TPR exams vs the real thing, how am I doing?

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mcat_taker

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Hey everyone so I'm panicking a bit. I've taken 3 TPR tests so far and scored 499, 499, 498.

My last test (TPR 3) I scored 122/126/124/126 for a 498

The test before that (TPR 2) I scored 122/125/126/126 for a 499.

Have not taken the AAMC practice test yet. How difficult in comparison are the TPR tests? Are they harder than the real MCAT? Should my scores improve on the real thing based on anyone's experience?

thanks for anyone's advice on this matter.
 
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I am in the same boat as you OP. Kinda, took a test today and ended up with 123/126/124/125 for a total of 498. I test early august and I am freaking out. I have taken a prep class but haven't really reviewed on my own. This is up 4 points from my 1st test so there's that but I am really worried.
 
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Took most TPR with no real deviation from 499-502 (with one 507 lol) and ended up 82-92 prelim... Hope it helps
 
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Just gonna further confirm what they've said. My TPR were around 502 - 505 for the most part, with a few outliers higher (507, 509)
Ended up with 90 - 100 overall, so they are not good predictors of how you'll do on real test day. Btw, my first diagnostic was 496 so don't freak out!
 
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Thanks everyone for the feedback! My test is july 17th so not much time! Any good ideas on how to brush up biochem? The TPR chapter on biochem is kinda lacking. I'm also worried about physics cause its my worst section 123, then I got 122, and 122 on TPR 1, 2, 3.

So far I've scored 126 on psych for all 3. It's been my best/most consistent section. Had like 10-15 mins to spare on the last test. I pretty much just read the TPR psych review book.
 
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Took 5 TPR FL 492/496/500/499/500

Took the June 19 MCAT and based on my prelims I'm going to end up with a 499-500.

The actual exam was much harder IMO.
 
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bestindawest said:
Took 5 TPR FL 492/496/500/499/500

Took the June 19 MCAT and based on my prelims I'm going to end up with a 499-500.

The actual exam was much harder IMO.
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Do you think the lower result could be attributed to CARS ? I know that is a very if-y section and just loves to screw people up.
 
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ceeattemptsmed said:
Do you think the lower result could be attributed to CARS ? I know that is a very if-y section and just loves to screw people up.
Click to expand...

Definitely.

Here are my preliminaries:
  • C/P: 74-89%
  • CARS: 28-43% (my best section in all of the practice tests - super strange)
  • Bio: 49-64%
  • Psy/Soc: 38-53%
  • Overall: 44%-54% (499-501?)
I averaged around a 126 for CARS on all of my practice tests. On the AAMC practice test I scored an 80%. On the actual test I bombed it. Go figure.
 
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bestindawest said:
Definitely.

Here are my preliminaries:
  • C/P: 74-89%
  • CARS: 28-43% (my best section in all of the practice tests - super strange)
  • Bio: 49-64%
  • Psy/Soc: 38-53%
  • Overall: 44%-54% (499-501?)
I averaged around a 126 for CARS on all of my practice tests. On the AAMC practice test I scored a 80%. On the actual test I bombed it. Go figure.
Click to expand...

The deviation is crazy. Wow that definitely has me worried now. Is there any reason that comes to mind for that happening like conditions on test day ?
 
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ceeattemptsmed said:
The deviation is crazy. Wow that definitely has me worried now. Is there any reason that comes to mind for that happening like conditions on test day ?
Click to expand...

To be honest with you, I don't know what the hell happened. I walked out of the test thinking that CARS was my best section. It went smoothly during the test.

I would LOVE to see what I missed. Too bad that isn't an option, because part of me thinks there might have been some sort of mistake made.
 
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I talked to a friend recently about how the TPR tests were compared to his real test on one of the June dates. He felt the TPR tests were harder for sure.

I think it varies from person to person.
 
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bestindawest said:
To be honest with you, I don't know what the hell happened. I walked out of the test thinking that CARS was my best section. It went smoothly during the test.

I would LOVE to see what I missed. Too bad that isn't an option, because part of me thinks there might have been some sort of mistake made.
Click to expand...
Yeah it would have definitely helped to know what to work on even for retakes
 
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Anyone know what the difference between the TPR core tests and supplementary tests are? I'll probably only have time to finish the last core test (TPR 5) and then the aamc test before my test date next friday.
 
