MCAT

Medical College Admission Test

S H A R I N G T H E E X P E R I E N C E S P E N C E R C A R T E R U N I V E R S I T Y O F U N I V E R S I T Y O F N O T R E D A M E W A S H I N G T O N S , B S - S C I E N C E C H O O L O F M B U S I N E S S E D I C I N E E ’ 1 1

The Timeline

W H E N S H O U L D Y O U T A K E T H E T E S T ?

MCAT Timeline – Smooth Sailing!

 Offered January-September  ~28x per/year  Can test maximum of 3x per year  Can only register for one test session at a time   Must wait 48 hrs following your exam to register for another exam No wait-lists  Scores valid within 2-3 years from exam http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/

When should you take the test?

 Year prior to entering medical school  Spring test date  Receipt of Spring scores allows for summer or early fall completion of your application.

 Permits you to retest in the Summer or Fall  Later scores may be submitted in the same application year as the earlier scores.

 Seats fill up quickly in fall  *Talk with your Pre-Med Advisor

When did I take the test?

 April of Junior year, received score in May  Allowed me to complete primary application in June and secondaries in August before Senior year (really, really nice)  Studying for MCAT with a full course load was difficult

Registration

T I P S T O A V O I D H A S S L E S

MCAT Registration

 Register 60+ days in advance  Register your name EXACTLY as it appears on ID card  Current contact info is important  Check registration the day before test  Idaho Testing Sites: Moscow, Pocatello, Meridian

Cost



~$230

(credit card)  Fee Assistance Program (FAP) if qualified  Fees  $55 each (nonrefundable)  Test center change; Rescheduling; Late registration  Cancellation   Partial $115 refund if cancelled by regular registration deadline After registration = no refund  Registration cannot be reversed once started

The Exam Breakdown

W H A T C A N I E X P E C T ?

H O W T O T A C K L E T H E S E C T I O N S Evaluates problem solving using basic science concepts – NOT memorization.

2012 MCAT Structure

Test Section

Tutorial (optional) Examinee Agreement

Physical Sciences

Break (optional)

Verbal Reasoning

Break (optional)

Writing Sample

Break (optional)

Biological Sciences Questions 52 40 2 Time

10 minutes 10 minutes

70 minutes

10 minutes

60 minutes

10 minutes

60 minutes

10 minutes

70 minutes 52

Void Question Survey (optional) Total Content Time 12 5 minutes 10 minutes 4 hours, 25 minutes

Total “Seat” Time 5 hours, 25 minutes Total time does not include check-in time on arrival.

Scoring

 Scaled score for each section & your total score.  1-15 for a multiple choice section (Physical, Verbal, Biological)  J-T for both Writing Samples  Raw score based on the number of questions you answer correctly.   A wrong answer is scored the same as an unanswered question; no additional penalty for wrong answers. If you are unsure of the correct answer make your best guess.

Dissecting the Physical & Biological Section

 Each section contains…  7 passage-based question sets  4-7 questions per passage  13 independent questions TYPES OF PROBLEMS     Information presentation Problem solving Research study Persuasive argument  Problem sets in each format are approx. equal  Passages may discuss advanced topics

Physical Sciences



General Chemistry

 Solution chemistry   Thermodynamics Kinetics   Electrochemistry Stoichiometry   Electronic structure Bonding   Phase equilibria Acids and bases 

Non-calculus Physics

     Mechanics Wave motion Electricity and magnetism Light and optics Modern physics  Equations & Constants  Extra equations provided  Periodic Table provided These are possible topics: not every concept will be on a single version of the test.

Biological Sciences



Biology

     Concentrate primarily on two major groups of living organisms: vertebrates and microbes Molecular biology Cellular structure and Fxn Genetics Evolution 

Organic Chemistry

    Knowledge of organic compounds and reactions to explain results, arguments, and experimental procedures in terms of reactions or principles of organic compounds Nomenclature Classifications of functional groups Reaction mechanisms These are possible topics: not every concept will be on a single version of the test.

Verbal Reasoning

 Ability to understand, evaluate, and apply info.

 Humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

 7 passages with 5-10 questions each.

 Sets of questions presented from easiest to hardest.

 Hardest section for many students, easiest to improve on with strategy/ practice

Suggestions for Verbal Reasoning

 Most important section for strategy, find which works best for you (skimming first, reading question first etc.)  Start reading scientific journal articles now, learning to read and comprehend these quickly will help you excel (and you might learn something!)

Writing Sample

 Two 30-minute essays 

3 T ASKS

   Explain Apparent exception Resolve contradiction  Clear direction leading to a clear conclusion.  Consistent point of view  Support Generalizations  Transitions  No long a section after 2012  Do not press Escape! 

