MCAT Re-Takers: Question about Practice Scores

[UMP]

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So what do you all think should be the minimum you see in score improvement on your practice exams to warrant a re-take. I had a 30 but need to score higher for various reasons, and I am very scared that I will score lower somehow (as the statistics actually suggest). Should I see at least a trend of 33, 35, 40 on the practice exams to make a re-take worthwhile ?

 

[QuikClot]

My MCAT was one higher than my highest practice MCAT . . . for what it's worth.

 

[MeowMix]

a few questions:
why do you want to retake?
what is your new target score and how did you decide on that?
Have you analyzed your previous full-lengths in detail for mistakes and strategy problems?
How were your scores on those? Were they congruent with your actual score?
What factors will help you to do better this time than last (i.e. have you figured out what you could have done differently last time)?
Do you have any weak content areas, and how are you going to fix those (essential if you are going to gamble on increasing from a 30)?

Personally, I had done 11 full-length tests from a variety of sources (AAMC, EK, Kaplan), with steadily increasing scores (increasing one point at a time, or holding steady overall). I knew that even on my worst day, being tested on my weakest areas, I would almost certainly get my target score or higher. My actual MCAT score was right in line with my last 3 tests.

 

[UMP]

My prep consisted of taking a single practice test last time. I'm going to study for six consistent months. My target is 36+, because from what I see people even with my low GPA still get in to some kind of allopathic programs in the US with those scores. I need to review most of the material and take orgo over since I learned nothing in those classes the first time. So far I've only taken a diagnostic and scored a 30, but I improved my VR to a 12 from an 11....

I think you've answered my question, spring break is coming up next week, so I'll do the examkrackers program and take a practice. If I see myself in the mid-30s I'll go ahead with my retake.