Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a computer-based exam that qualifies you for admission in medical schools abroad. Serving the purpose of a common admission test for countries including the USA, Canada, and Australia, MCAT is administered by the American Association of Medical Colleges. Generally considered tougher than DAT, OAT, and PCAT, MCAT assesses the conceptual understanding and analytical skills necessary for success in a medical school. Before we dig deep into how to prepare for MCAT and if it is the right exam to appear for you, let us understand the examination itself.
The MCAT:
Standardized examinations have been an important part of the admission process for quite a while. MCAT has been considered as a medical school or university entrance examination for over 90 years now. Over 80,000 applicants submit their MCAT scores to American and Canadian medical schools in a year. Evaluating your knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts and principles, and problem-solving, thinking, critical skills, the exam today has become primarily a reason-based examination. The test is excruciatingly long for about seven hours and thirty minutes, including breaks. However, several cancellations due to the pandemic of Covid19 have resulted in a shortened test day schedule.
Eligibility criteria:
MCAT is one examination which does not require any prerequisites regarding your academic background. Students with both science and non-science backgrounds can appear and expect equal opportunities to enter a medical school. However, a list of recommended undergraduate courses allows you to optimize your prospects to the fullest. Hence, anyone planning to apply to any health professional school or those enrolled in an MBBS degree program can register for MCAT. If you have already completed your MBBS, you would not need special permission to sit for the examination. Other than that, you need to seek special permission to appear for MCAT when the above conditions do not apply.
MCAT Pattern and scores:
MCAT test includes subjects ranging from chemistry to philosophy and humanities. It involves a wide variety of topics and checks your fundamental understanding on these topics. There are four integrated sections:
Critical analysis and reasoning skills
The section-time allotted for this section is 90 minutes. From a total of 53 questions, there are 9 passages, and all the questions are passage-based. This section includes questions from topics of comprehension, analysis, and reasoning in ethics, philosophy, cultural studies, population health, social sciences, and humanities.
Biological and biochemical foundations of living systems
The section-time limit for this section is 95 minutes with a total of 59 questions. It has 10 passages with 44 passage-based questions and 15 stand-alone questions. The questions general question-wise distribution of topics in- biology (65%), biochemistry (25%), organic and inorganic chemistry (10%), basic research, and statistics skills.
Psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior
The section-time limit for this section is 95 minutes with a total of 59 total questions. It also has 10 passages, 44 passage-based questions, and 15 remaining discrete, stand-alone questions. The questions general question-wise distribution of topics is-psychology (60%), sociology (30%) and biology (10%).
Chemical and physical foundations of biological systems
The section-time limit for this section is 95 minutes with a total of 59 total questions. The questions are broken up in two parts-10 passages with 44 passage-based questions and 15 discrete, stand-alone questions. The topics included are organic and inorganic chemistry (45%), physics (25%), biochemistry (25%), biology (5%), basic research methods, and statistics.
This division sums up to 230 total questions. After an attempt of a complete section, there is a provision for an optional ten-minute break.
While three of the four sections focus on natural and social sciences expected to be covered in the undergraduate courses in schools, the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section does not require specific studies and does not have a scientific orientation. This section includes questionnaires from philosophy, health population, ethics, and moral conduct. The maximum score for every section ranges from 118-132, making the total score range from 472-528 with a mean or median of 500. The wrong questions are scored similarly to the unanswered questions, meaning there is no negative marking for wrong answers. A score of 521-523 usually equals to the 99 percent of MCAT test taker students.
Some Key Takeaways
The best way to score great is to have a good practice. It helps you identify the topics you need to focus on. A low score can be disheartening, while a good one, can boost you with confidence and joy. Persistent efforts keep pushing you closer to success. Connect with Online Tutoring Services for a detailed preparation guide for your MCAT exam. We have expert MCAT tutors to help you out with customized test strategy taking into account your strengths and weaknesses.
