Highest MCAT on SDN?

[Noam Chomsky]

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Title is self-explanatory. What's the highest score on SDN? This is assuming kids aren't going to make scores up to look "cool" on an internet forum.

 

[andrewsmack05]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I do believe there is a 44 taken by a Canadian somewhere on the forum. If I am wrong, I know that there were a couple 43's out there.

 

[desi0chick]

Never seen a 44+ I think i've seen a 43 once.

 

[SeminoleVesicle]

Believe none of what you hear, and half of what you see.

 

[paul411]

Saw a 43 recently on the "30+ MCAT Study Habits- The CBT Version" thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=11367397&postcount=941

There's probably higher scores in there. Some anecdotal accounts of 44s here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=117689

All in all, kind of a useless topic 😛

 

[vin5cent0]

A friend of mine pulled a 43. Either that or he went through a lot of effort to fool people.

Keep in mind, he didn't spend 3 months studying, he spent a solid 2 years nailing every aspect of the pre-reqs. I knew he would pull a 40+ no problem just because of how diligent he was in college.

 

[Aromatic Amine]

jonathan orsay (author of EK) scored a perfect score on his mcat. but that was back in the day lol

 

[Majik]

I can't prove it, but my gut tells me a great majority of people in the 30+ thread are lieing about the score they get. Heck, I can't even keep track of how many people got busted in their own lie by miscalculating their supposed break down score vs. total.

Anyways, one person whose notorious around these threads is SDN moderator and one of the founders of the MCAT Discussion Group, QofQuimica. She scored a 43 on her MCAT. ksmi scored a 41. LostinStudy and bleargh both scored a 40. I was told SN2ed scored a 42 although he never confirmed whether that was true or not. I think BloodSurgeon and Kaushik both scored really well ...their scores are in the 30+ thread somewhere.

 

[salim271]

I remember someone said that back when verbal was 13-15 that someone on SDN got 15, 13-15, 15.... cant remember a name though.

 

[paul411]

jonathan orsay (author of EK) scored a perfect score on his mcat. but that was back in the day lol

This book explains the most effective strategy for scoring well on the MCAT verbal reasoning section. It is the same strategy used by the author [Jonathan Orsay], who scored a perfect score on that same section

Sounds like he scored a 13-15 (the highest possible on the old MCAT) on VR. EK doesn't make any claims of a perfect score for Orsay on the science sections.

 

[Majik]

Sounds like he scored a 13-15 on VR. EK doesn't make any claims of a perfect score for Orsay on the science sections.

"While considering medical school, he sat for the real MCAT three times from 1989 to 1996. He scored (Orsay) in the 90 percentiles on all sections before becoming an MCAT instructor." - Last page of any EK book.

 

[Grom]

"While considering medical school, he sat for the real MCAT three times from 1989 to 1996. He scored (Orsay) in the 90 percentiles on all sections before becoming an MCAT instructor." - Last page of any EK book.

I don't understand the relevance of this; paul411 was addressing the claim that Orsay got a perfect score on all sections, not whether he got a good score.

 

[Majik]

I don't understand the relevance of this; paul411 was addressing the claim that Orsay got a perfect score on all sections, not whether he got a good score.

Okay, and I was just adding onto what Paul said...

 

[Nymphicus]

This is assuming kids aren't going to make scores up to look "cool" on an internet forum.

😎

 

[Noam Chomsky]

Interesting, has anyone ever gotten a 45? I heard it hasn't been done, but I'm not sure.

 

[Grom]

Okay, and I was just adding onto what Paul said...

It didn't really provide us with anything we didn't already know.

 

[Majik]

It didn't really provide us with anything we didn't already know.

Okay seriously dude, you're coming off as a stuck up prick. How about you back off and mind your own business. I thought it was a point of interest for anyone reading this thread. Whether or not you knew this or not, I could care less.

 

[Nymphicus]

Interesting, has anyone ever gotten a 45? I heard it hasn't been done, but I'm not sure.

Supposedly somebody at a Florida school has a 15 in all sections.



go to ~post 47
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=835377

 

[Grom]

Okay seriously dude, you're coming off as a stuck up prick. How about you back off and mind your own business. I thought it was a point of interest for anyone reading this thread. Whether or not you knew this or not, I could care less.

