The MCAT is a standardized multiple choice exam that is designed to assess students problem solving, critical thinking skills, and knowledge of science concepts.
The Exam
Before 2015 the MCAT tested the students with a verbal, biology, organic chemistry and physics sections. The exam was scored on a scale of 1-45 with each section being worth anywhere from a 1 to a 15 and lasted about 3 hours and 20 minutes.
After April 2015 the MCAT radically changed and expanded its testing material. In addition to these old sections, the new MCAT now tests over biochemistry, psychology and sociology (oh joy!!)
After April 2015 the MCAT radically changed and expanded its testing material. In addition to these old sections, the new MCAT now tests over biochemistry, psychology and sociology (oh joy!!)
Scoring
The new MCAT total score ranges from 472 to 528. In this test there are four sections in which the student can get a score from 118 to 132 so the total score would be derived from adding up the individual section scores.
Helpful Links and Websites
Although it might seem like the MCAT administrators hate you and want to see you fail, that is not the case. They have begun to provide helpful links in order to assist students an ease the transition from the old to the new MCAT. Below are some of the provided links:
- THE AAMC finally updated their website to provide official information regarding the new MCAT. (That's wehere we got all these beautiful pictures.)
- KHAN ACADEMY recently teamed up with the AAMC to provide videos, tutorials and helpful content to help students prepare for the new exam.
- AAMC RESOURCE site is also avaliable to proide videos, sample questions and explainations over many MCAT 2015 concepts.
The MCAT: Current vs New
Resources:
- Photo credit: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/mcat2015/admins/scores/
- Photo credit: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/mcat2015/admins/382772/naahp-mcat2015.html
- https://www.aamc.org/students/services/343550/mcat2015.html
- https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat
- https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/mcat2015/
- http://www.docwithpen.com/category/mcat-2/