The Medical University Entrance Test ( MCAT ) is a computer-based standardized examination for prospective medical students in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. It is designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, written analysis and knowledge of scientific concepts and principles. Before 2006, exams were paper and pencil exams; since 2007, all exam administrations have been computer based.
The latest version of the exam was introduced in April 2015 and takes 7.5 hours to complete. This test is printed in the range from 472 to 528.
Video Medical College Admission Test
Histori
Percobaan Moss: 1928-46
In 1920, drop-out rates in US medical schools jumped from 5% to 50%, leading to the development of tests that would measure readiness for medical schools. Doctor F. A. Moss and his colleagues developed the "Scholastic Achievement Test for Medical Students" which consists of a choice of right-wrong and multiple choice questions that are divided into six to eight subtests. Topics tested include visual memory, memory for content, scientific vocabulary, scientific definitions, printed matter comprehension, premise information, and logical reasoning. Scale scales vary from different forms of tests. Although it has been criticized at the time because it only tests the ability to memorize and thus only readiness for the first two years of medical school, then scholars deny it. In addition to tighter medical admissions procedures and higher education standards, drop-out rates among recent medical students dropped from 20% in 1925-1930 to 7% in 1946.
A simpler test: 1946-62
Advances in test measurement technologies, including machine test scores, and changing outlook on test scores and medical school readiness reflect the evolution of tests in this period. This test underwent three major changes. Now there are only four sub tests, including verbal skills, quantitative skills, scientific achievements, and understanding of modern society. Questions are all in a multiple-choice format. Each subtest is given a single score, and the total score comes from the number of scores from the subtest. Total score ranges from 200-800. Individual values ​​help medical school admissions committees to differentiate individual abilities among their candidates. The admissions committee, however, does not consider the "understand the modern society" part of being particularly important, although it was created to reward them with broad liberal arts skills, which include knowledge of history, government, economics, and sociology. The Committee places greater emphasis on scores on scientific achievement because it is a better performance forecaster in medical schools.
From 1946 to 1948, the test was called the "Professional Schools Aptitude Tests" before finally changing its name to "Medical University Entrance Test" when the test developer, the Postgraduate Office (under contract with AAMC) joins the newly formed Education Testing Services (ETS). In 1960, AAMC transferred its contract to The Psychological Corporation, which was then responsible for maintaining and developing testing.
Status quo: 1962-77
From 1962 to 1977, MCAT retained many previous formats, though the "understand modern society" section was renamed "general information" for its expanded content. The guidebook at the time criticized the test as only a measure of intellectual achievement and not the personal characteristics expected of doctors. The admissions committee responds to this critique by measuring personal characteristics among their applicants with various approaches.
Fourth phase: 1977-91
During phase four, MCAT underwent several changes. The "general information" section is omitted and a wider range of knowledge is tested. At this point, the topics tested include scientific knowledge, science problems, literacy analysis, and quantitative skills analysis. Individual scores were reported for biology, chemistry, and physics rather than composite science scores, so six different scores for all tests were reported. The score scale changes to 1-15 compared to 200-800 from the previous test version. Cultural and social bias is minimized. Although AAMC claims a new version intended to evaluate "information gathering and analysis, finding and formulating relationships, and other problem-solving skills," no research supports this claim.
New changes: 1992-2014
In 1992, the test changed again. Although the test was still divided into four subtests, they were renamed verbal reasoning, biological sciences, physics, and writing parts of the sample. The question retains the multiple-choice format, although most of the questions are divided into sections. Pass-based questions are implemented to evaluate "textual understanding, data analysis, the ability to evaluate arguments, or apply knowledge from that part to another context." A new scoring scale is also applied. The combined total score, ranging from 3-45, is based on individual scores of verbal reasoning, biological sciences, and physical sciences, each of which has a score range of 1-15. The writing sample, which consists of two essays to be written in 30 minutes for each, is assessed on the letter scale of J-T with T being the highest achievable value.
On July 18, 2005, AAMC announced that it would offer paper and pencil versions of the MCAT only until August 2006. A part of the testing site offered a computer-based version of the full exam throughout 2005 and 2006. Shorter computer-based test versions debuted on the month January 2007. Exam at that time is offered several times each year, and assessed more quickly.
Although many medical schools will not receive the MCAT exam score after three years, this MCAT version will continue to be reported by the AAMC until the AMCAS 2019 application cycle.
MR5 and 2015 tests
The MR5 advisory committee was appointed by AAMC in the fall of 2008 to conduct the fifth comprehensive review of the MCAT exam and to recommend changes to the new exam set to be released in 2015. The advisory committee has 21 members including the dean and medical school administrators, science foundations and faculty clinics, pre-health advisors, a medical student and a medical resident. The recommended recommendations are also based on responses from 2,700 surveys, over 75 meetings and conferences, and 90 outreach events to collect feedback. The recommendation considers the content and format of the MCAT, the resources that must be provided related to the exam, and changes that must be made to the acceptance of medical schools in general.
