Education

What to Expect On The New MCAT

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The Medical College Admission Test (or MCAT) is an exam a student takes in order to for medical schools to evaluate potential admissions. The exam has multiple-choice questions and candidates have to pass it in order to get admission in medical schools in the US and Canada. The AAMC and medical schools check the MCAT exam score along with other academics in order to decide admission.

Content of MCAT

  •  General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • General Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Along with this, the students also have to face questions related to critical analysis and reasoning. It means that you not only need to be knowledgeable in these subjects during you MCAT test prep, but you should also be aware of reasoning skills so that you can judge the problems and find their solution. This will help you to get a good score in the exam.

Sections of MCAT

There are four sections in the exam and the questions do not come subject-wise but are mixed. The main sections into which the exam is divided consist of mostly the biological, physical, chemical, and biochemical, etc. Each section consists of 132 marks and the candidates have to score 118 marks. It means that out of 528 marks, the candidates have to score minimum 472 to clear the exam.

Duration of MCAT Exam

The total time for the MCAT exam is 7.5 hours. This also includes the breaks in between along with one lunch break. The timing is divided as follows:

⦁  Examinee Agreement: 8 minutes
⦁  Tutorial (optional): 10 minutes
⦁  Break (optional): 10 minutes
⦁  Physical and Chemical Foundation: 95 Minutes
⦁  Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills: 90 minutes
⦁  Mid-Exam Break (optional): 30 minutes
⦁  Biochemical and Biological Foundations of Living Systems: 95 minutes
⦁  Break (optional): 10 minutes
⦁  Social, Biological, and Psychological Foundations of Behavior: 95 minutes
⦁  Void Question: 5 minutes
⦁  Satisfaction Survey (optional): 5 minutes

Total Content Time: 6 hours, 15 minutes
Amount of Seated Time: Approximately 7 hours, 33 minutes

When can the exam be taken?

The exam is conducted 25 times in a year from the month of January to the month of September. The result of the exam is declared one month from the date when the exam is conducted. It is suggested that if the students register for the exam early, they will get the best options in choosing the location, date, and time. The registration can be done on the website of AAMC and in order to inquire, students can call the MCAT program office.

Best time to take the exam

You should take the exam one year before you want to join any medical school. You can start planning your MCAT test prep accordingly.

The exam is difficult as there are many sections and the candidates have to sit for 7.5 hours in order to give the exam. There are 230 questions total, which the candidates have to answer. All the questions are multiple choice and candidates have to select one correct answer from the given four options.