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frodo25 said:
Did you do anything in particular between the last FL to improve? Congrats though!
Click to expand...

Not really. I've continued to try and work through the TPR workbook and online passages. I've read their review books. What scares me is that there is still so much I don't really understand that well especially when it comes to physics/chem/biochem that I worry that the 503 could be a fluke and maybe I just got lucky.
 
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bestindawest said:
Definitely.

Here are my preliminaries:
  • C/P: 74-89%
  • CARS: 28-43% (my best section in all of the practice tests - super strange)
  • Bio: 49-64%
  • Psy/Soc: 38-53%
  • Overall: 44%-54% (499-501?)
I averaged around a 126 for CARS on all of my practice tests. On the AAMC practice test I scored an 80%. On the actual test I bombed it. Go figure.
Click to expand...

That worries me cause I find the psych in TPR pretty easy. I got 127 the last time and finished with plenty of time. Cars is also my second best section after psych so I really need those to go well for me on test day.
 
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mcat_taker said:
Anyone know what the difference between the TPR core tests and supplementary tests are? I'll probably only have time to finish the last core test (TPR 5) and then the aamc test before my test date next friday.
Click to expand...

Haven't done all the supplementary TPR exams yet, but I've finished course tests 1-5 and I've done the complete exams. Felt like the complete exams were on par with course tests 4 and 5 except I felt like the CARS was some of the hardest verbal I've done in a while.
 
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itsallgood92 said:
Haven't done all the supplementary TPR exams yet, but I've finished course tests 1-5 and I've done the complete exams. Felt like the complete exams were on par with course tests 4 and 5 except I felt like the CARS was some of the hardest verbal I've done in a while.
Click to expand...

Any idea why they differentiate between core tests, complete, and supplementary?
 
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mcat_taker said:
Any idea why they differentiate between core tests, complete, and supplementary?
Click to expand...

I don't think there really is any real distinction except for the fact that the course tests can only be accessed by being enrolled in the class, while the "complete" and "review" exams can be acquired through accessing TPR's books. If you want my general impression of the exams, I think that the course tests get a little more straightforward as you go a long, so if I had to choose between course test 5 and complete 2, i'd definitely go with course test 5 as a confidence booster rather than complete 2 since the CARS section on that was absolutely brutal. These have been my TPR scores so far:

course test 1: 127/124/126/124=501
course test 2: 128/124/127/127=506
course test 3: 124/125/127/126=502
course test 4: 128/128/128/126=510
course test 5: 127/127/129/128=511
complete test 2: 126/124/131/127=508

Overall I feel like the consensus on TPR exams is kinda mixed. I've had some friends who scored just a few points above their TPR average, and I've heard of others make ridiculous 10-15 point jumps on the real thing, so it's really hard to tell what you'll actually get. I think the most important thing is to just keep crushing exams, so that you feel really comfortable taking a 7.5 hour exam, and not worrying too much about what scores you get.
 
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Dreamstoo said:
I've heard TPR FL Complete Test #2 had difficult VR.
Click to expand...

Yea it was ridiculously hard for me. I don't really know what it is with TPR, but my CARS scores just fluctuate too much, and I feel that the real thing is just gonna come down to how I perform on that particular section. I was starting to get a little confidence after course tests 4 and 5 but the complete exam CARS kinda just tore me a new one.
 
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itsallgood92 said:
I don't think there really is any real distinction except for the fact that the course tests can only be accessed by being enrolled in the class, while the "complete" and "review" exams can be acquired through accessing TPR's books. If you want my general impression of the exams, I think that the course tests get a little more straightforward as you go a long, so if I had to choose between course test 5 and complete 2, i'd definitely go with course test 5 as a confidence booster rather than complete 2 since the CARS section on that was absolutely brutal. These have been my TPR scores so far:

course test 1: 127/124/126/124=501
course test 2: 128/124/127/127=506
course test 3: 124/125/127/126=502
course test 4: 128/128/128/126=510
course test 5: 127/127/129/128=511
complete test 2: 126/124/131/127=508

Overall I feel like the consensus on TPR exams is kinda mixed. I've had some friends who scored just a few points above their TPR average, and I've heard of others make ridiculous 10-15 point jumps on the real thing, so it's really hard to tell what you'll actually get. I think the most important thing is to just keep crushing exams, so that you feel really comfortable taking a 7.5 hour exam, and not worrying too much about what scores you get.
Click to expand...

