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I just finished my MCAT and now that I've had some time to calm down I'd like to post my thoughts of the review materials. I took the Kaplan course, did the EK series, and took the AAMC practice tests and can comment on them.
1. Kaplan Course/Practice Tests. A lot of people here have complained about the Kaplan course and practice tests as going into too much detail. I generally agree with this assessment, but I don't see it as a bad thing. In recent years the MCAT has gotten more specific with the content it requires, so a more in-depth review course is preferable. The key to studying is to focusing on big picture things. No one in their right mind would be able to memorize every fact and equation and reaction in all of the Kaplan books and it would be futile to try. In fact, I think attempting to memorize everything is one of the biggest mistakes people make in preparing for the test. It's not important to know every single reagent and reaction for ochem, because if you understand how nucleophiles and electrophiles interact, you can figure out whats happening most of the time.
For people going through the course, I recommend doing all the homework they provide (end of ch questions, end of lecture quizzes). They aren't there to bombard you with material. The psychology of learning says we remember best when we review the material we've just learned 24 hours after we've learned it, and again within a week to attain maximum retention. If you do the homeworks the day after you read a chapter, and take the quizzes a week after you finish the chapter, your retention will go through the roof!
As far as the practice tests go, don't use them as a predictor of your score as they are different than the real thing. Generally speaking, Kaplan passages are filled with complex language that makes them nearly incomprehensible and their questions are usually calculation-heavy. They do, however, have a very generous curve so it doesn't really translate well. They are great practice to get you used to the kinds of tricky passages the MCAT test makers can present to you.
2. ExamKraker's Review Books. After I took my diagnostic for Kaplan, I saw that Bio was my worst area so immediately read all of EK Bio and took notes on it. I loved their books! While Kaplan gave all the background info, EK was very concise and did a good job of developing critical thinking skills that in my opinion are one of the most important tools on the MCAT.
As far as their verbal strategy goes, I took it and kept it once I started using it. It's way more intuitive, and very helpful. However, I found their questions more vague than either the AAMC verbal or the actual MCAT, but seeing those vague questions prepares you for the few vague ones you'll see on the real thing.
Both Kaplan and EK Verbal have their strengths and weaknesses. Kaplan gives you really confusing passages which are hard to decipher and gives you too many detail questions, but this does a good job of preparing you to deal with tricky passages. EK prepares you to face tough questions and helps develop your critical thinking skills. Both are important to doing well on the MCAT and both together would be better than either alone.
3. AAMC Practice Tests. These are the closest things you can get to the real MCAT. Most of their questions require straightforward knowledge combined with some critical thinking and will usually appear much easier than the Kaplan full lengths. They make up for this by having a brutal curve. Definitely the best practice you can get as this is the closest to the real test.
The AAMC verbal was generally speaking easier than both EK101 and Kaplan but with a much harder curve. It tended to rely more on "main point" questions than details.
Now how do these compare? In terms of difficulty, Kaplan is the hardest, but has a really generous curve. AAMC was the easiest, but they had really tough curves. The real MCAT was harder than any of the AAMCs bur easier than most of the Kaplan's.
I'd say for anyone serious about getting a 35+, using Kaplan/EK/AAMC together is essential to develop multiple skills. For someone just wanting a 32ish, just doing the Kaplan course and most of the AAMCs will get you there.
I'll post my study habits in detail when I get my score (don't wanna jinx anything!)
1. Kaplan Course/Practice Tests. A lot of people here have complained about the Kaplan course and practice tests as going into too much detail. I generally agree with this assessment, but I don't see it as a bad thing. In recent years the MCAT has gotten more specific with the content it requires, so a more in-depth review course is preferable. The key to studying is to focusing on big picture things. No one in their right mind would be able to memorize every fact and equation and reaction in all of the Kaplan books and it would be futile to try. In fact, I think attempting to memorize everything is one of the biggest mistakes people make in preparing for the test. It's not important to know every single reagent and reaction for ochem, because if you understand how nucleophiles and electrophiles interact, you can figure out whats happening most of the time.
For people going through the course, I recommend doing all the homework they provide (end of ch questions, end of lecture quizzes). They aren't there to bombard you with material. The psychology of learning says we remember best when we review the material we've just learned 24 hours after we've learned it, and again within a week to attain maximum retention. If you do the homeworks the day after you read a chapter, and take the quizzes a week after you finish the chapter, your retention will go through the roof!
As far as the practice tests go, don't use them as a predictor of your score as they are different than the real thing. Generally speaking, Kaplan passages are filled with complex language that makes them nearly incomprehensible and their questions are usually calculation-heavy. They do, however, have a very generous curve so it doesn't really translate well. They are great practice to get you used to the kinds of tricky passages the MCAT test makers can present to you.
2. ExamKraker's Review Books. After I took my diagnostic for Kaplan, I saw that Bio was my worst area so immediately read all of EK Bio and took notes on it. I loved their books! While Kaplan gave all the background info, EK was very concise and did a good job of developing critical thinking skills that in my opinion are one of the most important tools on the MCAT.
As far as their verbal strategy goes, I took it and kept it once I started using it. It's way more intuitive, and very helpful. However, I found their questions more vague than either the AAMC verbal or the actual MCAT, but seeing those vague questions prepares you for the few vague ones you'll see on the real thing.
Both Kaplan and EK Verbal have their strengths and weaknesses. Kaplan gives you really confusing passages which are hard to decipher and gives you too many detail questions, but this does a good job of preparing you to deal with tricky passages. EK prepares you to face tough questions and helps develop your critical thinking skills. Both are important to doing well on the MCAT and both together would be better than either alone.
3. AAMC Practice Tests. These are the closest things you can get to the real MCAT. Most of their questions require straightforward knowledge combined with some critical thinking and will usually appear much easier than the Kaplan full lengths. They make up for this by having a brutal curve. Definitely the best practice you can get as this is the closest to the real test.
The AAMC verbal was generally speaking easier than both EK101 and Kaplan but with a much harder curve. It tended to rely more on "main point" questions than details.
Now how do these compare? In terms of difficulty, Kaplan is the hardest, but has a really generous curve. AAMC was the easiest, but they had really tough curves. The real MCAT was harder than any of the AAMCs bur easier than most of the Kaplan's.
I'd say for anyone serious about getting a 35+, using Kaplan/EK/AAMC together is essential to develop multiple skills. For someone just wanting a 32ish, just doing the Kaplan course and most of the AAMCs will get you there.
I'll post my study habits in detail when I get my score (don't wanna jinx anything!)