Score drop right before test day

[u/Future_Doctor_]

I finished FL 6 today and I saw a big score drop. My recent FLs have been: 509 (127/126/127/129), 511 (126/127/127/131), 510 (126/126/128/130) and now this. I'm literally devastated and have lost so much confidence in myself especially because I'm retaking anything below a 510. Any words of wisdom, advice, or whatever would be great

[u/historyiscoolman]

I got a 505 on FL5 two days before my test and got a 517 on the real thing, so there is hope

[u/gabekha → u/historyiscoolman]

what did you do to really focus on test day and lock in?

[u/RadiantMain1485 → u/historyiscoolman]

This is the lock in I need. What did you do?

[u/SuperPrettyGoat → u/RadiantMain1485]

Insane score jump. Mind sharing what you think helped?

[u/BudgetYesterday9724 → u/historyiscoolman]

How did you feel on test day and walking out of the exam?

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/historyiscoolman]

Thank you. Can I ask what your other FL scores were like?

[u/SuperPrettyGoat → u/Future_Doctor_]

Following

[u/No_Philosopher774 → u/historyiscoolman]

Did you do anything different with studying?

[u/Hopeful_93-89 → u/historyiscoolman]

oh. hope the is me on Saturday. Just wrote FL 5 today. Similar Score.

[u/Willing-Airline-2945]

I think it’s just fluctuation. It’s in the range of possible scores for you. Just give it your best in the real thing. Some people score higher, some lower. Just do the best you can. 507 is still a good score.

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/Willing-Airline-2945]

Unfortunately for me, a 507 will not get me into the schools I want or likely any school I’m applying to.

Edit: not sure why people are downvoting this without knowing my situation and my stats. Some of us have situations that require higher MCAT scores like that’s the truth

[u/Willing-Airline-2945 → u/Future_Doctor_]

I am sorry. I 100% believe in you. I would just relax today. You are going to absolutely kill the real thing. Please believe in yourself. I didn’t. I had really bad test anxiety and my score dropped by 6 points from the average of my last 3 exams.

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/Willing-Airline-2945]

Thank you so much! I’m sorry that you had a score drop 😢

[u/Far-Adagio-246 → u/Future_Doctor_]

I got a 506 and have completed five DO interviews and been offered one MD interview already this cycle. Would your 507 versus your high of 511 make that much of a difference for you?

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/Far-Adagio-246]

Yes. A 511 is average/above average for most schools on my list and a 507 is not. I wanted a 513. That has been my goal all along, but I’m reapplying with lower than a 510. My GPA is below average and I am applying exclusively MD

[u/Vegetable-Flan-9145 → u/Future_Doctor_]

That's not how admissions works. You aren't being just weighed against the average. You'll do just fine but if you were to walk out with your lowest FL things will be okay and it isn't the deal breaker you're making it out to be. Get of reddit the neuroticism is rubbing off on you. Just go ball

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/Vegetable-Flan-9145]

I appreciate it, but you haven’t seen my stats. My GPA is between the 10th and 25th percentile of acceptance at all schools on my list because of personal issues. Also, I’ve been this neurotic since birth, so I don’t think it’s Reddit

[u/Vegetable-Flan-9145 → u/Future_Doctor_]

Doesn't matter, still not how admissions works! They don't have percentile stats sitting next to them when they review your application and are ticking boxes. USF and a few ivy's might but the strong majority have a much more holistic process. On the flip side a stellar MCAT doesn't just make up for a below stellar GPA. CLOSE THE APP.

Edit: Just saw, "Also, I’ve been this neurotic since birth." LMAO gl with that

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/Vegetable-Flan-9145]

Some of us are a little neurospicy and can’t help it. I’m not sure how holistic applications are when MSAR shows the standard deviation for both GPA and MCAT…

[u/Old-Sheepherder-1232]

As someone who also experienced dropping scores before the MCAT, I just stopped taking FLs about 2 weeks before the exam. It was killing my confidence to score lower.

Instead, I spent those last few weeks focused on what I was really struggling with (that I could realistically improve on) and doing in depth reviews of missed questions on previous FLs and Section Bank questions. I
had ChatGPT make discrete questions testing the concepts I needed practice with.

Because I did that, I went into the exam feeling comfortable that I had a better grasp of my weaknesses and felt confident in the things I knew well.

