***Official Practice Score Thread August 2006***

[UMP]

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Might as well start things rolling, I know there are a few of you that backed out of April's test that can post here too 😉
Post any AAMC, Kaplan, PR or EK full length test scores here, let's see how we progress: (PS,VR,BS)


Let's get the August excitement rolling!

 

[TauPathology]

I took 3R and got PS 8, VR 13, BS 11.

I just took 4R on sunday, but I am waiting until tonight to grade it. Anyone else who took 4R notice the number of electrochemical questions on there?

I hate that stuff...

 

[Broccoli]

I took 3R and got PS 8, VR 13, BS 11.

I just took 4R on sunday, but I am waiting until tonight to grade it. Anyone else who took 4R notice the number of electrochemical questions on there?

I hate that stuff...

haha yeah, there were a lot of those. hey great VR and BS scores btw.

 

[TauPathology]

haha yeah, there were a lot of those. hey great VR and BS scores btw.

Thanks! I just graded my 4R. Some improvement in two categories, but dropped 3 points in verbal ><

PS 11, VR 10, BS 12.

The 11 in PS ans 12 in BS is exactly what I was looking for... now I just have to figure out where the verbal went ><

 

[TauPathology]

haha yeah, there were a lot of those. hey great VR and BS scores btw.

Thanks! I just graded my 4R. Some improvement in two categories, but dropped 3 points in verbal ><

PS 11, VR 10, BS 12.

The 11 in PS ans 12 in BS is exactly what I was looking for... now I just have to figure out where the verbal went ><

 

[UMP]

Took 3R today... i've lost my magic I think. VR, I couldn't concentrate all on and got a few wrong on a very simple passage (the magnetic earth), PS section was again only one question away from a 14...

so the AAMC tests so far:
5R: 13 PS, 12 VR, 13 BS = 38
3R: 13 PS, 11 VR, 12 BS = 36

I need to practice stamina for the real thing, and some tricks to stay focused during VR...

PS is my new bread and butter after my BS reasoning failed me 😉
Would like this score on the real thing, but again the target is 38 😀


I'm gonna take 4R next, which I heard has a ridiculously hard curve (esp. on VR: so don't worry TauPathology)

 

[zissouintern]

Hey everyone, I just stumbled upon SDN, so I thought I'd contribute. I've taken four practice exams so far, and am planning on taking four more (AAMC 6r, 7, 8, 9) before the big day.

EK 1G: 12 PS, 8 VR, 12 BS
AAMC 3R: 12 PS, 11 VR, 12 BS
4R: 13 PS, 9 VR, 11 BS
5R: 13 PS, 11 VR, 13 BS

Verbal seems to be hit or miss. Oh well.
Keep it up everyone!

 

[UMP]

No motivation to do anything 🙁 I don't think I'll go through 20 practice tests like I thought 🙂 At this point I just want to get through Kaplan 5 done and the rest of the AAMC's... I'm tired of waiting, bring the god damn test on already 😛

 

[jsol]

totally agree with you UMP.

from yesterday: Kaplan #7: 11ps, 9v, 11bs (31)

Went down a apoint from the last one I took in BS but I had a uneasy feeling about a few on the BS, plus there was a lot of spectroscopy stuff on the orgo parts. Well I am taking kaplan 8 on saturday so we'll see how that goes. Also a question for those who have taken a lot of practice tests. Which, if any, Kaplan test were more similar to AAMC tests? B/c I am saving the AAMC for the last few weeks or so. Thanks

 

[studyin]

Where's everyone getting their Kaplan and TPR exams? Are ya'll taking the classes? Anyone wanna send me electronic versions?

3R: 12-9-10 (31)
4R: 10-8-11 (29)
5R: 12-10-12 (34)

 

[pslee]

never felt so miserable.

6/2/06 3R 13/10/12 35
mid june 4R 13/??/11 didn't do verbal getting lazy
7/13/06 5R 13/11/11 35!! my score didn't even budge 🙁

Bit of a surprise that my score didn't move. I thought I would do better in BS, but I let myself down again. Verbal was much smoother than 3R, although it seems like I need more improvement in time management. PS, although I started strong for about first 40 questions (none wrong), I got all 6 of them wrong by stupid mistakes at the end of the test. I just don't know how to make improvements from now on.
Target score on August 19th: 15/12/15

 

[stiffany]

never felt so miserable.