You have an insanely high TPR exam average.
 
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Dreamstoo said:
You have an insanely high TPR exam average.
Click to expand...

I have a friend scoring about that high on average on her TPRs she's also taking the exam next friday. I don't think its anything that crazy unusual. Granted she is a lot smarter than I am though so what do I know. Still would love those scores!
 
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itsallgood92 said:
I don't think there really is any real distinction except for the fact that the course tests can only be accessed by being enrolled in the class, while the "complete" and "review" exams can be acquired through accessing TPR's books. If you want my general impression of the exams, I think that the course tests get a little more straightforward as you go a long, so if I had to choose between course test 5 and complete 2, i'd definitely go with course test 5 as a confidence booster rather than complete 2 since the CARS section on that was absolutely brutal. These have been my TPR scores so far:

course test 1: 127/124/126/124=501
course test 2: 128/124/127/127=506
course test 3: 124/125/127/126=502
course test 4: 128/128/128/126=510
course test 5: 127/127/129/128=511
complete test 2: 126/124/131/127=508

Overall I feel like the consensus on TPR exams is kinda mixed. I've had some friends who scored just a few points above their TPR average, and I've heard of others make ridiculous 10-15 point jumps on the real thing, so it's really hard to tell what you'll actually get. I think the most important thing is to just keep crushing exams, so that you feel really comfortable taking a 7.5 hour exam, and not worrying too much about what scores you get.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the insights!
 
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🙁 I scored 498 on the MCAT demo...what do you guys think? Is this normal?

What course of action should I take next to improve my scores??? (other than reviewing the mcat demo for right and wrong answers)
 
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FauxBlue said:
🙁 I scored 498 on the MCAT demo...what do you guys think? Is this normal?

What course of action should I take next to improve my scores??? (other than reviewing the mcat demo for right and wrong answers)
Click to expand...

Yes, definitely don't freak out. The demo has been known to be harder than normal in comparison to the other TPR exams.
 
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TheAnonymous said:
Sorry @FauxBlue - is the MCAT demo a full-length test or a half-length?
Click to expand...

It is a full-length test


itsallgood92 said:
Yes, definitely don't freak out. The demo has been known to be harder than normal in comparison to the other TPR exams.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the encouraging words! Do you know what I should do to improve my scores? On the demo my breakdown was 124/124/124/126. It almost looks like everything is my weakness. Does this mean my content review was not solid???
 
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membername24 said:
Took most TPR with no real deviation from 499-502 (with one 507 lol) and ended up 82-92 prelim... Hope it helps
Click to expand...

How did you approach your studying after seeing your score such as the 499? What did you change? Do you think its helpful to go back to some content review or pull through with more and more practice instead???
 
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So I have one week before my MCAT. Do you guys think I can pull off TPR course test 5 on monday and AAMC test on wednesday. Or is that too heavy.
 
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FauxBlue said:
It is a full-length test




Thank you for the encouraging words! Do you know what I should do to improve my scores? On the demo my breakdown was 124/124/124/126. It almost looks like everything is my weakness. Does this mean my content review was not solid???
Click to expand...

When is your exam? I suggest maybe running through more practice exams and filling in weak areas as you go along. My approach has been something like this:

Mon: FL
Tues: Review + weak areas
Wed: FL
Thurs: Review + weak areas
Fri: Rest
Sat: weak areas
Sun: Rest
*Rinse and repeat

This is literally all I've done the last 2 months, and I've barely opened my review books since. I've taken around 14 exams already, but my scores haven't really plateaued yet so I guess I'm doing something right. My exam is Aug 22nd, so I'm planning to do 4 more exams in the next 2 weeks, then take my foot off the gas and switch to AAMC materials/thorough content review for the last month. By doing exams I've found that several things happen:

1) You cover more ground in a day (topics/concepts wise) and make efficient use of your time instead of aimlessly reviewing content/memorizing random details
2) You hone your timing & build stamina
3) You create multiple situations where you are forced to use POE when your content isn't adequate
4) You uncover glaring weaknesses that are probably hampering your score
5) You're frequently hammering in high yield concepts into your working memory and building a useable semantic network that will hopefully get you a higher score on test day (took a page out of the psych/soc section lol)

Again, I'm sure everyone is different and I'm definitely no MCAT expert, but this is what I've been doing, so maybe it'll help you power through the rest of your studying. Just try and not get too worked up about scores and just focus more on getting comfortable with actually taking the exam. Good luck!
 