To determine the content to be tested for the exam, the MR5 committee surveys the faculty of medical faculty, residents, and medical students and asks what concepts should the students know to be successful in the current and future medical school curriculum. Three separate surveys were sent asking about concepts in natural science, research methods, and behavioral sciences. The MR5 Committee also consults with various expert committees from inside and outside of AAMC.
The biggest change in the exam consists of testing in concepts of biochemistry, psychology and sociology. The addition of biochemical materials following the survey results puts the concept of biochemistry as the highest interest for success in the future medical school curriculum. The addition of behavioral and cultural materials is recommended to provide a solid basis for learning these concepts in medical schools. According to the committee, the science of psychology must be understood by medical students as an important aspect of health care. The writing sample section is also deleted, as the data indicates that this score is not used by most of the acceptance committees. These changes are revealed in 2012 so pre-graduate advisors study the MR5 document to translate the core competences that have been tested into recommendations of the pre-training courses on their campus.
This MCAT version has been maintained since March 2015, and is expected to exist until 2030.
Maps Medical College Admission Test
Administration
The exam is offered 25 or more times per year at Pearson VUE center. The number of administrations may vary each year. 43% of students take MCAT in one year of graduation, 44% take exams between one and four years after graduation and 13% sit for the exam five or more years after graduation. Since the duration of the exam is extended to 7.5 hours, tests are only offered in the morning.
The test, updated in 2015, consists of four sections, which are listed in the order in which they are organized
- Foundation for Chemistry and Physical Biological Systems
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
- Biological and Biochemical Foundation of the Life System
- Fundamentals of Psychological, Social, and Biological Behavior
Four parts in multiple choice format. The sections and questions are predetermined, and thus do not change in difficulty depending on the performance of the test taker (unlike, for example, the General Graduate Record Examination).
Test Structure
The MCAT currently consists of four distinct sections each given a score. Each section is given 90 or 95 minutes and tests between 50 and 60 questions. Including rest, full inspection takes approximately 7.5 hours. Information for each section of the science is structured into 10 basic concepts and four Scientific & amp; The Skill of Reasoning. Parts of science are guided by the Scientific Reasoning and Post Skills identified by MR5 for the success of medical school. The Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section focuses on three skills, because this section requires no outside knowledge to answer questions.
Biological and Biochemical Foundation of the Life System
This section examines primarily biological and biochemical tests but also requires an understanding of organic and inorganic chemistry. Students must answer questions about the functions of biomolecules, unique processes for living organisms, and organizational biological systems. Understanding research methods and statistics is also important for successful reasons through this material.
Chemical and Physical Foundation Biological Systems
This section examines chemistry and physics within the scope of biological systems, requiring an understanding of organic and inorganic chemistry and physics as well as biology and biochemistry. In particular, this section focuses on the underlying physical principles of biological processes and chemical interactions that form the basis of a broader understanding of the living system. Understanding research methods and statistics is also important for successful reasons through this material.
Psychological, Social, and Biological Behavior Functions
This section examines psychology and sociology so that students can demonstrate their understanding of behavioral and socio-cultural determinants. Specific materials tested include behavior and behavioral change, self-perception and others, cultural and social differences affecting social well-being and stratification. Understanding research methods and statistics is also important for successful reasons through this material.
Critical Analysis and Reading Skills (CARS)
The CARS section is similar to the verbal reasoning section that provides sections with questions that test reading comprehension. The 500-600 part words may cover topics ranging from social sciences to humanities, sometimes presenting in a convoluted or biased manner that requires the reader to consider what is being written from multiple perspectives. These sections are designed to address topics unknown to the reader, but success in this section requires the strict use of information from that part without the use of previously known knowledge.
Scientific Questions and Reasoning Skills
In the new MCAT exam, changes have been made not only in the content of the exam, but also the way the content is presented on the exam. MCAT questions will require exams to show the four Scientific Investigations and Reasoning Skills that have been identified by MR5 as important for success in science and medicine. The first skill is the Knowledge of Concepts and Scientific Principles , which requires students to not only recognize and remember scientific information, but also to identify relationships between similar concepts. Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving testing students' ability to relate scientific theories and formulas with information presented to explain findings and draw conclusions. Reasoning on Design and Implementation Research requires examinations to show that they can understand science in the context of experiments. The fourth expertise of Data-based and Statistical Reasoning requires students to read graphs and tables and draw conclusions from the evidence.
Scoring
This test consists of four sections, each score from 118 to 132 with an average score of 125. The total MCAT score is the sum of scores from each of the four sections, ranging from 472 to 528 with a median score of 500. Scores are released on pre-determined between 30-35 days after the test date.
