Practice test fluctuations?

[Calizboosted76]

How severe has everyone’s practice test fluctuations been?

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[Retro.viridae]

I took KP1: 499. Took KP2 a week later and got 499 again. Then took NS1 today (11 days after KP2) and got 507. I don’t understand how I had an 8 point jump and am skeptical.

 

[Calizboosted76]

I took KP1: 499. Took KP2 a week later and got 499 again. Then took NS1 today (11 days after KP2) and got 507. I don’t understand how I had an 8 point jump and am skeptical.

Well I know Kaplan’s are super deflated. I’m not sure if the same is true about NS or if they are easier.

 

[Lawpy]

Kaplan and TPR are deflated. NS gets deflated above 509+ (it's really hard to get anything higher than 512). I'd just use the third party exams as practice to simulate test day conditions and not worry too much about scores and score predictions. Only the AAMC practice tests can provide a true accurate picture of what you'll be able to score on test day.

 

[Calizboosted76]

Yea the AAMC ones I have fluctuated on +/- by 5 points. I am not taking the test in the most desirable testing conditions (Little brother having anger issues and screaming, my daughter crying, etc.) Just curious as to what to expect. I was supposed to take the test july 20th but may push it further back. @Lawper , are NS representative under the 509 range? I need to hit at least a 505 on the actual exam.

 

[Lawpy]

Yea the AAMC ones I have fluctuated on +/- by 5 points. I am not taking the test in the most desirable testing conditions (Little brother having anger issues and screaming, my daughter crying, etc.) Just curious as to what to expect. I was supposed to take the test july 20th but may push it further back. @Lawper , are NS representative under the 509 range? I need to hit at least a 505 on the actual exam.

NS are apparently accurate in 505-509 range. But NS gets inflated 504 and below.

 

[Blueprint MCAT Tutor]

I have tutored dozens of students and typically severe score fluctuations happen due to environmental factors, such as, being in a noisy environment, not getting adequate sleep the night before, feeling burned out, etc. A few points of fluctuation in either direction can be expected going from exam to exam since it's possible certain exams can hit on your strong points or weak points and thus cause fluctuations. I wouldn't worry too much about fluctuations as it's a very normal thing to see in the course of studying. The most important thing isn't the scores you're getting, but it's to make sure you are learning maximally from your review of the exams. If you are doing that, then the scores aren't as relevant in my opinion (except maybe AAMC exams, which give you a good sense of where you stand test-taking wise, but even those aren't exact).

Overall, don't worry about fluctuations, just do your best to learn from whatever mistakes you are making and try your best to always simulate exam conditions. I hope that helps and if you have any other questions, please reach out!

 

[907914]

My AAMC FLs were over 3 months and went 510,519,516, and 518 equivalent on the practice test with a 521 real deal.

 

[deleted972488]

Kaplan 1: 504, Kaplan 2: 508, Kaplan 3: 509, AAMC 1: 516, AAMC Sample: ~512, AAMC 2: 520, AAMC 3: 522, Real: 523

 

[Lawpy]

Kaplan 1: 504, Kaplan 2: 508, Kaplan 3: 509, AAMC 1: 516, AAMC Sample: ~512, AAMC 2: 520, AAMC 3: 522, Real: 523

Yeah this is generally a trend observed between 3rd party exams and AAMCs/real deal. The 3rd party exams are difficult, too detail focused, or are generally deflated. But the AAMC exams are more strikingly clear if the exam was properly and thoroughly studied for.

 

[kaen]

I was just wondering about this exact thing. I just took my first TPR FL exam, and I got 503 (126/128/126/123). I was wondering if I needed to panic or something haha. My exam is on Aug 9.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Kaplan 1: 504, Kaplan 2: 508, Kaplan 3: 509, AAMC 1: 516, AAMC Sample: ~512, AAMC 2: 520, AAMC 3: 522, Real: 523

What did you use to study for the exam and over what period of time?

 

[Lardy Boy]

I was just wondering about this exact thing. I just took my first TPR FL exam, and I got 503 (126/128/126/123). I was wondering if I needed to panic or something haha. My exam is on Aug 9.

Nah. I got 505’s on TPR and 508ish in AAMC FL then on real 512.

 

[deleted972488]

What did you use to study for the exam and over what period of time?

Worked full time so spent more time than most... your mileage may vary. Used Kaplan 7 book set (minus the CARS book), UWorld, and all of the AAMC material (section bank, q-packs, official guide, full lengths).

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

Fluctuations happen! For me it was influenced by how rested I was, what else I had going on, and the topics on each practice exam. I wouldn't worry about it. Here is what my exams looked like last summer.

Test 1 (early June, before doing much review) AAMC sample: C/P 70%, CARS 68%, B/B 74%, P/S 80%
FL1 (8/1): TBR1 C/P 130, EK1 CARS 123 (ouch), Altius1 B/B 127, EK1 P/S 128 = 508 total
FL2 (8/7): TBR2 C/P 129, EK2 CARS 122 (starting to stress), TBR1 B/B 129, Altius1 P/S 129 = 509 total
FL3 (8/10): Altius1 C/P 131, Altius1 CARS 125, EK1 B/B 127, TBR1 P/S 128 = 511 total
FL4 (8/15): EK1 C/P 129, EK3 CARS 124, Altius2 B/B 128, EK2 P/S 129 = 510 total
FL5 (8/20): TBR3 C/P 131, Altius2 CARS 126, TBR2 B/B 129, Altius2 P/S 128 = 514 total
FL6 (8/23): AAMC 1 C/P 131, CARS 126, B/B 131, P/S 130 = 518 total
FL7 (8/30): AAMC 2 C/P 131, CARS 124, B/B 131, P/S 129 = 515 total
FL8 (9/5): EK3 C/P 127, Altius3 CARS 124, TBR3 B/B 129, Altius3 P/S 128 = 508 total
FL9 (9/13): AAMC 3 C/P 131, CARS 123, B/B 130, P/S 128 = 512 total
MCAT (9/18): C/P 132, CARS 122, B/B 132, P/S 130 = 516 total