Pre-Med Students Face Changes to MCAT
by Nagiba Elfatrany
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: News
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is changing its format for the fifth time since its establishment in 1928.
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) administrators hope the new 2007 computerized version will allow students to receive their grades faster. The new MCAT test taking time will be cut down from nine hours to five and half hours, will consist of 144 multiple choice questions rather than its previous 214 inquiries and each exam will now be graded by one person and a computer system.
"The AAMC decided to reduce the amount of hours and questions but there are not fewer topics," said Matt Fidler, MCAT Program Manager for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. "Students now have to learn how to take the exam by computer. The way the AAMC has changed the MCAT gives students the opportunity to highlight, resize the screen, collapse or expand text as well as the ability to check or review items in each section."
MCAT administrators are also getting rid of the one-hour lunch break, which used to be given to all Medical College Admission Test takers. The MCAT used to be administered twice a year, but that number will drastically change from two to 22 starting in 2007. All MCAT scores are currently received within 60 days, but in 2007 the grades will be available with 30 days. In 2008, they expect to calculate scores within two weeks.
The security requirements before entering the MCAT administration room are also changing. Previously, a manual fingerprint was necessary, but now the fingerprints will be gathered electronically and electronic signatures will also be required.
The first change to the MCAT was in 1946 and lasted until 1962 in which a section called "Understanding Modern Society" was implemented. That section was altered into a general information section from 1962-1977. From 1997-1991, the MCAT was depleted of all general sections as it became more of a science related exam, then in 1991 a writing sample was added.
As a result, in April of 2003, more biology questions on DNA and genetics were added to the medical exam. The 2003 MCAT also eliminated three of the organic chemistry questions and five from the Verbal Reasoning section. The entire first section of the MCAT changed from Verbal Reasoning to the Physical Sciences category.
One CUNY student who plans on taking the new MCAT in 2007 is not worried about the oncoming changes.
"The new format is computerized, but the questions are supposed to be the same and everyone taking the exam will have the same issues, so that way the exam is fair," said Mark Schwartz, a Brooklyn College senior. "The computerized version will be better because the MCAT will be taken in more testing centers, locations and will be administered much more often."
 Media Credit: Research & Education Assn |
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) administrators hope the new 2007 computerized version will allow students to receive their grades faster. The new MCAT test taking time will be cut down from nine hours to five and half hours, will consist of 144 multiple choice questions rather than its previous 214 inquiries and each exam will now be graded by one person and a computer system.
"The AAMC decided to reduce the amount of hours and questions but there are not fewer topics," said Matt Fidler, MCAT Program Manager for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. "Students now have to learn how to take the exam by computer. The way the AAMC has changed the MCAT gives students the opportunity to highlight, resize the screen, collapse or expand text as well as the ability to check or review items in each section."
MCAT administrators are also getting rid of the one-hour lunch break, which used to be given to all Medical College Admission Test takers. The MCAT used to be administered twice a year, but that number will drastically change from two to 22 starting in 2007. All MCAT scores are currently received within 60 days, but in 2007 the grades will be available with 30 days. In 2008, they expect to calculate scores within two weeks.
The security requirements before entering the MCAT administration room are also changing. Previously, a manual fingerprint was necessary, but now the fingerprints will be gathered electronically and electronic signatures will also be required.
The first change to the MCAT was in 1946 and lasted until 1962 in which a section called "Understanding Modern Society" was implemented. That section was altered into a general information section from 1962-1977. From 1997-1991, the MCAT was depleted of all general sections as it became more of a science related exam, then in 1991 a writing sample was added.
As a result, in April of 2003, more biology questions on DNA and genetics were added to the medical exam. The 2003 MCAT also eliminated three of the organic chemistry questions and five from the Verbal Reasoning section. The entire first section of the MCAT changed from Verbal Reasoning to the Physical Sciences category.
One CUNY student who plans on taking the new MCAT in 2007 is not worried about the oncoming changes.
"The new format is computerized, but the questions are supposed to be the same and everyone taking the exam will have the same issues, so that way the exam is fair," said Mark Schwartz, a Brooklyn College senior. "The computerized version will be better because the MCAT will be taken in more testing centers, locations and will be administered much more often."
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