MCAT Page
From Student Doctor Network WikiFormat of the MCAT
The MCAT is offered twice every year during April and again during August as a written test.9 There are four sections—physical sciences, verbal reasoning, writing, and biological sciences—meaning that you should take classes to prepare you for each section before sitting for the exam. I know that my advice sounds intuitive, but every year there are people who try to teach themselves organic chemistry and then take the test.
The MCAT starts at 8 o’clock in the morning and follows the following time table:
| width="200pt" | width="100pt" | width="50pt" |
| Section | No. of Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Sciences | 77 | 100 |
| Break | — | 10 |
| Verbal Reasoning | 60 | 85 |
| Lunch | — | 60 |
| Writing Sample | 2 | 60 |
| Break | — | 10 |
| Biological Sciences | 77 | 100 |
All of the questions are multiple choice and resemble the SAT/ACT that you dreaded taking so much in high school. All of the multiple choice sections are graded on a scale from 1–15. The writing sample is graded subjectively on a scale from J–T. Therefore, the highest grade possible is 45T. Although I won’t present a breakdown of the scores here, the AAMC’s website does provide information about percentiles for each score. You will find that the best resource for preparing for the exam—especially when you first start studying—is the Association’s site.
Break Down of the Topics
The Physical Sciences section tests your knowledge of general chemistry and physics, including analytical methods, mechanics, electricity and magnetism, optics, atomic structure, acid-base reactions, and reduction-oxidation chemistry. This portion consists of a series of reading sections—much like you would see in a scientific journal article—followed by 10 or so questions about the information in the passage. Most of the questions are passage-based. Only rarely will you see stand-alone questions such as, “A ball is dropped from the top of a 20 meter high building. What is the ball’s velocity when it hits the ground below?”
No calculators or scratch paper is permitted in the exam room. You will be required to do all of your math work on your exam booklet. Don’t worry, though. The math required to solve the problems is very easy. Many of the answers come out to whole numbers. In the falling ball example above, the question might further tell you to assume that gravity is 10 m/s2.10
The Verbal Reasoning section is comprised of reading passages and accompanying questions about author’s intent such as, “Which opinion would the author support?” This part of the MCAT closely resembles the reading sections of the SAT. It does not contain any questions that involve vocabulary, nor does it have any stand-alone questions. This section is based on reading skills only, and not on specific knowledge about a particular topic.
The Writing Sample consists of two 30-minute essay questions. Each question consists of a quotation followed by the same three point outline. You might be given, ”If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts,” by Albert Einstein along with the questions, “What does the statement mean, name an example when the statement is incorrect, what would be the deciding factor as to whether or not the statement is valid?” You’ll then have 30 minutes to come up with a response that answers the questions in a logical manner with relevant examples. Your paper will be graded by two reviewers who will give you a numerical score that is later converted to a letter. You can only work on one essay at a time. When the first half hour is over, the first essay will be collected and you can only work on the second one. You also cannot begin working on the second essay early if you happen to finish the first one before time is called. Further, the essay must be written in black ink and in English.
The quotations in this section do not test your knowledge of physics, biology, or chemistry. They are usually political or ethical statements that force you to form an opinion and defend it. The reviewers are not interested in which side you choose, just that you can write a coherent essay about a specific belief. Again, the AAMC’s website gives a break down of the significance of the scores.
Finally, the Biological Sciences Section is set up like the Physical Sciences. You will be given a series of passages about experiments along with the results. You will then have to answer a series of questions about which chemical was used, what enzyme is regulated, which evolutionary process could lead to the discovery, etc . . . This section tests organic chemistry, spectroscopy, ecology, and very basic anatomy, physiology and genetics. This sections will also give you a few stand-alone questions such as, “What is the result of the following SN1 reaction?”
Studying for the MCAT
First and foremost, you will not do well on the MCAT if you dread it as some kind of punishment. Instead, approach the test as a game and you’ll be fine. Study while trying to find shortcuts and mnemonic devices. Smile as you read the passages. Tell yourself that you love the topic of the particular essay. How well you do on the test is as much of a product of studying as it is a mental attitude. Keep telling yourself, “It’s just a game, it’s just a game, it’s just a game . . . ”
Many people have found a variety of successful ways to prepare for the MCAT. Each methods has its pros and cons. I suggest buying an MCAT book three months before the exam date and reviewing all of the material contained within it. There are plenty of books available on amazon.com. I won’t make an endorsement as to which I consider the best; you’ll have to read the user reviews to find out for yourself. I will say that you should get your hands on as many practice exams as possible. The AAMC sells actual MCATS that were used in the past as excellent examples of material that could be seen on your test. Kaplan and The Princeton Review also offer free practice tests on their websites as a way to entice visitors to use their services. By far, the best way to prepare for the MCAT is to take practice exams. No matter what other method you use, knowing the format of the questions to be asked is critical to doing well.
I would also recommend staying away from your textbooks. They contain too much information to absorb and have way more material than is really on the exam. Stick with the prep books; they usually tell you everything you need to know.
As far as short courses such as Kaplan and The Princeton Review go, many people say that these classes are useful for forcing participants to study and learn the material. However, at $1500 they will not make you any better prepared than a dedicated student who can work on his own. The choice is up to you.
To get ready for the science passages, start reading journals such as Nature11 and Science12 and ask yourself questions about the methods and results of each article. According to one Kaplan instructor, “You would do better to know the basics as thoroughly as possible rather than taking more advanced science courses. (My personal belief is that TAing a science class is among the best ways of helping prepare yourself for the MCAT.)” For the verbal passages, read dense newspapers and magazines such as The Economist13 and ask yourself, “Why did the author write this piece? What is his background? What famous figures in history would he agree with? What conclusions can I draw from this article?”
For the writing section, you should start keeping a daily journal or diary. Seriously, keep a daily diary in which you write for 30 minutes every day about your thoughts and feelings on any topic. You’ll notice your writing abilities and speed increasing as times goes on. As the exam date approaches, go to a website that specializes in quotations and statements of meaning14 and write practice essays that follow the outline given in the MCAT page. Stay away from inspirational statements as they are not good sources for controversy and argumentation.
If you need any more help in preparing for the exam, see the Student Doctor Network’s section on the MCAT at forums.studentdoctor.net.
A good free online resource for studying for the MCAT is Dr. Alfa Diallo’s MCAT Pearls.15 This website has tons of information for getting ready for the exam.
