Can someone tell me the walkthrough on MCAT day?

[tmandudeguy]

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Like any tips on how th breaks works? How long I should leave the room? etc..

 

[shaboobly]

Like any tips on how th breaks works? How long I should leave the room? etc..

you arrive
check in
do tutorial
do ps
10 min break total
do vr
10 min break total
do writing samples
10 min break total
do bs
then you are free

the 10 min breaks begin as soon as you end a section, so get up, go to bathroom fast, have a snack, drink, and then if you have time remaining (i just sat there with my eyes shut until the total break was over) you can either sit there or end the break and begin next section

 

[BB8730]

Each testing center is probably a little different, but here's how it went for me:

I arrived at the testing center and checked in at the front desk. I then sat in the waiting area until they called me back to enter the testing room. They had me show that my pockets were empty, fingerprinted me, waved a metal detector around me, and took my picture. I wrote in a book the time I entered the testing room and my signature. I entered the room and started my test.

When my PS section ended, I walked out of the room, signed the book again with the time and my signature, and was fingerprinted. I took a full 10 minute break and went back in. They made me show that my pockets were empty again, fingerprinted me, and waved the metal detector wand again. Repeat for each break.

The time on the computer screen doesn't matter for your breaks. You can go over that 10 minute countdown and the next screen will just be there waiting for you (the next section doesn't start or anything). However, the sign-in/sign-out times on the sheet do matter. Take the full 10 minute break outside of the testing room, but don't go over it by too much. The testing center staff may take action if your breaks are too long. My testing center didn't seem too worried about it and encouraged me to take the full 10 minute break outside of the testing room.

 

[glassdoll]

From the 30+ thread:

So, for those who are unfamiliar with Prometric, here is a typical procedure:
1. You arrive at the testing center.
2. You wait in line to get a Computer Number and locker key.
3. You obtain said Number and key. Take your driver's license/form of ID out of your wallet and PLACE IT IN YOUR POCKET.
4. Place your snack, water, keys, wallet, etc. in the locker. Lock it.
5. At this point, you should have only your locker key and ID on yourself. You will not need anything else.
6. You wait in line as the Testing center staff will begin to sign people into the system. They will scan your license onto their computer and take a picture before the test for their system.
7. They will scan you with a handheld detector for metal, etc. (think airport security)
8. They will also take fingerprints of your index finger, both right and left hand.
9. At some point here, you will receive a scratch work booklet and a good number of pencils.
10. You are ready. They send you in, you sit down at your computer and the test starts. At this point, it is identical to an AAMC test, including format on the PC.
11. Once you're done with a section, you will take your number card with you and exit the room. Once outside, they will flip a binder with registrant names inside to yours truly and you will "sign out" - that is, sign your signature and time you signed out. This is your break time between sections.
12. At this point, you can go to your locker and snack, relax a bit, drink, etc.
13. Keep track of your time. The next part is what threw me off the first time as I did not anticipate it.
14. To re-enter the room, you will have to once again sign in in the registrant binder, as well as the time.
15. They will sweep you again with the detector.
16. You will need to place your fingerprint on their detector - once it matches, you're good to head back in.
17. Rinse and repeat to the next section, and so forth.
18. Once the BS section is done, you will have the opportunity to void your exam or not. There is a five-minute timer to decide.
19. Upon deciding if you want to void or not, you will have to fill out a survey by the AAMC concerning the testing center, quality and whatnot.
20. When the survey is finished, you can leave the room. Take all your scratch paper and pencils and stuff with you. They will print out an officially marked letter from the AAMC confirming that you will follow confidentiality policies, and you get to take this with you as a reminder.
21. Congratulations, you have just finished the MCAT! 😎

This might not be terribly useful for most, but I'm someone who, when studying, wants to get most, if not every small detail down so I'm not surprised or thrown off-kilter.

If I missed anything here, please let me know! I know it's difficult to really get a sense for the rhythm of the actual center, but hopefully this can provide some measure of insight.

 

[tmandudeguy]

Wow thanks alot guys that helps!

 

[tibetanowl]

Did you guys get mechanical or wood pencils? (seems like a small detail, but I can get so OCD about the pencils I use on tests... :/ )

 

[NinjaMed]

Did you guys get mechanical or wood pencils? (seems like a small detail, but I can get so OCD about the pencils I use on tests... :/ )

If you are that particular, it was wooden, low grade, with a low grade eraser. It seemed to be a full length, sharpened with the old school rotary sharpeners. If you are distracted, the pencil is not perfect, it is blue or dark green, with Prometric on it, if you are administered at a Prometric site. You are given two, they won't be the same length. The paper is not white, but colored, pink, blue, or green. On test day, it will vary to prevent cheating.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

So is it a good idea to leave the room during each break? I've heard people say you shouldn't because of the check-in/check-out hassle. At the same time though I feel like I can clear my head better if I get up and walk around, but without my phone on me I won't be able to keep track of time very well.

 

[rjosh33]

So is it a good idea to leave the room during each break? I've heard people say you shouldn't because of the check-in/check-out hassle. At the same time though I feel like I can clear my head better if I get up and walk around, but without my phone on me I won't be able to keep track of time very well.

I think it's an almost must. If I stayed in the room during the breaks, I probably would've ended up like that dude in your avatar -- especially since others had gotten to the Writing Section before me. But then again, that's what I've always done on breaks for practice FLs -- get up, go the bathroom, and clear my head for the next section.

If you're used to staying put in your chair, then you should probably still do that too. But if you're used to getting up, well, IMO you shouldn't let the check-in/check-out process stop you.

