Taking MCAT two weeks in a row?

[deleted966837]

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My studying has hit diminishing returns. I have covered all AAMC material, some of Kaplan, most of Khan Academy, and I have 1.2k well-reviewed Anki cards.

At this point, the biggest determinant of my score will be day-to-day fluctuations in energy/mood as well as variability in test content. Is it advisable to take the MCAT two weeks in a row to attempt to control for these variables?

Background: I have taken the MCAT once before. I scored 515, 516 on consecutive AAMC practice tests (totally replicated testing conditions), but scored 508 on the real test. This difference was disappointing and hard to explain any other way than situational factors. However I have since covered substantially more content.

 

[Bonne Nuit]

My studying has hit diminishing returns. I have covered all AAMC material, some of Kaplan, most of Khan Academy, and I have 1.2k well-reviewed Anki cards.

At this point, the biggest determinant of my score will be day-to-day fluctuations in energy/mood as well as variability in test content. Is it advisable to take the MCAT two weeks in a row to attempt to control for these variables?

Background: I have taken the MCAT once before. I scored 515, 516 on consecutive AAMC practice tests (totally replicated testing conditions), but scored 508 on the real test. This difference was disappointing and hard to explain any other way than situational factors. However I have since covered substantially more content.

Can you please clarify something for me?

Are you saying that you've taken the MCAT once already, and are now considering signing up for two future MCAT dates one week apart from each other (i.e., you'll have 3 total MCAT scores)?

 

[deleted966837]

Yes that is correct. Three months have passed since the first attempt.

I don't like the idea, but the first result was so misaligned with my expectations that I feel situational factors (sleep, mood, energy, test content, etc) have an outsized influence. Perhaps elite schools would look more harshly upon it, but others might take a more charitable view (eg, best out of three).

 

[Bonne Nuit]

Nobody anywhere is going to take a charitable view of that plan. That's going to look insane.

What happens if you pull off a 517 on attempt 2 but receive a 512 on attempt 3? It's not like you're going to know your score for attempt 2 by the time you take attempt 3. Think about it - how would that appear to an admissions committee?

But look, I'm really, really sorry about the drop from your practice scores. The same thing happened to me, too (i.e., big drop from AAMC FLs taken under real conditions to actual exam with no real explanation other than test-day situational factors). While my true MCAT score is still good, I was receiving stellar scores on all 3 AAMC FL tests and I was (still am, tbh) disappointed about how much I dropped.

But you can do this. You know what to expect from the testing day now that you've been through it before. Take the MCAT one more time and void if you feel like situational factors on the day were keeping you from performing your best.

But DO NOT take 2 scored MCAT exams one week apart from one another. There's no possible way that could help your application, and I frankly can only see ways it will totally tank you.

 

[deleted966837]

I appreciate your input. I will take the one test.

 

[Bonne Nuit]

Good call. For what it's worth, I think you can take the MCAT once more and see a big jump from your 508 (up into that elusive 515+ range) since you've done more review/practice since your first exam. You can always void if anything goes wrong.

It won't be perfectly representative (since you've already seen the questions before), but you might also redo your AAMC section banks and an FL or two and see where you're at.

Just consider the first test a fluke due to being nervous in an unfamiliar/high pressure situation. But now you know exactly what to expect and trust that you're going to crush it this time around. I believe in you.

 

[stayathomemom]

I thought you could only be registered for one MCAT at a time. It would make your plan moot anyway.