Anybody have problems erasing?

[finch]

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Hello everyone.
I used standard bic mechanical pencils on the mcat. Unfortunately, apparently the answer sheet was made out of really weird paper because every time I tried to erase an answer I ended up with an indelible smear on the page. Some of them are bad enough that I'm kind of worried that they might be picked up by the scanner as my answer choice. Anybody else have this issue?

 

[ChymeChancellor]

Hello everyone.
I used standard bic mechanical pencils on the mcat. Unfortunately, apparently the answer sheet was made out of really weird paper because every time I tried to erase an answer I ended up with an indelible smear on the page. Some of them are bad enough that I'm kind of worried that they might be picked up by the scanner as my answer choice. Anybody else have this issue?

Chuck Norris doesn't use erasers... he gets the questions right the first time!

 

[finch]

Good for chuck norris.

 

[str8flexed]

Hello everyone.
I used standard bic mechanical pencils on the mcat. Unfortunately, apparently the answer sheet was made out of really weird paper because every time I tried to erase an answer I ended up with an indelible smear on the page. Some of them are bad enough that I'm kind of worried that they might be picked up by the scanner as my answer choice. Anybody else have this issue?

No. I used bic mechanical pencils too. I think your eraser might have got some oil on it (like from the skin) causing it to smudge. I'm not sure if this will read incorrectly--but--just assume it will be okay!

 

[vkhalsa]

Hello everyone.
I used standard bic mechanical pencils on the mcat. Unfortunately, apparently the answer sheet was made out of really weird paper because every time I tried to erase an answer I ended up with an indelible smear on the page. Some of them are bad enough that I'm kind of worried that they might be picked up by the scanner as my answer choice. Anybody else have this issue?

i did a couple of times when i didn't use one of those art erasers i picked up. kinda sucks because no matter how much you rubbed you couldn't get the smudge off.

 

[sweetstuff25]

i did a couple of times when i didn't use one of those art erasers i picked up. kinda sucks because no matter how much you rubbed you couldn't get the smudge off.

i used steadler mars plastics baby!

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

I hate when I can't erase correctly. Especially on this big exams where I can check the scan-tron. I spent more time than I should have at Wal-mart trying to decide which pencils to buy and settled on ones that promised to be "easy to erase." They lied.

I hope the machine doesn't pick up what was left over on the other circle. That would be the suck.

 

[docolive]

yes, I had the same issue.
on the other hand, I skipped around passages and am worried that I marked the right numbers. I believe I was super cautious but this is when self-doubt starts making its comeback.

 

[DrVanNostran]

yes, I had the same issue.
on the other hand, I skipped around passages and am worried that I marked the right numbers. I believe I was super cautious but this is when self-doubt starts making its comeback.

Im having the same issues, there were a few times when I thought I erased ok, but when I looked at it I felt like thier was to much of a smudge:/ I wonder if it is at all worth it to hand score it?

Also, I paranoid about bubbling correctly, Im sure I was careful, but I guess its the premed in us 😱

 

[finch]

Also, I paranoid about bubbling correctly, Im sure I was careful, but I guess its the premed in us 😱

Ain't that the truth 🙂

Well, hopefully we'll be alright. Is it actually possible to get your test handscored? I know that its possible to pay to get it rescored, but for some reason I was under the impression that they just slide it through the scanner a second time (and then laugh all the way to the bank to cash your check).

 

[DrBowtie]

i used steadler mars plastics baby!

That's the only way to go.

 

[Caristra]

Were these new pencils? I used BIC too and they were great. However sometimes when the eraser is fresh it leaves a bit of smudge. The trick is too rub it on some regular white paper until it leaves no smudge. Then you're good to go.

 

[finch]

Yeah, after checking the aamc website I stand corrected. A hand rescore is possible for $50.

 

[shantster]

Were these new pencils? I used BIC too and they were great. However sometimes when the eraser is fresh it leaves a bit of smudge. The trick is too rub it on some regular white paper until it leaves no smudge. Then you're good to go.