Besides, it's probably a good idea to make sure you don't need a break during a section. 🙂

 

[StrikeX2]

before the test starts, there are TWO 10 minute sessions where I believe its first reading some MCAT users agreement and then a tutorial, use that time to write down equations and whatever other info that you think you are going to need on your scratch paper. Since PS was first, I took the time to write down pretty much every phyx equation that I was ever going to need and listed all the solubility rules and strong acids/bases. I felt like this helped me a lot cause I could just refer back to my scratch sheet if I need any of the info; didn't have to stress out about forgetting about them during the timed conditions.

and also, take the break. Force yourself to drink some water and use the bathroom cause you never know when you may need to go again. Don't worry about signing in and out, its literally just signing your name, and a finger scan. Doesn't take more than a minute. Don't freak out about making it back exactly on time either. Even when your 10 minute is up, it'll take you to the next screen which is a description of what section your about to hit next. For my test, I literally just sat there for a couple of minutes to see how long I could drag out that "resting period" after the 10 minutes. The test won't actually start until you hit the "next" button on that description break. I always came back right around when my 10 minute period ended but took an extra minute or two on that description page to calm myself down. Point is, take your time during breaks, the test won't start without you.

 

[tibetanowl]

If you are that particular, it was wooden, low grade, with a low grade eraser. It seemed to be a full length, sharpened with the old school rotary sharpeners. If you are distracted, the pencil is not perfect, it is blue or dark green, with Prometric on it, if you are administered at a Prometric site. You are given two, they won't be the same length. The paper is not white, but colored, pink, blue, or green. On test day, it will vary to prevent cheating.

Thanks! Do they also give you a sharpener? (or did you not need one?)

 

[IncognitoGuy]

Thanks! Do they also give you a sharpener? (or did you not need one?)

You shouldn't need one. They gave me something like 7 or 8 pencils and I only used one during the entire thing. They've got you covered 😉

 

[tibetanowl]

You shouldn't need one. They gave me something like 7 or 8 pencils and I only used one during the entire thing. They've got you covered 😉

haha thanks! 🙂

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

Do you get a calculator and if so, what kind? A four function, scientific, etc.?

 

[Courtjester8]

try to pee every break, even if you think you don't have to. If you roll in as heavily caffeinated as I did, you will eventually have to pee and this will ensure it doesn't hit you hard as you're in the first 5 minutes of one of the sections.

 

[Courtjester8]

no calculator. practice doing your math by rounding and memorize sqrt(2) and sqrt(3)

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

Do you get a calculator and if so, what kind? A four function, scientific, etc.?

The only calculator you're allowed is your brain. Hence why during your MCAT preparation you should avoid calculators completely while studying and try to avoid them as much as possible in general in the rest of your life.

 

[lemons22]

My Kaplan teacher told me that they only give you 3-4 sheets of scrap paper at a time and if you need more... you need to raise your hand and wait for someone to come. Then they'll take away those sheets and give you 3-4 more. Is this true? I noticed IncognitoGuy said he got a "scrap booklet"? I'm just worried b/c when I rush I tend to write big and I don't want to waste time getting more paper...

 

[Jepstein30]

My Kaplan teacher told me that they only give you 3-4 sheets of scrap paper at a time and if you need more... you need to raise your hand and wait for someone to come. Then they'll take away those sheets and give you 3-4 more. Is this true? I noticed IncognitoGuy said he got a "scrap booklet"? I'm just worried b/c when I rush I tend to write big and I don't want to waste time getting more paper...

The booklet is 5-6 pages at least.. probably 8 pages really.

At my testing center, I simply asked them during the breaks for new scrap paper and they replaced my old booklet with a new one. They will not let you have multiple booklets at once.

You shouldn't go through an entire booklet plus in one section so don't worry about it.

 

[lemons22]

The booklet is 5-6 pages at least.. probably 8 pages really.

At my testing center, I simply asked them during the breaks for new scrap paper and they replaced my old booklet with a new one. They will not let you have multiple booklets at once.

You shouldn't go through an entire booklet plus in one section so don't worry about it.

Perfect! Thanks 🙂

 

[Courtjester8]

My Kaplan teacher told me that they only give you 3-4 sheets of scrap paper at a time and if you need more... you need to raise your hand and wait for someone to come. Then they'll take away those sheets and give you 3-4 more. Is this true? I noticed IncognitoGuy said he got a "scrap booklet"? I'm just worried b/c when I rush I tend to write big and I don't want to waste time getting more paper...

If you're doing this right, you shouldn't need more than the front side of a single piece of paper. Anything more typically means you're approaching the problem wrong, or you haven't studied enough and are grasping at straws.

 

[nashaiy]

I have to add to the question about the test day procedure:

How early should you get there? Like, the fingerprinting and all that, does that happen before the designated start time or should you get there right at the start time? My test starts at 1:00pm, should I get there at 12:30pm for all of the scanning, etc.?

Oh, and if anyone has written in another country (I'm a Canadian having to write in the U.S. because all the seats were full in my area), any hassles associated with I.D., etc? I have a Canadian passport and everything, will this suffice?

Thanks!

 

[BB8730]

I have to add to the question about the test day procedure:

How early should you get there? Like, the fingerprinting and all that, does that happen before the designated start time or should you get there right at the start time? My test starts at 1:00pm, should I get there at 12:30pm for all of the scanning, etc.?

Oh, and if anyone has written in another country (I'm a Canadian having to write in the U.S. because all the seats were full in my area), any hassles associated with I.D., etc? I have a Canadian passport and everything, will this suffice?

Thanks!

My testing center wouldn't let me start until a half hour before my scheduled start time. They did take me back a bit earlier than that to do all the security stuff, but that didn't take more than a few minutes. I'd say 35 minutes early is a good time to arrive. Any earlier and you'll just be sitting and waiting.

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