Would you retake with these scores?

[Mistress S]

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Okay, it's getting pretty close to the Aug MCAT now, and I need to make a decision. I took the test last Aug and scored a 29Q, not terrible overall but the breakdown was 7 PS, 12 VR, and 10 BS. I have been taking a Kaplan class this summer with the plan being to retake and at least bring up the PS. I have already submitted my AMCAS, it is in the process of being verified now (applied to 20 schools). Here are my practice test scores so far, in the order I've taken them:

Kaplan tests:
Diag- PS:7 VR:12 BS: 9 28

FL #1- PS:9 VR:12 BS:9 30

FL #2- PS:9 VR:13 BS:12 34

FL #3- PS:9 VR:13 BS:10 32

FL #4- PS:7 VR:12 BS:9 28

FL #5- PS:9 VR:12 BS:10 31

AAMC 7 (yesterday): PS 9 VR 11 BS 10 30

I was happy overall with AAMC 7, it's not great and I was surprised about the VR (lowest I've ever gotten) but the PS score was good for me. I have already taken the other AAMC tests in preparation for the last MCAT, so AAMC 7 was the only one I could use to gauge my progress other than the Kaplan tests. Ordinarily, I know it might not be worth it to hold up my app until October for what will likely only be a 1-3 point increase in my score when I already have a 29. But, it looks like I can probably bring up that 7 in PS, and I think since that is so low it might be worth it to retake and do that. So I am leaning towards retaking this Sat, but I wanted to hear some other opinions. What would you do?

 

[BisMuOxo]

FL #4- PS:7 VR:12 BS:9 28

What is your GPA and where do you hope to apply? If you retake and get a lower score how are you going to feel? A lot of mid tier schools have average MCAT scores of 29/30. But I can't give good advice without an answer to the first question.

 

[Medikit]

Yeah, getting rid of that 7 would be awesome

 

[starfruit]

I think it would be worth it just to bring up the 7 in PS. If you get a 9 or 10, that's more in the acceptable range. Your VR and BS scores seem to be holding steady.

 

[EvoDevo]

What was your trend prior to the August test last year? What I mean is, where was your score prior to the exam in relation to where it was on the real deal? Higher, lower, same? In other words, do you historically improve compared to practice tests or what? [FWIW, I went up 3 points. Your mileage may vary]

Hrm. If you tend to improve, and looking at your PS score on the Kaplan FL's, I'd say go for it. 9's are respectable enough, and moving from a 7--> 9 makes a world of difference to adcoms (This is what I heard from conversation with several).

I think that you should base your decision on several factors, namely the expected performance on this test, range of schools appying to (reach vs. "safety" etc), and HOW YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW ABOUT YOUR ABILITY.

Cheers!

 

[Rugger81]

most definitely get rid of that 7. you can't just look at the total score and the school's average. you could score a 35 with a breakdown of BS-15, VR-15, PS-5, but I guarantee you would have nothing but problems getting into schools with a PS score of 5. especially since you've been doing consistently better on the practice exams, retake it!

and if you dont mind me asking, why did you sign up and pay for Kaplan and go through all that work if you weren't even sure if you wanted to retake in August?

 

[WalterSobchakk]

It looks like your PS has solidly improved and your VR and BS are stable. I don't know how you felt, but I thought that the actual MCAT was a lot easier than the Kaplan ones. My top Kaplan score was 3 points under my actual one, so if the same trend holds for you. I'll try searching for the thread with statistics on how people do when the retake the MCAT. There's a really good post with every possible score combination and the percentage of people who went up/down by 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 points.

 

[Mistress S]

Thanks for the replies so far! My GPA is not bad, 3.75 overall (3.45 BCPM and 3.95 in my major, English). The last time, I took AAMC 3r-6r plus a couple other tests (an EK and a Kaplan) and was scoring pretty much in the range of how I did on the real thing: 29-30 total with 6-8 on PS. I am scared of doing worse, it seems unlikely but of course it is possible (see FL #4). Hey, at least I'll get my money back from Kaplan then. 🙄 As for where I'm trying to get in, I don't care about rankings or anything like that, I just want to have the best shot possible of getting in somewhere.

 

[PrincessCKNY]

I say go for it. The PS is a bit too weak to let slide. Be prepared for the backlash from schools that require the 10,10,10 on MCATs. Granted you can raise your PS at least a point, making your scores look a little less lopsided, you should be fine. However, I think you should apply in April (i'm not sure if you mentioned you were or not) so you can be on the early train for apps. Applying in August already puts you at a bit of a disadvantage since you're late, but that's just my opinion.

 

[principessa]

I think you have a good shot as it is. Your MCAT score is not going to improve that much and I think you can compensate for the low PS score by having a strong overall application. I wouldn't risk doing worse.

 

[WillHague007]

I agree with eveyrone who said NOT to take it again. That 7 isn't all that great for PS, but, your 1-2 poitn increases in the practice tests isn't that great as well. Your strength is verbal, and that's what scares me. Verbal is a weird section. I've always thought that most of the VS depends on how you feel that day and how well you concentrate on the section that day (but then again, I'm a science person). It's not like bio or physics where either you know the material or you don't. I think if you take it again you run the risk that your verbal scores will go down, which would make your increase in PS a moot point. I think it'll look strange if your scores go down, it might even hurt you. If I were you, and I really didn't care about getting into a top school, I would not take it again. Your GPA is good, and as long as you have covered your bases with the EC stuff, I think you'll get into a school...

 

[Paws]

Hi Mistress,

Well, I think your scores have become more balanced and I say, you're already at this point and totally pumped with adrenaline - go for it and do your all out best. 😀 You have a good enough first score (well, the 7 is a little weak), but if you keep with what you are getting now you should look pretty awesome overall.

In the end, schools will see that you really wanted to do your best and that you were willing to take a chance in order to try and improve your application. My sense, is that they will respect that. I have always been told that it is best to try and have scores about the same range and that they should be above eight. I took the MCAT twice and my PS score went up 2 points - from an 8 to a 10 - and I would have to say that was an important two points. The PS section shows quantatative ability and other sorts of stuff and it helps to show a pretty decent score. Schools are more likey to overlook a low verbal that they are a low PS (I think). What I did was work through the Examkrackers 1001 physics and 1001 gen chem problem books TWICE ( and some more). I got very fast at doing those little problems and it really helped.

You are gold, my friend - and good luck ! 🙂

 

[uclabruin2003]

i got a 7 on my verbal too. it totally sucked especially when on all my tests that i did i got around 9-11. i dont think i ever got a 7...

in any case, i think that your scores are good enough to not to retake the mcats. plus in any case.....you have a 3.95 in english....i heard that people who typically do bad on the mcat verbal but high in the writing section are too creative for the mcat. that is...the structure of the mcat verbal is too confining for a person with great english skills....anyways you can go up or down the next time.....but im not sure if its totally worth the risk to try to get 1 more point on your mcat....

just my 5 cents....

 

[jlee9531]

take it again, if only to raise that PS score from the 7 from last august.

you show signs of consistency with the other 2 sections, so im sure getting at least 10s wont be too tough. plus your high scores are in VR, which some people feel is the most important score on the mcat anyway. but if you can get that PS to a 9 or higher...you should be very competitive numbers wise.

good luck.

 

[10minutes]

It's a tough call, but if you can get at least 9 on PS, I think it's worth a risk. If you are applying this year, you will be late at the game unfortunately. However, 7 on any section might be even more dangerous than applying late.