6/2/06 3R 13/10/12 35
mid june 4R 13/??/11 didn't do verbal getting lazy
7/13/06 5R 13/11/11 35!! my score didn't even budge 🙁

Bit of a surprise that my score didn't move. I thought I would do better in BS, but I let myself down again. Verbal was much smoother than 3R, although it seems like I need more improvement in time management. PS, although I started strong for about first 40 questions (none wrong), I got all 6 of them wrong by stupid mistakes at the end of the test. I just don't know how to make improvements from now on.
Target score on August 19th: 15/12/15

Hi. Don't feel too bad. If you think about it, at the stage you're at already, there are only a few questions to still get right in order to see a jump in your score from an 11 to 12 to 13, etcetera. In addition, it's not like you need a 42 to get into med school (or even a 40, 38, or 36). I'd say, just keep working bit by bit on your strategy (since you're still having trouble with time management) and just go into the test knowing you'll do well (Since, with those practice scores, it's very likely you will!)

 

[estairella]

Week 11 - Kaplan MCAT #4 (14PS, 12VR, 12BS = 38)

The curve on this one was particularly easy (63-68 gets a 14 for PS). Still, not like I'm complaining

I will finish my EK content by Saturday, and do AAMC 8. After that, it's 2 MCATs every week (technically 3 on Week 14) and working on trouble spots. 😀

 

[pslee]

Hi. Don't feel too bad. If you think about it, at the stage you're at already, there are only a few questions to still get right in order to see a jump in your score from an 11 to 12 to 13, etcetera. In addition, it's not like you need a 42 to get into med school (or even a 40, 38, or 36). I'd say, just keep working bit by bit on your strategy (since you're still having trouble with time management) and just go into the test knowing you'll do well (Since, with those practice scores, it's very likely you will!)

Thanks for your reply. Well, I know that I wouldn't need a 42, but it is just a personal goal that I would like to achieve. 👍

 

[UMP]

Week 11 - Kaplan MCAT #4 (14PS, 12VR, 12BS = 38)

The curve on this one was particularly easy (63-68 gets a 14 for PS). Still, not like I'm complaining

I will finish my EK content by Saturday, and do AAMC 8. After that, it's 2 MCATs every week (technically 3 on Week 14) and working on trouble spots. 😀

nice work 👍 how'd you do on kap 1-3?

 

[estairella]

nice work 👍 how'd you do on kap 1-3?

The Kaplan FLs I did in order: Kap1 30 (diag), Kap11 31, Kap12 34, Kap2 36, Kap 3 37.

The Kap11/12 were guesstimates based on scaled scores of 7/8/9... but it was mostly the PS dragging me down initially (timing issues). I'm finding EK > AAMC > Kaplan in difficulty.

 

[whateva07]

ok how is everyone on this thread scoring 30s..like your diagnostics are 30s. Is this your first time taking the test? This is my first time but i'm in the 20s, I wish I could get to the 30s. Maybe I'm approaching these tests wrong.

 

[SaharanPrince]

Hey guys! I just toom Kaplan Full length #2 yesterday and scored a 29, missing a 30 by one question in BS. I took Full length #1 about ten days ago and got a 29, it seems like I cannot free myself from the 20's, I am trying to break my 30 this week...any suggestions really appreciated!
SP-

 

[stiffany]

ok how is everyone on this thread scoring 30s..like your diagnostics are 30s. Is this your first time taking the test? This is my first time but i'm in the 20s, I wish I could get to the 30s. Maybe I'm approaching these tests wrong.

Yea, that's how I feel when I read this particular thread. I think if I was consistently scoring in the mid30s, I'd stop studying, at least until the couple of weeks before the test. My diags have all been clustering in the upper 20s with the exception of one score in the low 30s:
5/10/06: AAMC 3R - 8PS, 8BS, 12VR (28)
6/3/06: TPR diagnostic 4911 - 8PS, 8BS, 11VR (27)
6/10/06: AAMC 6R - 9PS, 12BS, 11VR (32)
6/13/06: AAMC 4R - 10VR, 9BS, 9PS (28)
6/25/06: TPR 4921 - 7PS, 10VR, 10BS (27)

Next one is tomorrow (TPR 4931) and after getting through all of the TPR reading for each subject and 2/3 of the workbook (and getting through half of my physics II class), I'm really hoping to see marked improvement. We'll see...

