MCAT

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to assess the examinee's problem solving, critical thinking, writing skills, and knowledge of science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine. MCAT exam is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Medical colleges consider MCAT scores as part of their admission process.

Test Dates And Scores

MCAT test dates are twice a year by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Council) in April and August. Many schools do not accept MCAT scores that are more than three years old. The MCAT testing is only administered on a computer, which lends to errors on MCAT test results.

MCAT test results are made available to examinees approximately thirty days after the test via the AAMC's MCAT Testing History (THx) Web application. MCAT THx is also used to transmit scores to medical schools, application services and other organizations at no cost, and average MCAT scores can be obtained there.

Preparation

Preparing for MCAT tests includes detailed information on each test section. Make sure that you are prepared for a mental marathon on the MCAT exam. A lot of test takers preparing for the MCAT exam end up spending thousands of dollars on MCAT exam prep courses when they would probably be better off with a couple of exam study guides, MCAT sample questions, and MCAT practice tests. Approximately half of the students taking the MCAT use a test prep company.

MCAT review with lots of practice testing is critical. MCAT preparation spans a period of several months, often more, and students sometimes seek financial aid for MCAT prep. There is also a Kaplan MCAT course available. MCAT passages may discuss advanced topics but the questions do not test your knowledge of these topics.

MCAT questions do not directly test your knowledge of basic concepts or your ability to make simple calculations; instead, the questions require you to apply your knowledge and interpret information to find the correct answer. MCAT will basically test the knowledge of your medical school pre-requisite courses and human physiology. MCAT student manual can give sample questions of MCAT exam and other MCAT related information to the aspirants.

MCAT registration scores are critical in your evaluation as an applicant to medical school. It is no longer a rule that students must receive permission from the AAMC if they wish to take the MCAT more than three times total. The current limit with the computerized MCAT is three times per year, with no lifetime limit.