MCAT BREAKS - do's and don'ts question

[Casey1234]

How do the MCAT breaks work? What are the DO's and DONT's?

I specifically have a question about studying material on breaks. I believe I read that you are "absolutely not allowed to review material on breaks." This seems odd to me.

Also, I presume that you are not allowed to have drinks during the exam, however, what about bottled water?

Are you allowed to have snacks on breaks?

Also, is there a place where you put your bag outside of the room or does it stay with you? I don't want to have "MCAT taboos" with me such as flashcards if they are not allowed.

In addition, are you allowed to go to the bathroom during the timed test? I guess I would like to know if it is an option - especially if I am drinking lots of coffee.

Well thank you to anyone who responds! The AAMC is very vague about the rules on breaks and any little bit extra (info) helps!

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[DJDakoo]

to be honest...you can do whatever the hell you want to in the breaks...literally..you can go out to your car to get something even...drink/eat whatever, talk to other people, make a call, go to the bathroom, etc.

as for bathroom breaks...i actually think you can go to the bathroom while your in the middle of PS for example...but in this case your timer will still be ticking....

the AAMC is vague on their rules because really..there are none..the test sites are not 'enforced' at all....remember, the people there arent working for aamc..they work for the test centre which is rented out by aamc...therefore, they couldnt care less

 

[Captain Jack]

It can vary between testing centers, how strict everything is. For me, I could have pretty much done anything outside during my breaks. They had signs saying you could not get anything like review notes out of your locker once you began your test; you could only take snacks out of your locker. But I could leave the room and walk the hallways to the bathroom, and no one examined what I took out of the locker, so I could have studied during my breaks if I wanted to risk getting caught (but that probably would have made me more nervous).

I could take only my ID into the testing room: I had to sign in and out (no check boxes like the person above me had to do) and had to turn my pockets inside out to show my pockets were empty (although just my side pockets; I had cargo shorts on with like 10 pockets so I could have easily brought something else in; again, I didn't want to risk anything and it might have made me more nervous)

 

[richmond604]

those 10 minutes seriously never felt so short in my life

 

[Keza]

does every testing center require you to sign in and out with a fingerprint? it was so official last time i took the test

 

[SuperSaiyan3]

I'd like to see somebody walk out during their section so they can go on a washroom break.

But the thing is, during my MCAT, there were a BUNCH of people just walking around to ask the proctor questions WHILE their timer was ticking. I just shook my head and laughed to myself.

 

[FloatOn]

How do the MCAT breaks work? What are the DO's and DONT's?

I specifically have a question about studying material on breaks. I believe I read that you are "absolutely not allowed to review material on breaks." This seems odd to me.

Also, I presume that you are not allowed to have drinks during the exam, however, what about bottled water?

Are you allowed to have snacks on breaks?

Also, is there a place where you put your bag outside of the room or does it stay with you? I don't want to have "MCAT taboos" with me such as flashcards if they are not allowed.

In addition, are you allowed to go to the bathroom during the timed test? I guess I would like to know if it is an option - especially if I am drinking lots of coffee.

Well thank you to anyone who responds! The AAMC is very vague about the rules on breaks and any little bit extra (info) helps!

As people have mentioned above, every testing center differs. However, this was my experience on 7/17:

They give you a laminated sheet of rules that you should read. It specifically says no study materials are allowed during breaks. You are given an individual locker where you have to store everything but your ID. One of the rules even said no watches in the testing room.

During breaks, you leave the testing room, and sign out with the time and your signature. You can go to the bathroom during breaks. When I returned, I had to fingerprint scan, show my ID, and sign in with the time and signature. I also had to turn my pockets inside out.

You can eat whatever you want during breaks. No water in the testing room. I am assuming it is possible to use the bathroom during a section, but why would you waste ~5 mins (remember: you have to sign out, in, fingerscan, etc. every time you leave the testing room) when you have designated breaks? I don't know why anyone would need to use the phone during breaks. Wait until one of the most important tests of your life is over!

 

[Amadelphous]

to be honest...you can do whatever the hell you want to in the breaks...literally..you can go out to your car to get something even...drink/eat whatever, talk to other people, make a call, go to the bathroom, etc.

as for bathroom breaks...i actually think you can go to the bathroom while your in the middle of PS for example...but in this case your timer will still be ticking....

the AAMC is vague on their rules because really..there are none..the test sites are not 'enforced' at all....remember, the people there arent working for aamc..they work for the test centre which is rented out by aamc...therefore, they couldnt care less

We weren't allowed to have cell phones in the building at all.

As someone mentioned there is a rule sheet. I feel like the proctors are not too concerned about enforcing rules BECAUSE both video and audio recordings are taken so if you decide to do something sketch the MCAT people may decide not to score your test.

One kid was writing down too many numbers on his exam sheet and the proctors went to tell him to cut it out because they were worried he was using a system to memorize questions and answers. Seems crazy I know...but they do watch what you are doing.

