MedChatter's Guide to MCAT
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a US-based computer-based test (CBT) which is required for nearly all Canadian and American medical schools. It consists of 4 sections (Physical Sciences - PS, Verbal Reasoning - VR, Writing Sample - WS and Biological Sciences - BS) and tests 1st/2nd year-level sciences (specifically: physics, biology, organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry) as well as general English language ability. It is typically used in Canadian schools on a cut-off basis (score X or above to make the cut), whereas in the US it is treated more like an equivalency to the GPA. Most people will take 2-4 months to study for it.
The test is not adaptive, which means that it does not get harder as you score more questions correctly. The typical format in the PS, VR and BS sections is a lengthy passage followed by 5-7 questions which refer to it (though some of those questions will test on prior knowledge). In PS & BS, there are also 'passage-less' questions which only test prior knowledge. These 3 sections are scored from 1-15 each for a total of 3-45, where the 50%ile is typically between 8 and 9 for each section and 25-26 overall. The WS consists of two essay prompts where you must argue for the prompt, against the prompt and then synthesize the two arguments in a third paragraph. These essays are marked from J-T where the average is an O.
For most Canadian schools, you should aim for 10+ on each of PS, VR and BS and P+ on the WS. For certain schools, MCAT is including in academic calculations (e.g. Calgary, Manitoba) or has higher strict cut-offs (e.g. UWO, Queen's). In nearly all U.S. medical schools, MCAT plays a major role in the admissions process.
Test Day Overview
- Physical Sciences (Physics & Inorganic Chemistry)
- 52 Questions - 70 minutes
- Verbal Reasoning
- 40 Questions - 60 minutes
- Writing Sample
- Biological Sciences (Biology & Organic Chemistry)
- 52 Questions - 70 minutes
Popular Prep Companies/Books
- Kaplan
- The Princeton Review
- Prep101
- Oxford Seminars
- Examkrackers
Should you take an MCAT course?
This is a personal choice, but we believe the answer is
YES IF:
- you have not taken the relevant courses in a long time (good refresher)
- you need lecture/course format to keep you focused/on track
- you are not keen on learning about the MCAT on your own time
NO IF:
- you are an independent learner motivated enough to study by yourself
- you have a strong grounding in the material
Finally, the AAMC takes surveys from students after the MCAT. Based on those surveys they have determined that the difference in score between those who took a prep course and those who didn't is neglible and this is a simple statistical fact.
Kevin's Opinion
MCAT is used differently by different schools, so make sure you check out the section "school profile" for the specifics. Some schools use it as a flag and others use it as a cutoff. McMaster uses only the verbal section, while Ottawa does not even require you to write the MCAT. However, all in all, MCAT is not a big factor when it comes to medical school admission in Canada (with a few exceptions). Of course you need to meet those cutoffs in order to apply, but once you are over the cutoffs, a 42T compared to 33R will not significantly affect your chances of admission. This is contrary to our neighbors down south, where a killer MCAT can be a big deciding factor and get you interviews/acceptances to big name schools. As far as Canada is concerned, aim for 30+ total score, 9+ in each section, and P or Q in the writing sample.
I treated the MCAT as a "once only" deal. Repeating the entire process of exam preparation was just too ludicrous of an idea to me, and so I tackled the MCAT with all seriousness. I started exam preparation during the summer after 3rd year, and I gave myself three months. Like many, I decided to take the Kaplan preparation course, which included classroom lectures, 5 books, online curriculum, and around 20 online practice exams. If you already have a good grasp of the basic sciences learned in undergrad and feel that you are a self-motivated individual, I would recommend against the Kaplan course since the lectures will repeat many of the simple concepts that you are either familiar with or can easily relearn. This was the case for me as I ended up skipping ~50% of the classroom lectures. However, what Kaplan does a great job in is giving you test taking strategies that allow you to be a more efficient test taker. Although Kaplan didn't quite work for me, I know many people found the course highly useful, so exercise your own judgment.
Although I started the summer determined to ace the MCAT, my motivation declined progressively with time. It was such a grind to go through exams after exams, each of which is around five hours long. I applaud some of my friends who've had the dedication to plowing through all 20 sample exams. In retrospect, I really did not give it my all. However, that was okay since the MCAT had relatively minor place in the Canadian admission process. Once my score was consistently 35+, I lost motivation and found more time to enjoy my summer break. Since I had a good science background coming out of 3rd year, I can't say I put much effort into MCAT preparation. Therefore, Michael (an ex-MCAT instructor) probably have more valid/helpful opinions.
Jerome's Opinion
When it comes to the MCAT, it is important to try to keep in mind that it is just a test. I know for many of you pre-med students out there, that is easier said than done. Back in my pre-med days I remember hearing other students say “the MCAT is probably the biggest test of your life...once you get in, you’re set”. Let me make it clear that the MCAT is NOT the biggest test of your life, no matter what anyone says!
To see how important the MCAT really is, we have to first look at how the MCAT is used by medical schools. Today it is clear that most schools use the MCAT in some sort of cut-off fashion. For UofT they use the MCAT to screen out low scores, but not necessarily to accept only high ones. Generally for UofT I have heard that having above an 8 or 9 in each section, and higher than an O in writing is good enough. For Queens and Western they use the MCAT as a cutoff, only offering interviews to students scoring higher than a particular standard (which changes every year). Some schools have even gone without using the MCAT, such as Mac and UOttawa.
