newyorkcougar said:
It is frustrating that the biggest hold up on scores is grading the writing section. No school in America cares at all about that section! It is not even a good tie-breaker. They don't even look at the writing section! And the writing section is what keeps the scores from getting released the day after the administration. Lame.
The following question was asked at the Mcat discussion board and the following reply by the staff
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lanae43
52 Posts
Posted - 08/19/2004 : 23:22:53
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I was wondering if someone could explain why it takes 60 days to process the scores. I understand that the essays must take forever to grade, but have they ever considered releasing the other scores earlier, so people could have a idea of how they did minus the written portion?
Khenon
204 Posts
Posted - 08/20/2004 : 08:16:18
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I don't have an answer to your question, but I heard (yes, more gossip) that it only takes 1 minute for the graders to read over our essays. I just thought that was funny. It further makes you wonder what takes so long. My guess (and this is completely a guess), is that it takes a while because there are several different formats of the exam and the final scores are based on how well everyone did. So they need the scores from across the country before they can even start figuring out the statistics for each exam and come up with a final scale. I have no idea if this is really true . . . just a guess. Hopefully the MCAT staff will get back with you. Take care.
Staff
0 Posts
Posted - 08/20/2004 : 09:50:44
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It takes every bit as long to get the multiple-choice section scores ready as it does to get the essay scores. It's almost a month before all the boxes are back, the sheets counted and scanned, the data file cleaned, and the registration data matched with the answer sheets. (And in computer-based testing, that final data file will be ready the next morning!) We also have content people review the rationale for the answer keys for any questions that are challenged by examinees or for which the stats look funny. Only then can we calculate final number correct scores and begin the process of equating all of the forms onto a common scale. The times when we almost didn't make the 60 day deadline were more often because of delays with the multiple-choice sections than with the essays.
I know people sometimes think we are just twiddling our thumbs or sadistically enjoying your anxiety for those sixty days, but, believe me, we are busting our butts to get those scores out.
