Is Voiding the MCAT Cheating?

[Eik Ooc]

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I've come to realize that I could really use an additional two weeks of study. It occurred to me that I should go ahead and take the MCAT I have planned and paid for with the intention of voiding it at the end. I think it would be a nice warm-up and help arm me against test anxiety when I take it with serious intent two weeks later.

My question is whether taking a test knowing that I'm going to void it is unethical?

 

[karkatvantas]

If you want to give the AAMC $235 to take a practice test without even being able to see what your score is or review the test afterwards, then congratulations, you've found the most expensive way to practice for the MCAT possible! Taking the MCAT and voiding it is almost entirely pointless in this case since you won't even have the benefit of finding out how well you did.

Also bear in mind that you have to wait until the second day following the exam to register for your next exam (you can only register for one exam at a time). Regular registration closes 2 weeks before each exam, so you'll have to do late registration for your second exam, which will cost you more money (about $60 if I recall correctly). Depending on where you live, there's also a good chance the second exam will already be full by then (in many places, seats fill up months before the exam date).

If you're truly concerned about being unprepared, I'd suggest buying some AAMC practice exams online (they're only $35 each), and paying $60 to reschedule your current date to a date when you will be prepared. What date are you currently scheduled for? If all you want is an extra 2 weeks and an extra practice exam, you can have this for a total of $95 instead of the $295 your plan would cost. With that money you could take almost all of the AAMC practice exams offered online instead. If you've already done all the AAMCs and you didn't do as well as you'd hoped, get the TBR practice exams and do those. Also look around at advice for retakers (these threads cover what to do when you've seemingly exhausted your practice supply).

Even if money weren't a factor (and when you take into account the cost of med school, $300 can seem quite inconsequential), the value you'll get from doing practice tests which you can actually review later is much, much more than the value you'd get from taking a single MCAT exam which you cannot review afterwards at all.

 

[bfarn30]

If you want to give the AAMC $235 to take a practice test without even being able to see what your score is or review the test afterwards, then congratulations, you've found the most expensive way to practice for the MCAT possible! Taking the MCAT and voiding it is almost entirely pointless in this case since you won't even have the benefit of finding out how well you did.

Also bear in mind that you have to wait until the second day following the exam to register for your next exam (you can only register for one exam at a time). Regular registration closes 2 weeks before each exam, so you'll have to do late registration for your second exam, which will cost you more money (about $60 if I recall correctly). Depending on where you live, there's also a good chance the second exam will already be full by then (in many places, seats fill up months before the exam date).

If you're truly concerned about being unprepared, I'd suggest buying some AAMC practice exams online (they're only $35 each), and paying $60 to reschedule your current date to a date when you will be prepared. What date are you currently scheduled for? If all you want is an extra 2 weeks and an extra practice exam, you can have this for a total of $95 instead of the $295 your plan would cost. With that money you could take almost all of the AAMC practice exams offered online instead. If you've already done all the AAMCs and you didn't do as well as you'd hoped, get the TBR practice exams and do those. Also look around at advice for retakers (these threads cover what to do when you've seemingly exhausted your practice supply).

word. agreed.

 

[FattySlug]

Just take the practice tests.

 

[Eik Ooc]

Okay, but I've already passed the deadline to receive any refund. So I don't see this as an expensive way to take a practice exam so much as I see it as a way to salvage the investment by at least getting a practice exam in the actual environment out of it.

Mostly I'm concerned if my thought process is ethical though.

 

[karkatvantas]

Okay, but I've already passed the deadline to receive any refund. So I don't see this as an expensive way to take a practice exam so much as I see it as a way to salvage the investment by at least getting a practice exam in the actual environment out of it.

Mostly I'm concerned if my thought process is ethical though.

If you've already paid for the exam, why not just take it and get your scores? You might do better than you think. I doubt you'll improve substantially in 2 weeks.

 

[iwantcookies]

I don't think there's anything unethical with taking the test with the knowledge that you will be voiding it. There's even a chance that you'll take the test and realize that you want to have it scored. I took the test April 16th and I found the passages and testing style to be quite different from any of the practice AAMCs, so I can only imagine that it would work in your favor to see what the actual MCAT is like before taking it for a score.

 

[Eik Ooc]

are you going to steal my cookies?

 

[Philosophy]

Okay, but I've already passed the deadline to receive any refund. So I don't see this as an expensive way to take a practice exam so much as I see it as a way to salvage the investment by at least getting a practice exam in the actual environment out of it.

Mostly I'm concerned if my thought process is ethical though.

Like everyone else, you paid for the right to take the exam and you have the right to receive the product you bought, whether you intend to void it or not. Like everyone, you can pay for the right to take the exam again up to two additional times per year. I don't see why you need SDN's ethical blessing to make up your mind.

If something this simple is causing ethical confusion for you, it does lead me to wonder how suited you will be to handle the actual non-trivial ethical dilemmas you will face as a physician. Sorry to be harsh, but that's how I see it.

