Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC? Find Out Now

Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC? Yes, Blueprint’s MCAT practice exams are generally harder than AAMC’s official tests. Test takers often score 2-5 points higher on AAMC exams compared to Blueprint’s.

If you’re preparing for the MCAT, you already know how important practice exams are in gauging your progress and improving your test-taking strategies.

However, not all MCAT practice exams are created equal. Some students swear by Blueprint’s MCAT practice exams, while others insist that AAMC’s official tests are the gold standard.

A common question among test-takers is: Is Blueprint harder than AAMC?

Many students find that Blueprint’s exams feel much more challenging than AAMC’s, but is that a good thing or a bad thing?  

The key to effective MCAT preparation is understanding how each of these exams can benefit you and when to use them in your study plan. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

In this guide, you’ll get a detailed comparison of Blueprint and AAMC MCAT practice exams, including:

• Differences in difficulty level
• How scoring trends compare
• Which one is a better predictor of your actual MCAT score
• Strategies for using both to maximize your success

By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to incorporate both Blueprint and AAMC exams into your study routine to help you perform at your absolute best on test day.

Understanding Blueprint and AAMC MCAT Exams

When preparing for the MCAT, it’s essential to choose the right practice exams to gauge your progress effectively.

Both Blueprint and AAMC offer high-quality MCAT practice exams, but they serve different purposes in your preparation.

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each will help you make an informed decision about how to incorporate them into your study plan. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

What is Blueprint?

Blueprint is one of the most well-known MCAT prep companies, offering a comprehensive suite of study tools designed to help students improve their scores.  

Their full-length practice exams are known for being challenging, content-heavy, and slightly different from the real MCAT.  

Many students use Blueprint to push themselves beyond the difficulty level of the actual test so that they feel more confident on test day. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

Key Features of Blueprint MCAT Exams:

✔️ Detailed explanations for every answer, helping you understand your mistakes thoroughly
✔️ Advanced analytics tools that track progress, pinpoint weak areas, and guide study plans
✔️ Difficult passages with dense, complex wording to strengthen critical thinking skills
✔️ Slightly different question styles compared to the actual MCAT, which can make them feel more challenging

Why Do Students Find Blueprint Harder?

Many students report that Blueprint’s exams feel significantly harder than AAMC’s. This is primarily because of:

• Longer, more complex passages that require deeper comprehension
• More difficult question wording that forces you to analyze the nuances of each answer choice
• A focus on content recall, making it feel like you need to know more facts compared to the real MCAT
• A strict scoring scale, where small mistakes can lead to noticeable drops in score

Because of this increased difficulty, some students find Blueprint exams frustrating, especially if their scores are lower than expected.  

However, this difficulty can be beneficial in the long run, as it helps you develop endurance, problem-solving skills, and resilience before test day.

Who Should Use Blueprint Exams?

Blueprint exams are an excellent choice for students who:
✔️ Want more challenging practice to push their limits
✔️ Need detailed explanations to understand why answers are right or wrong
✔️ Prefer in-depth analytics to track progress and fine-tune study plans
✔️ Are in the early to mid-phase of their MCAT preparation and looking to build test-taking stamina

While Blueprint exams may not be the best predictor of your final MCAT score, they are great for building confidence and problem-solving skills, making them a valuable tool in your study journey.

What is AAMC?

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is the organization that creates and administers the MCAT.

Since the AAMC writes the actual MCAT, their practice exams are the closest representation of the real test in terms of question style, passage complexity, and scoring system.

Key Features of AAMC MCAT Exams:

✔️ Directly mimics the actual MCAT experience, ensuring an authentic test-taking feel
✔️ Most accurate representation of real test difficulty, helping you understand what to expect on test day
✔️ Best predictor of your actual MCAT score, as AAMC tests follow the same scoring system as the real exam
✔️ More straightforward questions compared to Blueprint, making the wording and structure easier to navigate

Why Are AAMC Exams Essential?

Unlike Blueprint, which intentionally makes their exams harder, AAMC exams provide a more realistic test-day experience. This makes them the best tool for:

• Assessing your actual MCAT readiness
• Understanding the real difficulty level of MCAT passages and questions
• Predicting your test-day score based on actual MCAT scoring trends

How Do Students Feel About AAMC Exams?

