2013 MCAT ® Essentials MCAT ® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges Required Reading • Registration instructions • Test-day policies • Scoring details …and suggestions to help you prepare for the MCAT exam, a list of contacts and online services, and other helpful information The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials © 2012 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission. 1 Contents The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials 3 Part 1: The Essential MCAT 4 Exam Content 4 Physical Sciences 6 Verbal Reasoning 6 Biological Sciences 6 Trial Section 7 Exam Scoring 8 Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, and Biological Sciences 8 Trial Section 8 Part 2: Registration Essentials 9 Eligibility 9 Eligible Health Professions Graduate Programs 9 International Students 9 Special Permissions 9 Identification 10 AAMC ID 10 Registration and Identification 11 Providing Identification on Test Day 11 Registration Fees 12 The AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program (FAP) 13 Selecting a Test Date 13 Application Deadlines 13 Registration Deadlines 14 Testing More Than Once 14 Changing Your Test Center or Testing Date 14 Cancellations 15 Absences/No Shows 15 Testing Appointments are Subject to Change or Cancellation 16 Registering for Another Test Date 16 Refunds 16 Emergency Cancellation 17 Absences/No Shows 17 Testing Center Locations 17 Accommodated Testing 18 Use of Personal Information 18 Health Professions Advisor Release 18 Medical Minority Applicant Registry (Med-MAR) 19 MCAT Recruiting Service 19 AAMC Products and Services 19 Voiding Your Exam 20 The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials © 2012 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission. 2 Part 3: Test Day Essentials 22 Know the Basics 22 Time Zone 22 Current Address 22 Arrive 30 Minutes before Scheduled Start Time 22 Reporting a Test Day Problem 23 Test Day Rules 23 Testing Room Entrance and Exit 23 In the Testing Room 24 Breaks 24 Other Security Rules and Procedures 25 Prometric Testing Center Regulations 25 Violations and Investigations 26 Examinee Agreement 26 Registration Violations 29 Testing Irregularities 29 Discussion of the MCAT Exam 30 Reporting Violations 31 Part 4: Post-Test Essentials 32 Receiving and Sending Scores 32 Score Reporting through AMCAS® 32 Releasing Test Scores 32 MCAT Testing History (THx) System 33 Rescoring Exams 33 Retaking the Exam 34 Use of Multiple Scores in the Admissions Process 34 When an Error Occurs 35 Disruptions in Testing and Potential Compromises 35 Test Center Closures or Workstation Outages 35 Test Center Concerns Reported by Examinees 36 Test Question Challenges 37 Contacting Us 38 Appendix A: Contacts and Online Resources 39 Appendix B: Preparing for the MCAT ® Exam 40 How the Use of MCAT Scores Varies Among Medical Schools 41 The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials © 2012 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission. 3 The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials Congratulations! Reading this guide is the first step in preparing yourself to take the MCAT® exam ― and the first step toward a rewarding career in medicine. The MCAT Essentials is the official policy and procedure guide to the MCAT exam. In the following pages you will find the rules and procedures that the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) staff and Prometric test center administrators are required to enforce. The information included in this guide is necessary for a smooth registration and testing experience. At the time of registration, you will be asked to certify that you have read and understand the policies and procedures contained within the MCAT Essentials. If you are a returning examinee, you must read the MCAT Essentials guide associated with your new registration. The MCAT Essentials are subject to change. The version applicable to you is that which was in effect at the time of registration. On the following pages you will find fundamental information about registration, test-day policies, and post-test procedures. This includes a brief overview of exam content and scoring, basic suggestions to help you prepare, a list of contacts and online services, as well as other helpful information. Please contact us if you have questions after reading the guide. You will find contact listings for MCAT staff and related resources in Appendix A. All of us at the AAMC would like to wish you much success as you move forward with your career in medicine. The path you have chosen will have many challenges, but the rewards will long outweigh them. Note: At the time of seat reservation, you must agree to all the policies and procedures contained within the MCAT Essentials. The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials © 2012 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission. 