How will schools compare applicants with old MCAT vs those with a new MCAT?

[RBC]

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You can't simply look a percentiles, since the new MCAT is a fundamentally different and more difficult test.

An old MCAT score in the 75th percentile should NOT be equated to the 75th percentile of the new MCAT. The new MCAT is not only longer, but it has a lot more information on which it tests. You therefore can't compare students that took different versions of the MCAT by simply looking at percentiles.

So, I'm wondering how schools are going to handles this, because for the next few years, they are going to be receiving a mix of both old and new MCAT scores.

 

[gettheleadout]

Don't be surprised if schools just look at percentile performance. It is reasonable to assume an individual scoring 75th percentile on the 2015 MCAT would have scored around the same percentile on the previous MCAT and vice versa.

You can't simply look a percentiles, since the new MCAT is a fundamentally different and more difficult test.

An old MCAT score in the 75th percentile should NOT be equated to the 75th percentile of the new MCAT. The new MCAT is not only longer, but it has a lot more information on which it tests. You therefore can't compare students that took different versions of the MCAT by simply looking at percentiles.

So, I'm wondering how schools are going to handles this, because for the next few years, they are going to be receiving a mix of both old and new MCAT scores.

Test takers in both pools are all facing the same task and conditions, so I'm not sure you understand the utility of comparing percentile performance.

 

[cactus8910]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2015-scores…how-would-you-evaluate-them.1114452/

 

[justadream]

You can't simply look a percentiles, since the new MCAT is a fundamentally different and more difficult test.

An old MCAT score in the 75th percentile should NOT be equated to the 75th percentile of the new MCAT. The new MCAT is not only longer, but it has a lot more information on which it tests. You therefore can't compare students that took different versions of the MCAT by simply looking at percentiles.

So, I'm wondering how schools are going to handles this, because for the next few years, they are going to be receiving a mix of both old and new MCAT scores.

What?

Surely, you understand that the MCAT is used as a tool to compare one person against one's peers.

The population of premeds who took the MCAT in 2014 is more or less the same (in intelligence/ability/whatever) as the population who are taking the new MCAT. In addition, there is EXTENSIVE overlap in what both tests test.

Thus, for adcoms, a 75th percentile for the old MCAT IS comparable to a 75th percentile in the new MCAT.


As for "difficulty, we cannot say for sure which is "harder". Neither more content nor greater length directly imply that the test is "harder". Let me illustrate with some extreme examples:

The MCAT is likely easier than the exams in most graduate level math courses at MIT (that may cover only 1 topic!).
A test that is 10 hours long on basic addition is probably easier than a 20 minute test on upper-level linear algebra.

I think the new MCAT has removed some topics that the old MCAT used to test. Have you accounted for the difficulty of material that is not emphasized as much? Also, have you considered that some of the topics that were added (e.g., sociology, psych) are considered "softer" subjects. Perhaps those parts of the test might make it easier!


Using two "different" standardized test is not as big of a deal as you think. For undergraduate admission, colleges are able to compare SAT and ACT scores by percentile. For business school admissions, adcoms are able to compare GMAT and GRE. And unlike the new vs. old MCAT, the differences between SAT-ACT and GRE-GMAT are arguably greater (after all, the tests are made by different companies!).

 

[Kelevra]

An old MCAT score in the 75th percentile should NOT be equated to the 75th percentile of the new MCAT. The new MCAT is not only longer, but it has a lot more information on which it tests. You therefore can't compare students that took different versions of the MCAT by simply looking at percentiles.

I understand your concern. Let's play with this a bit.

First of all, the point of percentiles is to gauge where applicants stand, relative to their peers. They don't have to necessarily compare new vs old, but as @gettheleadout stated, both pools of test takers face very similar/same tasks and conditions. In fact, people still fluctuate in scores on the current MCAT, simply due to differences in the passages they receive (ex: I love economics and cardio, but get 3 passages each on Monet and hemorrhoids). You can't really do much for this. They assume that the test forms (old) do not statistically differ from one another, and that the large pool allows for a nice, normal spread with which to gauge applicants.

