Oat: Kaplan Info

[149Leopard]

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Hey guys, so May 30th 2008 is the day I am registered to take the OATs. I am currently taking a Kaplan course and I feel as if I am learning a good amount during the classroom setting but my practice test scores are mediocre at best. My first diagnostic test score was a 290... Now that I am half way through, these are my results:

Scaled Scores:
Section of the OAT Score
Total Score 315
> Total Sciences 350
- Biology 380
- General Chemistry 360
- Organic Chemistry 370
- Physics 270
> Reading Comprehension 240
> Quantitative Reasoning 270


I still have yet to really sit down and grind out some serious studying but I am still kind of frustrated with my results.I really need to nail my OAT because although I go to a pretty good college and my major is legit tough, I have a pretty low GPA. I did so well in the Bio and 2 chems. It's like every time I take the practice test everything shifts around. I got a 320 on physics, 340 on RC and 300 on QR last time. english is my second language. (When I got a 290 total).

What do I go about doing? I noticed that towards the end of the near 5 hr exam I was growing less patient and more anxious to get the damn thing over with.

Also, does anyone know if the practice/diagnostic tests that Kaplan gives are harder than the real exam?

All feedback and help will be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[pillow102]

I found the Kaplan practice exams to be harder than the real OATs. For Physics, and as long as you go over the problems, they teach you the concepts that will be tested on the OATs. Don't worry about your physics score, just do all the practice problems.

As of how you are to continue studying, methodically go through the course as Kaplan tells you to, and do all the computer workshops. It seems that you are at a level where you are only going to take the exam once, so try to do the best that you can. Take advantage of all the material you have like flashcards, and practice exams.

When it comes to how you feel when taking your exam, it is up to you how you feel. I actually found that as I took more full length practice exams, my anxiety level went down. You can choose to feel optimistic, and excited about the challenge, or you can not appreciate your current practice with the Kaplan material, and just want to go off and do something else. But whatever ever the state you are in be it anxious or positive, go through all the material!

 

[Bluesteel01]

How much is the Kaplan online OAT course again (for Canadians..might differ for Americans)? I only remember it being rip-off expensive. Is it really worth it?

 

[149Leopard]

I went about applying for financial aid, so I had to get 2 LOR and an essay to get 50% off the price. But books and all that are still ridiculous. The way i see it, yes it is worth it because knowing myself I would never get around to doing the studying and work at this level on my own. So is kaplan telling me anything I dont know? prolly not, maybe a couple things here and there. But the overall pro that you can get from kaplan is the structured layout that forces you to study.

Hope that helps.

 

[BS310]

It's not the end of the world. My score on the OAT was way, way higher than I ever scored on Kaplan's practice. The practice test on opted is a better indicator.

 

[momentofzen]

make sure you boost up your reading comprehension score to above 300

i was just barely below 300 and didnt get into my first choice school because of it. i was not really up to retaking the oat after that.

 

[Jay12]

make sure you boost up your reading comprehension score to above 300

i was just barely below 300 and didnt get into my first choice school because of it. i was not really up to retaking the oat after that.

Very true.....study your *** off for the exam and get each section above 300 minimum........you DEFINITELY don't want to have to write the test again.....👎

 

[tbiv81]

I never had the patience to finish the Kaplan exams, besides the diagnostic you take the first day. I would get through the science section and just let the time run after that for the other sections. The examinees guide on the opted website gives a good idea of what to focus on. Study up on extra word problems for QR.