4 Part 1: The Essential MCAT The Medical College Admission Test ® (MCAT ® ) is a standardized examination that has been part of the medical school admissions process for more than 80 years. Virtually all medical schools in the United States and many in Canada require applicants to submit recent MCAT exam scores as part of their application packet, and many health professions and graduate programs now accept MCAT scores in lieu of other standardized tests. Considering its widespread acceptance, it is no surprise that more than 75,000 students sit for the exam each year. The MCAT tests examinees on the skills and knowledge medical educators and physicians have identified as key prerequisites for success in medical school and the practice of medicine. Content is divided into three scored multiple-choice sections, and one unscored multiple-choice section. In conjunction with its member U.S. medical schools, the AAMC develops and administers the MCAT multiple times each year from late January through early September at hundreds of test sites throughout the United States and Canada, as well as selected locations throughout the world. The AAMC owns all aspects of the exam. We may use scores for research and to create reports that summarize test takers’ performance by year or population group, or other large groups. Only you, the examinee, may receive your individual test score and authorize its release to others. Exam Content The MCAT tests for mastery of basic concepts in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. Additionally, it serves to assess examinees’ capacity for problem solving and critical thinking. Increasing diversity within the study of medicine is something the AAMC and our members actively promote and endeavor to advance. It is hoped that the content included and the skills tested will encourage people from broad educational backgrounds to apply, and that premedical students will be compelled to explore a wide variety of course offerings outside the natural sciences. The four sections of the exam, in the order they appear, are:  Physical Sciences  Verbal Reasoning  Biological Sciences  Trial Section The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials © 2012 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission. 5 The chart below provides an overview of the entire MCAT exam by segment. Exam Overview Section # of Questions Time Allotted Tutorial (optional) 10 minutes Examinee Agreement 10 minutes Physical Sciences 52 70 minutes Break (optional) 10 minutes Verbal Reasoning 40 60 minutes Break (optional) 10 minutes Biological Sciences 52 70 minutes Void Question 5 minutes Break (optional) 10 minutes Trial Section (optional) 32 45 minutes Satisfaction Survey (optional) 12 10 minutes Total Content Time 4 hours | 5 minutes Total “Seated” Time* Approx. 5 hours | 10 minutes *Total seated time does not include check-in at the test center. The scientific competencies you will be expected to demonstrate involve fundamental principles and concepts in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics ― all of which are presented in basic science courses offered at most undergraduate institutions. Typically, no advanced coursework is needed to do well on the MCAT exam. Note: Each of the three scored multiple-choice sections includes some experimental items. Experimental items, as well as questions contained in the Trial Section, do not count toward your score. The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials © 2012 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission. 6 Physical Sciences The Physical Sciences section assesses problem-solving ability in general chemistry and physics. All questions in this section are designed to evaluate your knowledge of basic physical sciences concepts and problem-solving abilities. The Physical Sciences section is divided as follows:  Total of 52 questions  7 passage-based sets of questions • 4-7 questions per set  13 independent questions Verbal Reasoning The Verbal Reasoning section assesses your ability to understand, evaluate, and apply the information and arguments contained in each passage. Content is based in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The Verbal Reasoning section is divided as follows:  Total of 40 questions  7 passages (approximately 600 words per passage) • 5-7 questions per passage Participation in a variety of undergraduate courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences will enhance your performance on this section, as will familiarizing yourself with the types of critical thinking and reasoning skills these disciplines use. No advanced study is required. Biological Sciences The Biological Sciences section assesses problem-solving ability in the areas of biology and organic chemistry. All questions in this section are designed to evaluate your knowledge of basic biological sciences concepts and problem-solving abilities. The Biological Sciences section is divided as follows:  Total of 52 questions  7 passage-based sets of questions • 4-7 questions per set  13 independent questions The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials © 2012 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission. 