Tests are pretty scary. Add in the possibility that the test has a major role in deciding your future and it gets even worse. With 2015 finally here, new pre-med students might not be aware of the updated version of the MCAT that will soon be implemented.
As most may know, the MCAT is a standardized test required for admission into most medical schools throughout the United States. Beginning in April 2015, the test will now be fine-tuned to emphasize biology, physics, biochemistry, organic and general chemistry. An additional section will be added, revolving around introductory sociology and psychology concepts. A writing portion has been eliminated, leaving four main sections: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, Chemical and Physical Foundations of Living Systems, Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior, and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. Basically, this means that aside from covering your typical sciences, the MCAT will now cover general topics such as ethics, philosophy, literature, economics, cross-cultural studies, etc. Each section is scored on a 1-15 scale, with 65 questions per section and 95 minutes to complete each section (90 for last section), totaling to a grueling seven hour test (no pressure).
This test is a daunting one, but as an essential for medical school admittance, it wasn’t made for the weak-willed. The MCAT isn’t something you can expect to ace with a night’s worth of cramming. Students spend weeks, sometimes months preparing themselves for the content being covered.
However, this test isn’t designed to be impossible either. As any well-trained doctor will tell you, there’s more to medicine than just knowing your stuff. Being able to understand where someone comes from and how that affects their health is just one of the many aspects of being a successful physician. The MCAT was revamped in order to reflect the constantly evolving demands on the medical community, and as a result, pre-medical students must also adapt to these changes if they wish to succeed further down their career paths.
Not to mention, there is an ample amount of resources meant to help students conquer the MCAT. Big review companies such as Barron’s, Kaplan, The Princeton Review, and many others provide cost-friendly preparation material and also offer school-specific discounts.
Aside from covering the main subjects, there are other general tips to help ensure you do the best you can. The most important thing is to NOT SACRIFICE PHYSICAL HEALTH! It’s not worth staying up all night cramming if it’ll leave you feeling brain-dead and zombie-like on the day of the test. Make sure not to skip sleep or meals – you can’t be functioning at your best if your body isn’t feeling well.
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As with any other test, make sure to time yourself when taking the test. This is imperative as each section has only a certain amount of allotted time, so getting hung up on one question will basically mess up your entire groove for the rest of the section. Luckily, there are breaks throughout the test, so take advantage of them! Come prepared with snacks and water because seven hours IS A LONG TIME (probably longer than the amount of sleep most pre-med students get in a night).
And lastly, come in with a good attitude! Once you’ve come this far, don’t let a little test get the best of you. Best wishes!