Now: regardless of what you think about the difficulty of either exam, you gauge whether an applicant did well compared to peers that took the same exam, if you have doubts. If they are purportedly the same, then they may cross-compare. Adcoms (and everybody, for that matter) have virtually zero data to work with, besides the percentiles being given to them just now with the scores.

It's not perfect, and you can argue a lot of things. But adcoms aren't dumb. You can't argue that you were gypped if your (although lower) 87th percentile score was beaten by somebody with an old MCAT of 36 (~96th percentile for 2014), because "my new test was harder". They have no real data regarding difficulty. AAMC says that yes, the new MCAT is longer, but due to the large number of questions, it also gives a more fair, accurate assessment. Who knows?

Okay, so, is a 75th percentile on the old MCAT not comparable to a 75th on the new MCAT? Look at it this way: it likely is; Both exams largely overlap in terms of skills, and you could assume that, since the new one STILL tests the old skills/materials, but with additional stuff, that a large chunk of the old MCAT is represented in the new one, and it is therefore not very different for the most part. If that's the case, then you could argue that you can cross compare.(***You also might wish to assume that the pool of test-takers doesn't change much from year to year, and that with normal preparation, the difference between old and new MCAT percentiles of each individual, had they taken both, may not have actually changed much at all. No data to support it, but not an unreasonable thought.***)

Either way, a person who scores in the upper percentile on either exam is going to be looked at nicely by adcoms. They don't have to do regressions or comparisons between exams, because you're already being compared to a large group of peers within-group, who is assumed to be roughly similar to previous cycles, taking one of two exams that test an extremely large amount of overlapping skills similar to the old MCAT. You're not suddenly going to drop to the 10th percentile, and in admissions, adcoms don't sit there and say, "Hmmm..what a great applicant, but the other one is 3 percentile higher, and since everything is even, let's guess that this MCAT is easier, and we'll take the other one!" It's not black and white.

Keep in mind, I'm simply pointing out factors to take into consideration.



Gahh, @justadream beat me to it for the most part.

 

[Goro]

Actually, yes you can.

Whatever the test, someone who is at the 90th percentile is doing well. That's what we'll be looking at until we come up with the new 10/10/10 = 30 benchmark.

And without taking the two tests, you have no basis in saying that the new test is "a fundamentally different and more difficult test."

You can't simply look a percentiles, since the new MCAT is a fundamentally different and more difficult test.

An old MCAT score in the 75th percentile should NOT be equated to the 75th percentile of the new MCAT. The new MCAT is not only longer, but it has a lot more information on which it tests. You therefore can't compare students that took different versions of the MCAT by simply looking at percentiles.

So, I'm wondering how schools are going to handles this, because for the next few years, they are going to be receiving a mix of both old and new MCAT scores.

 

[Flashfan]

Those who had the old test had 8 FL practice tests as well as several companies that had material that was proven to be effective. From the comments of the April test takers, the private companies did not recreate an accurate environment, and the sample test does not even give you a score. It is discouraging to be taking the test as a guinea pig knowing that retakes will hurt me and I will be compared with peers that had so much more material needed to gauge their preparation. I would hate for Goro or LizzyM to think that I lack judgement because I had to take the MCAT more than once.

 

[NorthOfBroad]

But everyone had the same lack of preparation, so again percentiles can be used to compare applicants relative performance. Percentiles=relative performance; percents=absolute performance.

 

[ridethecliche]

By learning to do elementary statistics.

 

[NeuResurgens]

Pretty sure it's gonna be percentiles. The name of the game is adaptation as a premed, so it's reasonable to assume that percentiles should correlate since those types who put in the work to score well on the old MCAT probably will also put in the requisite work to score well on the new MCAT.

 

[lifetothefullest]

Uhhh... You do realize that percentiles are calculated based on how well you do relative to other people who took the exam in that sitting right? Unless they're doing percentiles completely differently from how it should be done from a statistics viewpoint, a percentile rank is comparable across even different exams - the only thing you have to assume is that the same kind of people who took the old exam are taking the new one. That is, barring the event that people who take the new exam are just dumber than people who took the old exam, the percentile rank shouldn't change based on exam. Even if the new group of people is somehow different from the old group, the exam itself shouldn't determine percentile - because if you assume that the new group is just dumber, they'd still be at the same percentile rank if they took the old exam.

