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- Nov 28, 2004
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I just took the computer-based MCAT at an overseas location (no paper choice). The format is quite similar to the online AAMC tests.I had practiced on the computer-based MCAT.
About 20 mins into the PS section, when I clicked a "previous page" button,
the screen blanked on me, and then exited from the MCAT test!! Obviously there are no buttons to do this yourself.
I have no idea if the timer was ticking while this blank page was appearing, but I was soon waving my arms at the test administrator to come fix it. And it took some time to catch their attention because you're not supposed to exit the room. After 5 mins of the test administrator sitting at my station (during which time they told me to wait outside), they said they'd restored it to where it was.
Now, like most computer crashes, I didn't know how much data (i.e. answers) had been saved. I did not know if the last few questions when the blank screen came up were saved or not. So I tried to check these questions which I'd done, but they were scattered all over the place, and I just didn't have time (therefore, it's possible some answers weren't even saved, or could not have saved the correct answers). You can't even cross off the answer choices you've eliminated, so for some questions, I re-did them entirely to double check.
Finally I just had to move on, knowing that I didn't have time to re-check them all. Of course, I ran out of time on that section, and frankly was frazzled by the whole experience, wondering how to salvage it.
Because that was the beginning of thetest, the rest of the day was really bad because I just kept wondering how to salvage it and if my computer would work.
The test administrators said they'd filed a report with MCAT.
But consider the time and energy costs:
- I had to fly to another country and stay in a hotel for a day or two, so this was definitely not a cheap exercise.
- Also, I have been taking time off work for the past month or so, and took a few days off completely before the test. (so there is a monetary cost ). And obviously work projects have been put on hold.
- I have been prepping during the past 4 months.
I really do want to have valid scores by June because of rolling admissions. Frankly to take the test again in August has a significant cost. But these scores are definitely not reflective of my ability.
Your thoughts?
So,
About 20 mins into the PS section, when I clicked a "previous page" button,
the screen blanked on me, and then exited from the MCAT test!! Obviously there are no buttons to do this yourself.
I have no idea if the timer was ticking while this blank page was appearing, but I was soon waving my arms at the test administrator to come fix it. And it took some time to catch their attention because you're not supposed to exit the room. After 5 mins of the test administrator sitting at my station (during which time they told me to wait outside), they said they'd restored it to where it was.
Now, like most computer crashes, I didn't know how much data (i.e. answers) had been saved. I did not know if the last few questions when the blank screen came up were saved or not. So I tried to check these questions which I'd done, but they were scattered all over the place, and I just didn't have time (therefore, it's possible some answers weren't even saved, or could not have saved the correct answers). You can't even cross off the answer choices you've eliminated, so for some questions, I re-did them entirely to double check.
Finally I just had to move on, knowing that I didn't have time to re-check them all. Of course, I ran out of time on that section, and frankly was frazzled by the whole experience, wondering how to salvage it.
Because that was the beginning of thetest, the rest of the day was really bad because I just kept wondering how to salvage it and if my computer would work.
The test administrators said they'd filed a report with MCAT.
But consider the time and energy costs:
- I had to fly to another country and stay in a hotel for a day or two, so this was definitely not a cheap exercise.
- Also, I have been taking time off work for the past month or so, and took a few days off completely before the test. (so there is a monetary cost ). And obviously work projects have been put on hold.
- I have been prepping during the past 4 months.
I really do want to have valid scores by June because of rolling admissions. Frankly to take the test again in August has a significant cost. But these scores are definitely not reflective of my ability.
Your thoughts?
So,
