Kaplan vs Examkrackers vs Princeton vs Barron's

[9thofTir]

Wich one is the best to prepare for MCAT??

[HocusPocus]

I would say either Princeton Review or Exam Krackers. Maybe Kaplan. You can use Kaplan to review material but dont count on them for an accurate measure of difficulty in the practice exams, their passages and questions are usually easier than the actual test. Princeton Review has good practice exams but they dont get into too much depth when reviewing material. Exam krackers actually does a good job reviewing the sciences as well as verbal and provides challenging practice exams.

[Jdoc2011]

I used kaplan to prep for the mcat didnt help me much.

[*health sci gurl*]

I'm taking princeton review right now...it's pretty good i'd say...but not enough practice for verbal...so i bought examkrackers for verbal passages. I heard examkrackers is reallly really good practice...so i'd say go with that.

[jameslynton]

Originally Posted by 9thofTir

Which one is the best to prepare for MCAT??

Kaplan - is not that good - I took the MCAT last August - I had Kaplan, Barrons' and Princeton review books. Between test session I would see the Kaplan students with their flash cards. I looked at their flash card - nothing on a single flash card they had was on the exam!!!!! Every Kaplan student I talked with was disappointed the organinc molecules they had on their flash cards did not show up on the exam. Reason the exam is about applying general principles. Several weeks before the exam - I chucked the Kaplan crap. I used the Barron's prep book and concepts - now those were on the exam. Cleverly hidden but all on the exam.

The MCAT uses time stress by forcing you to read a bunch of junk and then figure out what is useful to solve the problems. My suggestion - take a speed reading course and use Barron's review book and work the old MCAT exams for speed timed. After the test, figure out what the answers are and why you missed them on the old actual MCATs.

[Tamim]

That sounds like a damn good plan James.

I'm going to apply for a speed reading course this fall

[jameslynton]

I use to have a coach and he would say always work on your basic skills. That's the way to win and win big. I was in a sport where the others wanted to learn tricks instead of basic skills. I worked on the basics and was beating the tricks people later. So I say you want good MCAT skills - do reading skills - learn testing skills - these have a big payoff for MCAT testers. Most teachers have no clue about this aspect of teaching.

Learn how to deconstruct the questions. It will pay off big time. I know the MCAT for August is coming up soon. If you feel you are a plateau and not improving take a day off and do eye tracking drills - get some speed reading software - or find one of the sights where it is free and test yourself. Then work on your basic skills in this area.

Know what your words per minute (wpm) and percent comprehension are. Remember the MCAT is norm'ed for a reading skill of 400-500 wpm. So if you can increase above this rate and up your comprehension rate - the pay back will be golden for you...Well just my .02 for today. Best wishes for the tests - Stay cool!!!

[Shah_Patel_PT]

Originally Posted by HocusPocus

I would say either Princeton Review or Exam Krackers. Maybe Kaplan. You can use Kaplan to review material but dont count on them for an accurate measure of difficulty in the practice exams, their passages and questions are usually easier than the actual test. Princeton Review has good practice exams but they dont get into too much depth when reviewing material. Exam krackers actually does a good job reviewing the sciences as well as verbal and provides challenging practice exams.

Although Kaplan may be more popular....I have heard that Princeton is much better.