 

[UMP]

ok how is everyone on this thread scoring 30s..like your diagnostics are 30s. Is this your first time taking the test? This is my first time but i'm in the 20s, I wish I could get to the 30s. Maybe I'm approaching these tests wrong.

This isn't my first time taking the test... but it might as well be. I took it in April 04 and I looked through the Kaplan book in the last 3-4 days before the test. Knowing the material cold is the most important part. That is the best way to maximize your score, after that just taking practice tests so you see what the questions look like. I think I have taken enough practice right now that half of the questions I see on PS are something that I have seen before, and know exactly what they are looking for. Also, there are other tricks that you can use that most of you are probably using already: like eliminating answer choices based on the fact that 2 or 3 of them are exactly the same except that they are worded in a slightly different manner or focus on two reciprocal concepts. Often they don't have enough options to make for 4 different answers, so they have to repeat the same wrong answer in different ways, so you can usually bet that the opposite of those two answers is the correct one 😀

Here is a really basic example from a test I took (and many of you have very early in your practice):

I don't even need to write the question, because you can basically figure it out just from the answers:

a) pressure of the gas is increased
b) number of gas particles per unit volume is increased
c) distance between collisions is decreased
d) pressure of the gas is decreased

The answer is D, because that is the only one that says something different. A,B,C say the exact same thing. (The question steam BTW is: The mean free path of a gas will be longer if the🙂 Even though many of you would just find the right answer and move on, I think eliminating two (or three) equal answers helps you a lot in figuring out what they are really looking for on questions or passages you don't quite get.

The key in tackling PS problems is knowing the relationships between things left and right... same thing for BS problems that deal with ADH, Kidney function, and blood pressure... PV=nRT deals with relationships that have been hammered in to our heads. Lots of other things have the same relationships, but they don't seem to be emphasized enough

I realize that for some these are probably very basic strategies, but they might help someone. Everyone should post some of their strategies no matter how obvious they seem to you, since none of us look at a problem in the same way.

I hope this helps at least ONE person, because it took me way too long to write. 😀

 

[whateva07]

yes thanks ump! 😀

 

[estairella]

Here's my two cents to add to UMP's:

You need a different strategy for improving for each section. I have improved the most in PS with my studying, so I'll focus on that.

Physical sciences is about knowing the formulas and concepts well, and of course, not making careless calculation mistakes. I would say content review is most important in physical sciences for most people (that is to say, most people taking the MCAT have a major somehow related to biology, if you have a physics or engineering major, then I think BS will be most "high-yield" for you).

Another thing about physical sciences is that you should realize that a lot of different concepts can often be related (similarities between kq1q2/r2 and Gm1m2/r2 is often cited as an example, as well as similarities between fluid flow and electric flow, but there's a lot more.. S.H.M. has to do with waves, and waves can be generated by an oscillating electric field, which creates a force on an elastic string, or generates an EMF, or.. etc. etc. Light emitted by stars can also be represented as energy, and do work, or can be used to calculate the speed of the stars due to the Doppler effect etc. etc.).

This is directly out of EK's book but, "the key is to find the simple science concepts behind the difficult questions".

Verbal Reasoning I haven't really improved in.. so, I can't really give advice. Like most people, I seem to lose 90% of my marks on 1 or 2 really hard or off-the-wall passages. I think it's true that it's the most difficult to improve in - I usually finish with 30 minutes left, but if I force myself to use most of the time, my score doesn't improve, in fact, I just spend more time getting stressed and second-guessing myself.

Biological Sciences, know your trivia (hormones, physiological systems,e tc.) and know how to interpret results. I wouldn't stress Orgo if you haven't gotten the Biology stuff down first. For example, when I got my first Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium question on a practice MCAT, I only remembered the p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1 formula. Suffice to say that didn't help very much (I ended up trying to solve a quadratic.. didn't go so well) without the crucial p + q = 1!

