 

[LawlasaurusRex]

If you want a 30+, don't take the MCAT. You're clearly not ready.

26 on AAMC 11 is particularly worrying.

I agree. The current style of MCAT presentation will be best represented by AAMC 11. It is heavy on calculations for the PS. There is a good chance you will not hit your target goal. Despite what people may say, data show that most test takers hit within 2 pts of their average AAMC practice scores (especially the ones you take close to your MCAT date, after you've completed content review).

 

[mightymoose02]

I agree. The current style of MCAT presentation will be best represented by AAMC 11. It is heavy on calculations for the PS. There is a good chance you will not hit your target goal. Despite what people may say, data show that most test takers hit within 2 pts of their average AAMC practice scores (especially the ones you take close to your MCAT date, after you've completed content review).

AAMC 11 just tells you the new style/trend that the MCAT has shifted towards.

It doesn't necessarily mean you will get an exact replica of the AAMC 11.

It will all depend on which FORM of the MCAT you will get. 75% of the time, you will get minimal (10 or less calculation based questions)... but if you end up with the 25% which have 15-20 calc-based questions... then that's what you will get. Most of the time it's conceptual questions... as opposed to calculations or pure memorization.

I don't really see too many people from other test dates saying that the Physical Science Section on AAMC 11 was similar to their test. It wasn't for mine either.

AAMC 11 Bio is a good indicator of what's coming. But don't think it's going to be the SAME EXACT topics/types of passages. It's just few signs of what you should look forward to.

More than likely, your test will be a combination of ALL the AAMC stuff.