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MCAT

Medical College Admissions Test

What the MCAT's Really Testing
Information provided by Kaptest.com

Most people preparing for the MCAT fall prey to the myth that the MCAT is a straightforward science test. Well, here's the little secret no one seems to want you to know: The MCAT is not just a science test; it's also a thinking test. This means that the test is designed to let you demonstrate your thought process, not only your thought content. Every section on the MCAT tests essentially the same higher-order thinking skills: analytical reasoning, abstract thinking, and problem-solving--skills that are essential for success in medical school.

MCAT Scores and School Success
A recent study commissioned by the MCAT's authors, the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), confirmed a direct correlation between MCAT scores and success in medical school. Therefore, medical schools don't need to rely on the MCAT to see what you already know Schools are most interested in your intellectual potential. They choose applicants carefully because expansive knowledge is not enough to succeed in medical school or in the profession. There's something more. And it's this" something more" that the MCAT is trying to measure.

The Sciences
With this perspective, you may be left asking the question: "What about the science? What about the content? Don't I need to know the basics?" The answer is a resounding YES. You must be fluent in the different languages of the test. You cannot do well on the MCAT if you don't know the basics of physics, general chemistry, biology, and organic chemistry.
However, the key point here is that knowing these basics is just the beginning of doing well on the MCAT. That's a shock to most test takers. They presume that once they recall or re-learn their undergraduate science, they are ready to do battle against the MCAT. Wrong. They merely have directions to the battlefield. They lack what they need to beat the test: a copy of the test maker's battle plan.

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