I'm an MCAT instructor with MCATProf.com and have been teaching the MCAT for 10 years having previously been an instructor with Kaplan and the Princeton Review. I've read and used all the books available for the current 2014 MCAT (Berkeley Review, Kaplan, Princeton Review, Examkrackers) and in the past wasn't especially impressed with the Examkrackers MCAT books. I've purchased all the 2015 MCAT books that are currently commercially available (Princeton Review Complete MCAT Set, Kaplan 7-Book Subject Review, Examkrackers Complete Study Package, and Next Step Test Prep Practice for Behavioral Sciences)
I'd rank them in the following order
1. Examkrackers Complete Study Package
2. Kaplan Complete 7-Book Subject Review
3. Princeton ReviewnMCAT Subject Review Complete Set
4. Next Step Test Prep Practice for Behavioral Sciences.
Examkrackers is the only set that completely reformatted their books to be inline with the new exam. Every book is almost completely different with reformatted content, and new practice passages that fit the format of the new exam. All their science passages reference primary research articles directly as do the MCAT passages for the 2015 exam. These new types of passages are different than the more information dump type passages for the current 2014 MCAT exam. In addition, all their passages directly involve biological systems even in the physics and chemistry books which is what you'd expect to see with the new 2015 MCAT. They also redistributed the content science content in the book to better adequately represent the degree to which each subject is tested on the new exam. These books are a complete reboot to best fit the new exam. Each chapter has comes with three well written passages and around 20 free standing practice questions. The books do not include any full lengths, which is probably their biggest weakness.
The Princeton Review probably did the worst job of updating their books, seemingly not even glancing over the AAMC outline for the material covered of the 2015 MCAT. They essentially re-released their old books, almost nothing has been changed: same passages, same content, the distribution of science material, same verbal strategy but without the online practice questions and passages that came with the old book. You'd probably be better off purchasing the old books as they came with much more in terms of online practice questions and materials. The main benefit of the new books is that they include 3 full length online practice exams. To supplement the old PR books, you'd probably just want to purchase the Princeton Review Psychology and Sociology Review, and Kaplan MCAT Biochemistry Review. You'd also want to to check the AAMC content outline for the 2015 exam in order to know which Ochem chapters to skip in the PR books
Kaplan did a great job updating their books to best reflect the new content but they provide no practice passages in the books. They do provide 2 full length practice exams.
Next Step Test Prep Behavioral Science book is essentially just a book of poorly written practice passages and an outline you could have gotten directly from AAMC. Their passages do not reflect the 2015 MCAT passages as they're way too long, mostly information dumps instead of experiments to analyze and the questions are too easy.
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Examkrackers MCAT Study Package: Chemistry, Biology 2 Systems, Biology 1 Molecules
$189.95
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$189.95
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Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
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Good but needs improvement.
The books are definitely good - they have practice problems as you read as well as mini exams at the end of each section. The information is condenced so sometimes you have to go to an outside source if you don't remember a concept. But that's also a good thing because it means they only include important stuff and you're not just rereading your college textbook. Also has helpful hints on the side.The book definitely needs revisions. In their haste to print they left a LOT of mistakes. Its ok when its just grammer but some are actually in the problems and answer choices and that's not acceptable! Especially for such a high price.
