Transcript Slide 1

An Overview of the New
MCAT Exam
Marc Kroopnick
Manager, MCAT2015 Development &
Psychometrics
Presentation made at the Introductory Physics for
the Life Sciences Conference
Arlington, VA
March 14, 2014
MCAT® is a program of the Association of
American Medical Colleges and related trademarks
owned by the Association includes Medical
College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT 2015
Today’s Agenda
• Overview of exam changes
• Schedule
• Description of the Chemical and Physical
Foundations of Biological Systems section
• Support for Students, Advisors, and Faculty
• Outreach
• Q&A
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Overview of Exam Changes
• Preserve what works best
• Eliminate what doesn’t
• Enrich exam with concepts that future
physicians are likely to need
• Use a testing format that has proven to be
successful
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Schedule
•
The new exam will launch in the spring of 2015
•
The current exam will be administered for the last
time in January 2015
4
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
MCAT2015 Exam – Four Sections
Biological &
Biochemical
Foundations of
Living Systems
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Psychological,
Social, & Biological
Foundations of
Behavior
Critical Analysis &
Reasoning Skills
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
What’s innovative?
•
Mirrors the interdisciplinary nature of scientists’
work
•
Asks examinees to use their knowledge, not repeat
it
•
Speaks to current initiatives in competency-based
science education
•
Recognizes the behavioral and socio-cultural
determinants of health
•
Balances testing in the natural sciences with
testing in the social and behavioral sciences and
critical analysis and reasoning
6
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Natural and Behavioral/Social
Sciences sections:
Questions will ask examinees to combine:
• knowledge of natural or behavioral/social
sciences concepts with
• scientific inquiry, reasoning, research methods
and statistics skills to solve problems that
demonstrate readiness for medical school
Natural or Behavioral/
Social Sciences Concepts
Scientific inquiry, reasoning,
research methods, and
statistics skills
Questions
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
MCAT2015 – 4 Sections, 4 Scores
Biological &
Biochemical
Foundations of
Living Systems
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Psychological,
Social, & Biological
Foundations of
Behavior
Critical Analysis &
Reasoning Skills
8
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Solve problems combining knowledge of chemical and
physical foundational concepts with scientific inquiry and
reasoning skills that demonstrate one is ready for medical
school.
9
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Concept 4
• Complex living organisms
transport materials, sense
their environment, process
signals, and respond to
changes using processes
that can be understood in
terms of physical principles.
Concept 5
• The principles that govern
chemical interactions and
reactions form the basis for
a broader understanding of
the molecular dynamics of
living systems.
10
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Exam content draw from:
• Introductory general chemistry – approx. 30%
• Introductory organic chemistry – approx. 15%
• Introductory physics – approx. 25%
• First semester biochemistry – approx. 25%
• Introductory biology – approx. 5%
11
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Chemical & Physical Foundations of
Biological Systems
Foundational Concept 4
Complex living organisms transport materials, sense their environment,
process signals, and respond to changes using processes that can be
understood in terms of physical principles.
12
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Chemical & Physical Foundations of
Biological Systems
Foundational Concept 4
Content Categories
4A:
4B:
4C:
4D:
4E:
Translational motion, forces, work, energy, and
equilibrium in living systems
Importance of fluids for the circulation of blood, gas
movement, and gas exchange
Electrochemistry and electrical circuits and their elements
How light and sound interact with matter
Atoms, nuclear decay, electronic structure, and atomic
chemical behavior
13
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Chemical & Physical Foundations of
Biological Systems
Foundational Concept 4
Content Category
4C:
Electrochemistry and electrical circuits and their elements
•
•
•
•
•
Electrostatics (PHY)
Circuit Elements (PHY)
Magnetism (PHY)
Electrochemistry (GC)
Specialized Cell – Nerve Cell (BIO)
14
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Chemical & Physical Foundations of
Biological Systems
Foundational Concept 5
The principles that govern chemical interactions and reactions form the
basis for a broader understanding of the molecular dynamics of living
systems.