7 Trial Section Unlike last year’s examinees, 2013 examinees will not take the Writing Sample section of the MCAT exam. The Writing Sample section was removed to make room for a Trial Section. The Trial Section is a voluntary section that asks you to test out questions for a future version of the MCAT exam. The MCAT exam will change in 2015 to keep pace with changes in medical education and health care. Building the new exam will call for many new test questions. Medical schools would like your help in building the next version of the MCAT exam by answering the questions in the Trial Section. On test day you will have the opportunity to volunteer for the Trial Section. It will be the last section of the test day and take 45 minutes to complete. Even with the Trial Section, your test day will be shorter for you than it was for last year’s examinees. Instead of spending 60 minutes writing MCAT essays, we’re asking you to test out 32 new questions in either: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, and physics or in psychology, sociology, and biology. You do not need to prepare for the Trial Section. The questions you will get are based on the answers that you provided during MCAT registration regarding the courses that you have taken. Whenever possible, the AAMC will assign questions from courses you have already completed. You don’t have to worry about not doing well, just try your best. No one will know how well you did but you – not the medical schools or your advisor. Your answers on the Trial Section will not contribute to your MCAT scores in any way. If you volunteer to participate, you will have an opportunity to preview content that medical school admissions officers want applicants to know. You will also receive the following if you put forth a good-faith effort:  A $30 Amazon.com® Gift Card* Claim Code** e-mailed to you within 3-4 weeks, and  Feedback on your performance that will allow you to compare yourself to others who participated in the Trial Section If you elect to void the scored portion of the MCAT exam, you will not be given the opportunity to participate in the Trial Section. Please note that you cannot pre-register for the Trial Section. However, you will be invited to take the trial section ONLY after you: complete the core “scored” sections of the exam, select “I wish to have my MCAT exam SCORED” and lastly, by answering “Yes” to the statement “Please indicate below if you would like to participate in the Trial Section”. We are grateful for your help! Medical schools will use the future version of the MCAT exam to select the first-year students who will join you when you’re a seasoned medical student. Please help the medical schools select students who will be great colleagues for you and the next generation of health care providers. To provide feedback to the AAMC after the Trial Section, please email us at mcat2015@aamc.org. The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials © 2012 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission. 8 *Amazon.com is not a sponsor of this promotion. Amazon, Amazon.com, the Amazon.com logo, Gift Codes on Demand, the Amazon Gift Card logo and 1-Click are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. **Amazon.com Gift Cards (“GCs”) may be used only to purchase eligible good on Amazon.com or its affiliated website Endless.com. GC’s cannot be redeemed for purchases of gift certificates or cards or for items from some third party sellers. Purchases are deducted from the GC balance. GCs cannot be reloaded, resold, transferred for value, redeemed for cash or applied to any other account. Amazon is not responsible if a GC is lost, stolen, destroyed or used without permission. See www.amazon.com/gc-legal for complete terms and conditions. GC’s are issued and © 2012 by ACI Gift Cards, Inc., a Washington corporation. Exam Scoring You will receive a separate score for each of the first three content sections of the MCAT exam, as well as a total score. The following explains scoring in detail and highlights certain aspects of the process. Note: Examinees who elect to void the scored portion of the MCAT exam will not receive a score on the exam and will not be given the opportunity to participate in the Trial Section. Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, and Biological Sciences  These sections are scored from a low of 1 to a high of 15.  Every form of the MCAT exam measures the same basic skills and concepts. However, each form is different in regard to the specific questions it uses. Because each form has the potential to be slightly more difficult or easy than another, raw scores are converted to a scale that takes into consideration the level of difficulty of the test questions on a given form. This conversion minimizes variability in the meaning of test scores across forms.  There is no penalty for guessing.  Your total score is the sum of the three individual section scores. Trial Section  This section is not scored. The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials © 2012 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission. 