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FauxBlue said:
How did you approach your studying after seeing your score such as the 499? What did you change? Do you think its helpful to go back to some content review or pull through with more and more practice instead???
Click to expand...
I didn't get too discouraged and actually took a lot of faith knowing that TPR is really difficult. I read somewhere that people sometimes score 10(!!!!) points higher than their TPR average so I just too everything as it came and used that to say I can do it. I reviewed my tests over the course of several days, stopping each time to use my books and Wikipedia to learn about what I missed. Don't get caught up in one or the other, they play into each other and it's not like you have to sit back and say I'll do content review for x days, but rather do it in the context of problems
 
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Update for you TPR thread people: Took TPR course test 5.

503 again. 122/128/125/128. I've gone up a point in verbal every test pretty much also same story w/ psych. First time I've hit 128 in psych or verbal. However, dropped 2 points on physics/chem to 122 from last test 🙁

test on friday!! 🙁

thoughts?
 
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mcat_taker said:
Update for you TPR thread people: Took TPR course test 5.

503 again. 122/128/125/128. I've gone up a point in verbal every test pretty much also same story w/ psych. First time I've hit 128 in psych or verbal. However, dropped 2 points on physics/chem to 122 from last test 🙁

test on friday!! 🙁

thoughts?
Click to expand...

You're doing great! A lot of people hit 90-100 with scores like that just hit the chem physics a little harder and take a good amount of time to thoroughly review the past couple of those sections
 
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membername24 said:
You're doing great! A lot of people hit 90-100 with scores like that just hit the chem physics a little harder and take a good amount of time to thoroughly review the past couple of those sections
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I still need to do the AAMC test (probably wednesday) and then showtime on friday! My physics is pretty good I just need to work my gen chem problems hard this week, I'm struggling there.
 
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Thanks for creating this thread!

I took my first full length, the TPR Complete Test 1, and ended up with a 510 (128,126,129,127). I still haven't finished content review (around 70% done, specially psyc!). I'm writing the MCAT in early September.

I'm particularly concerned about CARS as it's the sole reason I'm retaking the MCAT. Anyone has any comment on the level of difficulty of the CARS section of this specific TPR full length? Are all the TPR tests the same difficulty?

I'm planning to take a full length every Sunday for the next 4 weeks while finishing up content review and nailing down my weaknesses. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
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mcat_taker said:
Update for you TPR thread people: Took TPR course test 5.

503 again. 122/128/125/128. I've gone up a point in verbal every test pretty much also same story w/ psych. First time I've hit 128 in psych or verbal. However, dropped 2 points on physics/chem to 122 from last test 🙁

test on friday!! 🙁

thoughts?
Click to expand...
Really good to see the improvement in CARS. That's great. What kind of questions are you struggling with for C/P ? Great score though. Proof that the last one wasn't a fluke 🙂
 
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mcat_taker said:
Thank you so much for the encouragement! I still need to do the AAMC test (probably wednesday) and then showtime on friday! My physics is pretty good I just need to work my gen chem problems hard this week, I'm struggling there.
Click to expand...

I would probably just suggesting taking it tomorrow instead of weds, only because you may want some extra time to review and you dont really want to review too hard on the day before your test!
 
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TheAnonymous said:
Thanks for creating this thread!

I took my first full length, the TPR Complete Test 1, and ended up with a 510 (128,126,129,127). I still haven't finished content review (around 70% done, specially psyc!). I'm writing the MCAT in early September.

I'm particularly concerned about CARS as it's the sole reason I'm retaking the MCAT. Anyone has any comment on the level of difficulty of the CARS section of this specific TPR full length? Are all the TPR tests the same difficulty?

I'm planning to take a full length every Sunday for the next 4 weeks while finishing up content review and nailing down my weaknesses. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I took that too recently. Did you find the questions require not as high a level of reasoning as the AAMC? Like very few research/passage analysis questions in the natural/social sciences. I did fairly well but I should probably expect the real MCAT to be a good bit harder (not in terms of content requirement, but in terms of critical thinking abilities).
 
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