For BS I'm going to be making flashcards for all the facts I have to remember (definitely hormones, but other things too, like difference between osteoclasts & osteoblasts, steps in meiosis, etc.). However, like PS, it's also very interconnected; especially between nervous system & hormone system. Try to see the human body as a cohesive homeostatic system, I think that will help a lot.

Good luck.

 

[stiffany]

Thanks for the suggestions guys/gals! Keep them coming, please. 🙂 👍

 

[UMP]

to add to the notecards suggestion of trozman, I have my hands on Kaplan flash-cards which make a great way to review all of physics or gen chem or bio or orgo in under an hour... they cover a lot of the trivia that you need especially for the BS section. If you can get someone's cards that took the Kaplan course that's great, or you can pick them up at some of the bigger book stores.

These of course or only good AFTER you did the basic concept content review and help with the nit-picky stuff

 

[natusss]

Thanks for the suggestions! 🙂

 

[perfectmoment]

Just finished taking 6R

PS 10, VR 12, BS 11 (didn't bother doing WS) Total: 33

I'm very surprised by this. Shocked. This is the highest I've ever scored, and dwarfs the 31 I had on 5R, which is supposed to be easier anyway.

However, I worry that it may be due to the fact that I've taken 6R before... I recognized a few of the passages. most importantly, i recognized some of the VR ones... with recognition being a huge deal with verbal, at least. I dunno if these scores are inflated, or if I miraculously have done better, but with much less studying than before. Lets just hope it's the latter, rather than the former.

I was blown away at first, because I had 18 wrong on PS and 17 wrong on BS. I did the subtraction and came up with 49/77 and 50/77, which corresponds to an 8 and a 9 respectively, for those sections. I was kinda bummed, then I realized that I'm an idiot and can't do math for ****... =/

 

[Mah]

Hiye Guys,

I started studying about a month ago but didn't really concentrate. I would really really appreciate if someone can give me tips n advice about getting into mid/high 30's. Here are my scores from last few weeks

End of June- AAMC = 30
July Beginning- AAMC 5R = 31
Last week- Kaplan 6R= 28 🙁

What do I do..? By the way how long do you guys take for reading explanations? It takes me about two days! That's bad right?

 

[UMP]

Hiye Guys,

I started studying about a month ago but didn't really concentrate. I would really really appreciate if someone can give me tips n advice about getting into mid/high 30's. Here are my scores from last few weeks

End of June- AAMC = 30
July Beginning- AAMC 5R = 31
Last week- Kaplan 6R= 28 🙁

What do I do..? By the way how long do you guys take for reading explanations? It takes me about two days! That's bad right?

reading the explanations thoroughly is some of the best way to study... or so I've been told... I usually try to go over all the stuff thoroughly on AAMC tests, but on Kaplan I tend to glaze over the PS stuff since some of the questions are so off the wall and idiotic and don't look like anything the AAMC gives out that I regret taking the test while I grade/look over it.

I would only look at your AAMC tests for a true look at how you are progressing, Kaplan tests are an okay practice and loose approximation, the AAMC tests are key... (I'm averaging better on AAMC tests, too)

 

[superwillis]

sup guys!

just took another practice test today.
Took AAMC 6R - B: 12 P: 12 V: 11 == 35!

Wheee! I went up from my last test. I can't seem to stop making stupid mistakes in PS. At least 50% of the questions I got wrong in PS were purely from being ******ed and making careless mistakes. Anyone got a cure for it?

 

[whateva07]

Hi I have yet to take the real aamc tests...only taken kap tests. I was thinking of taking the aamc tests towards the end, but should I mix it up with the kap tests?

 

[UMP]

Hi I have yet to take the real aamc tests...only taken kap tests. I was thinking of taking the aamc tests towards the end, but should I mix it up with the kap tests?

I'd leave them til the end, start in august or the week before... make sure you have enough time to take at least 2 tests a week though.

 

[UMP]

sup guys!

just took another practice test today.
Took AAMC 6R - B: 12 P: 12 V: 11 == 35!

