The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized test administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to prospective medical students as a means to standardise comparison between them for purposes of admission to medical school. The exam is currently taken entirely on paper. However, a computer-based version will be offered at select testing sites in the fall of 2005, and all future administrations of the exam starting in the spring of 2006 are expected to be computer-based. Originally a standardized test was simply a standard test – of academic achievement or of knowledge in a specific academic or vocational domain. ... The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is a non_profit organization established in 1876 involved in the accreditation of medical schools and teaching hospitals in Canada and the United States. ... Medical school generally refers to a tertiary educational institution (or part of such an institution) which is involved in the education of future medical practitioners (medical doctors). ... Medical school generally refers to a tertiary educational institution (or part of such an institution) which is involved in the education of future medical practitioners (medical doctors). ... Piece of paper Paper is a thin, flat material produced by the compression of fibres. ... The tower of a personal computer (specifically a Power Mac G5). ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Overview

The test is given twice a year, once in April and once in August. The test consists of four sections: verbal reasoning (VR), physical sciences (PS), biological sciences (BS), and a writing sample (WS). The verbal, physical science, and biological science sections are multiple-choice. The writing sample is evaluated with two short essays. Scores for the multiple-choice sections range from 1 to 15. Scores for the writing section range from J to T. Often, the numerical scores are added together to give a composite score. For example, if one's score on the physical, verbal, and biological sections is 12, 13, and 11, respectively, then the composite score would be 36. The score from the writing sample may also be appended to the composite score (e.g. 36S). April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ...

Exam administration

The physical sciences section is administered first (prior to the April 2003 MCAT, verbal reasoning was the first section of the exam). It is composed of 77 multiple-choice questions related to general chemistry and physics. Exam takers are allotted 100 minutes to complete this section of the exam.-1... Physics (from the Greek, φυσικός (physikos), natural, and φύσις (physis), Nature) is the science of Nature in the broadest sense. ...

The verbal reasoning section follows the physical sciences. Exam takers have 85 minutes to answer 60 multiple-choice questions evaluating their comprehension, evaluation, and application of information gathered from written passages. Unlike the physical and biological sciences sections, the verbal reasoning section does not require specific content knowledge in order to perform well.

After the verbal reasoning section is a 60-minute lunch break followed by the writing sample. Examinees are given 60 minutes to compose responses to two essay prompts. Responses are scored together on a scale of J-T, T being the highest score possible.

The final section of the exam is the biological sciences section. Examinees have 100 minutes to answer 77 multiple-choice questions related to organic chemistry, biochemistry, and biology. Organic chemistry is the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and synthesis of organic compounds. ... Biochemistry is the chemistry of life. ... Biology is the science of life (from the Greek words bios = life and logos = reasoned account). ...

Policies

Like some other professional exams (e.g. the LSAT) the MCAT may be voided if the exam taker is not satisfied with his or her performance on the day of the exam. The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is a standardized test used for admission to law schools in the United States of America and Canada that are members of the Law School Admissions Council. ...

While wristwatches are allowed, the AAMC prohibits the use of calculators, timers, or other electronic devices during the exam [1]  (http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/about/faqs.htm).

Related topics

• List of MCAT topics
• List of admissions tests

The following list of MCAT topics is a brief overview of the topics covered on the biological and physical sciences sections of the Medical College Admission Test as of April 2003. ... This is a list of standardized tests that students may have to take for admissions to various schools: Secondary School Admissions SSAT - Secondary School Admission Test Eleven plus - For entry to grammar schools in the UK Mid-course HSPA - New Jersey Regents - New York MCAS - Massachusetts TCAP - Tennessee Undergraduate SAT...

External links and references

• AAMC official site (http://www.aamc.org/)
• AAMC official MCAT site (http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm)
• AAMC official MCAT student manual (http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/studentmanual/start.htm)