If you plan on applying to a medical school in the United States, you need to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The MCAT is different from every other test you have ever encountered in your academic career. Unlike the knowledge-based exams from high school and college, where the emphasis was on memorizing information, the MCAT primarily emphasizes the thought process. It is a thinking test above all else.
SNAPSHOT: MCAT
The MCAT consists of four and three-quarter hours of multiple choice testing, plus one hour devoted to a writing sample. With all of the administrative details and three breaks, your test day experience can last for more than six hours.
The test is divided into four timed sections always appearing in the same order:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Physical Sciences
- Writing Sample
- Biological Sciences
Every section is designed to measure the higher-order thinking skills necessary for success in medical school, including analytical reasoning, abstract thinking, and problem solving.
Taking the MCAT is an intensive experience to say the least. The vast amount of content - especially in the sciences - can be especially overwhelming for many people. Success on this difficult exam requires targeted and focused preparation.
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