MCAT® Exam Review
In order to be accepted into a program of study leading to a medical doctor degree, a college graduate must first take and score well on the Medical College Admissions Test, or MCAT. There are many people who believe that the MCAT test is the single most difficult standardized test in the English language. If not, it’s certainly one of the most difficult. Because physicians and surgeons are entrusted with people’s lives, it’s imperative that medical schools make sure that only the most qualified students are accepted into the limited number of slots for admission to medical school. The MCAT test is changing-it used to be a pencil and paper test, but as of January 2007 it will become a computer based test, given at locations all across America, on 22 dates spread throughout the year. It’s important to note that the MCAT exam is NOT a computer adaptive test. And while you may have to travel some distance to take the test, the goal of the administrators is to offer the test within 100 miles of everyone in the country.
Taking the MCAT test will set you back $210; there is a fee assistance program that can lower that to $85 if you qualify. There are four parts to the MCAT test, and the test is tilted heavily toward science. On the writing portion of the exam, you’ll have 60 minutes to write two different essays as outlined by the MCAT test. On the verbal reasoning portion of the MCAT test, there will be 40 questions in 60 minutes. There’s also physical sciences, which will feature 52 questions with a time limit of 70 minutes. The biological sciences part of the the MCAT test is also 52 questions with a 70 minute time limit. Except for the writing portion, all answers are multiple choice, and there’s no penalty for guessing, so if you’re unsure of the answer, it’s best to take an educated guess rather than leave it blank. The MCAT exam is almost certainly the toughest test you’ll ever attempt, and it would be extremely unwise to attempt to pass it without spending lots of time with some good prep materials.
MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which does not endorse this program or our methodology.