So what does this tell you? It means that med schools have figured out that doing well on the MCAT does not correlate with becoming a good doctor. At most, med schools use the MCAT to screen for applicants who meet a baseline cutoff. This also means that if you take the MCAT for your first time, and bomb it, that does NOT mean you are not cut out for medicine! The MCAT is no predictor of the quality of doctor you are! It is purely a tool used by medical schools to compare students in a standardized fashion. So just look at it as a cutoff you have to surpass and leave it at that.
There are several courses out there that are available for you to take in order to prepare for the MCAT. Two popular ones are Kaplan and the Princeton Review. Of the two, the main difference is that Princeton Review has more in-class hours than Kaplan, which some people find more beneficial than others. Another key difference is that the extra hours come with a price, so be prepared to spend up to $1500 for the Princeton Review course. At most universities, joining your school’s Premed Society gives you about a $100 discount, so don’t forget to do that. If you are an exec of a Premed Society, apparently you can get an even cheaper rate.
In preparation for the MCAT I took the Princeton Review course, thinking that the extra hours of tutelage would improve my chances. Instead I found most of the classes to be a bit of a waste of time. Many of the science classes regurgitated what was already in the book, and so pretty much I burned 3-4 hours per day, 4 days a week, attending classes that did not make much of an impact. To be frank I could have been studying in that time. There is one class, however, that was quite useful. The Writing Sample class with the Princeton Review was very good at helping me to develop a writing style suitable for the MCAT. Every week we practiced writing 2 writing samples in class and the tutor would take all our writing samples home and give us a grade and some comments at the next class. The grade I was receiving by the end of the class was the same grade that I ended up receiving in the MCAT, so I found the Princeton Review approach, as well as the tutor, very helpful for the writing sample
However, for the Verbal Reasoning classes, I had the exact opposite experience. Verbal Reasoning is considered by some to be the hardest section of the MCAT, and so I started out pretty poorly in the section. What I quickly came to realize was that the Princeton Review classes and strategy for doing the Verbal Reasoning are poorly designed and I recommend NOT using their method. Instead I refer you to the Exam Krackers method of approaching the Verbal Reasoning. Read their exam book for the theory behind their approach and I believe you will probably do better. They also have a big book of 101 Verbal Reasoning passages which I found useful in practicing for the MCAT.
However I don’t want to end my mini review on the Princeton Review on a bad note. So what I will say is that their books are quite comprehensive, so at the very least I would get a set of their books when studying for the MCAT. Given that from my experience the Writing Sample was the only class, I am not sure that paying $1500 is worth it just for this one class. Probably your best bet is to buy the Princeton Review books off someone who took it recently and to read the theory for the Writing Sample on your own and get someone to proofread it.
My last piece of advice is to take advantage of the past exams that the AAMC offers online. What I would suggest is that during the last 2 weeks before the MCAT, to take an old MCAT every other day, going from the earliest MCATs to the most recent ones. On the off days that you are not doing a practice MCAT, review the areas/questions you got wrong. On the day RIGHT before the MCAT, I suggest just lightly reviewing some things that need memorizing (such as formulas or brutal facts) but to just take it easy so that you don’t stress yourself out too much.
Michael's Opinion
Admittedly, the MCAT is likely the one of the most, if not the most, stressful examinations that you will take up to this point in your medical career. That being said, a key to success with the MCAT is to remain calm and keep a levelled head. Remember, the MCAT is designed to be a test of aptitude and most of the information required to answer the questions can be found in the passages. It is your job to tease out that information and appropriately apply it to the questions. You do not want to become overwhelmed by the vast amount of material. Take two deep breaths and go.
If you are like me and have zero motivation to study, then I would suggest taking a MCAT prep course. Personally, I took the Princeton Review, which is on the costlier side. With enrolment in the course, you get access to their physical and online resources including practice tests and questions (including the AAMC practice examinations), a comprehensive review of all required knowledge in the form of textbooks, Princeton Review certified instructors, as well as feedback on writing samples. Though, I found the latter to be rather unrepresentative of the actual MCAT. For those of you who have not taken first year science courses or are in need of a refresher, the Princeton Review textbooks provide a very comprehensive and easy-to-read review of all testable material. Just a disclaimer, however, I am unfamiliar with the material provided by the Princeton Review’s competitors so it is worth investigating which course/material fits your needs best.
Candidates taking the test today are lucky because the MCAT recently received a facelift. With computerization, the MCAT became a much gentler and shorter experience. Even if you decide against purchasing the full set of sample examinations from the AAMC website, I would suggest practicing on the free test that the site has made available to everyone. It is important to be familiar with the tools that will be at your disposal during the test. Be aware that the search and notes functions are not yet available on the actual MCAT even though they appear in the practice tests.
The best advice I can give you to be successful is to practice, Practice, PRACTICE. Above all else, practicing with the sample examinations and mimicking the conditions of test day will be your best preparation for the MCAT. Like I said before, the majority of the information required to answer questions will be found in the passages and not in your memory. Thus, this test is unlike the typical undergraduate multiple choice tests. The ability to efficiently extract pertinent information will improve with practice. So, practice! That being said, you still need to have some basic knowledge to do well. So supplement your practice with studying.
That’s about all I have to add! Happy MCATing!
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