The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has implemented quite a few changes to the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Administration of the new MCAT begins in April of 2015; however, registration for this exam opens THIS WEDNESDAY, February 11th. If you are planning on applying to medical school, here are some things you need to know. The 2015 MCAT is different from the old test in a variety of ways; here are a few to note:
- It’s Much Longer In fact, it is nearly double the length. The old test had 144 questions and the new test has 230. This will require the test-taker to have much more stamina and focus; however, it also means that each question is worth fewer points. Speaking of points…
- It has a Different Scoring Scale In the old test, each section was worth 1-15 and the total score was between 1-45. Each of the four sections on new MCAT 2015 will be scored 118-132, for a total possible score of 528. The mean is expected to be 125 per section for a total mean score of 500.
- Tests on More Topic Areas Four sections will now be covered including: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.
- Fewer Test Dates! The test will be offered from April – September; however, since we always encourage applicants to apply early and get their AMCAS in by at least June, this means that we recommend you take the test in either April or May…June at the latest. It is extremely important to register for an earlier test date if at all possible!
Now that you have some basic information on the new MCAT, let’s focus on what you are really concerned about – the preparation! What do you need to do in order to perform well? The first thing you need to do is to watch the entirety of this brand new YouTube video from OITE on Preparing for the MCAT. It is chock-full of great tips, so you are encouraged to watch the whole video and to take notes. Pay special attention around the 17 minute mark when Dr. Higgins gives step by step homework instructions on how you should prepare for the new MCAT. Additionally, the official MCAT 2015 Sample Test is now available online. There is a small charge to download; however, it is probably well worth your time and money. The Khan Academy also has preparatory materials broken down by section that you should check out. Last but not least, the OITE is here to help you with any questions about the process. We wish all the 2015 MCAT test takers the best of luck!