9 Part 2: Registration Essentials Eligibility Eligible Health Professions Graduate Programs You may sit for the exam if you are preparing to apply to a health professions school. Eligible programs include:  Allopathic  Osteopathic  Podiatric  Veterinary Medicine At the time of registration, you will be required to accept a statement verifying that you are taking the exam solely for the purpose of applying to a health professions school. If you are not applying to a health professions school, or if you are a currently enrolled medical student, you need to obtain special permission to register for the exam. International Students There are no additional eligibility requirements for international students. Special Permissions Individuals not meeting the eligibility requirement above need to apply for special permission to take the MCAT exam. This includes one or both of the following:  You wish to take the test for any reason other than applying to a health professions school  You are a currently-enrolled medical student hoping to change medical schools To apply for special permission, please send an email explaining the reason(s) you wish to take the exam to mcat@aamc.org. We will attempt to review and respond to your request within five business days. In consideration of potential periods of heavy volume, please be mindful of registration deadlines when submitting your request. We cannot extend closing dates for any reason. [...]... confirmation within 24 hours, please immediately contact the MCAT Resource Center at mcat@aamc.org, or (202) 828-0690 Online pre-registration is required Walk-in registration is not available © 2012 AAMC May not be reproduced without permission 13 The 2013 MCAT® Essentials Registration Deadlines Don’t wait until the last minute to register! For the best chance of reserving your preferred test date and... the change at least 14 calendar days prior to your currently scheduled exam  You are rescheduling within the current calendar year (e.g., a 2013 reservation cannot be rescheduled to an exam in 2014) © 2012 AAMC May not be reproduced without permission 14 The 2013 MCAT® Essentials  For Fee Assistance Program (FAP) Recipients: o If you are a FAP recipient for the current calendar year and wish to reschedule... seats are currently reserved © 2012 AAMC May not be reproduced without permission 17 The 2013 MCAT® Essentials Accommodated Testing If you have a disability or medical condition that you believe requires an adjustment to the standard testing conditions, we encourage you to apply for accommodated testing You will be required to submit documentation of your disability or condition at the time of registration... valid, and no further action is required If you decide you want to cancel your registration, follow the cancellation and refund policies described on pages 15-16 For more detailed information about the accommodations application and registration processes, visit the MCAT with Accommodations page of our Web site Note: The accommodations pages of our Web site are required reading for all applicants seeking... taking the MCAT® exam solely for the purpose of applying to an allopathic, osteopathic, podiatric, public health, veterinary medicine, or other health professions school, or alternatively, if I am taking the exam for any other purpose, I have applied for and received special permission to take the MCAT exam as set out in MCAT® Essentials I have read and will comply with the terms set forth in MCAT® Essentials,... wish to remain anonymous If you report such activity anonymously, we will not disclose your identity unless required to by a subpoena or court order Please report all potential violations to 202-903-0840, and/or MCATSecurity@aamc.org © 2012 AAMC May not be reproduced without permission 31 The 2013 MCAT® Essentials Part 4: Post-Test Essentials Receiving and Sending Scores Score Reporting through AMCAS®... cancellation, suspension of registration eligibility, and submission of an investigation report to legitimately-interested parties (See page 26.) © 2012 AAMC May not be reproduced without permission 10 The 2013 MCAT® Essentials Registration and Identification Be very careful to enter your first and last name(s) in the MCAT Scheduling & Registration system exactly the way they appear on the ID you will use... You will have to pay the full registration fee again — we cannot transfer the fees from the date you were absent to a new appointment date © 2012 AAMC May not be reproduced without permission 15 The 2013 MCAT® Essentials Testing Appointments are Subject to Change or Cancellation Testing appointments are subject to change or cancellation The AAMC and its test-site vendor make every attempt to ensure... applied to your original form of payment; however, the funds may not appear in your account for a few days, depending on the policy of your bank © 2012 AAMC May not be reproduced without permission 16 The 2013 MCAT® Essentials Emergency Cancellation Refunds due to an emergency cancellation may be requested after an exam if one of the following occurs after the regular registration deadline:  You are hospitalized... Know when your ID expires If your identification will expire before your scheduled test date, you are responsible for obtaining an updated ID © 2012 AAMC May not be reproduced without permission 11 The 2013 MCAT® Essentials  Temporary IDs and ID application receipts will not be accepted at the test center because we are unable to validate their authenticity  If you will not have a current ID by your . 2013 MCAT ® Essentials MCAT ® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges Required Reading • Registration instructions •. The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials © 2012 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission. 3 The 2013 MCAT ® Essentials Congratulations! Reading this