MCAT Exam
FAQ'S
MCAT is for students want to
apply for Medical education
The test is accepted in USA and
Canada
The scores are valid for three
years
What is MCAT?
MCAT or Medical College Admission Test is for the
students who are planning to pursue their Medical education in either USA or Canada. The MCAT test is a standardized, multiple-choice
examination.
The test is 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 US Medical Schools and
many Canadian schools require applicants to submit MCAT exam. MCAT scores are
valid upto 3 years.
MCAT is compulsory for both, a student who is about to
start his/her medical education and an MBBS degree holder as well.
What is the format of MCAT?
MCAT tests a student’s Problem Solving, Critical Thinking
and Knowledge of Science concepts. The sections include Physical Sciences,
Biological Sciences and Verbal Reasoning.
What can I expect in the Physical Sciences section?
The Physical Science section of the MCAT exam assesses
the introductory-level knowledge of general Chemistry and Physics to solve
scientific problems.
What can I expect in the Biological Sciences section?
The section assesses the introductory level knowledge of
Biology and Organic Chemistry to solve scientific problems.
What can I expect in the Verbal Reasoning section?
The section will assess your ability to understand,
evaluate and apply information and arguments presented in text.
How am I eligible for MCAT?
Either you are fresh out of 10+2 or have just finished
with your MBBS degree in both the cases you are eligible to appear for MCAT.
How do I register?
What is the fee for MCAT?
The details are mentioned below:
|
Regular registration
|
$270
|
|
International Test Site
|
$85
|
|
Late registration
|
$75
|
|
Date reschedule
|
$90
|
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Change of Test Center
|
$90
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About MCAT
This is a standardized, multiple-choice
examination designed to assess the examinee's problem solving, critical
thinking, writing skills, and knowledge of science concepts and principles
prerequisite to the study of medicine. Scores are reported in Verbal Reasoning,
Physical Sciences, Writing Sample, and Biological Sciences.
Medical colleges
consider MCAT exam scores as part of their admission process.
Almost all U.S. medical schools require applicants to submit MCAT exam scores.
Many schools do not accept MCAT exam scores that are more than three years old.
Are You Eligible to Take the MCAT Exam?
Registration Eligibility
You may sit for the MCAT exam if you are preparing to apply to a health
professions school. These include the following types of schools:
·
Allopathic
·
Osteopathic
·
Podiatric
·
Veterinary
Medicine
Note:
At the time of registration you will be required to accept a statement
verifying your intention to apply to a heath professions school. If, however,
you are not applying to a health professions school, or if you are a currently
enrolled medical student, you may obtain "special permission" to
register for the exam.
Testing Eligibility
You may take the exam up to three times in one calendar year, but you may
register for only one test at a time.
International Students
If you are an international student, you are welcome to take the MCAT exam
provided that you meet the eligibility requirements described above. If you are
in an MBBS degree program or hold the MBBS degree, you may register for the
MCAT exam without seeking
Special Permission
- You wish to take the test for
any reason other than applying to a health professions school, or
- You are a currently enrolled
medical student (other than MBBS degree program)
To
apply for special permission, please send an e-mail request to mcat@aamc.org,
stating the reason(s) you wish to take the exam. The MCAT exam office will
attempt to review and respond to your request within five business days, although
heavy volume may delay our ability to reply within this time frame. We
therefore ask that you be mindful of registration deadlines, as staff cannot
extend closing dates for any reason.
How do I register for the MCAT?
Starting in February, they will send you a registration packet that contains
important information about MCAT fees and score reporting.
MCAT Registration:
The registration packet contains a code book which you must use to fill out the
candidate information folder and a registration ticket which requires a recent
photograph. You must be sure that your completed registration packet is
postmarked before the test registration deadline. There is a late registration
deadline for those who may procrastinate or for some reason miss the deadline.
Note that this is not a postmark deadline. Your completed application must be
received by American College Testing Program by 4:30 Central Standard Time on
that date and must be accompanied by an additional $30 fee. In any case there
is no walk-in registration, and you must have your registration ticket (with
photo) in order to take the exam.
