The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized test
administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to
prospective medical students as a means to standardise comparison between
them for purposes of admission to medical school. 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 will be
computer-based. The test is currently administered twice a year, once in
April and once in August. When the transition to computer-based testing (CBT)
is complete in 2007, the exam will be offered 22 times per year [1]. The
exam will be shortened to 5.4 hours.
The test consists of four sections, listed in the order in which they are
administered on the day of the exam:
1. physical sciences (PS),
2. verbal reasoning (VR),
3. writing sample (WS), and
4. biological sciences (BS). More about
MCAT Test Preparation:
The verbal, physical science, and biological science 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 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 to T. 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 got a 10 and the standard deviation was 2, then
that student tested better than 84% of the students on that section.
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 section (VR) was implemented to test understanding of
various subtleties involved in human communication and understanding.
Surprisingly, it is the VR score which most directly correlates to success
on the USMLE Step I exam. It seems that vocabulary, as opposed to reading
rate and comprehension, is responsible for this correlation. Predictably,
MCAT composite scores also correlate with USMLE Step 1 success.[2]
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 is 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
matriculates to medical school.[3] Many students preparing for the exam try
to "balance" their subscores; physical, verbal, and biological scores of 12,
13, and 11 respectively are considered better than 15, 15, 6. An individual
subscore that is significantly lower than the other two may be taken as a
sign of serious deficiency in that subject area.
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