What About GS CBT scores VS REAL MCAT SCORES

[admin]

It's a good idea to start such a thread but remember: students only come to mcat-prep.com to prepare for the MCAT. Once they have finished, the last thing that comes to mind is revisiting an MCAT prep website!

[dschnell511831]

Since I jumped over here a couple times to the thread during studying, I thought I should add mine in. GoldStandard (GS) is very good for getting the timing down, but AAMC was more accurate in predicting my scores.

AAMC
#8: 35
#9: 34
#10: 34

GS: I'm just going to do cumulative for the score. 1 and 2 I burned through before I had finished my review.

#3: 33
#4: 30
#5: 32
#6: 28
#7: 33
#8: 29
#9: 26
#10: 20 (but I didn't take the verbal)

My actual MCAT (4/10/10) score was a 35 (with a horrible N for writing). The actual MCAT felt more similar to the GS in that some of the questions seemed to be out of left field, but the actual test was not as calculation heavy as GS (not even close). Hope this helps the next group.

[sdhepworth8688]

On the GS tests I averaged
9.5 on Physical Sciences
9.4 on Verbal Reasoning
11.1 on Biological Sciences
For a total of 29.9

Concurrently, on AAMC tests 6,7, and 8 I averaged
11.0 on Physical Sciences
9.3 on Verbal Reasoning
13.0 on Biological Sciences
For a total of 33.3

I took the real test and got
11 on Physical Sciences
7 on Verbal Reasoning
10 on Biological Sciences
For a total of 28

I decided to take it again. On AAMC tests 4,5,9, and 10 I averaged
12.5 on Physical Sciences
10.3 on Verbal Reasoning
12.0 on Biological Sciences
For a total of 34.8

I took the real test again and got
14 on Physical Sciences
10 on Verbal Reasoning
12 on Biological Sciences
For a total of 36

The Gold Standard tests are pretty close to the real thing. Verbal Reasoning is a little easier to finish on time. Don't substitute them for the AAMC tests. Just use the GS tests for extra practice so you don't burn through all your AAMC tests (I'm glad I still had 4 to practice on after I decided to take it again!).
The difference between my two scores?
I mostly did just sections of the test and not full length tests. So my endurance was weak.
I didn't take a break the day before my test. I was actually still cramming the morning of--STUPID!!!
I didn't sleep much the week before my test, and I woke up kind of sick the morning of the big day.
All I brought to the testing center to eat was a little Ziploc bag of craisins.

I changed all of those things for my second MCAT: I practiced full length tests (including the writing sample), I relaxed the day before and the morning of my test, I slept better, brought some good snacks to the testing center, and generally just calmed down about the whole thing. It's not the only important part of the application. Good Luck! You can do it!

[JakeUSAF042908]

Scores: BS/PS/VR
MCAT 5-1-10: 8/8/11

All GS tests were taken from Aug-Sep 10.
GS1: 9/8/11
GS2: 7/8/na
GS3: 9/9/na
GS4: 7/8/na
GS5: 9/7/na
GS6: 9/9/na
GS7: 8/6/na
GS8: 10/7/na
GS9: 6 (PS only)

GS Averages: BS: 8.5 PS: 7.5

MCAT 9-11-10: 8/10/10

So I did better on PS, which was my stronger area academically, and a little worse on BS, which was my weaker area. I wasn't surprised and didn't expect miracles. I wish I'd scored a point or two higher on BS but overall I'm satisfied that I did my best for where I'm at right now. Thanks Gold Standard.

[stefanie.g7949]

I found this thread really helpful when I was freaking out a week before taking the exam so I thought I would return the favor and help out some other people. I used Kaplan self- study and the Gold Standard and took 11 practice tests before the actual exam, spread out over about 1 month. Here are my scores:

Physical Sciences/ Verbal/ Biological Sciences, total
Kaplan FL 2- 10/9/12, 31
FL 3- 9/12/14, 35
FL 4- 9/9/12, 30
FL 5- 11/10/11, 32
AAMC 3- 10/9/13, 32
AAMC 7- 10/11/12, 33
AAMC 10- 11/11/13, 35
AAMC 11- 10/11/14, 35
Gold Standard 1- 8/10/9, 27
GS 2- 8/9/10, 27
GS 4- 8/10/11, 29

Real MCAT on 3/26/11- 12/11/12, 35

I took the gold standard exams after taking the first three AAMC tests and about 2 weeks before the actual test and totally freaked out when I saw my score. I felt like the GS physical sciences was much more math intensive than the actual test and mental math is not my strong point, also I felt the GS tests were curved much more harshly than the AAMC and actual tests. But they were definitely good to take to get those "oh crap" moments out of the way before hand. Was hoping for a 13 on BS but I definitely cant complain about my score especially since the PS was higher than I expected. Also left the test feeling like I totally failed and considered signing up for another date right away but everything turned out great and my score was definitely reflective of my performance on the AAMC practice tests. Good Luck!

[sgrant882320]

I used this thread multiple times during my studying- so I thought I would contribute.

AAMC Exams (PS/V/BS)
3: 33 (11/12/10)
4: 34 (12/11/11)
5: 34 (13/10/11)
7: 34 (12/11/11)
8: 37 (14/9/14)
9: 39 (15/11/13)
10: 37 (14/11/12)
11: 37 (14/11/12)

GS Exams
1: 31 (13,8,10)
2: 30 (10,10,10)
3: 36 (14,9,13)
4: 32 (12,10,12)
5: 33 (10,12,11)
6: 32 (13,8,11)
7: 31 (9,10,12)
8: 35 (11,12,12)
9: 29 (8,10,11)
10: 32 (12,8,12)

Real Exam: 38Q (14,11,13)

Moral of the story- The AAMCs were very representative of my score. The GS exams were much tougher than AAMC. (8 in PS on GS 9?). While not good at gauging a score, they are great practice. I wouldn't have done as well on the Real MCAT without them.