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Do Adcoms basically see the 2 scores as equal? For example, a 29 vs. 28, or 31 vs. 32?
How much does a 1 point difference in MCAT scores really matter?
- Thread starter studentdoctor08
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It matters what score you're comparing. You're using the right examples in high 20s or low 30s, as the difference between 21 vs 22 or 37 vs 38 is irrelevant...I'd say generally speaking a 31-32 are far more equal than 28-29 since the subscores are likely to fall at or above the school average
You've got to remember, it's also not just about the overall score. A 31 composed of 10-11-10 is likely stronger than a 32 composed of 13-7-12, as a school may perceive that 7 to be a weakness that could hold back that student, depending on the area it is in. So a 7 in Bio is more likely to be overlooked for a candidate who has a 4.0 GPA in science classes (especially Bio courses!) at a school known for a strong pre-med curriculum. Toss in a 7 in Bio with a 3.0 GPA in Bio classes and you've got yourself a bigger problem.
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29 is better than 28. 32 is better than 31. You're welcome.
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1 point only matters if a school has a strict cut-off to be considered.
The whole point of studying for the MCAT is not to gain ONE point--It's to gain three, four, five, maybe even more!
And a difference of 3 or 4 points can be HUGE.
The whole point of studying for the MCAT is not to gain ONE point--It's to gain three, four, five, maybe even more!
And a difference of 3 or 4 points can be HUGE.
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I suppose that in some cases (e.g. (15,10,15) & (13,13,13)) a 39 might be better than a 40?
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Perhaps. 15/10/15 is not unbalanced though. As long as everything is 10+ it's all good.
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I don't know how much 1 point matters either way. I'm sure that it can and does, but it's likely subjective for every ADCOM member except when a strict cut off is a factor.
However, if we're going to analyze it, the subsection where there is a difference in points definitely matters. the difference between and 13 and 14 in verbal (if memory serves) was often one question, while in the physical sciences the difference between the same scores involved getting several questions right or wrong.
When a test which takes five hours is scored on a rubric of 45 points, the unfortunate consequence is that each point value (generally) carries with it a significant number of responses and thus matters. This is less true for incredibly high scores where I would argue differences become arbitrary (is there really any difference between a 42 and 43?)
However, if we're going to analyze it, the subsection where there is a difference in points definitely matters. the difference between and 13 and 14 in verbal (if memory serves) was often one question, while in the physical sciences the difference between the same scores involved getting several questions right or wrong.
When a test which takes five hours is scored on a rubric of 45 points, the unfortunate consequence is that each point value (generally) carries with it a significant number of responses and thus matters. This is less true for incredibly high scores where I would argue differences become arbitrary (is there really any difference between a 42 and 43?)