 

[Kelevra]

Those who had the old test had 8 FL practice tests as well as several companies that had material that was proven to be effective. From the comments of the April test takers, the private companies did not recreate an accurate environment, and the sample test does not even give you a score. It is discouraging to be taking the test as a guinea pig knowing that retakes will hurt me and I will be compared with peers that had so much more material needed to gauge their preparation. I would hate for Goro or LizzyM to think that I lack judgement because I had to take the MCAT more than once.

But if you've read what's written above, adcoms know all of this, and are competent enough to understand percentile scores. EVERYONE taking the new MCAT (and boy, that's a lot of applicants), is in the exact same boat as you. Look at your percentile and judge a retake by how you do. That's all you can do. Use the old MCAT percentiles as a loose reference. At this point, you have to assume they are translational, because we can't tell you what the ideal score on this one is. But again, you know what a solid score was on the old MCAT, so look at the score, translate it to a percentile, assume no significant change in aptitude of the population that takes this new exam, and compare accordingly. You'll still have a normal distribution, comparing you guys to each other.

 

[Spinach Dip]

You can't simply look a percentiles, since the new MCAT is a fundamentally different and more difficult test.

By the same reasoning, everyone who took the test with Writing Sample also took a more difficult test because it was longer/more draining/fundamentally different/etc.



Schools will use percentiles. Regardless of your arguments to the contrary, percentiles will remain the best way to compare between versions of the test.

 

[Kelevra]

By the same reasoning, everyone who took the test with Writing Sample also took a more difficult test because it was longer/more draining/fundamentally different/etc.



Schools will use percentiles. Regardless of your arguments to the contrary, percentiles will remain the best way to compare between versions of the test.

Thank god I didn't have to take the writing sample.

 

[ridethecliche]

Uhhh... You do realize that percentiles are calculated based on how well you do relative to other people who took the exam in that sitting right? Unless they're doing percentiles completely differently from how it should be done from a statistics viewpoint, a percentile rank is comparable across even different exams - the only thing you have to assume is that the same kind of people who took the old exam are taking the new one. That is, barring the event that people who take the new exam are just dumber than people who took the old exam, the percentile rank shouldn't change based on exam. Even if the new group of people is somehow different from the old group, the exam itself shouldn't determine percentile - because if you assume that the new group is just dumber, they'd still be at the same percentile rank if they took the old exam.

This is incorrect.

The scores are not dependant on how others that take the exam that day end up doing. The scale of raw score -> subscore is determined well before the exam using questions that were previously validated.

 

[Flashfan]

"The first percentile rank tables for the new exam will be estimated from the scores of test takers who sit for the first few test administrations.
Because the 2016 application cycle will open before the 2015 testing year is done, we will use data from the first few administrations of the new exam to create the percentile rank tables that your admissions committee can use for 2016 selection. We recognize that the first test takers on the new exam may be different from test takers who sit for the exam later in the year. It is possible that early test takers will be higher scoring than those who test later. We also recognize that 2015 may be an unusual testing year. Some test takers may decide to wait until 2016 to sit for the new MCAT exam. We can estimate the new percentile rank tables for a typical year using the data from the first few administrations of the new MCAT exam because history tells us that MCAT scores vary in predictable ways for test takers from different undergraduate institutions, years in college, gender, racial/ethnic groups, and other demographic characteristics. We will use historic data to estimate what the distribution of scores will look like in a typical testing year given the characteristics and scores of early test takers." -AAMC

- quote from AMCAS Advisor Material, quoted in another forum.
It is this quote from AMCAS that concerns me and others. I don't think that as a group the earlier test takers are atypical. Many of us just didn't have all the prereqs necessary to cram the old test dates in.

 

[DrHart]

This question has been beaten to death in various threads. Hard to care anymore. It's not like anything you say or do as an applicant will influence what the adcoms do with the scores they see. Its a moot question if you ask me.

