kaplan and princeton subject review books are among the most popular options for studying for the mcat, but which is better?
We rank kaplan much higher than princeton in our mcat book comparison guide, but due to the popularity of princeton review, we decided it’s important to explain why we think kaplan is the better choice. however, each test taker is different and the study guide that will work for one student may not work for another. We’ve included the pros and cons of both, so you can see for yourself whether you should study with Kaplan or Princeton Review.
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what is mcat?
the mcat, also known as the medical school entrance exam, is an american and canadian exam that students take to enter the medical school of their choice. It’s a challenging exam, and test takers need to be as prepared as possible to ensure they have a chance to pass.
There are many different test prep companies that offer different mcat prep books, all claiming to help you pass your test and get into medical school. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to know what is misinformation and what is not. kaplan and princeton are respected brands, and each has advantages and disadvantages.
princeton review drawbacks
Despite the high reviews Princeton Review’s mcat preparation guide has received, there are many flaws. The biggest downside to Princeton books is that they include a lot of information that won’t show up on the test.
The last thing you want to do is waste valuable time learning things you won’t need to know for the exam. this could hinder your chance of passing.
princeton review mcat books feature practice questions at the end of each section. But even with this advantage, Kaplan offers many more practice problems for you to solve. So, even if you opt for the Princeton prep books, you may need to purchase an additional book to get additional practice passages for the exam. With the price of these books, studying can become quite expensive.
princeton review benefits
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The princeton mcat theme review is not all bad, it also offers some advantages. Despite not having as much practice material as Kaplan, Princeton still has three full practice tests for you to sink your teeth into, which is more than other study guides can offer.
The books also include strategic techniques you can implement when taking the exam, as well as diagrams and illustrations for visual learning. this is still a test preparation company that knows what they are talking about, unlike many others on the market.
disadvantages of kaplan mcat
These kaplan books are about 300 pages longer than the princeton review, which means they cover a lot more information. Although this may seem like a lot to learn, the included preparation materials are all necessary for the exam.
Your psychology section is not complete, which means you may need to purchase a different psychology and sociology book to ensure you are 100% ready for the exam.
advantages of kaplan mcat
although kaplan covers more information than the princeton review, all the information they cover has a chance of being on the exam. If you’re not sure where to start, Kaplan can help too. kaplan highlights the material most likely to appear on the exam. this means that he knows what to focus on.
The pictures in the books do an excellent job of explaining complicated concepts. this is a great addition if you are a visual learner. the number and structure of the practice questions ensure you’ll be ready for the mcat.
Additional features include concept summaries, so you can get to the heart of what you need to know, full answer explanations, and 24 full color mcat quick sheets.
You also get easy access to kaplan’s premium online preparation.
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if you are buying study guides for all exam review sections, kaplan is also one of the best packages you can get. kaplan mcat offers you all the information you need. other books may seem cheaper, but once you buy everything you need, you’ll probably end up paying more than you would for the full kaplan package.
similarity of preparation packages
The study packs mentioned above also have similarities that help them outperform other study guides.
both contain 7 books and come with 3 full practice tests to check your understanding of the material. Practice tests are an important part of any study process as they help you identify your strengths and weaknesses so you know which area you need to focus on next. We recommend that you start studying with a practice test; then you’ll know exactly which area to tackle.
both also offer practice questions at the end of each chapter, but as you can see above, kaplan includes more of these in each book.
princeton and kaplan alternatives
As mentioned above, there are many other preparation guides and each will have different advantages for each student. If you prefer classroom instruction or know you would benefit from video instruction more than in a textbook, look for Mcat prep courses that include video lessons. there are many options for books and courses.
You will need to know if the books were actually written by subject matter experts and include content that will appear on the exam. Check out our other comparison guides to make sure you get the best study materials to help you pass.
conclusion
As mentioned above, we prefer kaplan’s mcat revision to princeton’s mcat revision. This set of 7 books will ensure you have all the information you need to battle it out on test day. The exam preparation in this content review is current and relevant to the most recent version of the exam. The self-paced nature of this preparation course means you can study on your own terms. use the practice materials, find all the information you need, and get a clear plan for how to study.
with kaplan’s subject revision, you will surely pass your exam with flying colors.
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