To MCAT Alumni

[Premed315U]

How many practice tests did you take? Besides AAMC ones, which were the best? Did your scores cocmpare to bookstore practice tests? How did the practice tests bookstore questions compare to the real thing? I'm saving AAMC for Feb/March/April.

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[gizzdogg]

Premed,
Hey, I like your idea of saving some AAMC tests for later in the game. I think the scoring methods of the commercial tests are a little off. These scores probably underestimate your true ability. However, I don't think it would be a bad idea for you to take AAMC I and II soon to gauge where you are right now. While I and II are easier than the MCAT you'll take (especially the Verbal section), the scoring should hold for the Bio and Phys sections. The Verbal section probably not so much. AAMC IV and V are definitely your best resources for seeing where you're at, but again, saving those for later is probably wise.

 

[Premed315U]

Thanks for your info!

Does anyone have the Examkrackers 1001 orgo book to sell? Also, Columbia Review verbal or 3 practice exam bookstore books?

Thanks so much <img src="graemlins/pity.gif" border="0" alt="[Pity]" />

 

[UCLA2000]

I've posted lengthy responses on other threads just like this one. Why not find them rather than having us all reinvent the wheel everytime someone new comes along?

 

[brandonite]

Firstly, I agree with UCLA - do a search. There's lots out there.

WRT practice tests... I did five AAMC ones, and maybe 4 each from TPR and Kaplan. The TPR ones were better, in my opinion. The Kaplan ones (at least in the science area) were far more focused on recalling obscure little facts than the actual MCATs. They used to drive me mad...

Anyway, both TPR and Kaplan weren't too bad in VR. If I were you, I'd do both TPR and Kaplan for review in VR (it can never hurt to do more VR passages), and use only TPR for Science sections.

I did two AAMC ones right at the very beginning to get an idea of where I needed to help, and I did three right at the end. Tuesday, Wednesday,and Thursday before the MCAT were AAMC practice test days. Friday I took off. And on Saturday, well, we all know what happens on Saturday.

 

[TAP]

The best advice that you can get from any of us about MCAT prep is PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. If you are taking a prep course (ie-Kap, TPR) those practice tests are useful and will force you to study topics that you are a bit rusty in, but beware that they are NOTHING like the real test. When you are taking diags, you should be looking at how many you get right each time and keep increasing that number. The scaled scores aren't going to tell you anything. I think the overall best prep as far as getting ready for what the real test is like is the AAMC practice tests. Especially practice test III and IV. Although I and II read like the real test, the verbal is easier. My score on III and IV was EXACTLY what I got on the real test. Save those until the 3 weeks before the exam and take them under real conditions. If you do that, you will know exactly what to expect on test day. Good luck.