NextStep MCAT Full Length Practice Test Score vs. Actual Test Date Score

[Ezra Redden]

Hello, I am scheduled to take the MCAT on April 28th and have been taking NextStep practice tests over the past couple of weeks. I have taken two and plan to take eight more on the website between now and my test date. I have gotten the following scores on my practice tests:
NS #1
ChemPhys: 126
CARS: 123
BioBiochem: 126
PsySoc: 128
Total: 503

NS#2
ChemPhys: 125
CARS: 126 (Changed my strategy)
BioBiochem: 125
PsySoc: 127
Total: 503

Does anyone have any insight into the accuracy of these NS practice tests? If so, could you share your NS practice test scores and actual test date scores to give a comparison? That would really help me and others put things into perspective. Thank you!

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[TMC07]

For me, NS was spot on. My average score after 7 exams ended up being my actual score.

 

[obhope]

NS was spot on for me also. While I wouldn't say that the actual MCAT was a breeze, having taken four, brutal NS exams really made the real thing seem a little more manageable on test day.

 

[Lozzo]

It was definitely more similar to the real thing than the Kaplan ones, but I only took one NS exam and it was pretty early on...

 

[voteknope]

I did 8 points higher on the real MCAT than on my final Next Step practice test, but I think they may have updated the materials since I took it? Not sure though! The official scored AAMC test was spot on for me though!

 

[Ejm1]

I did substantially better (~5-7 points) on my real MCAT than any of my practice exams. I think much of that may have had to do with effort, but either way, I think the Next Step exams are certainly harder than the real deal.

 

[RudySoapdish]

I thought the Next Step exams were harder than the real thing. I took 6 of them, and my score on the real exam was 10-12 points higher.

 

[premed1234567891011]

I did ten points higher on my actual exam than on my practice tests.

 

[kwabena]

I took my 2nd Next step today and I scored around your score. same as the 1st one as well. I really hope our actual one ends up being higher.

 

[77deuce]

I scored the exact same in every section on my NS 1. I'm actually reviewing my NS 1 as we speak. Might I ask how you changed your strategy for CARS ?

 

[kpba225]

what was your strategy difference for the CARS?

 

[kwabena]

I did ten points higher on my actual exam than on my practice tests.

Nice I bet that felt amazing. Just curious, when did you take your practice tests? I heard NextStep adjusted their scales. lots of people who
took the practice tests about a year ago scored 5 to 10 points higher on the real thing. Those are taking it now are scoring similar on the actual thing
or even less.

 

[kwabena]

What date are you guys taking your MCAT?

 

[kwabena]

Was is just me or NS2 was harder in terms of Chem/Phys and B/B. I felt they were brutal. Guessed on lots of them. Now I know what im weak in and need to work on those. I personally felt CARS was easier on NS2. The passages were interesting and straight forward. .Didnt have to go back to even read the passages again.

 

[77deuce]

What date are you guys taking your MCAT?

June 1st!

 

[kwabena]

June 1st!

Applying this cycle?

 

[77deuce]

Applying this cycle?

Yup. I initially planned on taking the exam like April, but all the spots were filled. I think the extra study time might end up working to my advantage though. Or at least that's what I like to tell myself

 

[kwabena]

Yup. I initially planned on taking the exam like April, but all the spots were filled. I think the extra study time might end up working to my advantage though. Or at least that's what I like to tell myself

Same I planned on April but it was filled like 2 weeks after so I got the May 13th date. Now im glad I got may and even wish it was at the end of May. My friends in other states can easily switch dates last min but CA is soo packed.

 

[kpba225]

Is June 29th too late to take the mcat? Would they put my application on hold?

 

[kwabena]

Just remember that you will be getting your scores back about July 29th. I know a girl who took her MCAT in July. She got into about 4 schools this cycle. Her advice is, you can summit your application without the score. Meaning you have to have everything ready and finalized so summit at the beginning of the cycle then only choose 1 school, then submit your application. That way, it can get verified and all. As soon as you get your scores, submit them and you might be fine.

 

[Cldillard0015]

What did you finally make on the real MCAT after taking the NS FL?