What to Expect When Writing the MCAT Presented by PMSA MCAT - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

What to Expect When Writing the MCAT Presented by PMSA

MCAT Overview Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) Standardized exam Used as part of the admissions process Basic science knowledge and critical thinking UBC -Uses the best score achieved -MCAT score must be received by October 1, 2014 Year Written Test Type Valid Until Application Cycle 2013 VR, PS, BS 2016/2017 2014 VR, PS, BS 2016/2017 2015 MCAT 2015 2019/2020 http://mdprogram.med.ubc.ca/admissions/admission-requirements/

Test Day Overview Wake Up Drive to Test Center Write Exam Sign In

Exam Overview Section Number of Questions Time (minutes) Name Confirmation Screen 2 Examinee Agreement 10 Tutorial (optional) 10 Physical Sciences 52 70 Break (optional) 10 Verbal Reasoning 40 60 Break (optional) 10 Biological Sciences 52 70 Void Question 5 Total Content Time = 3 hours, 20 minutes Total Seated Time = 4 hours, 7 minutes https://www.aamc.org/students/download/63060/data/mcatessentials.pdf

Exam Overview Section Number of Questions Time (minutes) Name Confirmation Screen 2 Examinee Agreement 10 Tutorial (optional) 10 Physical Sciences 52 70 Break (optional) 10 Verbal Reasoning 40 60 Break (optional) 10 Biological Sciences 52 70 Void Question 5 Break (optional) 10 Trial Section (optional) 32 45 Satisfaction Survey 12 10 (optional) Total Content Time = 4 hours, 5 minutes Total Seated Time = 5 hours, 10 minutes https://www.aamc.org/students/download/63060/data/mcatessentials.pdf

MCAT Scoring Each section on the MCAT converts the raw scores to scaled scores. • Each section is scored from a low of 1 to high of 15 • – Total score = The sum of the scores from each section. Every exam covers the same basic knowledge and skills. • No Penalty for guessing. • Trial section is NOT scored. •

MCAT Scoring Example Physical Sc cal Sciences Verbal Reas Verbal Reasoning Biological Sciences Biological Sciences Converted Raw Converted Raw Converted Raw 15 43-52 15 40 15 52 14 40-42 14 39 14 49-51 13 37-39 13 38 13 46-48 12 35-36 12 37 12 43-45 11 32-34 11 36 11 40-42 10 29-31 10 35 10 38-39 9 27-28 9 33-34 9 35-37

UBC MCAT Statistics

MCAT CONTENT – 2013/2014 Overview 1.) Physical Sciences - 52 Questions in 70min – 50% Physics – 50% General Chemistry 2.) Verbal Reasoning – 40 Questions in 60min – Critical Thinking

MCAT CONTENT – 2013/2014 Overview 3) Biological Sciences - 52 Questions in 70 min – 25% Organic Chemistry – 75% Biology/Physiology 4.) Trial Section - 45 min time period – Psychology, Sociology, Biochemistry – Compensated for participation – Scores not reported – * Admissions o ffj cers will continue to receive Writing Sample scores from exams taken in 2012 and prior

PHYSICAL SCIENCES – Physics and General Chemistry

PHYSICAL SCIENCES - Physics -Magnetism -Kinematics -DC and AC Circuits -Newton’s Laws -Periodic Motion -Work, Energy and and Waves Momentum -Sound -Thermodynamics -Optics -Electrostatics -Atomic and Nuclear -Fluids and Solids Phenomena

PHYSICAL SCIENCES – General Chemistry - Atomic Structure - Gases -Phases and Phase -Bonding and Chemical Changes Interactions -Solutions -Compounds and Stoichiometry -Acids and Bases -Kinetics and -Redox Reactions and Equilibrium Electrochemistry -Thermochemistry

VERBAL REASONING

VERBAL REASONING • 7 Passages – Average of 8.5 min per passage – Social Sciences – Natural Sciences – Art/History • Read Passage and Answer Corresponding Questions • Decipher Arguments • Primarily Tests Critical Thinking

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES – Biology and Organic Chemistry

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES - Biology -The Cell -Evolution -Molecular Genetics -Enzymes -Data Analysis -Homeostasis -Circulation -Reproduction -Respiration -Endocrine System -Digestion -Nervous System -Immune System -Musculoskeletal System -Classical Genetics