You will be given a choice of testing centers - both domestic and
international. The Colorado centers include Adams State College, Alamosa;
University of Colorado, Boulder and Denver campuses; U.S. Air Force Academy and
the Colorado College, both in Colorado Springs; Fort Lewis College, Durango;
Colorado State University, Fort Collins; and Mesa State College, Grand
Junction. The test is normally given on Saturday although there are Sunday test
dates at limited testing centers (i.e. Denver) should you have a Saturday
conflict or should religious reasons prohibit your taking the test on a
Saturday. There are additional fees for Sunday and nondomestic test centers.
Consult the instruction booklet for this information. The basic fee for the
test is $155 for 1995. Check the instruction booklet for fee charges.
Computerized
MCAT
The MCAT Exam has gone paperless!
Most of our international testing sites have been computerized for several
years. Last year we added 10 U.S. computerized sites as alternatives. We will
now deliver the MCAT exam as a computerized exam only, starting in January
2007. Thomson Prometric will deliver the computerized MCAT on behalf of the
AAMC multiple times per year, at hundreds of testing sites in North America and
select sites in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. Benefits
of the Computerized MCAT Exam
Computerizing the MCAT offers advantages for both students and admissions
offices:
- Test administrations will
increase from twice a year to 22 per year.
- Morning and afternoon sessions
will be available on weekdays and Saturdays.
- Students may take the MCAT exam
up to three times per year (but may be registered for only one testing
date at a time).
- The computerized test day will
be about half as long as the paper-and-pencil administration day,
primarily because there is less administrative overhead.
- Beginning in 2007, the number
of questions will be reduced by about one-third (without changing the
content representation), and the allowed testing time will be reduced by
about 30 percent. Research showed that a shorter MCAT exam would retain
its predictive power.
- Beginning in 2007, scores will
be reported in 30 days instead of 60 days. Our objective is to eventually
reduce reporting to 14 days.
Computerized Testing Environment
Thomson Prometric testing centers are climate- and sound-controlled, designed
and built exclusively for CBTs. Ergonomic chairs, guest lockers,
state-of-the-art equipment, and noise reduction headphones will be available to
examinees. Thomson Prometric has testing sites throughout North America and
around the world. They are building new sites in locations where the MCAT
potentially has more examinees than they can seat.
MCAT Score Range
Each MCAT section receives its own score. Verbal reasoning, physical sciences,
and biological sciences are each scored on a scale ranging from 1-15, with 15
as the highest. The writing sample essays are scored alphabetically on a scale
ranging from J to T, with T as the highest. Your raw score, the number answered
correctly, convert to yield a scaled score. These scaled scores appear on the
report to medical schools as your MCAT scores.
MCAT Test Results
Depending on their degree of selectivity, medical schools consider a score of
10 or above on each section as superior. For each MCAT administration the
average scaled scores are approximately 8s for verbal reasoning, physical sciences,
and biological sciences, and an N for the writing sample. Many consider
competitive scores around 10 to 11, and for the top schools strive for 12s and
higher.
Finally, you have a score choice option on the day of the exam. This allows you
to see your MCAT scores before releasing them to medical schools. While an
appealing option, schools know when you take the MCAT, even if they do not know
your scores. Consequently, some medical schools will hold this against you.
Good Total MCAT Score: Are My MCAT Scores Good Enough?
Just try to get all your MCAT scores as high as possible. Many schools look for
consistency in MCAT scores. If your three numerical scores are above 10, and
your essay score in above N, your chances of an interview are quite good. However,
even if you get 14's in two science sections, but you get only 6 on your Verbal
Reasoning, you may get a big trouble.
What is a competitive score on the MCAT?
Last year the national MCAT average for all 34,862 applicants was 8.1. The
average for the 16,365 applicants who matriculated was a 9.9. Students accepted
to the OU College of Medicine had an average of 9.43. OU only considers the
LAST test scores. Acceptance to medical school is based on GPA, MCAT scores,
Letters of Evaluation, and impressions gained at the personal interview. Kindly
visit the official website of MCAT for more information
https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/