 

[lifetothefullest]

This is incorrect.

The scores are not dependant on how others that take the exam that day end up doing. The scale of raw score -> subscore is determined well before the exam using questions that were previously validated.

It's not entirely incorrect. After some digging, I found that the MCAT percentiles are determined by how other people do on the exam - so new exam takers will be compared to new exam takers (save the very first administration, where you would have a problem but it's unclear which way the bias would go). Unless you wish to argue that new exam takers are inherently dumber than the old ones, scoring in the 98th percentile of the new exam should be comparable to scoring in the 98th percentile of the old exam. In other words, imagine you have two students. Given their relative intelligence/preparation, it won't matter what exam you give them - they'll score similarly relative to each other. Now extrapolate that argument to a hundred students. If you're in the 98th percentile of the new exam takers, you would have still been in the 98th percentile if you all were given the old exam instead of the new one because the population dynamics have not changed. Unless, again, you want to argue that new exam takers are dumber - then the burden of proof is on you.

 

[justadream]

It's not entirely incorrect. After some digging, I found that the MCAT percentiles are determined by how other people do on the exam - so new exam takers will be compared to new exam takers (save the very first administration, where you would have a problem but it's unclear which way the bias would go). Unless you wish to argue that new exam takers are inherently dumber than the old ones, scoring in the 98th percentile of the new exam should be comparable to scoring in the 98th percentile of the old exam. In other words, imagine you have two students. Given their relative intelligence/preparation, it won't matter what exam you give them - they'll score similarly relative to each other. Now extrapolate that argument to a hundred students. If you're in the 98th percentile of the new exam takers, you would have still been in the 98th percentile if you all were given the old exam instead of the new one because the population dynamics have not changed. Unless, again, you want to argue that new exam takers are dumber - then the burden of proof is on you.

No, what rtc is saying is that you are not being directly compared with those taking the exact same test on the same day as you.

He is saying this:

Let's say on the old MCAT, you had 100 people who were averaging 45/45 on the AAMC FLs.

Let's say that only these 100 people take an exam on any given day (no other students in the country take it during this day) and 99/100 get every single question correct while 1 person get 1 question incorrect.

When the scores are computed, everyone is going to get a 43+. The person who got 1 question incorrect is not going to get a 10/45 just because he did worse than the exact people who took the exact same administration of the test.

Your discussion of using percentiles to compare between the old and new MCATs, however, makes sense.

 

[lifetothefullest]

No, what rtc is saying is that you are not being directly compared with those taking the exact same test on the same day as you.

Yes, I realized that - that's why I did some digging. Your explanation, however, isn't easily generalized to the population because in principle, you can compare only across one sitting (in fact, that would be the purest way to do it mathematically because tests vary across sittings and neglecting multiple versions in one sitting, you'd be able to control for all those factors) and still have a reasonable distribution because I'm assuming that the population strength does not vary.

In your example, however, you implicitly assume that the population taking the exam at any one sitting is significantly different from that during another sitting (i.e. much smarter since they're all getting 45s). If you do it that way, then yes, comparing only within one sitting is not valid. However, as I stated before, there's no reason to believe that the population of test takers taking any one sitting of the MCAT is dumber or smarter than any other.

 

[NickNaylor]

Yes, I realized that - that's why I did some digging. Your explanation, however, isn't easily generalized to the population because in principle, you can compare only across one sitting (in fact, that would be the purest way to do it mathematically because tests vary across sittings and neglecting multiple versions in one sitting, you'd be able to control for all those factors) and still have a reasonable distribution because I'm assuming that the population strength does not vary.

In your example, however, you implicitly assume that the population taking the exam at any one sitting is significantly different from that during another sitting (i.e. much smarter since they're all getting 45s). If you do it that way, then yes, comparing only within one sitting is not valid. However, as I stated before, there's no reason to believe that the population of test takers taking any one sitting of the MCAT is dumber or smarter than any other.

