Customer Reviews

Columbia Review MCAT Practice Tests

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book has very good practice tests for the science sections (although there are a few errors here and there. If you know your stuff, you'll be able to pick them out and they won't phase you. For example, in two places they ask you to name an organic compound, and don't name it correctly in any of the choices!!!) Despite these tiny errors, the practice tests are very good and very helpful....EXCEPT THE VERBAL SECTIONS!!! SKIP THE VERBAL SECTIONS - there are MANY questions which have more than one correct answer in the choices, some questions which have no correct answers and the occasional question which asks for your opinion!!!! you'd never see any question without ONE correct answer on the MCAT and these verbal sections will drive you nuts! I'd still get the book and substitute a different verbal for the ones here.

Though this book has a few mistakes, the question formats in the science sections are just like those of the MCAT, and the explanations are great. The authors didn't cut corners by making up shoddy passages or trivial questions. These practice tests are as close to the real thing as they get.

The tests were a good challenge; however, the verbal section is not designed quite like that of the actual mcat but both test the same skills. There are few mistakes in the physical and biological sections, and some explanations for the verbal sections are confusing. Overall, these tests are a good imitation of the actual mcat.

the real mcat was just like the practice mcats in this book, much better than the kaplan or princeton exams by far.

I would only recommend this collection of practice tests to those who are doing really well and need a challenge.

I would NOT recommend this for the purposes of:

-Estimating your potential MCAT score: My AAMC scaled scores were very different (over 4 scaled pts).

-Getting use to MCAT length or timing: Columbia has 11 passages in 100 mins, AAMC has 7 passages in 70 or 75 mins.

-Getting use to passage structure: AAMC tests have more diagrams, and are much better worded (easier to read).

-Deciding which test-taking strategies will be necessary: This book requires you to draw your own diagrams very frequently, which is not the case with AAMC practice tests. Also, almost all, AAMC tests answer choices are susceptable to the process of elimination (if you know the subjects in AAMC's Official Test Guide well).


I WOULD recommend this for anyone who is no longer challenged by flashcards, and regular MCAT material - but is determined to do a super job. Or anyone who has already taken the other MCAT practice tests available.

Excellent book, the three tests were very much like the real MCAT, although some questions are a little off-the-wall overall, the book is excellent, definitely worth getting.

A MUST HAVE book

This book is frustrating in that there are large numbers of errors both in the answers and in the questions. The verbal sections have many arbitrary questions that hopefully would never show up on the real thing.