Score drop from 38 to 31?!

[LukeLC23]

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So this is awkward.... Just did AAMC 11 and got a 10/10/11. I've been getting 35's, 36's and 37's with a 14/10/14 on my last test.

All I can say is...HELP!

Any suggestions? Test is in 4 days so idk if I should panic and review or just take a day off since I haven't taken a day off in 2 months of studying 8-10 hours a day.

 

[debilitating]

I haven't taken a day off in 2 months of studying 8-10 hours a day.

Stop studying and take a break.

 

[Jepstein30]

So this is awkward.... Just did AAMC 11 and got a 10/10/11. I've been getting 35's, 36's and 37's with a 14/10/14 on my last test.

All I can say is...HELP!

Any suggestions? Test is in 4 days so idk if I should panic and review or just take a day off since I haven't taken a day off in 2 months of studying 8-10 hours a day.

You have an exam that covers 4 different topics: A, B, C and D

You study really hard and are an expert in A and B.. but you have trouble with C and have no idea how to answer D questions.

One practice test only asks you questions on A and B: you rock it
One practice test only asks you questions on B and C: you do okay
One practice test only asks you questions on C and D: you do terrible

^^^ the MCAT, except with many more topics.. increasing the likelihood that you get a great or terrible test for your specific strengths and weaknesses rather than a test that is straight across the board.

This is why you should take an AAMC average rather than look at any one test as an indicator. Because that one test may have been the jackpot for you and that won't happen on test day, most likely. The average at least hits a larger range of subjects and gives a more accurate picture of test day. You can still hit the jackpot on the real thing but you can also hit the worst possible test for you, etc.

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Post from earlier today above. AAMC 11 was the test on C and D for you. Your 38 was A and B.

This is a good thing IMO, not a bad thing. You were lucky enough to be able to identify some of your weaker areas and have some time to fix them.. rather than showing up on test day and finding those weak topics for the first time there.

Review the test.. take a day to review the content areas that you were weak in and relax.

 

[gumdrops]

You have an exam that covers 4 different topics: A, B, C and D

You study really hard and are an expert in A and B.. but you have trouble with C and have no idea how to answer D questions.

One practice test only asks you questions on A and B: you rock it
One practice test only asks you questions on B and C: you do okay
One practice test only asks you questions on C and D: you do terrible

^^^ the MCAT, except with many more topics.. increasing the likelihood that you get a great or terrible test for your specific strengths and weaknesses rather than a test that is straight across the board.

This is why you should take an AAMC average rather than look at any one test as an indicator. Because that one test may have been the jackpot for you and that won't happen on test day, most likely. The average at least hits a larger range of subjects and gives a more accurate picture of test day. You can still hit the jackpot on the real thing but you can also hit the worst possible test for you, etc.

--------

Post from earlier today above. AAMC 11 was the test on C and D for you. Your 38 was A and B.

This is a good thing IMO, not a bad thing. You were lucky enough to be able to identify some of your weaker areas and have some time to fix them.. rather than showing up on test day and finding those weak topics for the first time there.

Review the test.. take a day to review the content areas that you were weak in and relax.

This, this and this. Exhaustion could also be playing a role. Take breaks, occasionally.

 

[LukeLC23]

Haha thanks guys, about to go watch a movie and forget all about this test until i review it.

 

[spiker268]

I agree with everything everyone else said here. By the time the test comes around, anyone will be feeling a little burnout. For me, the best thing I did was do very light studying the few days up to the test, while being active and doing things I enjoyed. For me that meant going to the gym and playing ping pong, but anything that somewhat relaxes you and is active should suffice.

 

[gumdrops]

Yeah, stop studying so hard if the exam's in four days. Keep in mind that the difference between the scores at the upper end is just a few questions. I'm tempted to think that this is a brag thread on your part, because if you're smart enough to be consistently scoring 35's, 36's, and 37's, you're smart enough to know that one statistical outlier doesn't mean very much in the long run.

While I agree with you mostly, I can see how the OP would freak out because people paint AAMC 11 on this forum to be the be-all end-all of predictive exams on SDN. Then you scan the 30+ forum and see that many people didn't even take AAMC 11. During the last week all people should be doing is working to build and keep confidence. I'd argue to skip an extra exam if you think it'll destroy your mojo so close to test day.

 

[gumdrops]

I apologize. What I was trying to say was "it was only one exam, don't freak out." But I can be very sarcastic, and I can see where what I said sounded mean.

Nah, it sounded like tough love. Also, a safe SDN default is to assume that people need to get over themselves 😉

 

[LukeLC23]

Sorry if it sounded like I was bragging. Just legitimately freaked out by the score but "We're the Millers" with the bros calmed me down. Thanks!