You could rightly argue that the population of test takers with old MCAT scores have the advantage of more breadth and depth of prep resources compared to the population of new test takers. I don't think it would be out of the ordinary to expect that if you could convert old and new MCAT scores to an identical score scale, the mean for the latter would be lower than the mean for the former. However, this is strictly academic as the entire population taking the new test have the same "lack of preparedness," thus within the population the distribution will likely be more or less the same. It will just be skewed in one direction or the other.

tl;dr who cares, stop trying to rationalize things you perceive as disadvantages to preemptively explain why you don't get into medical school

 

[Spinach Dip]

tl;dr who cares, stop trying to rationalize things you perceive as disadvantages to preemptively explain why you don't get into medical school

But...but...but...my mommy told me I'm special!

 

[lifetothefullest]

You could rightly argue that the population of test takers with old MCAT scores have the advantage of more breadth and depth of prep resources compared to the population of new test takers. I don't think it would be out of the ordinary to expect that if you could convert old and new MCAT scores to an identical score scale, the mean for the latter would be lower than the mean for the former. However, this is strictly academic as the entire population taking the new test have the same "lack of preparedness," thus within the population the distribution will likely be more or less the same. It will just be skewed in one direction or the other.

The mean would definitely be different because it's just a different exam. But recall Stats 101. Percentile measures where you fall among test takers. So imagine that if your cohort gets an average of 30 on the old MCAT and you scored a 32 which is, say, the 65th percentile. Now, your cohort takes some new exam that I come up with and score a 10 out of 100. Sure, your mean is different but everybody in your cohort is still right where they were before relative to each other. In other words, their percentile rank would be identical. Mean doesn't tell you anything in this case because it's just a fundamentally different exam.

 

[NickNaylor]

The mean would definitely be different because it's just a different exam. But recall Stats 101. Percentile measures where you fall among test takers. So imagine that if your cohort gets an average of 30 on the old MCAT and you scored a 32 which is, say, the 65th percentile. Now, your cohort takes some new exam that I come up with and score a 10 out of 100. Sure, your mean is different but everybody in your cohort is still right where they were before relative to each other. In other words, their percentile rank would be identical. Mean doesn't tell you anything in this case because it's just a fundamentally different exam.

Yes, this is essentially what I said.

 

[lifetothefullest]

You could rightly argue that the population of test takers with old MCAT scores have the advantage of more breadth and depth of prep resources compared to the population of new test takers.

Then this is not relevant.

 

[NickNaylor]

Then this is not relevant.

Indeed, just like this entire thread and the multitude of other similar conversations that have happened over the last several months.

 

[lifetothefullest]

Indeed, just like this entire thread and the multitude of other similar conversations that have happened over the last several months.

I agree, and I think this is a pervasive problem on this forum in general. I've read multiple posts where people have been disgruntled at things outside their control (e.g. other people getting better grades, etc.) and I think that there comes a point when you realize the world isn't fair and you just have to do what you can. Everything else is outside your control so don't worry about it.

 

[justadream]

Yes, I realized that - that's why I did some digging. Your explanation, however, isn't easily generalized to the population because in principle, you can compare only across one sitting (in fact, that would be the purest way to do it mathematically because tests vary across sittings and neglecting multiple versions in one sitting, you'd be able to control for all those factors) and still have a reasonable distribution because I'm assuming that the population strength does not vary.

In your example, however, you implicitly assume that the population taking the exam at any one sitting is significantly different from that during another sitting (i.e. much smarter since they're all getting 45s). If you do it that way, then yes, comparing only within one sitting is not valid. However, as I stated before, there's no reason to believe that the population of test takers taking any one sitting of the MCAT is dumber or smarter than any other.

Right, I was using that example to make a point.

But the conversion from raw ==> scaled is already known beforehand.

There are experimental and overlap questions (from one test to another test) with known "difficulty" that are used (with fancy statistical methods) to make the tests comparable (in a meaningful statistical way) to each other.

Your assumption (that the test takers' intelligence is basically the same for each administration) is probably valid but the percentiles (and scaled scores) are not simply based on your fellow test takers on any given day. That model is too simple. To be standardized, you need to be able to compare performance across separate tests (with different questions). Relying on your assumption might work (roughly), but the use of overlap questions is more statistically sound.

