Variability in Verbal Scores?

[Split Infinity]

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Hi all. I'm taking the MCAT for the first time this Friday, and the section that's making me most nervous is VR.

Before delving into the specifics of why I feel this way, I guess I should present the data I have to offer. To begin with, I'm a Chemistry major, so I've been most nervous about Biology than any of the other sections, and I've been studying it pretty consistently since early May. I took Kaplan's diagnostic #1 back in mid-June and scored a 36 (14 PS, 12 VR, 10 BS), which made me freak out, since I thought I had reviewed Bio better than that, so I immediately took AAMC #10 and did fine on Bio (14 PS, 11 VR, 13 BS). Flash forward another month and a half of studying, and yesterday I took #3 and did really encouragingly (14 PS, 15 VR, 15 BS), but then today I did #4 and did a lot worse on VR (14 PS, 12 VR, 15 BS). I seem to have a penchant for missing exactly one physics question, as it were...screw physics.

Anyway, I guess what freaks me out is that I felt a lot more confident on #4's VR than #3s, but then I scored way better on 3 than 4. Is this variability in scores just to be expected, or are there some good strategies I'm missing out on for not second-guessing myself and/or over-thinking? Thanks in advance!

 

[salim271]

Um... wow. If you're really getting those kinds of scores, you'll be fine. The variability in VR is expected, its very tough to know for sure where you stand when its the people writing the test who decide what the right/'best' answer is. Take your test with careful confidence and you will do spectacular.

 

[Trayshawn]

sometimes verbal's just a crap shoot.
but you and i both know you aren't actually "freaking out"...

 

[Split Infinity]

Thanks for the feedback. Do you think it'd be worth the money to take a more recent AAMC (#11) to get a better picture of what the test is like now, or are 3 and 4 still pretty representative?

 

[Amba]

Thanks for the feedback. Do you think it'd be worth the money to take a more recent AAMC (#11) to get a better picture of what the test is like now, or are 3 and 4 still pretty representative?

Yes. Also, you're consistently scoring above 40. Chill. You'll be more than fine.

 

[UrshumMurshum]

If you're getting 40+ on your AAMC practice exams then you just go ahead and moon walk into the exam room and out of it.

Don't even waste your time studying anymore.

 

[Split Infinity]

Seriously? Well sweet! It's just the science sections seem so easy (compared to Kaplan's QBank), so I beat myself up for every silly mistake...I took #11 and it was 14/13/14 (which I much prefer to 14/12/15, given a 41, just because it seems more balanced) so I guess I should just hope to have some karmic connection with the verbal writers. Their answers can be so arbitrary!

 

[Vertwous]

Mother of God.

Consider yourself good to go for the real thing, with no doubt about it... getting a 10 on VR is a dream for many people including myself. Earned myself a 5 on AAMC 8 VR today.