Sorry then, I didn't intend to offend you, don't take things so personally.

 

[Majik]

Sorry then, I didn't intend to offend you, don't take things so personally.

I blame it on MCAT stress.

 

[paul411]

Interesting, has anyone ever gotten a 45? I heard it hasn't been done, but I'm not sure.

It's a standardized test. I'm sure someone made a 45 at some time. Back when the maximum score on the MCAT was a "43-45" (because VR max was "13-15"), there were a few people each year who got it.

 

[Majik]

It's a standardized test. I'm sure someone made a 45 at some time. Back when the maximum score on the MCAT was a "43-45" (because VR max was "13-15"), there were a few people each year who got it.

Last year, I actually looked back at old data sheets from around 1990 to 2005 and I didn't see one score above 43 recorded. But yeah, I agree... there has to be someone out there who made a perfect score. Or worse, made a perfect score & voided

 

[Grom]

I blame it on MCAT stress.

Yes, I've definitely had my share😳

 

[muhali3]

There is a 44 in the 30+ thread.

 

[Melomare17]

its possible the person is out there. just because it says 0 percent got a 44 or 45, thtat doesnt mean 0 people. it just means the percent is less than .05 (or it would round to .1%), which would be less than 10 people making a score that high in a year which has 82k ppl taking the test

 

[PingPongPro]

Anyone who is smart enough to score a 45 is probably also smart enough to remain anonymous. Can you imagine how much that person would be harassed, questioned, pm'd, etc. Considering that even people who got "only" 40+ get bothered a ton, I can't even imagine how much a 45er would be bothered.

 

[GooseWing]

Kumar got a 45

But you have perfect MCAT scores! ....yeah, just cause you're hung like a moose doesn't mean you've got to do porn...

 

[gettheleadout]

Anyways, one person whose notorious around these threads is SDN moderator and one of the founders of the MCAT Discussion Group, QofQuimica. She scored a 43 on her MCAT. ksmi scored a 41. LostinStudy and bleargh both scored a 40. I was told SN2ed scored a 42 although he never confirmed whether that was true or not. I think BloodSurgeon and Kaushik both scored really well ...their scores are in the 30+ thread somewhere.

ksmi scored a 40. I also don't recall bleargh stating his score publicly beyond that it's >39.

 

[tak08810]

I read on here I think that someone from the AAMC's said no one has gotten a 45 since the CBTs came out.

 

[QofQuimica]

I read on here I think that someone from the AAMC's said no one has gotten a 45 since the CBTs came out.

This is not true. People can and do earn 45s on the MCAT, including the CBT format. Obviously, it is relatively rare, and the reason why we don't have a bunch of posters with 45s on SDN is because there aren't a lot of people with 45s period. Plus, not every premed is a member of SDN or even reads SDN. Crazy of them, huh? Wonder what they do with all that extra time. 😛

 

[Noam Chomsky]

Q, did you get a 43?

 

[QofQuimica]

Q, did you get a 43?

Yes.

 

[coyotelime]

I got a 45!!! In my dreams... meanwhile I am taking the real exam next Friday. 😴

 

[paul411]

I think once you're in the high ranges, you get bummed about the lowest score you didn't make a 15 in.

 

[milski]

Of course there are people that made a 45. As previously said, it is standardized. SOMEONE got that score.
Nevertheless, these demigods are not on SDN.

43 (QofQuimica) - 44 (some random poster) are the highest I have seen.

Are not the sections standardized separately? So you're guaranteed that at least someone will score 15 in each but not that this will be necessary the same person?

 

[Noam Chomsky]

You have a Phd in orgo, so you better have gotten a 43. 🙂

 

[QofQuimica]

You have a Phd in orgo, so you better have gotten a 43. 🙂

Having a PhD doesn't make you a better MCAT test-taker. In fact, I'd argue the opposite, because the MCAT is not designed to be taken by people with PhDs--it's designed to be taken by college students. All of the info you need to know for the MCAT is basic freshman and sophomore level science. Once you get to the graduate level, you are aware of all the simplifications that are made at the intro level, and you tend to overthink things. So if anything, I did well in spite of my PhD, not because of it. 😉

 

[gettheleadout]

Are not the sections standardized separately? So you're guaranteed that at least someone will score 15 in each but not that this will be necessary the same person?