Most students find AAMC exams easier than Blueprint but more accurate in terms of what they will actually see on the MCAT. Here’s why:

• AAMC questions are worded more clearly, making it easier to identify the correct answer
• The passages are challenging, but not as overwhelming as Blueprint’s, so they are more manageable
• Scoring feels more fair, as the AAMC follows the same curve as the actual MCAT

Because of this, students often see higher scores on AAMC exams compared to Blueprint, which can boost confidence as they approach test day. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

Who Should Use AAMC Exams?

AAMC exams are a must-have for every MCAT test-taker, especially in the final phase of preparation. You should use AAMC exams if you:
✔️ Want the most accurate prediction of your real MCAT score
✔️ Need to get comfortable with the actual test format and question style
✔️ Are in the last few weeks before your MCAT and need a final assessment of your abilities
✔️ Want to practice under realistic conditions to fine-tune your test-taking strategy

Blueprint vs. AAMC: Key Comparisons

1. Difficulty Level

One of the biggest reasons why students find Blueprint harder is its question complexity.

• Blueprint questions tend to be trickier, requiring deeper critical thinking.
• Passages are denser and harder to digest, often leading to slower reading times.
• The science section feels more difficult, with a stronger emphasis on content recall and multi-step reasoning.

AAMC exams, on the other hand, are more direct and balanced. They include difficult questions, but they better reflect the actual MCAT experience. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

Why Does Blueprint Feel Harder?

Blueprint intentionally makes their practice exams more difficult so that test-takers can feel over-prepared. The idea is that if you can handle a harder test, the real MCAT will feel easier.

However, some students find that Blueprint’s artificially high difficulty can sometimes be discouraging and may not always translate to better MCAT performance. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

2. Scoring Trends

• Students typically score 2-5 points lower on Blueprint compared to AAMC.
• Many students find their AAMC scores to be a better reflection of their real MCAT results.
• Blueprint’s scoring system is more strict, making it harder to achieve high scores.

If you’re consistently scoring low on Blueprint exams, don’t panic! Many students see a significant jump when they switch to AAMC exams closer to their test date. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

3. Test-Taking Experience

Taking a Blueprint exam can feel mentally exhausting. Because of the harder passages, longer reading times, and tricky question wording, some students feel more drained after a Blueprint exam than after an AAMC test.

AAMC exams, however, feel more natural. Since they closely match the actual MCAT experience, they help you get used to the real test pacing. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

Which Exam is More Like the Real MCAT?

If you want an accurate simulation of test day, AAMC is your best option. Blueprint is great for practice, but it doesn’t fully replicate the real test format. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

See more: Is Tungsten Harder Than Steel?

Which One Should You Use for MCAT Prep?

When to Use Blueprint

Blueprint exams are best for the early stages of your MCAT prep. Since they are harder, they force you to develop strong problem-solving skills and endurance. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

Use Blueprint if:
✔️ You want a challenge to push yourself
✔️ You need detailed explanations to learn from mistakes
✔️ You’re in the first half of your MCAT prep

When to Use AAMC

AAMC exams should be your final practice exams before the real test. Since they accurately predict your score, they are essential for gauging your readiness. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

Use AAMC if:
✔️ You want the most realistic MCAT experience
✔️ You need a score predictor for the actual test
✔️ You are in the final weeks of MCAT prep

FAQs

Is Blueprint a good predictor of the MCAT?

Not necessarily. Blueprint is great for building test-taking skills, but AAMC is the best predictor of your actual score.

How much harder is Blueprint compared to AAMC?

Most students find Blueprint significantly harder, often scoring 2-5 points lower than on AAMC exams.

Should I only use AAMC exams?

AAMC exams are essential, but using Blueprint early in your prep can help you improve problem-solving skills before transitioning to AAMC.

What is the best way to use Blueprint exams?

Take Blueprint in the first half of your study plan to build endurance. Then, switch to AAMC for final practice. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

Are Blueprint explanations better than AAMC?

Yes! Blueprint provides detailed explanations and analytics, which AAMC lacks. [Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?]

Conclusion: Is Blueprint Harder Than AAMC?

So, is Blueprint harder than AAMC? Yes, but that’s not a bad thing!  

Blueprint exams push you to think critically and prepare for difficult scenarios, while AAMC exams give you the most accurate representation of the real MCAT.

If you want the best results, use both. Start with Blueprint to build endurance and improve your problem-solving skills, then switch to AAMC in the final weeks to get an accurate measure of your performance.

By using both strategically, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the real MCAT with confidence.

Good luck with your studies!