Wheee! I went up from my last test. I can't seem to stop making stupid mistakes in PS. At least 50% of the questions I got wrong in PS were purely from being ******ed and making careless mistakes. Anyone got a cure for it?

Gotta love the improvement listed right in front of your eyes 👍

 

[lakerlovin]

Just registered for the website. There's a lot of useful information and helpful tips on here.

Kaplan #5 (2 weeks ago): PS 11 VR 10 BS 8 = 29
Kaplan #8 (1 week ago): PS 10 VR 10 BS 10 = 30

This is my second time studying for the MCAT, but I don't have a score as I voided the April exam. I'm feeling a lot more comfortable with the Physical Sciences, but can't seem to get off a 10 in Verbal. Does anyone have any tips of what has helped them, or what they find is the most beneficial way to study for this section?

I'm planning on taking Kaplan #6 this week, as well as Kaplan #9, 10, 11 before I take AAMC 5R, 8, and 9. Has anyone taken any of these or heard anything about any of these tests being typically easy or hard? I've heard mixed things of Kaplan 11, and was just curious.

 

[rs76]

I think I have the worst scores out of everyone, but here they go in order of exams taken:

5R (diag)-8,6,6 =20
EK 1G - 8,7,7 = 22
3R -10,8,8 =26

I hate verbal!

Good Luck all!

 

[jsol]

from today

kaplan 8 - 10ps, 9v, 10bs (29)

by far my worst performance. The sections seemed tougher but I think it was more that my concentration wasnt very good. I plan on taking the crap out of the next full length and be sure my concentration is there. I want my damn 32 again plus more.

 

[TM2006]

I think I have the worst scores out of everyone, but here they go in order of exams taken:

5R (diag)-8,6,6 =20
EK 1G - 8,7,7 = 22
3R -10,8,8 =26

I hate verbal!

Good Luck all!

to the TPR people, are the AAMC exams easier than the diagnostics offered by TPR?

 

[UMP]

I think I have the worst scores out of everyone, but here they go in order of exams taken:

5R (diag)-8,6,6 =20
EK 1G - 8,7,7 = 22
3R -10,8,8 =26

I hate verbal!

Good Luck all!

upward trend in everything 👍 gotta love that

 

[stiffany]

5/10/06: AAMC 3R - 8PS, 8BS, 12VR (28)
6/3/06: TPR diagnostic 4911 - 8PS, 8BS, 11VR (27)
6/10/06: AAMC 6R - 9PS, 12BS, 11VR (32)
6/13/06: AAMC 4R - 10VR, 9BS, 9PS (28)
6/25/06: TPR 4921 - 7PS, 10VR, 10BS (27)
7/15/06: TPR 4931 - 10PS, 11VR, 10BS (31)

Still not where I want to be by far, but gotta be happy with my first 10 in physical sciences (by far the scariest subject for me). Next up, AAMC 9 on 7/22/06.

 

[superwillis]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the TPR diags are harder than the actual thing. Our instructors agree as well. Its even evident from my practice test scores. I've taken 2 TPR's and 2 AAMC, and done several points better on the AAMC both times.

 

[shantster]

sup guys!

just took another practice test today.
Took AAMC 6R - B: 12 P: 12 V: 11 == 35!

Wheee! I went up from my last test. I can't seem to stop making stupid mistakes in PS. At least 50% of the questions I got wrong in PS were purely from being ******ed and making careless mistakes. Anyone got a cure for it?

I find that with MC tests, I do much better if I underline key words in the question and answers that are important to the question but I might miss while taking the test.

 

[akinf]

Kaplan Diagnostic PS 8 VR 9 BS 10 (27)
Kaplan Full Length #1 PS 10 VR 7 BS 11 WS P (28P)
Kaplan Full Length #2 PS 10 VR 8 BS 11 WS (currently unknown, will edit) (29)

 

[Mah]

reading the explanations thoroughly is some of the best way to study... or so I've been told... I usually try to go over all the stuff thoroughly on AAMC tests, but on Kaplan I tend to glaze over the PS stuff since some of the questions are so off the wall and idiotic and don't look like anything the AAMC gives out that I regret taking the test while I grade/look over it.

