Can you push "pause" during real MCAT?

[Turkelton]

I'm about to lose my MCAT virginity this Thursday, and just had a couple questions for those who have been through it.

1. During the test, say in the middle of PS section, can you push pause if you need to go to the bathroom? (I would assume yes?)

2. I understand they give you pencil and paper. Is it a mechanical pencil or is it one of those 1 inch in length #2 pencils that writes more like a crayon than a pencil. Either way I would like to know so I can start practicing that way.

3. Is a current drivers license and the admissions ticket enough to get in? Or should I also bring passport?

Thanks for any responses.

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[stereo]

1) You can't pause during the test.

2) I was given 2 regular (non-mechanical), long pencils.

3) I only needed my drivers license.

 

[12six]

You go to the bathroom before you start. Then you register, sit down, do (or don't do... but I recommend doing just to get comfy) the tutorial, and the timer begins. You get a little break when you do the non-disclosure agreement, unless that takes you five minutes to do, then PS begins. It's timed individually, no break. Once that time runs out, you have a 10 minute break right away, then VR begins, whether you're there or not. After that, another break, etc. Basically, don't drink too much before... for more reasons than one 🙂

 

[RPedigo]

Once that time runs out, you have a 10 minute break right away, then VR begins, whether you're there or not.

They might have fixed this bug recently, but this wasn't actually the case when I took the exam last year. When the break ran out, it brought you to the introductory screen for the next section of the exam (i.e. Verbal Reasoning), but then that screen was an untimed explanation of what the Verbal Reasoning section was and what the format was et cetera, and since it was untimed you could just sit there for another five or six minutes if you wanted to. Not that I'd rely on that, but it seems like their break timer is kinda broken 😛

 

[Marcus Brody]

Yes, you are in fact allowed one "pause" during the test for a 3 min bathroom break. However, you have to make it clear to the proctors that you have to go really really bad, and you can't hold it. And while you're in the bathroom, you're not allowed to think about any of the exam questions.

 

[Hemichordate]

.

 

[Libtech]

What is your computer crashes during the exam? Or you accidentally press exit?

I was thinking that the entire time...

Thankfully there is not an exit button except when you finish a section. Don't worry I tried all the good windows shortcuts (just out of curiosity) at the end. (Alt-tab, Alt-F4, Ctrl-Shift-Esc, Windows-D) They blocked out all those key combinations (Smart!)

 

[Brick Walls]

What is your computer crashes during the exam? Or you accidentally press exit?

If your computer crashes or freezes, you won't lose what you have done. At least this is what i have been told by the Prometric center, the ones who proctor the MCAT.

So, if your computer freezes or crashes, your test will be automatically saved. And you will be able to continue your test where you left off.

 

[planetsars]

What is your computer crashes during the exam? Or you accidentally press exit?

you just resume from where you left off. time doesn't keep running or anything. my friend's test center went out during her MCAT. it was stormy and all the power went out for 10 min during her PS. i guess you can see that as a good a break or a break in your concentration. you don't really need a 10 min break during the PS section...you just started testing haha. so idk.

 

[bonoz]

During the breaks.. if say you want to eat a banana.. can you?

 

[Hemichordate]

.

 

[bonoz]

Seriously? you can't have food during breaks?

 

[genswim24]

Seriously? you can't have food during breaks?

We were allowed to have snacks/drinks in our locker. I drank water and ate gummi worms during the break.

 

[GoldShadow]

And while you're in the bathroom, you're not allowed to think about any of the exam questions.

👍

 

[mterp45]

The worst and most unforgettable part of the whole process for me was pressing that START button on the screen. I promised myself that I wasn't going to void no matter how horrible I felt I did. So as soon as I pressed START I knew there was no going back 😱, months of work down to 5 measly hours.

 

[bonoz]

The worst and most unforgettable part of the whole process for me was pressing that START button on the screen. I promised myself that I wasn't going to void no matter how horrible I felt I did. So as soon as I pressed START I knew there was no going back 😱, months of work down to 5 measly hours.

The trick is to keep breathing.

 

[Raryn]

We were allowed to have snacks/drinks in our locker. I drank water and ate gummi worms during the break.

Aye, I brought soda and chips to keep me going through the test.

 

[greg1184]

Boy do I wish I could push pause during the mcat.