No, the sections are scaled based on performance of past examinees, not current ones. It is entirely possible (though not likely) that no test taker in a given year earns a 15 on any of the sections. The highest scoring person for any section of a test administration is not automatically awarded a 15 because that's just not how the test is scored.

 

[whatsupdoc49]

I had a dream that I got a 46. Does that count?

 

[MD Odyssey]

Having a PhD doesn't make you a better MCAT test-taker. In fact, I'd argue the opposite, because the MCAT is not designed to be taken by people with PhDs--it's designed to be taken by college students. All of the info you need to know for the MCAT is basic freshman and sophomore level science. Once you get to the graduate level, you are aware of all the simplifications that are made at the intro level, and you tend to overthink things. So if anything, I did well in spite of my PhD, not because of it. 😉

This is probably one of the best comments I've ever read on SDN and is completely true. Graduate coursework and even upper division courses, depending upon the level they are taught at, can make the material on the MCAT feel more difficult than it actually is.

 

[Missorleans]

friend of a friend at LSU scored a 41
someone from my school last year got a 35, retook it and got a 40.
<--burning with jealousy

 

[Noam Chomsky]

I'm not too sure about that Q. I think having a Phd would help significantly. The reason is because this information is like the back of your hand so all you have to do is review it. For example, if a 5th grader was taking an algebra final, I would do better than him because it's very easy because ive already taken algebra 2 etc. Since you've already taken graduate chem, youd have a better time with baby chem.

 

[paul411]

I'm not too sure about that Q. I think having a Phd would help significantly. The reason is because this information is like the back of your hand so all you have to do is review it. For example, if a 5th grader was taking an algebra final, I would do better than him because it's very easy because ive already taken algebra 2 etc. Since you've already taken az graduate chem, youd have a better time with baby chem.

She just explained why that's not the case...

 

[MD Odyssey]

I'm not too sure about that Q. I think having a Phd would help significantly. The reason is because this information is like the back of your hand so all you have to do is review it. For example, if a 5th grader was taking an algebra final, I would do better than him because it's very easy because ive already taken algebra 2 etc. Since you've already taken graduate chem, youd have a better time with baby chem.

I think you have a slightly incorrect view of what graduate school actually is. While there is some coursework, the majority of it is research, usually in a developing topic. What generally happens is that, after 4-5 years of research in some small corner of chemistry, the student is awarded a PhD, which qualifies her as an expert in one small area of the field. But, it tells you nothing about their knowledge in an unrelated section of the field.

Your analogy is somewhat flawed because it assumes that during the intervening time between the fifth grader and yourself, you have been studying the same topic. This is quite different than the graduate school experience.

Incidentally, this also explains why many college professors are terrible at teaching their subjects. Permit me an example. I took modern physics from a gentleman who's research and background were in the field of solid state physics, which has a rather high degree of overlap with the subject matter. The class went really well, I learned a lot, and felt he was a really solid teacher. The following year, he was assigned to teach an upper-division mechanics course. Because classical mechanics has such a huge dependence upon mathematics (e.g., tensors) it was clear that he was completely out of his element and he fumbled through the course quite a bit.

A PhD doesn't qualify a person as an expert in all the subject matter of the field - it qualifies them as an expert in the narrow aspect of the field they spent 4-5 years studying. The same is true for medical doctors - an MD does not qualify one as an expert in anything. It's residency and fellowships which do that, but only in a particular field. Anyone that thinks otherwise has been watching House too much.

 

[km17]

I'm not too sure about that Q. I think having a Phd would help significantly. The reason is because this information is like the back of your hand so all you have to do is review it. For example, if a 5th grader was taking an algebra final, I would do better than him because it's very easy because ive already taken algebra 2 etc. Since you've already taken graduate chem, youd have a better time with baby chem.

Your analogy is flawed. You should be comparing Q vs a pre-med taking the MCAT to you vs a 10th grader who has just finished Algebra taking an Algebra exam.

