Everything you need to know about the accuracy and difficulty of Kaplan MCAT practice tests
Kaplan’s MCAT practice tests are a popular choice for pre-medical students preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Many students wonder how accurately these practice tests reflect the difficulty and content of the actual exam. In this article, we will explore the accuracy of Kaplan’s MCAT practice tests, comparing their difficulty level and content to the real MCAT exam. Understanding the alignment between Kaplan’s practice tests and the actual exam can help students better prepare and feel more confident on test day.
Aspiring medical students can access Kaplan MCAT practice tests through several avenues.
Kaplan offers one practice test for free, providing a glimpse into their test preparation materials.
Example MCAT question from Kaplan
Additionally, students can purchase a three-pack of practice tests for just under $130 or a twelve-pack for a little under $330. For anyone wanting to buy a standalone set of practice tests, this is the biggest bundle you can find outside of signing up for a full review course.
If you’re wanting more support, you can purchase one of Kaplan’s highly-rated prep courses, which include a wide range of MCAT study materials and prep resources. Most significantly, you’ll get access to 21 MCAT practice tests, including 7 official AAMC exams. This is more full-length practice tests than you’ll get from any other provider.
Before signing up, it’s worth visiting our Kaplan MCAT promo codes page to see what discounts are available.
How Accurate Are Kaplan MCAT Practice Tests?
If you’re using Kaplan’s full-length practice exams to gauge your readiness, it’s essential to know just how accurate your results really are. First, make sure you understand what comes in your package. For students buying Kaplan practice tests as a standalone offering, you’re only getting access to Kaplan-made practice exams, while anyone enrolled in one of Kaplan’s MCAT courses receives access to both Kaplan-made practice tests and all available AAMC tests.
Looking at the Kaplan-made tests specifically, it’s worth noting that the scaled scores can differ slightly from AAMC results due to Kaplan’s scoring algorithm and lack of access to the real test curve. Keep in mind, however, that this is true of all third-party MCAT practice exams, not just Kaplan. While the question difficulty, passage similarity, and overall content alignment are strong, some learners report a modest average score gap between practice vs real test performance, often shaped by test day anxiety.
Most students find that Kaplan’s practice tests closely resemble the difficulty level and content of the real exam, providing a valuable simulation of test conditions (similar to Princeton Review MCAT tests).
In fact, according to Kaplan’s MCAT team, they’ve conducted rigorous testing with thousands of pre-med students to ensure that every single question on Kaplan-made practice tests is as realistic as possible. That means they’re analyzing student performance on both a test-wide and question-by-question basis in order to compare students’ results on Kaplan-made versus AAMC practice tests.
As a result, Kaplan’s practice tests aren’t just beneficial for building stamina, identifying weak areas, and familiarizing yourself with the format of the MCAT. They’re also fairly accurate score predictors that give you a realistic idea of how you’ll do on the actual exam.
Are the Kaplan Practice Tests Harder Than the Real MCAT?
In the past, some found Kaplan’s practice tests to be more challenging than the actual exam, particularly in terms of question complexity and depth of content. Lately, however, Kaplan has updated their practice tests to be more in line with what you’ll see on the real MCAT.
Kaplan’s test-writing process is particularly rigorous, with 20+ MCAT experts investing a combined total of more than 2,000 hours to develop a single practice exam. They’ve also conducted studies where test takers were exposed to either a Kaplan-made test or an AAMC practice exam. The result: test takers couldn’t tell the difference between Kaplan’s practice questions and official tests.
Then for students working through one of Kaplan’s MCAT review courses, you’ll start with the Kaplan-made practice exams before finishing up the course by taking official AAMC tests. This provides some extra security, as you can verify your previous practice test results by seeing how you do on official practice tests at the end.
MCAT practice test from Kaplan
In our experience, the Kaplan MCAT practice tests are a good indicator of how well you will perform on the actual exam. While they may not always predict your final score, they can give you a good sense of your strengths and weaknesses and help you gauge your readiness for the MCAT.
Also, keep in mind that students tend to perform worse on test day due to various factors such as anxiety, pressure, or nervousness, which can impact their ability to recall information or think clearly. It’s important for students to practice relaxation techniques, maintain a positive mindset, and be well-prepared to mitigate these effects and perform at their best on the MCAT.
Best Practices for Taking Kaplan MCAT Tests
Next, let’s explore best practices for taking Kaplan MCAT tests, helping you maximize their effectiveness in your exam preparation.
Simulate Test Conditions: Take practice tests in a quiet environment with no distractions, and adhere to the official MCAT timing and breaks to simulate real test conditions.
Practice Time Management: Practice pacing yourself to ensure you can complete each section within the allotted time.
Take Regular Breaks: During your practice test, take breaks as you would on test day. This can help maintain focus and stamina.
Review Thoroughly: After completing a practice test, review both correct and incorrect answers to understand the reasoning behind each choice.
Video explanation from the Kaplan MCAT team
Identify Weak Areas: Use practice tests to identify weak areas and focus your study efforts on improving those specific topics.
Analyze Mistakes: Understand why you made mistakes. Was it a lack of content knowledge, misinterpretation of the question, or a calculation error? Adjust your study plan accordingly.
By implementing these best practices, you can enhance your performance on Kaplan MCAT tests and boost your overall readiness for the MCAT exam.
FAQ
Does Kaplan offer free MCAT practice tests?
Yes, Kaplan offers one free MCAT practice test, allowing students to get a sense of the format and content of their test preparation materials. For access to additional practice tests, students can purchase a three-pack or a twelve-pack or enroll in one of Kaplan’s full MCAT prep courses for 21 total exams (more than any other major prep provider), including 7 official AAMC practice tests.
Can you pause Kaplan MCAT practice tests?
Yes, Kaplan MCAT practice tests can be paused, allowing students to take breaks during the test if needed. However, in order to simulate the actual exam day experience, students should try to take only the allotted breaks when taking a Kaplan MCAT practice test.
Are Kaplan practice questions harder than the MCAT?
Kaplan practice questions can vary in difficulty compared to the actual MCAT, with some students finding them harder and others feeling they are comparable. While Kaplan’s questions aim to challenge students and deepen their understanding, the actual difficulty level can depend on individual preparation and familiarity with the MCAT format.
How accurate are Kaplan practice tests?
Kaplan’s practice tests are considered quite accurate in terms of structure, timing, and difficulty. While some students find them slightly harder than the real exam, that can actually help with test-day confidence.