I would only look at your AAMC tests for a true look at how you are progressing, Kaplan tests are an okay practice and loose approximation, the AAMC tests are key... (I'm averaging better on AAMC tests, too)

Hi Thanks.. 🙂

Yeah I agree, the PS section on Kaplan was unbelievably hard.. just twists and turns and sooo many calculations. I found AAMC much easier and straightforward, however, when i took the actual exam last August, the PS was as bad as Kaplan 🙁 I don't know if that was a coincidence on that particular exam or if AAMC is making them harder..? What do u guys think..?

 

[superwillis]

Hi Thanks.. 🙂

Yeah I agree, the PS section on Kaplan was unbelievably hard.. just twists and turns and sooo many calculations. I found AAMC much easier and straightforward, however, when i took the actual exam last August, the PS was as bad as Kaplan 🙁 I don't know if that was a coincidence on that particular exam or if AAMC is making them harder..? What do u guys think..?

Hmm...does anyone know what years the AAMC practice tests were administered? Like, AAMC 9...how long ago was that test administered? If it has been a while, then maybe the AAMC tests aren't as good of a predictor as we thought?

Mah, when you say that the PS was as bad as Kaplan, do you mean it was heavily-calculation based, or that it was just tricky?

 

[UMP]

the main thing I don't like about Kaplan is the fact that the passages are way too long and the calculations involve more than simplifying in to simple whole numbers... I also finish AAMC with time to spare while I struggle to do that with Kaplan, so when you are trying to develop your pacing strategy Kaplan is useless... but I hope Meh can elaborate a little bit more on what he said, and someone else that has taken it recently can throw their thoughts in on this

 

[superwillis]

Do you guys think that a 37 is a reasonable, realistic target score, based on my practice scores thus far?

 

[UMP]

Do you guys think that a 37 is a reasonable, realistic target score, based on my practice scores thus far?

yes, especially since you are scoring 11's on the AAMC verbal sections... and it seems like you are still moving your PS and BS scores... once you know all the PS and BS stuff cold, come test day you can expect 13-15's depending on how lucky you get... I'm in a similar spot as you I'm averaging about 12-14 on PS, 10-12 on VR, and about 12-14 on BS, so depending a lot on luck I expect a score of 34-40... although only a 36+ would satisfy me... (my GPA is awful)

 

[shantster]

Do you guys think that a 37 is a reasonable, realistic target score, based on my practice scores thus far?

It looks like it is. I was consistently scoring 34s on the practice tests and hit a 38 on test day.

 

[DrBowtie]

Kaplan = teh suck

 

[superwillis]

ump, i totally understand the GPA thing. My GPA is in the toilet right now (3.1). By the time I apply, i'm hoping that it will be around 3.3 or so. Which is why I need a great MCAT (36+) to stand a chance of getting in anywhere. At least, thats the plan.

it kinda sucks that getting really high scores seems to be based predominantly on luck... especially when a higher score means more to an adcom. Seems like getting in the 14-15 range just depends on whether or not you get questions that you're "good" at.

 

[bunnybear]

7/15/06, took 6R= 12P, 7V, 11B
7/18/06, 7R= 12P,8V,10B
7/22/06, Kaplan 7= 8P, 7V, 10B (God, PS killed me, what should I do guys, I thought I was good with physical 🙁🙁)

 

[UMP]

ump, i totally understand the GPA thing. My GPA is in the toilet right now (3.1). By the time I apply, i'm hoping that it will be around 3.3 or so. Which is why I need a great MCAT (36+) to stand a chance of getting in anywhere. At least, thats the plan.

it kinda sucks that getting really high scores seems to be based predominantly on luck... especially when a higher score means more to an adcom. Seems like getting in the 14-15 range just depends on whether or not you get questions that you're "good" at.

I've gotten 13's twice on AAMC PS sections one point away from a 14, and only three points away from a 15... and they were mostly mis-read or discrete type recall errors that were too specific for me to recognize...

but when you go in to the upper 30's, I really think a score of 36-39 carries about the same weight... they are way above the norm and it is almost impossible to distinguish one MCAT score from the other... 40+ is just a huge subconscious "WOW!" for an adcom though...

BTW superwillis... are you applying this year or next year ?