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The MCAT

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)  is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to assess the examinee’s problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine.

Almost all U.S. medical schools and many Canadian schools require applicants to submit MCAT exam scores. Many schools do not accept MCAT exam scores that are more than three years old.

The MCAT exam is administered multiple times from late January through early September, and offered at hundreds of test sites in the United States, Canada, and around the world. Most students take the MCAT sometime between April and July of the year they are applying.

The MCAT

The AAMC launched the current MCAT exam in April 2015. Last revised in 1991, the exam has been updated to            reflect the changes in medicine and science and to test examinees on not only what they know but how well they          use what they know.

The changes to the MCAT exam in 2015 preserve what works about the current exam, eliminate what isn’t working, and further enrich the MCAT exam by giving attention to the concepts tomorrow’s doctors will need.

There are 4 sections to the 2015 MCAT:

1. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems,

2. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems,

3. Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (NEW SECTION).  The addition of this new section recognizes the importance of socio-cultural and behavioral determinants of health and health outcomes.

4. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.  The addition of this new section reflects the fact that medical schools want well-rounded applicants from a variety of backgrounds.

Scores will be reported on a scale similar to the current 1-15 scale, and a separate score will be recorded for each of the four sections: four sections, four scores.

For more information about the MCAT, click here.

Registering for the MCAT

You should register 60 days or more in advance of the exam day for the best chance of getting a seat on the date and testing location you prefer.  Online pre-registration is required and that walk-in registration is not available. To register, a student must first sign up for an AAMC account.

Preparing for the exam.

While there is no one way to prepare for the MCAT exam, making sure you give yourself adequate time to prepare is critical.  It is not unusual for students to take several months to prepare.  The amount of time you will need really depends on you. Have you completed all of the coursework that is associated with MCAT content? Do you feel confident in all content areas? Are there some content topics or skills that you feel require more in-depth study or practice? Are you comfortable with the online testing format?

You may also find it useful to break down the studying into manageable chunks, realizing that you can’t tackle everything at once. This will also help give you a sense of the amount of time you will need so you can prepare at a comfortable pace. The best study plans are those that are tailored to an individual’s needs.

The MCAT website has all the official information you need about the MCAT exam, including practice exams.

 

Links to more information for UMW premedical students: