45 vs 52 questions in PS/BS

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bli

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Hi everyone!

I've only got 45 questions in the PS and BS sections of the MCAT that I took. However, on the MCAT Essential, it says there are 52 questions in PS and BS. I'm wondering where this discrepancy comes from? No experimental questions for the 45 questions version?

And if you have taken the test and still remember, how many questions were there in your PS and BS?

Thnx
 
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there was 52/40/52 questions on my mcat just today

nerve must have gotten to you hard time
 
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bli said:
Hi everyone!

I've only got 45 questions in the PS and BS sections of the MCAT that I took. However, on the MCAT Essential, it says there are 52 questions in PS and BS. I'm wondering where this discrepancy comes from? No experimental questions for the 45 questions version?

And if you have taken the test and still remember, how many questions were there in your PS and BS?

Thnx
Click to expand...

It just can't happen dude...it wouldn't be fair to any other test taker. It's always 52 40 52 (PS VR BS)
 
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I'm pretty sure there are ALWAYS 52 questions in both sciences for people who have taken the CBT version.

When did you actually realize that you only had 45?
 
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kehlsh said:
there was 52/40/52 questions on my mcat just today

nerve must have gotten to you hard time
Click to expand...

Hmm... I clearly remember when I was working on the last set of discrete questions in the BS, it says "Question 40-45 of 45" at the bottom left on my screen. I was surprised by that as I was expecting 52..

(And I think the chance of the nerve got me "hallucinating" is very low.. 😀)

P.S. AND I took it today, the 8 AM test on 09/08/2011.
 
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bli said:
Hmm... I clearly remember when I was working on the last set of discrete questions in the BS, it says "Question 40-45 of 45" at the bottom left on my screen. I was surprised by that as I was expecting 52..

(And I think the chance of the nerve got me "hallucinating" is very low.. 😀)

P.S. AND I took it today, the 8 AM test on 09/08/2011.
Click to expand...

Well I made sure I made no big mistake like this by going through the review section and checking if I had any incomplete answers.
 
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bli said:
Hmm... I clearly remember when I was working on the last set of discrete questions in the BS, it says "Question 40-45 of 45" at the bottom left on my screen. I was surprised by that as I was expecting 52..

(And I think the chance of the nerve got me "hallucinating" is very low.. 😀)

P.S. AND I took it today, the 8 AM test on 09/08/2011.
Click to expand...

I think you might have seen 140-146?

I don't think bio questions are even numbered as 40-45, since that is the physical science questions no?
 
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Maybe a technical error in his computer? But it's hard to believe that they cut only 2 sections out of three and the two sections aren't even after each other. If they cut only 1 section then yea it would be acceptable or if they cut all three then yea it could be acceptable. I would honestly call AAMC however and tell them if YOU are sure you had 45 questions only and not just trolling.
 
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PingPongPro said:
I think you might have seen 140-146?

I don't think bio questions are even numbered as 40-45, since that is the physical science questions no?
Click to expand...

Each section is numbered separately. So you can't see 100 something question number. Maximum in a section you can see is -52
 
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MShopes said:
Each section is numbered separately. So you can't see 100 something question number. Maximum in a section you can see is -52
Click to expand...

Well, I guess this is an AAMC question then! I'll call them tomorrow and see. Thanks guys.
 
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MShopes said:
:laugh::laugh: I have seen people relating their locker number to their score. Well my locker number was 9, what's that suppose to mean? 9 overall LOL....
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Don't be ridiculous. Nobody with a brain could actually believe that locker number 9 would mean a score of 9 overall.

It obviously would mean 9/9/9 duh.
 
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PingPongPro said:
Don't be ridiculous. Nobody with a brain could actually believe that locker number 9 would mean a score of 9 overall.

It obviously would mean 9/9/9 duh.
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Haha no I was talking about my score BASED on their assumption. They related their locker number to the overall score because they had 20 and up locker numbers. Well I know there is no way I can get a 9 overall duh not...
 
