PS on the real MCAT vs AAMC/Kaplan PS

[speranza]

So after taking FL7 today, I'm getting really really worried about the PS section. I don't have my scores yet, but I have a feeling I didn't do too hot. Mostly b/c I didn't finish (what else in new) and had to guess on a LOT of questions. This is so frustrating b/c I was able to finish the AAMC PS fine and did well (for me).

But my question for previous test takers, was the PS section on recent MCATs more like Kaplan or AAMC?? I've heard the April MCAT PS was super difficult and this is scaring me. If it's like Kaplan's PS, I'm going to bomb it. 🙁 If it's like AAMC (esp 5R and 6R) I will be fine, I think. But it all depends on the format. I think I have a negative psychological reaction to Kaplan's PS that causes me to do poorly. Also, I spend way too much time on problems. And the math is so much harder than anything I've seen on AAMC material.

Okay, enough ranting...hope someone has some input on the PS section on the most recent MCATs.

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[jintonic5]

So after taking FL7 today, I'm getting really really worried about the PS section. I don't have my scores yet, but I have a feeling I didn't do too hot. Mostly b/c I didn't finish (what else in new) and had to guess on a LOT of questions. This is so frustrating b/c I was able to finish the AAMC PS fine and did well (for me).

But my question for previous test takers, was the PS section on recent MCATs more like Kaplan or AAMC?? I've heard the April MCAT PS was super difficult and this is scaring me. If it's like Kaplan's PS, I'm going to bomb it. 🙁 If it's like AAMC (esp 5R and 6R) I will be fine, I think. But it all depends on the format. I think I have a negative psychological reaction to Kaplan's PS that causes me to do poorly. Also, I spend way too much time on problems. And the math is so much harder than anything I've seen on AAMC material.

Okay, enough ranting...hope someone has some input on the PS section on the most recent MCATs.

i'm the same way with my timing in kaplan ps. i think kaplan is harder that aamc, and i'm PRAYING that ps this time around isn't as bad as it was in april.

 

[jmnykrkts]

i'm the same way with my timing in kaplan ps. i think kaplan is harder that aamc, and i'm PRAYING that ps this time around isn't as bad as it was in april.

Diddo. I've been opting out of doing FLs lately to try and focus more on PS cause I've been getting a bit freaked by what I heard about april's PS. So I've been doing a bunch of the kaplan PS sections alone and my scores only seem to be getting worse with time 😱 I went from 9s, to 10s, to 11s, then back to 9s... WTF!!? What the f$@#k is that all about? Any advice?

 

[jmnykrkts]

Diddo. I've been opting out of doing FLs lately to try and focus more on PS cause I've been getting a bit freaked by what I heard about april's PS. So I've been doing a bunch of the kaplan PS sections alone and my scores only seem to be getting worse with time 😱 I went from 9s, to 10s, to 11s, then back to 9s... WTF!!? What the f$@#k is that all about? Any advice?

And I just did the PS from FL5 today. How did it go? Lets just say I'm refusing to check what my raw score actually converts to. In fact, I'm not even counting up my right answers to figure out my raw score. It will only sting too much.... Why is this happening to me? 🙁

 

[UMMedM1]

The PS on the real MCAT is kind of a crapshoot, just like any other section: You may get a bunch of stuff that you're really good at, or you may get a bunch that you were praying wouldn't be on the test. There are so many versions of the MCAT on test day that some will fit your strengths, and others won't. There is just no getting around this. The best thing to do is just keep a positive attitude, try your best, and remember that there are lots of people taking the same sections as you that day, so if you think it's especially hard, so will everyone else. It's a curved exam, so don't sweat it. I ended up doing really well on PS on test day, even though I know for a fact that I botched the easy ones!

As for the Kaplan PS, it's harder than the AAMC PS practice materials, just like every other section. Kaplan does this just to challenge its students, and you'll benefit from the tough training on test day.

One more thing, a little anecdote: My first discrete on test day asked me which windows I would open in a house in order to heat it most efficiently (testing the simple concept that heat rises), and I was so dumbfounded by it that I just said to open them all. This was obviously wrong, and it caused me a lot of grief on test day, not to mention the minute I spent staring at the question in shocked disbelief. I still did just fine though, proving once again that you can get a low percentage right, miss the easy ones, and still be OK on the PS on test day!

 

[Mister Pie]

One more thing, a little anecdote: My first discrete on test day asked me which windows I would open in a house in order to heat it most efficiently (testing the simple concept that heat rises), and I was so dumbfounded by it that I just said to open them all. This was obviously wrong, and it caused me a lot of grief on test day, not to mention the minute I spent staring at the question in shocked disbelief. I still did just fine though, proving once again that you can get a low percentage right, miss the easy ones, and still be OK on the PS on test day!

Wow that's a bizarre question. I think I would have gotten that one wrong as well. Not anymore though. 🙂

 

[dtreese]

Towards the end of the program, Kaplan tests get pretty ridiculously hard. Don't worry. It's not something they really want to be a secret, but they want you, while you're taking the program, to be a little surprised. The deal is that there will be passages like that on the MCAT -- 1 or maybe 2. But they will not ALL be that hard. Kaplan figures that by now, you've done enough studying that you're feeling good about your strengths and you know where your weaknesses are. They want to continue pushing you to shore up those weaknesses, as well as to challenge you in your strong areas. It works, too. When you get to the real thing, it's like cake. It's more like the AAMC material, obviously. The problem with Kaplan's strategy is that you need to know what they're doing going into it so they don't break your morale.

 

[Wan2BanMD]

thats really good to know. thanks. i just spent my entire day freaking out about my PS score on Kaplan FL9. I have been getting between 9s and 12s on the Kaplan PS section so it has really been stressing me out. My test is in 4 wks...

 

[Futuredoctors]

Sorry guys, I have never gotten below a 14 on PS or BS either on kaplan FLs or AAMC.

 

[ElliottB]

thats really good to know. thanks. i just spent my entire day freaking out about my PS score on Kaplan FL9. I have been getting between 9s and 12s on the Kaplan PS section so it has really been stressing me out. My test is in 4 wks...

For what it's worth, this thread is 5 years old. Things have probably since changed.

 

[kehlsh]

For what it's worth, this thread is 5 years old. Things have probably since changed.

Probably not.