What did you get on your first practice MCAT?

[medmom]

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I have to laugh because last night I took my very first practice MCAT and I got a 12!!!!
I am not sad or discouraged though, I have only had 1 semester of Chem, 1/2 semester of physics, no orgo and no genetics. I haven't studied at all either. The only one I expected to do decent on at all was VR and I got a 7 so not to bad for my first time ever.
I have heard that the real MCAT doesn't have very much orgo but this practice test was almost all orgo on the biological science part, any experience in that area?
Anyhow, What did you get your VERY first practice MCAT and if you have taken the real one what did you end up getting?

 

[Khenon]

I got a 24 on my first practice test. Then the first time I took the real thing I got a 22. The second time I took the real thing I got a 23 (and I was studying my ass off!). Go figure. I still haven't managed to score AT LEAST at my practice score level!

 

[redwings54]

Hey. I got a 18 when I took the Kaplan diagnostic the first time with zero studying. Was averaging 26-29 on the practice tests while working 40+ hours a week and really only using the classes to study. Ended with a 25 MCAT on the real test so needless to say I was disapointed. Keep plugging and make sure to try to learn concepts when you take your other classes. Good luck.

 

[Taus]

I would not worry too much about your original diagnostic score, but if there is one thing you should take from it, it is that you now know its time to get your ass in gear and put in the time to study.

I personally got a 17 on the diagnostic, 8 in gen chem/physics, 5 verbal, and 4 in bio/orgo. I pulled that up to a 29 on the real deal after kaplan, with a 9/9/11 respectively. Other people in my kaplan class went up as much as 14 points or as little as 2 or 3. I believe it is all about the time that you put in and the sacrifice you make to study for this test, as like it or not med schools do put a decent amount of importance on it.

For you personally, a 7 on the diagnostic verbal is great start, and when you begin to learn the strategies and makeup of the questions you may be able to get an unbelieveable score on this section. As for the sciences, with you stating that you aren't through all of the courses yet in college, pay close attention to the topics that kaplan teaches you and above all understanding the science behind why each question is right or wrong will help you a great deal. Memorizing information, in my opinion, is not that useful for this test, except for a few select pieces (which you will encounter repeatedly on practice tests and homeworks). Make note of those and put your time in understanding the tests and sciences and you should be fine. Goodluck

 

[subtle1epiphany]

Didn't take the entire exam at once for my practice, I studied for it myself and took a section at a time my first exposure. By the end I took them all at once of course, but I worked up to it over a couple weeks.
First time on the verbal I remember getting a 9, which I raised to a solid 10 on test day. (with a couple 11s and 12s on subsequent practice sessions)
For bio and phys, I remember starting at 8s and getting up to a 12 on the bio and a 10 on the physical as I was simultaneously taking physics.
I was actually really disappointed with the 10V, 9P, 10B I received after getting my hopes up with a 34 in Practice test 5R, but it isn't the same as the real thing. Now, while I think I could have done better, I'm pleased with how I did and how I've done this cycle. My red flag in GPA is what set me back (an F) but all the DO schools haven't care as I took it again for an A the next semester.

Yes the starting score can be important, especially with verbal, but realize it depends how much you put into it. I should have not taken Physics during that summer and really focused on the MCAT, just set your sights and don't let up! 👍

 

[fahimaz7]

26 on 1st & 30 on real

 

[tinkerbelle]

Don't worry medmom 🙂 You'll definitely be able to bring that score up. I got a 14 on my first practice mcat, and then got a 31 on the real thing.

 

[Dr JPH]

12 on my first TPR Practice test.
Almost 3x that on the real thing.

 

[Karina]

I took separate sections first...when I took my first full-length practice test I got a 23...real score went up by 4 points only...mostly due to my improvement in VR 😛

 

[KiKat37]

I remember I got a 22 on my Kaplan diagnostic test (no studying). Then, I studied some and got between 28-32 on my practice tests. The first time I took the real thing, I got a 23. Go figure... Second time around, I got a 28. I still don't understand how this thing works. There is def. a lot of luck involved. 😕

 

[Amy B]

Oh, I shudder to think about that first practice MCAT. I got an 11 and thought I would die and give up. Thankfully I improved, but I still remember that 3 in PS and thinking that I would never make it, but here I am today. There is hope. 🙂

 

[KHep]

I got a 16 on my first Kaplan. My best Kaplan diagnostic was a 29, but I ended up with a 25 when I took it last spring. I hadn't finished physics or orgo; I had a passage on optics, which I hadn't covered in physics yet. You just never know what you are going to get. Good Luck! You will be fine when it comes time to take the test.

 

[fpr85]

The only one I expected to do decent on at all was VR and I got a 7 so not to bad for my first time ever.

Good thing you didn't take a writing section.