So true. I had one pencil that was old and had very little of the eraser left, and then two brand new pencils. The new pencils gave the smudge, but the old one didn't so I kept trying to use that one for all I could get out of it.

Good idea for breaking it in!

 

[Mr. Tee]

I couldn't completely erase off all old markings on the scantron, but made sure to extra-darken my new response.

 

[DrVanNostran]

Yeah, after checking the aamc website I stand corrected. A hand rescore is possible for $50.

I think If I get rocked on a section Ill ask for a rescore, whats 50 dollars for piece of mind..unless they send me a new score 3 points less than the original, those bastards 😡

 

[suckermc]

I think If I get rocked on a section Ill ask for a rescore, whats 50 dollars for piece of mind..unless they send me a new score 3 points less than the original, those bastards 😡

i should have hand rescorred from last august test. erasing issues screwed me , amoung other things. if you really want to, get it rescored. if the score is bad you have nothing to lose. just don't be a chump and rescore cuz you got a 35 instead of a 40.

btw, you don't have to worry about this now. seriously, drink a 40 or whatever and cool out.

m.c

 

[Lilah]

I did a lot of erasing because I kept bubbling in the wrong questions numbers. But I don’t think the machine will score the barely there smudge instead of the big black oval.

The next 2 months are going to be excruciating….going over every last detail over and over again.

 

[nena]

i was told you could not use mechanical pencils. they said that the machine wouldn't pick up on it even if it said it was #2 lead... i don't know..to be on the safe side, i went old school...

 

[ChymeChancellor]

i was told you could not use mechanical pencils. they said that the machine wouldn't pick up on it even if it said it was #2 lead... i don't know..to be on the safe side, i went old school...

Honestly, are you that gullible... It is the same lead. Please explain to me why the mechanical pencil wouldn't work, besides saying someone told you that.

 

[kinloms]

i was told you could not use mechanical pencils. they said that the machine wouldn't pick up on it even if it said it was #2 lead... i don't know..to be on the safe side, i went old school...

I used mechanical pencil for the August test, it worked fine. I don't think that the types of pencils you use matter, as long as you mark the answer dark enough. The drawback about mechanical pencil is that the lead is thin and it takes longer to bubble. But you can get 0.7mm mecanical pencil with 2B lead then you are good to go.
By the way, I always wonder if you bubble all four answers for a question, would the machine pick up the three wrong answers and mark the question wrong?? 😀

 

[basten0]

how sensitive is the scanner? does it pick up smudges easily?

I don't understand why they can't program the scanner to pick up the "best mark" on each question that is scanned. I mean, there is no reason why anybody would put down two answers.

or at the very least they need some way to recheck whenever the scanner thinks its picked up two answers on one question cause nobody who is trying to legitimately take the test would purposely do that.

 

[vkhalsa]

how sensitive is the scanner? does it pick up smudges easily?

I don't understand why they can't program the scanner to pick up the "best mark" on each question that is scanned. I mean, there is no reason why anybody would put down two answers.

or at the very least they need some way to recheck whenever the scanner thinks its picked up two answers on one question cause nobody who is trying to legitimately take the test would purposely do that.

unless they are using some new type of machine, scantrons look for the darkened oval and if 2 marks are detected the question is marked wrong. They should just change the machines to take the one that gives the higher reading but that's the way most schools' machines work. I erased alot on this mcat so I think i'll get it rescored anyway. 1 question can be the difference between an 11 and 12 etc. I should have had it done in aug too since I had some bad smudges. Does anyone know if we can still have it rescored? EDIT: nevermind "Requests for rescoring must be received at the MCAT Program Office within four months after the test date."

Mars erasers are definately the way to go.

 

[DrVanNostran]

Has anyone ever heard of anyone going up or down after a rescore?

 

[vkhalsa]

Has anyone ever heard of anyone going up or down after a rescore?

i did a search and apparently 1 kid on SDN went down by a point. Some other people (who have responded on this thread 🙂 ) said no score in the history of the MCAT has been changed. IMO If you had a lot of smudges it would make sense to get a rescore.