The medical school admissions exam, MCAT, will undergo major changes in the next few years.
Last month, the Association of American Medical Colleges approved to include more content on the exam in 2015, making the test last 90 minutes longer — from 5.5 hours to 7 hours. The incoming freshman class will be the first to take the new version.
The MCAT is a standardized multiple-choice exam taken by medical school hopefuls. The new changes will eliminate the writing section but will add more questions about high-level biochemistry topics and cellular biology. An additional section, too, will test students on topics in psychology and sociology.
The changes are the biggest for the exam since the early 1990s. Experts from Kaplan Test Prep, a popular test preparation company, explained the new MCAT reflects changes in the medical field.
“A lot has changed in medical education and the basic sciences,” said Jeff Koetje, director of pre-health programs at Kaplan@@http://press.kaptest.com/meet-our-experts/jeff-koetje-m-d@@ and an MCAT expert. “There have been big advances in genetics and molecular biology.”
Aside from medical advances, he said doctors have shifted to a more holistic approach to patient care. That shift is reflected in the additional psychology and sociology parts to the MCAT. Questions on ethics and cross-cultural studies will also be included on the exam. Koetje said the exam will have about twice the amount of material as the current exam.
Although the University does not have a medical program, pre-health advisers at the University assist students who are interested in careers in medicine.
Already, the advisers are learning about the changes to the MCAT. Pre-health adviser Jenni Van Wyk@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=staff&d=person&b=name&s=Jenni+Van+Wyk@@ said the Association of American Medical Colleges has given Web-based seminars and has sent the University a lot of information about the new exam.
She encouraged students to make advising appointments to discuss the changes and how they can best prepare for the exam. Koetje also suggested students work with an adviser early to prepare for what he called a “marathon-length” exam.
The Association of American Medical Colleges will release more information in the summer. Koetje said Kaplan will update its website frequently about the changes.
Changes to MCAT announced, set for 2015
Josephine Woolington
March 4, 2012
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