 

[ridethecliche]

Lifetothefullest, you're wrong... Give it up.

 

[lifetothefullest]

Your assumption (that the test takers' intelligence is basically the same for each administration) is probably valid but the percentiles (and scaled scores) are not simply based on your fellow test takers on any given day. That model is too simple. To be standardized, you need to be able to compare performance across separate tests (with different questions). Relying on your assumption might work (roughly), but the use of overlap questions is more statistically sound.

Yes, if you read above, I've already acknowledged my mistake about being only compared to test takers at your sitting. You're missing my point. The point is that no matter which test you're taking, you should do just as well relative to your peers who are also taking that test (I'm talking about everyone who is taking the new one, not just in one sitting) and so your percentile will reflect that (all except the very first people taking it). So the point is that you can compare test takers across old and new MCATs by their percentiles because they're at similar places relative to their peers. Unless, of course, the peer population suddenly became a whole lot dumber. That's the key point.

 

[lifetothefullest]

Lifetothefullest, you're wrong... Give it up.

On what? I admit that I was wrong about only being compared to other test takers on the same day. But my argument about comparing across exams still holds, buddy. Thanks for the input.

 

[ridethecliche]

So now your agreeing with everyone else and still claiming to be right. Okay then.

Glad to hear you want to feel special for discovering what all of us have known for a while.

Your argument about percentiles changing if people get dumber is the definition of grasping at straws. Want to make up more hypothetical no one cares about so you can be 'right'?

Ps: percentiles hold for the first test takers since the questions were validated on those that took the previous mcat.

Pps: you're still wrong kid.

 

[otterxavier]

So the point is that you can compare test takers across old and new MCATs by their percentiles because they're at similar places relative to their peers.

True... if you assume that the two tests are evaluating essentially the same thing. If they are not measuring the same thing, then people who might score poorly relative to their peers on one axis could do better on another. (Extremely exaggerated example: someone who is in the 93rd percentile on a test of economics will not necessarily be in the 93rd percentile on a test of music history.)

Obviously the old MCAT and the new MCAT are not as different as economics and music history, and I'd be really surprised if someone who scored in the 18th percentile on one exam would end up in the 82nd percentile on the other. But there probably will be some differences, since the whole idea of the new test is to allow for better discrimination between applicants based on criteria that AAMC perceives as more relevant. If examinees will all get fundamentally the same relative scores as before, then why bother redesigning the exam?

(For the record, I think this question doesn't deserve anywhere near the amount of attention it's gotten on SDN. Adcoms will probably rely significantly on percentiles because it's the best information that anyone has. Regardless of how the two tests compare, a high percentile will still be good and a low percentile will still be bad. If someone has a mediocre score on the new MCAT, quibbling on an Internet forum over whether and how the two tests should be compared is about the least useful thing they could be doing. But hey, if we're going to have an abstract conversation about statistics...)

 

[lifetothefullest]

So now your agreeing with everyone else and still claiming to be right. Okay then.

Glad to hear you want to feel special for discovering what all of us have known for a while.

Your argument about percentiles changing if people get dumber is the definition of grasping at straws. Want to make up more hypothetical no one cares about so you can be 'right'?

Ps: percentiles hold for the first test takers since the questions were validated on those that took the previous mcat.

Pps: you're still wrong kid.

Do you include the OP in the "all of us"? OP obviously didn't think percentile could be compared across exams. Let me just refresh your (lack of) short-term memory.

You can't simply look a percentiles, since the new MCAT is a fundamentally different and more difficult test.

I really don't care about what you think, bud. The only person I have to convince is the OP. Nice to know that you think everyone "knows" that you can compare across exams though. Makes you sound smart.

 

[lifetothefullest]

True... if you assume that the two tests are evaluating essentially the same thing. If they are not measuring the same thing, then people who might score poorly relative to their peers on one axis could do better on another. (Extremely exaggerated example: someone who is in the 93rd percentile on a test of economics will not necessarily be in the 93rd percentile on a test of music history.)

