Curve?

[rahulkghosh]

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Hey guys. I recently took the MCATs on July 13th and really bombed it. But I'm thinking about retaking it soon. When do you think the curve would be the easiest and would there be a major difference? I'm thinking either January or April.

 

[jhh3000]

yea seriously how the heck am i supposed to LIVE for the next 28 days? why can't they just quote us on an expected numerical score right after we take the test? i mean cmon getting the computer to grade the test today vs 30 days from now is trivial

 

[chad5871]

he's 16? why is he taking the mcat now? the scores are only good for five years... i suppose he can apply his junior year in college?

No, he's a troll.

 

[innocentsin]

yeah my brother took the DATs and you get your score right after you take the exam like right at the center they print it out before you leave.....i wish it was like that for MCATs

 

[chad5871]

The only reason it's not like that is because they have to scale the score. But it would be nice if they were able to tell you your raw score (how many you got wrong). This waiting game is going to eat me alive.

 

[rahulkghosh]

The only reason it's not like that is because they have to scale the score. But it would be nice if they were able to tell you your raw score (how many you got wrong). This waiting game is going to eat me alive.

What would be even nicer is if they would release the test with complete explanations :].

 

[chad5871]

What would be even nicer is if they would release the test with complete explanations :].

HA! That'll be the day!

 

[MooseKing]

The only reason it's not like that is because they have to scale the score. But it would be nice if they were able to tell you your raw score (how many you got wrong). This waiting game is going to eat me alive.

on average how many questions can you miss to get a score of 12 or more on a given section??

 

[halekulani]

8 for sciences usually
verbal might be a bit higher...i've gotten a 10 on verbal and missed 8 once.

 

[Dulcina]

rah..... the average mcat score for Harvard is 33.... your score is pretty fricking good.

i mean honestly... retaking with a 36 is INSANE. i actually think that medical schools would think that you weren't making rational decisions. The reason people are angry is that you complaining about a 36 is like someone complaining that their A isnt an A+

and... I don't understand. Why are you taking the mcat at 16? what is the purpose? You'll be 19 in sophomore year in college, which is too early to apply. Are you ridiculously accelerated/advanced, and thats why you think 36 is bad? Do you just want a high mcat score to say you did it, and not for applications? I dunno...its $250 to retake...

the mcat score is a TINY portion of your application. I'd advice working on other things--ECs, PS, grades, etc.

I guess i'd like to give you a chance to explain yourself. I am 1/2 convinced you're a troll, so please prove me wrong.

 

[Dulcina]

on average how many questions can you miss to get a score of 12 or more on a given section??

"You don't have to be perfect to do well. For instance, on the AAMC's Practice Test II, you could get as many as four questions wrong in Verbal Reasoning, 21 in Physical Sciences, and 16 in Biological Sciences and still score in the 80th percentile. To score in the 90th percentile, you could get as many as two wrong in Verbal Reasoning, 16 in Physical Sciences, and 11 in Biological Sciences. Even students who receive perfect scaled scores usually get a handful of questions wrong."

from http://www.powells.com/biblio?show=0743241118&page=excerpt

not sure how that correlates to the real test, but its probably somewhat close

 

[Dulcina]

after thinking about the curve, i got very curious. i emailed aamc, and i'll let you guys know the answer whenever they get back to me.

 

[chad5871]

"You don't have to be perfect to do well. For instance, on the AAMC's Practice Test II, you could get as many as four questions wrong in Verbal Reasoning, 21 in Physical Sciences, and 16 in Biological Sciences and still score in the 80th percentile. To score in the 90th percentile, you could get as many as two wrong in Verbal Reasoning, 16 in Physical Sciences, and 11 in Biological Sciences. Even students who receive perfect scaled scores usually get a handful of questions wrong."

from http://www.powells.com/biblio?show=0743241118&page=excerpt

not sure how that correlates to the real test, but its probably somewhat close

I believe those numbers are quoted for the longer paper and pencil version, not the new CBT version. So you can't miss 16 in PS and get 90th percentile.

 

[Dulcina]

ahh ok. I wish aamc would give us this info!! /grumble. It's not like they're giving anything important away.

 

[MooseKing]

after thinking about the curve, i got very curious. i emailed aamc, and i'll let you guys know the answer whenever they get back to me.

thanks dulcina