 

[phnerd1105]

Like everyone else, you paid for the right to take the exam and you have the right to receive the product you bought, whether you intend to void it or not. Like everyone, you can pay for the right to take the exam again up to two additional times per year. I don't see why you need SDN's ethical blessing to make up your mind.

If something this simple is causing ethical confusion for you, it does lead me to wonder how suited you will be to handle the actual non-trivial ethical dilemmas you will face as a physician. Sorry to be harsh, but that's how I see it.

Perfect question for someone with the handle Philosophy

 

[Eik Ooc]

Yet a fail on the answer. It could have been an interesting discussion.

(1) There aren't enough seats. Using a seat for practice is preventing another student from taking the test.

(2) The intent of the test takers to allow a void is not to allow practices. It is to allow someone who realizes they didn't do well to undo the day. Intent matters. Read Kant.

Furthermore, scale doesn't matter. Again, read Kant since the guy is like the foundation of Western ethics, or even Mills for that matter. The trivial ethical choices we make are just as important in many ways as the non trivial ones.

It was a thought question.

 

[ridethecliche]

I would worry about yourself. Other test takers had the chance to sign up for the test but slacked on picking a date. That's not your concern.

It's not cheating because you won't see the same test again.

I would suggest you figure out if you want your scores to count or not. You can go into the test feeling unprepared and come out of it feeling great.

Just go take it like the real thing. If you feel reasonable about it, then have it scored. Remember that many of the people that do very well still feel like they did very poorly coming out of the exam, so don't let that freak you out.

 

[Philosophy]

Yet a fail on the answer. It could have been an interesting discussion.

(1) There aren't enough seats. Using a seat for practice is preventing another student from taking the test.

(2) The intent of the test takers to allow a void is not to allow practices. It is to allow someone who realizes they didn't do well to undo the day. Intent matters. Read Kant.

Furthermore, scale doesn't matter. Again, read Kant since the guy is like the foundation of Western ethics, or even Mills for that matter. The trivial ethical choices we make are just as important in many ways as the non trivial ones.

It was a thought question.

I've read both and don't need to appeal to authority to say that in the real world, scale matters tremendously. Abstract rules of right and wrong are a waste of time. Part of why I'm going into medicine and not philosophy is to do something of actual relevance. But if you want to hold yourself to lofty impractical standard, enjoy the self-satisfaction it brings while the rest of us use our good sense to distinguish between what matters and what isn't worth the time of day. At this point, I'll take my own advice and stop wasting words on this forum topic.

 

[ReptarBar]

dude its ****ing fine. it doesnt even go on your record. just make sure you study your ass off for your next date.

 

[bambam02]

Going into the test thinking that your gonna bomb it and void before you even sit down is the unethical part. Most ethical codes state that you should do your job to the best of your ability....

How about you change your mindset: Go into the test intending to do your best and your covered 🙂. Dont decide to void until the end of the test.... silly rabbit.

 

[Iswhatis]

It's your money, use it when you need it. Call J.G. Wentworth, 877-CASHNOW!!!!

This thread is pointless. You paid for it, either take it or don't. There are no ethics involved in sitting/voiding. Noone is going to sit for the exam in your place, it's just either going to be an empty chair or have you sitting there.

There are ethics involved in your plan to throw away $235. Sounds like you were too lazy to take 5 minutes to cancel during the refund window. So stop worrying about "cheating" and start worrying about your careless use of your (or your parents) money.

Money management is much more of an issue than "to test or not to test" when your $200,000 in debt.

 

[btc8]

I do not think this is unethical. I think this is more so a question of how prepared you think you are, and, to a greater extent, how much preparedness you think you can gain from two weeks extra time of study. In my opinion, just as everyone has mentioned, two weeks will most likely have a very negligible impact on your performance.

Here's my advice: Go in, and take the test at your earlier date. Do not void it. See how you do. In that month you are waiting, you can study. If you find you do not do your best, then you can reschedule a few months later. This, I think, is probably a better idea than losing your money for the first test.

Just my 0.02 cents.

 

[ReptarBar]

i would take it and void if it you know you did poorly (be honest with yourself). maybe you get lucky and it's an easy test for you.

 

[NickNaylor]

Yet a fail on the answer. It could have been an interesting discussion.

(1) There aren't enough seats. Using a seat for practice is preventing another student from taking the test.

(2) The intent of the test takers to allow a void is not to allow practices. It is to allow someone who realizes they didn't do well to undo the day. Intent matters. Read Kant.

Furthermore, scale doesn't matter. Again, read Kant since the guy is like the foundation of Western ethics, or even Mills for that matter. The trivial ethical choices we make are just as important in many ways as the non trivial ones.

It was a thought question.

Are you seriously trying to turn voiding a MCAT into a deep philosophical discussion?

Do you have any friends?

 

[Born2 beadoctor]

are you going to steal my cookies?

lol!!!!!

 

[Hoya2009]

If you really want to know, you should ask the ethicist at the New York Times.
I think tbat it's not ethical or not. It is very, very stupid. Also, I highly doubt you will significantly improve in 2 weeks if this is your current state of mind.

Cancel the test and get your ish together before you sign up for another date you are unprepared for.