Just took my first TPR one and did pretty poorly on the sciences (6 PS 8 BS 10 V). I'm planning on taking it in August and I know I struggled on a lot of specific topics (electrochem, acids/bases, etc.), so hopefully just getting back up to date on content should help out a lot, right?
What kind of progress do people generally make from 1st diag to real MCAT?
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This is far from a rule, but if you study, expect significant content increases (BS and PS) but I would not expect verbal to improve dramatically, though a couple points is not unheard of with practice.
If you are looking for numbers, it really depends on the person and the study habits. I heard Kaplan usually see about a 10 point increase from their diagnostic.
If you are looking for numbers, it really depends on the person and the study habits. I heard Kaplan usually see about a 10 point increase from their diagnostic.
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It depends on how much work you're willing to put into it. I didn't take a diagnostic, but my first AAMC was a 31. After a month, I went up to a 37, with an average, median, and mode of 35 (N=9 tests)
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I took Kaplan's diagnostic and got a 27. However, most people I knew were scoring in the teens on their diagnostic. My first full length was a 29. My first AAMC was a 35.
What the tells you, I do not really know, but diagnostics tend to be pretty difficult, too. I know Kaplan had a very tough one.
What the tells you, I do not really know, but diagnostics tend to be pretty difficult, too. I know Kaplan had a very tough one.
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Unless your school is very strange in how they teach Chemistry and Physics, it makes sense to do poorly there on the diagnostic.
It is a huge change to go from lengthy problems with a ton of reasoning, layers of math, and plenty of time to think to rapidfire multiple choice problems with lots of rounding.
It is a huge change to go from lengthy problems with a ton of reasoning, layers of math, and plenty of time to think to rapidfire multiple choice problems with lots of rounding.
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I took a calculus based physics with topics well beyond what the MCAT style, but the concepts remain the same. You do not need to really do the math usually, as the concepts will guide your answer most of the time. Though I get what you mean, it is a unique approach.
I also haven't taken gen chem since senior year of high school (AP Chem) and general bio since junior year of HS (AP Bio).
I figure that those should improve as I study the content more.
+1. I got a 24 on the Kaplan without studying. 1st FL=29. Went up to ~34 in Kaplan FLs 30 days before test. I got ~35 on the AAMCs. Actual mcat=38
So overall 24 -> 38 (pretty big difference there).
Use the tests as an indicator of what you need to study (It should be easier as your VR seems okay)
Good luck
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Started my Kaplan diagnostic at an 8/10/8--26. MCAT on June 21st. Starting AAMCs after I finish my content.
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Wow, man, I'm jealous if that's what you really got on your actual. Hope you get into a Tier I school!
My 27 was a 9P/9V/9B
From there, regardless of practice, I stayed +/- 1 from my verbal, but my P and B both went up by 6 points on one test or another (15s) through enough practice and content review. However, I don't know my actual score yet so I couldn't tell you how that went.
