MCAT, otherwise known as the Medical College Admission Test, is an exam faced by all potential medical students in the U.S, Australia, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. It is a standard computer-based test to assess how suitable the candidates are in terms of ability to solve problems, critical thinking, and written analytical skill.
If you’re currently getting prepped to study for or take the MCAT, you’re likely wondering what methods they use to score your test and what that score indicates. Here’s an insider’s guide that includes everything you need to know about the MCAT scoring process:
How is the Test Scored?
You will receive five different scores, one for each section of the test plus a fifth that indicates your total score. It’s important to note that this exam is not graded on a curve, so the scores have the same meaning no matter where or when you take them.
What Steps Are Taken to Determine My Score?
All the questions you answered correctly are added up. You are not penalized for answering a question wrong, so the best advice is to answer all the questions.
The number of correct answers you got in each of the four sections is then converted into a MCAT scaled score. After that, all the scores are added together to create a total score, with the highest possible score being 528 and the lowest being 472.
What’s the Timeline for Getting My Results?
It can take anywhere between 30 to 35 days to get your results. This is generally how long it takes to scale and total the results.
During this period, if you feel that the test conditions were not ideal or have any other complaints about the test environment, now is the time to file a complaint to the AAMC. It is generally advised to file any complaints within 48 hours of taking your test, and keep in mind that there is no guarantee the AAMC can void the results or allow you to retake the exam.
What Does Each Score Mean?
When you get your results, there will be four elements included in the report. You will see your score, your percentile rank, the confidence band, and the score profile. For each section of the test, your score will range between 118 and 132. As it is a scaled score, if your original result was between 35 and 37, for example, your scaled score will be 123 for that section.
The percentile section shows how you did in comparison to all the other students who took the test. It shows you the score, say 509, and then your percentile, say 80th. That means you scored better than 80 of the other students who took the test.
The confidence band is a measurement of how accurate they feel your score is after taking into account inherent flaws and anomalies in a standard test. You may have received a score of 128, for example, but your confidence range could be 126–130.
Finally, the score profile shows your strengths and weaknesses. If you were to retake the test, this section identifies areas where you need to focus additional study. This can be valuable information for future exams.
Why Don’t I See My Raw Scores?
In each testing year, there are many different test forms created. This means that there are many different variations of questions that will appear on each exam.
Although each test profile is created to test the same competencies, such as problem-solving and critical thinking, these question variations can impact test scores. Therefore the conversion of the raw results into the scaled scores is necessary to compensate for these variations between test questions. The conversion of the raw scores into the scaled scores makes the tests results more equal.
How to Get Ready to Take the MCAT
As you prepare to take the MCAT, there are many resources you can use to get ready. MCAT test prep programs can assist you by providing practice exams and other study tools that mimic typical MCAT questions and help you improve in areas where you may be averaging lower scores.
As you take into account the different scoring areas of the exam and learn study tips for each section, you can learn where your test-taking abilities lie and how to improve them. While the MCAT is a challenging exam, and for good reason, utilizing the proper resources can help you make the most out of your studying and testing experience.
from Feedster https://www.feedster.com/careers/the-insiders-guide-to-the-mcat-scoring-process/
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