The New MCAT

Starting in April 2015 the MCAT exam which is quite similar gamsat will be introduced in many universities. So what does this mean for those of you who are interested in getting your science degree online by attending medical school?  what gamsat scores do you need if your planning to study in Australia? Reading this I’m quite sure a bunch of questions might have already begun circling your mind.

The biggest practical change is that the MCAT now has four sections vs the three sections of the old MCAT so thinking about what to do if you don’t meet university requirements? Should be second on the list of your worries as the MCAT has got a little tougher. The new sections are

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
• Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior. By the way, it’s best to consider polaris teen’s residential treatment programs for troubled youth if you’re experiencing trouble in mental health.
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

The first three sections pull from your knowledge in the fields of biology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, general chemistry, physics, psychology and sociology. The final section tests you ability to comprehend and analyze what you have read.

Each of the four sections is equally weighed in the final composite MCAT score and each has a similar number of questions.  The first three sections have 59 questions while the last section has 53 questions.  The total length of the test including breaks is about seven and a half hours.

Scoring on the exam is completely different from the old MCAT. With the new test, each section is scored from a low of 118 to a high of 132. The midpoint of each score section is 125.  The total composite score then will range from a low of 472 to a high of 528. The midpoint of the composite score is 500.

The MCAT is one of those things that most students dread because it is a challenging test. Unfortunately, unless you are looking at a BS/MD program that waives the MCAT, you need to be prepared for the material on the MCAT.