CHANGES

   2013- Writing section is replaced by experimental section calibrating the 2015 test 2015 Update is aimed at making the MCAT more applicable to medical school 4 test sections 1 ) Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems 2) Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems 3) Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior 4) Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

2015 MCAT

   4 sections scored out of 15- total of 60 points  95 min each, no writing section Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior  Test basic principals of psychology and sociology taught in 1 semester college courses  Address the behavioral and socio-cultural determinants of health The other sections seem similar to the current format, more focused on basic science used medical school

Study Plans & Mind Tricks

My Study Style

   1) Practice test over winter break  Gave me a good idea of what I needed to work on (…physics) 2) Structured studying  Starting in mid-January study every night with a practice test every Saturday (total ~5-10 hr/week for 2.5 months) Spring Break- 10 hr/ day in library with 3 practice tests, 2 in test simulation 3) Use practice tests to identify weaknesses, address those with studying  Understand the way they ask questions, don’t get frustrated, it is a game in which you have to beat the test-writer

Things I would do Differently

   Take MCAT outside of school year or take less hours/ extracurriculars and view it as a class Have a sticker chart or person (not a nice friend) to record studying and keep me on track Review course- mixed feelings, probably would have increased my score (more structure, good resources) but very expensive, didn’t fit in my schedule regardless

Most Beneficial resource: MCAT Practice Tests

    Retired exams Solutions Automated scoring Diagnostic reports     8 tests @ $35 each ~ 1 is FREE (Test #3) Cannot share Printable tests Expire 1 year from purchase

Taking My Practice Test Seriously

      Location (limit distractions) Computerized Scratch paper No calculator Ear plugs – head set Full Length  Features NOT on real MCAT:      Search Notes Pause Solutions Self-Diagnosis.

 Settings:       Timing On Deliver Questions – Sequential Self Diagnosis – Off Solutions – Do Not Show Difficulty – All Deliver the Following – Entire Test  Item numbering differs as well.

This provides the best estimate of your likely MCAT scores

AAMC’s Study Plan

 Begin at least 3 months before exam date.

 Use web sidebar ‘Preparing for the Test Sections’  Use campus test prep services  Study partner 

* The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam

 *Note unfamiliar material or what you haven't studied recently.  *Textbooks & notes.

Other Resources

 Ideally, your education has prepared you for the MCAT.

 The Princeton Review  Kaplan  Commercial Review Courses  Share with friends, split the cost  There is no substitute for taking your classes seriously and learning the material the first time The AAMC logo and copyright statements identify authentic MCAT Practice Tests.

Not this face.

Test Day

T W O W O R D S : G A M E F A C E .

This face.

My Test Day…No Surprises

          Dress for cold/hot Finger print Picture Photo ID Leave belongings in a locker Assigned seat Ear plugs – headset Video surveillance Signature log Breaks for restroom      Scratch paper/dry erase (leave with center!) No calculator No chewing gum, snack food or water No timer/watch or hat No phone use or study material during breaks

My Test Day Tips

 Arrive early! (at least 30 min.)   Test center may not yet be open First on the waiting room list   Registered in 1 at a time May start after others   Arriving after start time = no test Catch a ride (study and decompress)  Be familiar with…   The tutorial Non-disclosure option  Void option

Scores

W H A T A R E M Y O P T I O N S ?

Release of Scores

 30-35 days online after your test date  Automatically released to AMCAS (AMCAS is application service)  Also means that you cannot withhold any scores from AMCAS.  Release scores electronically, via the MCAT Testing History (THx) System, to other centralized application services: AACOMAS, VMCAS, SOPHAS, etc. as well as other individual institutions.

Hmmm…Should I retake the MCAT?

The AAMC recommends retaking the MCAT exam only if:  Discrepancy between your college grades and MCAT scores  Your course work in areas covered on the test was inadequate  You misunderstood the directions or incorrectly recorded your answers  You had a serious illness at the time of the test  Medical school admissions committee recommended that you retest  Overall score OK but one section drastically lower than others (30: 12, 12, 6)

How are Multiple Scores Used?

1.

*Weigh all sets of scores equally and note improvements 2.

Consider only the most recent set of scores 3.

Average of all sets of scores 4.

Only the highest set of scores or the highest individual section scores

You are More Than a Score!

    Does NOT predict ability to be a good physician, gives idea of cognitive ability GPA, life experiences, dedication to your dream are extremely important in your application MCAT scores seem to matter more for a research oriented school (Washington U. St. Louis avg ~36) UW seems to take a more holistic approach

Med School

THE MCAT IS A GOOD TIME TO PRACTICE STUDY SKILLS, IT DOESN’T GET EASIER ONCE YOU ARE ACCEPTED DEDICATION NOW WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER IN THE FUTURE - DON’T LEAVE YOURSELF ANY EXCUSES AAMC.ORG