Topscore vs. Thin Kaplan book vs. Real Test

[name_here]

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Hey everyone,

I'm sorry if I sound really repetitive but I am really curious as to know how the 3 compare. I bought the thin $32 blue and white book by Kaplan and I've only taken the practice tests inside (no full length practice tests yet). Is it just me or are the questions just way too detailed and complicated? Esp. physics and gchem!

I also bought the Topscore CD and I'm finding it MUCH easier. Physics and gchem is basically plug and chug (although it requires memorizing a gazillion formulas) with general concepts.

Which one's more realistic? And is it true that people generally score around 40 points higher on the real OAT than the Topscore scores? Anybody have any real numbers to show me so I can get a better idea?

Thanks very much!

 

[alferec]

Hey everyone,

I'm sorry if I sound really repetitive but I am really curious as to know how the 3 compare. I bought the thin $32 blue and white book by Kaplan and I've only taken the practice tests inside (no full length practice tests yet). Is it just me or are the questions just way too detailed and complicated? Esp. physics and gchem!

I also bought the Topscore CD and I'm finding it MUCH easier. Physics and gchem is basically plug and chug (although it requires memorizing a gazillion formulas) with general concepts.

Which one's more realistic? And is it true that people generally score around 40 points higher on the real OAT than the Topscore scores? Anybody have any real numbers to show me so I can get a better idea?

Thanks very much!

If those tests in the think Kaplan book are the same as the ones given on the test, then in comparison, Kaplan's tests seem harder. I took the Kaplan course and their practice tests were really hard...and when I took the actual test I was thinking "wow, it wasn't as bad as Kaplan made it seem!"

Don't get me wrong though, the actual test was still pretty hard!!!

 

[StephanieOD2B]

I took the test on Saturday, and I found it to be quite a bit easier than the Topscore CD that I bought. I memorized a lot of physics equations that I didn't even need on the actual test but that were needed for the CD. I also found that, on my version of the test, there were only, like 2 or so questions in organic chemistry that required a knowledge of reagents, so I wasted a lot of time memorizing exactly what every reagent did to alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aldehydes, ketones, etc. I thought the test really tested what one understands moreso than what one can memorize. Good luck on the OAT- it really isn't so bad🙂 .