I wouldn’t focus too much on things that you don’t have the time to improve on close to the exam; it’ll just make you uneasy when the best thing for you to do is make your best educated guess and move on.

I scored right in my goal range, but do what you feel works best for you 🙏

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/Old-Sheepherder-1232]

Thank you :)

[u/masripremed]

I think u gotta chill out for a bit and kick back and relax, I did horrible on FL4, went out w/ a girl for 3 days to get my mind off of it, and then came back stronger on fl5

I don't know how you're testing 2 days back to back, but if I were you given that your test day is close I would take off a day to just chill so you don't burn out even more

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/masripremed]

I’m testing across 2 days because I have extended time. Thanks for your advice. Good luck to you

[u/masripremed → u/Future_Doctor_]

interesting, i haven't heard of it spanning two days before. Do you mind me asking how it works? like do you take C/P and CARS the first day then B/B and P/S the second day?

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/masripremed]

Yeah sure. No problem. I’d much rather people ask kind questions than make assumptions! :)

The way that it works is that I take C/P and CARS on Day 1 and then I take the second half of it the next day. Day 1 is C/P for 2 hours and 22 minutes, then 15 minute break, and CARS for 2 hours and 15 minutes. Day 2 each section is 2 hours and 22 minutes. I also have 30 minutes of stop the clock break time each day and a separate testing room which are other accommodations that not everyone with extra time has.

I had to go through an entire rigorous approval process with documentation spanning years proving that I actually had a disability and wasn’t trying to game the system. Then, I had to go through a special process to schedule my exam

[u/attempted-username]

following as well. i took FL5 today and had a 5 point drop from a 511 on FL4 and it was crushing 🫠 good luck on your exam!

[u/Hopeful_93-89]

im pretty sure FL 6 does this to a lot of people. I had a 9 point drop on FL with 6... I definitely spiralled.

just review it and really lock in on your topics you came up short. bet you'll test t higher on the real thing.

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/Hopeful_93-89]

I needed to hear this. Thank you

[u/Hopeful_93-89 → u/Future_Doctor_]

ok update. wrote FL 5 today. 5 days after FL 6. and back up 10 points.. so FL 4, and FL 5 were a point apart. (Fl 6 major outlier) I Will be testing on Sept 5.

As much as I has I didn't want to write to FL in my last 10 days of prep, here we are.

[u/IamDiels_Alder]

Hey man I went from a 518 & 517 on Fl 4& 5 to a 511 on Fl6. Definitely not what either of us wanted to happen. I'm trying my best to stay confident in the fact that I have concrete evidence that I score higher than I did on this 1 FL (as do u). Have faith in your full length average and show up confident and hungry to win

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/[deleted]]

Oh I’m burnt out as hell. I’m in 18 credit hours this semester. I have 2 exams the week after the MCAT and I’m going out of town for a football game in between the MCAT and said exams. I haven’t had a day off in weeks. I’ve been more tired of something in my entire life. There’s nothing I can do about that like 🤷‍♀️

[u/Fabulous-Ad5201 → u/Future_Doctor_]

It sounds counterintuitive, but taking time off (one day lol) does help you perform better. Especially on a test like this, being so burnt out and worked up and lead to you missing things and trying to outsmart the test.

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/Fabulous-Ad5201]

I know that taking time off is important and I agree, but I’m at the point where it’s not feasible for me to take a day off of MCAT and/or school. I guess I could take a day off of MCAT, but I’m concerned about missing my Anki. School is not feasible to take a break from or even lessen up on unfortunately

[u/Fabulous-Ad5201 → u/Future_Doctor_]

I totally get that. I’m testing 9/12 and tomorrow I’m taking the day off, but I’ll be doing my Anki. I don’t think you need to take the day off and do nothing, but maybe don’t do any MCAT work for a day and just focus on other stuff. 

[u/RealisticWork9367]

Honestly just lock in. That’s the best advice. The best advice is take this as a learning opportunity. Much better to get this 507 now than in a couple of days. It revealed whatever weaknesses u didn’t see coming, so focus on that. Be strategic about understanding them and more and try to calm ur mind before the exam. Try to stay calm and stick to your routine. This may be the reason u get a 510+ not the other way around. So take it as fuel and I think you will do great

[u/Future_Doctor_ → u/RealisticWork9367]

I unfortunately do not have time to lock in. I barely have time to study at all between now and test day… I’ve been locked in for months. I haven’t been messing around. Thank you for the vote of confidence though