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MCAT - Go Beyond Average Without Test Prep Programs

What is the MCAT?

The MCAT or the Medical College Admission Test is a computer-based, multiple-choice, standardized exam that all medical school applicants must take before attending medical school. Therefore, it is required if you are seeking medical school admissions . The test is actually a big deal because it is pretty much the main way for medical school committees to evaluate applicants objectively.

It tests your basic science knowledge, reading comprehension, and writing skills. It consists of four sections:

  • physical sciences
  • verbal reasoning
  • writing essays
  • biological sciences

The items tested correlates to the course requirements of medical school. Physical sciences section comprises of physics and inorganic chemistry. Verbal reasoning is answering questions about several essays. This is more challenging than it seems. Writing essays should be self-explanatory. And biological sciences section comprises of biology and organic chemistry.

What Can You Expect on Test Day?

The MCAT is roughly a 5 hour ordeal that is broken up into 4 parts.

  1. The first section is physical sciences. You have 70 minutes to answer 52 questions.
  2. The second section is verbal reasoning. You have 60 minutes to answer 40 questions.
  3. The third section is writing sample. You have 60 minutes to write 2 essays -- 30 minutes for each essay.
  4. Lastly, the fourth section is biological sciences. You have 70 minutes to answer 52 questions.

MCAT

If you understand what Mr. Onionhead is signaling, you may be bright enough to rock the MCAT.

MCAT Grading

The highest score you can get is 45:

  • max of 15 for physical sciences
  • max of 15 for verbal reasoning
  • max of 15 for biological sciences

The score is based upon percentiles, which means that you are pitted against other test takers. So if a particular test was hard and you got many questions wrong but everyone else did even worse, you could still get a high score (30 or above). However, the opposite could also be true. If a test was easy for you, but it was also easy for everyone else, you score may not be as high as you thought it would be.

The essay section does not have a numerical score. Instead, it is given an alphabetical score, J being the lowest and T being the highest. When most people talk about their scores, they are referring to the numerical scores, not the essay scores. Therefore, I wouldn't worry too much about the essay portion. I would consider it as a short break (but still write your essays).

My MCAT Reflection

For me, doing well on the exam was one of the most stressful aspects of medical school applications. I remember the Sunday before my exam, I stood outside the church door worry about the upcoming exam. I understood how big a deal it was and I was under a lot of pressure to score higher than average. To this day, I still thank God that I did do well. Go to my testimony to read more about it.

Related Topics Which May Interest You

MCAT Test Prep
I will reveal my unorthodox preparation method in this section. Not only did I save a lot of money, I also saved a lot of time by taking my MCAT once and applying to medical schools only once. And hopefully, you too score higher than average and have much success.

Average MCAT Score
Find out what the average score is and what your options are if you do score only average.

Low MCAT Score
For someone to do higher than average, some people will have to do lower than average. It reminds of a professor asking the class, "Who among you are better than average drivers?" And the whole classroom raised its hands. Everyone would like to think they are better than average. But what if you have a low score? If you really want to become a doctor but can't beat the MCAT hurdle, there is a way for you to still become a doctor. Find out what it is and what risks are involved.

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