Obviously the old MCAT and the new MCAT are not as different as economics and music history, and I'd be really surprised if someone who scored in the 18th percentile on one exam would end up in the 82nd percentile on the other. But there probably will be some differences, since the whole idea of the new test is to allow for better discrimination between applicants based on criteria that AAMC perceives as more relevant. If examinees will all get fundamentally the same relative scores as before, then why bother redesigning the exam?

I definitely agree on this, but it's not something I think we can put a definite number on. What I mean is that it'll make a huge difference if your top test takers now are just rote memorizers because the new exam is more based on connecting interdisciplinary concepts. But I think that top test takers now are in fact connecting those concepts (I think it'll only hurt people who only rote memorize, in other words), so I still think that percentiles will still end up very approximately the same. And at that point, all there's left is saying "Oh, just because we took the new MCAT, we should have our percentile boosted by 2 points." Kind of like the difference between a 3.87 and a 3.89 GPA. I can't quite place a finger on why it matters for some people.

 

[ridethecliche]

Do you include the OP in the "all of us"? OP obviously didn't think percentile could be compared across exams. Let me just refresh your (lack of) short-term memory.

Want to look at the posts before you came in and started spreading misinformation?

Also I'm bored, I have more important things to do like edit ps' for sdners peace!

 

[lifetothefullest]

Want to look at the posts before you came in and started spreading misinformation?

Wanna look at several posts above my first? Nice try.

Those who had the old test had 8 FL practice tests as well as several companies that had material that was proven to be effective. From the comments of the April test takers, the private companies did not recreate an accurate environment, and the sample test does not even give you a score. It is discouraging to be taking the test as a guinea pig knowing that retakes will hurt me and I will be compared with peers that had so much more material needed to gauge their preparation. I would hate for Goro or LizzyM to think that I lack judgement because I had to take the MCAT more than once.

 

[ridethecliche]

Wanna look at several posts above my first? Nice try.

Your poor track record speaks for itself.

Bye Felicia.

 

[lifetothefullest]

Your poor track record speaks for itself.

Alright, hun 😉 If you haven't got a better comeback.

 

[Spinach Dip]

😕

I don't even know what this thread is about anymore.

 

[ridethecliche]

😕
I don't even know what this thread is about anymore.

About people's misconceptions about how the new mcat will be interpreted and how they seem to try to defend their lack of knowledge by getting even more delusional and defensive about said lack of knowledge.

 

[lifetothefullest]

Actually now I'm starting to think somebody is misinterpreting my statements. From the start, I've said that percentile ranks on the MCAT will be similar from the old to the new because of similar populations. I made a mistake of saying that MCAT percentiles are generated by comparison of people taking the test in one sitting - they are generated by comparing all people who are taking the exam in general. I acknowledged that mistake above. But the point is, percentile rank can still be used as a comparison of test takers from previous exams to test takers from the new exam. Some people just won't relent attacking one minor point of another person's statement. Must be psychiatric (should probably get that checked out).

 

[Holmwood]

Likely if a school has historically chosen ~80 percentile applicants, they will likely continue to choose ~80 percentile applicants regardless of test changes.

The question is whether schools will give any special consideration to those who've taken the new mcat not because it's perceived to be harder (I don't think it is harder), but rather that it tells additional information about applicants. Previously, the mcat was just a way to get your foot in the door by assessing test-taking abilities and the ability to quickly analyze passages. However, the new mcat goes beyond the basic scientific inquiry and reasoning skills to assessing the potential of a student to validate and apply new medical information as well as demonstrate the ability to apply psycho/social factors to improve patient compliance or make better recommendations for prophylactic care. How adcoms will make use of this additional information is unclear ...

It would be great if adcoms took the 10 dollar official guide questions (ain't got time for the full length) though. That way they're more informed about the differences between the new and old test from firsthand experience and whether AAMC stacks up to their promises.

 

[Bookworm36]

My 2cents? it won't matter for a few years until those who have taken the new MCAT score compared to old MCAT with Step1. Then, entrance scores will change. Just my input.