15
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Chemical & Physical Foundations of
Biological Systems
Foundational Concept 5
Content Categories
5A:
5B:
5C:
5D:
5E:
Unique nature of water and its solutions
Nature of molecules and intermolecular interactions
Separation and purification methods
Structure, function, and reactivity of biologically-relevant
molecules
Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics
16
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Chemical & Physical Foundations of
Biological Systems
Foundational Concept 5
Content Category
5E:
•
•
•
•
Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics
Enzymes (BC, BIO)
Principles of Bioenergetics (BC)
Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions – Thermochemistry,
Thermodynamics (GC, PHY)
Rate Processes in Chemical Reactions – Kinetics and Equilibrium (GC)
17
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Scientific Inquiry & Reasoning Skills
1 Knowledge of Scientific Concepts & Principles
2
Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving
3
Reasoning About the Design
4
Data-based and Statistical Reasoning
and Execution of Research
18
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Natural and Behavioral/Social
Sciences sections:
Questions will ask examinees to combine:
• knowledge of natural or behavioral/social
sciences concepts with
• scientific inquiry, reasoning, research methods
and statistics skills to solve problems that
demonstrate readiness for medical school
Natural or Behavioral/
Social Sciences Concepts
Scientific inquiry, reasoning,
research methods, and
statistics skills
Questions
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Support for Students, Advisors
and Faculty
• Developing resources for:
 Prospective examinees
 Pre-health advisors and faculty
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Resources for prospective examinees:
• The Preview Guide for MCAT2015 (free)
• Detailed descriptions for all 4 sections,
including knowledge and skills tested
• Detailed topic lists
• Sample test questions
• Videos describing MCAT2015 and preparation
• Dedicated web site: www.aamc.org/mcat2015
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Resources for prospective examinees:
• Free, on-line Khan Academy video tutorials and
review questions
 In collaboration with the AAMC, and with
funding from the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation
 Developed by medical students
 First video tutorials launched in October 2013
 500 videos (and 1,000 review questions)
anticipated by this summer
•
Sociology and Psychology Textbook Resource
(May 2013)
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
MCAT2015 Exam: Test Preparation
• MCAT2015 Interactive Content Outline
• The Official Guide to the MCAT, Fourth Edition
(2015 Exam)
• Sample Test
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
23
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Resources for pre-health advisors and
other faculty:
• The Preview Guide for the MCAT2015 Exam
• Presentation materials that can be used with
colleagues and students
• Webinar recordings on exam content
• Course-Mapping Tool for the MCAT2015 Exam
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Pre-health Collection within
MedEdPORTAL’s iCollaborative
• Online repository of instructional materials recommended
for teaching pre-health competencies
• 100+ pre-health teaching resources in the collection,
including self-study materials
• Searchable by competency, MCAT2015 Foundational
Concepts, or key words
• User community comments and shares resources
• Khan Academy video tutorials and review questions
included
www.mededportal.org/icollaborative/pre-health
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Help Us Grow the Pre-health Collection!
• Share a
resource you
created
• Refer a resource
you like
www.mededportal.org/icollaborative/pre-health
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
New Call for Submissions
• Submit an original resource that teaches a prehealth competency
• Six prizes of $750 for best submission
• biology
Questions?
Juan Burciaga
• biochemistry
[email protected]
• chemistry
Ralf Widenhorn
• physics
[email protected]
• psychology
Jen Page
[email protected]
• sociology
• Opens May 1, submissions due June 30, 2014
www.mededportal.org/icollaborative/pre-health
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
MCAT2015 Exam: Outreach
•
Q-UPP eNewsletter and webinars
•
Resources for medical schools, pre-health
advisors, undergraduate faculty and pre-med
students—find it all on our website!
www.aamc.org/mcat2015/admins
•
Outreach to a broad audience
• Students without pre-health advisors
• Under-resourced undergraduate institutions
without formal health advising programs
Ideas? E-mail [email protected]
30
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Questions?
www.aamc.org/mcat2015/admins
[email protected]
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015
Thank you!
MCAT® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges and related trademarks owned by the Association includes
Medical College Admissions Test, MCAT and MCAT2015