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MShopes said:
Haha no I was talking about my score BASED on their assumption. They related their locker number to the overall score because they had 20 and up locker numbers. Well I know there is no way I can get a 9 overall duh not...
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I had locker number 4.... does that mean........ whoa! jk
 
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i know it's rare and unlikely, but i don't doubt that he had 45 questions. after all, in the end we are all graded for about 45 questions anyway, right? they probably forgot to include the experimental section. it's unfair because the rest of us spent time doing 52 questions, but things happen. the AAMC is fallable too 🙂

proof of experimental section..that's all.
 
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ThereSheGoes said:
i know it's rare and unlikely, but i don't doubt that he had 45 questions. after all, in the end we are all graded for about 45 questions anyway, right? they probably forgot to include the experimental section. it's unfair because the rest of us spent time doing 52 questions, but things happen. the AAMC is fallable too 🙂

proof of experimental section..that's all.
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Is the story about "experimental questions" true? How does missing those questions affect one's score?
 
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oh it's true..the way i see it. there is 1 passage in each section that is experimental, and for sciences, maybe another discrete question. they aren't graded and if you get them right or wrong it doesn't matter.
 
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i agree. it shrinks the sample size, allowing much less room for error 🙁 i guess it's still the same curve for everybody though.

i feel it really affects me on verbal, because i follow a 6 passage system. the 7th passage i don't have enough time for so i normally just intuite or fill them in randomly. it worked fine on practice tests when im graded for all 7 passages, but if it's only 6 passages it would make each question all more meaningful. 6/7 versus 5/6... every question counts for a heck of a lot more. unless of course you happen to identify that experimental passage..then you could use your time on the 6 passages that are scored 🙂 there are theories...
 
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Thanks everyone for your inputs! I think it must has to do with the experimental questions too. I've talked to them on the phone this morning and the representative asked me to file an investigation request. So I guess that's what I'll do and let's see what happens.

Back to the topic on grading and experimental questions - The existence of these experimental questions complicates our understanding of their grading scheme. I.e. in the AAMC practice tests, the grading schemes (raw to scaled score conversion) provided were based on how many questions you answered correctly out of a total of 52. However, in the real test, although there're 52 questions (well, ideally.. provided you didn't run into my situation), you got 5-7 questions that are experimental and will not be graded, so at the end AAMC are generating the raw score and the scaled score by "X correct out of 45". And this, which in turn, may result what Ms. ThereSheGoes said, that the room for error for us is smaller in the real test. Well, it also may not be the case, as an adjustment of scaling factor by AAMC can take the hypothesized "smaller room for error" problem into account..

The bottom line, who knows... But, MCAT needs more transparency in its grading scheme, that's for sure.
 
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vcn3333 said:
Is the story about "experimental questions" true? How does missing those questions affect one's score?
Click to expand...

Well, it is not a story, my friend, it is a fact.. If you look at the 2011 MCAT Essential, on page 4, it says -

"Please note that each multiple-choice section will include some experimental items that do not count toward your score."

😉
 
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MShopes said:
Maybe it means 4+ your predicted score...
Click to expand...

The motel room I booked was number 235. I thought it was a sign I would get a 35, but well..Maybe it meant a 23...😡


bli said:
Well, it is not a story, my friend, it is a fact.. If you look at the 2011 MCAT Essential, on page 4, it says -

"Please note that each multiple-choice section will include some experimental items that do not count toward your score."

😉
Click to expand...

Well, that's certainly a relief to know..But it kind of upsets me to think those experimental crap could have ruined my rhythm and timing. Not to mention the effort wasted on them..🙁
 
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even if there were only 45 questions, you should have known there were 52. you can let the proctors know of the anomaly and they will note it. even now, you can call them and let them know. **** happens. the "prometric test driver" is patent pending. maybe it was broke, but to make sure your ass is covered, you gotta let the proctors know of problems.
 
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Stop worrying about the experimental questions: there is nothing you can do about them and nothing more you can find out about them other than the fact that they exist. There is a lot of misinformation about experimental items generated and proliferated by stress-riddled test takers on these forums and elsewhere.
 
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