2017 calculates the percentile
Here are the scores and their percentiles from test participants from May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018. MCAT's percentiles are updated annually on May 1st. The average scale score was 500.2 with a standard deviation of 10.5.
Policy
Like some other professional exams (for example, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)), the MCAT may be canceled on the day of the exam if the examinee is not satisfied with the performance. This can be canceled at any time during the test, or for five minutes of windows starting immediately after the end of the last section. The decision to cancel can only be based on the self-assessment of the test taker, as there is no assessment information available at the time.
AAMC prohibits the use of calculators, timers, or other electronic devices during the MCAT exam. Mobile phones are also strictly prohibited from the testing room and individuals found to have them recorded in a security report submitted to AAMC. The only item that can be taken to the testing room is the candidate's photo identity. If a jacket or sweater is worn, it may not be removed in the test chamber.
This is no longer the rule that students should receive permission from AAMC if they want to take MCAT more than three times in total. The limit with computer MCAT is three times per year, with a lifetime limit of seven times. Examiners can apply for only one test date at a time, and must wait two days after the test before signing up for a new test date.
The results of the scaled MCAT exam are made available for checking approximately thirty days after the exam through the AAMC MCAT Testing History (THx) Web application. Exam participants do not receive a copy of their score by post. The participants were not given their raw value. MCAT THx is also used to send scores to medical schools, application services and other organizations (no cost).
Get started
The average student spends 12 weeks preparing for the MCAT exam spending about 23 hours per week, excluding the time taking regular courses.
Most students take the time to study intensely for the exam, as some of the material discussed on the exam may not be learned in the classroom. AAMC provides official study materials for purchase on their website with hundreds of questions written by MCAT developers including three practice exams that are scored. 74% of students taking MCAT exams use the official MCAT practice exam while only about 40% use the question packets and bank part questions written by AAMC. Official questions given online by AAMC are considered most helpful by test takers. AAMC also provides free online preparatory materials for MCAT through Khan Academy, including 1,100 free videos and 3,000 review questions including content reviews and introductory questions. About 62% of the test participants used this free resource and 83% of them found it useful.
Another popular study option for students is to use MCAT preparation materials from commercial companies. Many companies provide direct and online prep classes, set of preparatory books, full practice exams, flash cards, and more. 77% of students use commercial prep books and 67% of students use practice exams issued by commercial companies. 85% of the test participants in the MCAT preparation book to be useful.
Relevance
Almost all US medical schools and most Canadian medical schools require prospective students to submit an MCAT score for their application. In a survey conducted by the AAMC of 130 medical schools, the MCAT score was one of the most important metrics used to identify applicants for interviews and admissions. Furthermore, in a recent survey by Kaplan, 54% of medical schools said that a low MCAT score was "the biggest app dealbreaker". Medical school admissions are a holistic process and AAMC provides recommendations on how MCAT scores should be used in acceptance, in particular recommending that MCAT scores should not exceed other applicant material.
Results from previous versions of MCAT given between 1992 and 2014 have been studied in relation to academic success in medical school and beyond. Most data indicate that undergraduate grades and MCAT scores can predict a score on the USMLE Step exam. Data from a cohort of 14 medical schools' in 1992 and 1993 found that MCAT score was a stronger predictor of the USMLE Step score of undergraduate GPA and was also a good predictor for the possibility of academic difficulties. Data from students from 119 US medical schools graduating between 2001-2004 showed that undergraduate GPA and total MCAT scores predicted an unhindered progress toward medical school graduation better than GPA alone. The third study used data from students from the University of Minnesota Medical School from five classes that graduated between 2011-2015, and found that the MCAT component score was significantly associated with USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 score, although the effect was small. Higher MCAT scores correlate with membership in the Oma Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) national medical national society, indicating that MCAT scores can be useful for identifying the best performing medical students.
Since the latest version of the new MCAT exam was released in 2015, not enough years have passed to determine the correlation between the MCAT score and the medical school standard. AAMC plans to use medical school data from 2017-2021 to determine new MCAT prediction capabilities. Data will be collected from 18 medical schools that have agreed to collect data from students from entry to graduation including academic achievement, exam scores USMLE Steps, graduation time and graduation rates.
See also
- List of MCAT topics
- List of acceptance tests
- CASPer
References
Further reading
- Julian, E (2005). "Validity of Medical University Admission Test to predict the performance of medical school". Academic Medicine . 80 (10): 910-7. doi: 10.1097/00001888-200510000-00010. PMIDÃ, 16186610. Simonton, W. Kyle (2006). "Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities during MCAT Administration, Individual Country Interests Versus National Uniformity". Journal of Legal Medicine . 27 (3): 305-322. doi: 10.1080/01947640600870890. PMIDÃ, 16,959,654
External links
- Official website
- The American Medical College Association
- AAMC: MCAT Student Handbook
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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