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES – Organic Chemistry -Alcohols -Nomenclature -Ethers -Alkanes -Aldehydes -Carboxylic Acids -Bonding -Amino Acids, Peptides, & -Isomers Proteins -Carboxylic Acid Derivatives -Alkynes -Purification Methods -Alkenes -Spectroscopy -Aromatic Compounds -Carbohydrates

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? How to Prepare for the MCAT? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

MCAT Prep • Kaplan • The Princeton Review • Oxford Seminars • PREP 101 • Or on your own! – Kaplan & The Princeton Review – Examkrackers – Berkeley Review

KAPLAN MCAT Advantage: • Starting at CDN$1,784 or 3 installments of CDN$594.66 – On site – Anywhere – On demand • Provides over 200 hours of total instruction, • 24/7 access to more than 130 hours of recorded On Demand instruction.

KAPLAN MCAT AdvantagePlus: • Starting at CDN$2,284 or 3 installments of CDN$761.33 - See more at: – On-Site – Anywhere • Includes >130 hours of On-Demand content

KAPLAN Organic/Physics/Verbal Edge • $499/each for 3 month access • 24/7 access • 8 lessons on di fg erent topics

KAPLAN Summer Intensive Program (SIM) • Take the MCAT Summer Intensive Program, with over 320 hours of MCAT immersion for the most concentrated prep experience ever. This intensive program focuses all your brainpower, energy and attention on the MCAT. • Tuition: $8,499 Tuition with housing: $11,999

Atlanta, GA Boston, MA May 17 – June 28, June 14 – July 26, 2014 2014 Boulder, CO Toronto, ON May 17 – June 28, May 24– July 5, 2014 2014 San Diego, CA June 28 – August 9, 2014

PRINCETON REVIEW Private Tutoring • IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU – O fg ered online and in-person – The most personalized o fg ering with the greatest flexibility. – Private tutoring programs are completely customized to your needs, goals, schedule and learning style.

PRINCETON REVIEW Ultimate • THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE CLASSROOM COURSE IN THE INDUSTRY – Provides 260 hours of comprehensive prep, including 105 hours of live instruction covering full content and test-taking strategies and 22 hours of Verbal Reasoning prep. – You’ll get ample realistic testing practice with 19 full-length practice tests and 15 diagnostic exams.

PRINCETON REVIEW Self-Paced Study $1599 • An ideal choice for self-directed learners – Comprehensive prep and exclusive test-taking strategies – 105 hours of in-depth prep to reach a deeper level of MCAT – 240+ hours of total prep

PRINCETON REVIEW Books • A COMPLETE SUITE OF MCAT PREPARATION GUIDES – Study on your own with our comprehensive line of test prep books including the best-selling title, Cracking the MCAT. • Features: – Step-by-step instructions – Expert tips, strategies and advice – Detailed answers and explanations

PRINCETON REVIEW Verbal Accelerator LiveOnline—Instructor-Led $499 • IN-DEPTH VERBAL REASONING PREP – Enhance your reasoning skills and give yourself a competitive edge with 15 hours of targeted verbal prep by our MCAT experts.

Additional SELF-STUDY Methods • Examkrackers • Berkeley Review

EXAMKRACKERS Products for self-study: • Complete MCAT Study Package $199.95 • 1001 Questions Series $29.95 each subject • Access to the MCAT forum for help with specific topics and even questions from the Study package and 1001 Questions series

BERKELEY REVIEW Products for self-study: • Complete MCAT Study Package $330 • $70 to buy each subject’s books separately • Cover subjects in detail and provide hundreds of practice passages and thousands of practice questions all in the same book set • 7 full-length CBTs $210

Tips • Schedule study time like its a job • Don't put o fg registering, the spots fill up quick • Get your study materials organized early • Start by doing a quick overview of all the content – Don't waste too much time getting every detail on only one subject • Practice under timed conditions

But the MCAT is changing....

2015 MCAT • “The changes to the MCAT exam in 2015 preserve what works about the current exam, eliminate what isn’t working, and further enrich the MCAT exam by giving attention to the concepts tomorrow’s doctors will need.” - MCAT site

Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills

2015 MCAT Overview • 4 new sections 1.) Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (BBFLS) 2.) Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (CPFBS) 3.) Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior (PSBFB) 4.) Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) • Each scored 1 to 15 (total out of 60)

Sections 1 and 2 • “Natural sciences sections of the MCAT2015 exam reflect recent changes in medical education.” • New distribution of content 1. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems 2. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

1.) Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems • 65% on introductory biology • 25% on first-semester biochemistry • 4% on general chemistry • 6% on organic chemistry