Medical College Admission Test
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The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized, multiple-choice examination in the US for prospective medical students. It is designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and writing skills in addition to knowledge of science concepts and principles. Prior to August 19, 2006, the exam was taken entirely on paper with the option of taking a computer-based version at select testing sites beginning in the fall of 2005. Starting January 27, 2007, all administrations of the exam are computer-based.
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[edit] Overview
The test was formerly administered twice a year, in April and August. Starting in January 2007, the exam is offered 22 times per year on 19 different testing dates.[1] The exam was shortened to 5.4 hours, which allows the test to be offered either in the morning or in the afternoon. Some test dates have both morning and afternoon administrations.
The test consists of four sections, listed in the order in which they are administered on the day of the exam:
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- Physical Sciences (PS)
- Verbal Reasoning (VR)
- Writing Sample (WS)
- Biological Sciences (BS)
The Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences, and Biological Sciences sections are in multiple-choice format. There is no penalty for wrong multiple choice answers, and thus even random guessing is preferable to leaving an answer choice blank (unlike, for example, the SAT). The passages and questions are pre-determined, and thus do not change in difficulty depending on the performance of the test taker (unlike, for example, the Graduate Record Examination). The Writing Sample is evaluated using two short essays that are written (typed into the computer) during the exam. Scores for the three multiple-choice sections range from 1 to 15. Scores for the writing section range from J (lowest) to T (highest). According to MSAR the standard deviation is 2.0-2.3 depending on the year and form of the exam. For example, if a student received a 10, the mean being an 8 and the standard deviation being 2, then that student tested better than 84% of the students on that section. The first reader is Intellimetric, a proprietary computer program developed by Vantage Learning, which analyzes creative writing and syntax. The second and third readers are humans, who generally look at the overall impact rather than spelling and grammar.
The science sections (PS and BS) test analytical and logical cognitive abilities and can be handled by those who are adept in these disciplines. The Verbal Reasoning (VR)section was implemented to test understanding of various subtleties involved in human communication and understanding. Unsurprisingly, it is the MCAT Biological Sciences score which most directly correlates to success on the USMLE Step 1 exam, with a correlation coefficient of .553 vs .491 for Physical Sciences and .397 for Verbal Reasoning. [2] Predictably, MCAT composite scores also correlate with USMLE Step 1 success.[3]
The numerical scores from each section are added together to give a composite score. For example, if one's score on the physical, verbal, and biological sections were 12, 13, and 11, respectively, then the composite score would be 36. The score from the writing sample may also be appended to the composite score (e.g. 36S). The maximum composite score is 45T but any score over 30P is considered fairly competitive, as this is the average for matriculants to medical school.[4] Students preparing for the exam are encouraged to try to balance their subscores; physical, verbal, and biological scores of 12, 13, and 11 respectively may be looked upon more favorably than 14, 13, and 6.
[edit] Exam administration
| Section | Questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Sciences | 52 | 70 |
| Verbal Reasoning | 40 | 60 |
| Writing Sample | 2 | 60 |
| Biological Sciences | 52 | 70 |
The Physical Sciences section is administered first (prior to the April 2003 MCAT, Verbal Reasoning was the first section of the exam). It is composed of 52 multiple-choice questions related to general chemistry and physics. Exam takers are allotted 70 minutes to complete this section of the exam.
The Verbal Reasoning section follows the Physical Sciences section and an optional 10 minute break. Exam takers have 60 minutes to answer 40 multiple-choice questions evaluating their comprehension, evaluation, and application of information gathered from written passages. Unlike the Physical and Biological sciences sections, the Verbal Reasoning section is not supposed to require specific content knowledge in order to perform well.
Prior to the computerization of the MCAT there was a 60 minute lunch break after the Verbal Reasoning section followed by the Writing Sample. With the new Computer-Based Testing format the 60 minute lunch break has been substituted by an optional 10 minute break. The Writing Sample gives examinees 60 minutes to compose responses to two prompts (30 minutes for each prompt, separately timed). Each essay is graded from 1 to 6 points by each of two readers, yielding a total score of 4-24; this score is then converted to a letter scale (4 = J, 24 = T).
After the Writing Samples, there is an optional 10 minute break followed by the Biological Sciences section. Examinees have 70 minutes to answer 52 multiple-choice questions related to organic chemistry and biology.
According to the AAMC, when the exam switched to computer-based testing, each multiple-choice section was reduced in length (both in terms of time allowed and number of questions) by approximately one-third, and students are still required to complete two essays.
[edit] Policies
Like some other professional exams (e.g. the LSAT, GMAT), the MCAT may be voided on the day of the exam if the exam taker is not satisfied with his or her performance. The decision to void must be made before leaving the test center and before seeing the exam results.
While wristwatches are allowed, the AAMC prohibits the use of calculators, timers, or other electronic devices during the exam.[5] Wristwatches must have the alarm disabled. Cellular phones are also strictly prohibited from testing rooms and individuals found to possess them are noted by name in a security report submitted to the AAMC.
It is no longer a rule that students must receive permission from the AAMC if they wish to take the MCAT more than three times total. The limit with the computerized MCAT is three times per year, with no lifetime limit. An examinee can register for only one test date at a time.
MCAT exam results are made available to examinees approximately thirty days after the test via the AAMC's MCAT Testing History (THx) Web application. Examinees do not receive a copy of their scores in the mail. MCAT THx is also used to transmit scores to medical schools, application services and other organizations (at no cost).
[edit] Preparation
Like most standardized tests, there are a variety of preparatory materials available. The AAMC itself offers both paper and computerized practice tests (composed of administered test questions and diagnostics) available for purchase at its website. Many test preparation companies offer classroom based courses. Approximately half of the students taking the MCAT use a test prep company. Various books are available from test preparation companies to prepare for the test.
The MCAT is scored using a scaled score out of 15, standardized to a mean of 8. The table provides a rough estimate of the scaled score from a raw score. The AAMC has never released a formula to allow students to calculate a scaled score from raw data, because the conversion is slightly different for each set of questions. However, this table is based on recent AAMC practice tests and can be used to approximate a score achieved on a practice test.
When the results of the MCAT are presented, percentile scores are included with the scaled scores.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ 2007 Completely Computerized MCAT Exam. Association of American Medical Colleges.
- ^ Undergraduate Institutional MCAT Scores as Predictors of USMLE Step 1 Performance. Acad Medicine (2002).
- ^ Adult Learners: Relationships of Reading, MCAT, and USMLE Step 1 Test Results for Medical Students. Education Resources Information Center (April 2002).
- ^ Facts: Applicants, Matriculants and Graduates. Association of American Medical Colleges.
- ^ MCAT Exam Frequently Asked Questions. Association of American Medical Colleges.
[edit] Further reading
- Julian, E (2005). "Validity of the Medical College Admission Test for predicting medical school performance". Academic Medicine 80 (10): 910-7. PMID 16186610.