I'd be willing to bet that after years of Geometry, Algebra 2, Calculus, Statistics, Linear Algebra, and Diff Eq and there are quite a few basic tricks, time-savers, and stupid mistake catching methods that you will forgotten and the 10th grader will have fresh on his mind. I did better on my SAT 2 math versus the regular SAT 1 math for the exact reason that I was further out from the SAT 1 basic skills being tested.

 

[Noam Chomsky]

^If I review I guarantee I will do better than the 10th grader. That was the point of my analogy..

 

[Noam Chomsky]

This is why I said a Phd helps..

"40+ generally does correspond to a depth of knowledge beyond the MCAT prep curriculum, really exceptional intelligence, and a bit of luck. Even though all of the learning goals assayed in the exam are within the curriculum, there's a point of view where with difficult questions are possible with an ideal MCAT prep, but much easier if you have a deep understanding. Although biochemistry isn't on the exam per se, or deep molecular genetics, there are concerns of those disciplines that highlight and condition understanding of the core knowledge that give a person a much better sense of the test writers' intentions for the difficult questions on the exam. Reactions among carboxylic derivatives is an important part of organic, but if you've had biochem, for example, you understand why the MCAT loves to test on it. Reading journal articles to train your mind to snap into comprehension is good. You might look into pleasure reading really old edition of Stryer's Biochemistry, the old editions are much shorter and inexpensive, and Linus Pauling's General Chemistry. Those are two of the best works I can think of for training the mind to a deeper scientific conception without too much trouble and a lot of enjoyment."

 

[QofQuimica]

I'm not too sure about that Q. I think having a Phd would help significantly. The reason is because this information is like the back of your hand so all you have to do is review it. For example, if a 5th grader was taking an algebra final, I would do better than him because it's very easy because ive already taken algebra 2 etc. Since you've already taken graduate chem, youd have a better time with baby chem.

Noam, the main flaw in this logic is that the MCAT is *not* primarily a test of knowledge. It's a test of application. I will grant you that my chemistry knowledge is greater than most people's; however, this does not necessarily translate into being a better test-taker than other people. I could know every factoid ever discovered in the last 1000 years and still tank the MCAT if I couldn't apply that knowledge the way the test-makers wanted me to.

More generally, there are two sets of skills needed to do well on the MCAT: a set of background knowledge, and a set of specific test-taking skills. Of the two, it's the test-taking skills that matter more, because one of the most difficult aspects of the MCAT is the time pressure you are under while taking the test. Would having as much time as you wanted to take the MCAT allow you to get more questions right because of giving you more knowledge? Of course not. Your knowledge is what it is; you either know something or you don't when you walk into the test. It's the test-taking skills, the ability to get through passages and questions quickly and accurately, that make it possible for someone to get a stellar score.

Your analogy is flawed. You should be comparing Q vs a pre-med taking the MCAT to you vs a 10th grader who has just finished Algebra taking an Algebra exam.

I'd be willing to bet that after years of Geometry, Algebra 2, Calculus, Statistics, Linear Algebra, and Diff Eq and there are quite a few basic tricks, time-savers, and stupid mistake catching methods that you will forgotten and the 10th grader will have fresh on his mind. I did better on my SAT 2 math versus the regular SAT 1 math for the exact reason that I was further out from the SAT 1 basic skills being tested.

This would be true in many cases, but I had been teaching premed gen chem and organic as an instructor. So for chemistry at least, it would be more like comparing an algebra teacher to an algebra student. However, your point more than holds true for biology and physics, both of which I had taken in 1993--I took the MCAT over a decade later in 2004. So I definitely was at a disadvantage compared to college students in those subjects, especially biology, given that I had never learned physiology. Also, the fields of molecular bio and cell bio were much more advanced in 2004 than they were in the early 1990s. For both of these reasons, my knowledge of biology was actually much poorer than that of most other premeds. Plus, I still needed an extensive review of physics just because so much time had gone by.

 

[aevea]

After BS bio and teaching MCAT prep for a few years, I got 41-43 on the P&P. If I took it again, I feel pretty good about 15ing the sciences but less confident about repeating on the Verbal.