Q&A: Test prep expert explains new MCAT

Starting in April 2015, the Association of American Medical Colleges will administer a new Medical College Admission Test with changes that have stirred up questions and concerns among premedical students.

Eric Chiu, the executive director of premed programs at Kaplan Test Prep, recently spoke with Daily Bruin assistant editor Kelly Gu about some common questions faced by those planning to take the MCAT.

Daily Bruin: The MCAT is reportedly undergoing the biggest changes it has seen in 20 years. How is the new MCAT different from the current one?

Eric Chiu: There are three new content areas – biochemistry, sociology and psychology. This requires that premedical students take three additional semesters of prerequisites, on top of chemistry, physics, organic chemistry and biology (courses). The new MCAT will not only have additional sections, but also have a different way of applying all those content areas to systems.

MCAT 2015 isn’t going to be just a content exam, and students will need to use their critical reasoning skills more.

Also, the test is almost twice as long – the current one is 3 1/2 hours, while the new one is almost seven hours long with a half-hour lunch break.

DB: You mentioned critical reasoning skills. What new skill areas will the MCAT test?

EC: The test itself will add two additional skill areas: research design, and graphical analysis and data interpretation. Additionally, the verbal reasoning section of the current MCAT is being replaced with a critical analysis and reasoning skills section … and will be limited to humanities and social science questions. It is important for premedical students to be comfortable with reading comprehension since it is the strongest predictor on medical school performance and board exams.

DB: With these changes and additional sections, some students wonder why a new MCAT is necessary. How is the new MCAT an improvement?

EC: The Association of American Medical Colleges conducted a survey in the fall of 2009 where over 1,000 medical school faculty, residents and medical students rated subjects they found most important in making a strong medical student. Biochemistry was highly rated in those surveys, and psychology and sociology were highly rated to create a more well-rounded student and doctor. There are broader changes to the medical profession in general, so the MCAT is changing not in a bubble, but as part of the medical school education evolution.

DB: How should students study for the new MCAT?

EC: For MCAT 2015, students will really need to focus on managing their study time because they have to review seven content areas instead of four. Each practice test will take twice as long to take and twice as long to review. Study methods and programs need to be efficient and personalized.

DB: Since the current MCAT is still available for students to take until late January, how do students know which MCAT they should take?

EC: If the student is ready to take the current exam, he or she should take it, but understand that there is a smaller window of study time to work with. Students typically spend an average of 300-350 hours studying for the MCAT, and start prepping three to six months before the test date. Test sites are filling up with so many students trying to take the exam before the changes in April 2015, so register for the test as soon as possible.

DB: When it comes down to medical school applications, how will medical schools compare a new MCAT score to a current MCAT score?

EC: They can’t. Instead, medical schools will be comparing applicant scores within their respective pools depending on the test version they take, then taking a holistic approach to select applicants from there.

DB: What is the scoring scale of the new MCAT?

EC: The current MCAT is out of 45 points with three sections scored 0-15 points. The new MCAT will be out of 528 points with four sections scored 118-132 points. AAMC is expecting a median score of about 500.

DB: Any other advice for students planning on taking the test?

EC: Every single point a student gains allows that applicant to leap over thousands of other applicants. Make sure you get the most efficient path to every point you can get, and get the most points in the least amount of time.

Compiled by Kelly Gu, Bruin senior staff.

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