Breaks are great, but since you can't have a watch you don't want to be just hanging out. Go to the bathroom, grab a snack, do some jumping jacks..whatever, but when you finish go on and return to the computer. If someone is ahead of you in line to check in/out it can slow you down and your clock is still ticking. If you have extra time when you return just chill out in front of the computer for a few minutes...that's better than rushing and taking too long.

 

[DJDakoo]

We weren't allowed to have cell phones in the building at all.

As someone mentioned there is a rule sheet. I feel like the proctors are not too concerned about enforcing rules BECAUSE both video and audio recordings are taken so if you decide to do something sketch the MCAT people may decide not to score your test.

One kid was writing down too many numbers on his exam sheet and the proctors went to tell him to cut it out because they were worried he was using a system to memorize questions and answers. Seems crazy I know...but they do watch what you are doing.

Breaks are great, but since you can't have a watch you don't want to be just hanging out. Go to the bathroom, grab a snack, do some jumping jacks..whatever, but when you finish go on and return to the computer. If someone is ahead of you in line to check in/out it can slow you down and your clock is still ticking. If you have extra time when you return just chill out in front of the computer for a few minutes...that's better than rushing and taking too long.

See..thats the problem, its not consistent...so you can read all this stuff here and have a totally different experience

At some places they do sign you in/out and fingerprint you everytime you come and go...other sites, they dont

And note: YOUR TIMER FOR THE NEXT SECTION DOES NOT START ON ITS OWN...even if you are 10 mins late from your break, you have to click to begin (it just waits at the "Biological Sciences" or whatever, screen that explains the section)

 

[Hemichordate]

See..thats the problem, its not consistent...so you can read all this stuff here and have a totally different experience

At some places they do sign you in/out and fingerprint you everytime you come and go...other sites, they dont

And note: YOUR TIMER FOR THE NEXT SECTION DOES NOT START ON ITS OWN...even if you are 10 mins late from your break, you have to click to begin (it just waits at the "Biological Sciences" or whatever, screen that explains the section)

So you can hide in the bathroom and write down all the questions from the previous section? 😛

 

[Amadelphous]

And note: YOUR TIMER FOR THE NEXT SECTION DOES NOT START ON ITS OWN...even if you are 10 mins late from your break, you have to click to begin (it just waits at the "Biological Sciences" or whatever, screen that explains the section)

...I never tested this out so I can't be sure. Lol at the previous post

 

[PB2464]

I tested this out before the Writing Section and it will automatically start the next section around 3-4 min after the break has ended.

 

[purple pearl]

OK SO

I was caught calling my mom to see where she was during my break with MY CELL PHONE!

The lady heard me in the bathroom n wrote down my phone serial number and everything...


Whats gonna happen ;(

 

[DJDakoo]

OK SO

I was caught calling my mom to see where she was during my break with MY CELL PHONE!

The lady heard me in the bathroom n wrote down my phone serial number and everything...


Whats gonna happen ;(

probably....nothing
but you should have lied and said you werent talking on the phone...just singing or something...its not like she could have proved anything
and what the heck does taking the phone serial number have to do with anything? LOL...we live in a GSM cell phone world where you can have a new phone everyday just by switching your sim card!

I wouldnt worry about it if I was you...these are minor things for the aamc and they cant prove what you were doing

 

[Tutmos]

OK SO

I was caught calling my mom to see where she was during my break with MY CELL PHONE!

The lady heard me in the bathroom n wrote down my phone serial number and everything...


Whats gonna happen ;(

I think the punishment was freaking you out on the next sections and probably hurting your score. So the punishment may have a life long impact, unless of course you voided.

 

[purple pearl]

I think the punishment was freaking you out on the next sections and probably hurting your score. So the punishment may have a life long impact, unless of course you voided.

Urgh thanks guys!

I was considering voiding cuz i ran out of time on physical BUT i thought Bio was a big fat joke EVEN with the distraction..

It says on the AAMC esstentials that they tell medical schools about the problem! "inform any parties affect (like medical schools)"

So I dont know Im so scared ;/

 

[yma]

I was caught reading my notes during the break, I know that many people say it's worthless, but it helps me get into study zen and relax, obviously few minutes of study for the mcat won't make a difference in terms of content. I also didn't know that it wasn't allowed. The proctors claimed that they are going to file a report with aamc, has anybody had a similar experience? I am worried that aamc may consider this to be a breach on integrity.

 

[Morzh]

I was caught reading my notes during the break, I know that many people say it's worthless, but it helps me get into study zen and relax, obviously few minutes of study for the mcat won't make a difference in terms of content. I also didn't know that it wasn't allowed. The proctors claimed that they are going to file a report with aamc, has anybody had a similar experience? I am worried that aamc may consider this to be a breach on integrity.

It is. When I would finish a section and walk out of the testing room it was pretty easy to "accidentally glance" at the computer screens of other test takers who had already begun the next section. So in theory one could see a graph or figure and identity that passage as being about topic X, and then go pour over everything in their notes about that topic during their break. Realistic? Probably not. Ridiculous idea? Yup. Likely to help you? Maybe, but probably not much. But technically, yes, it absolutely jeopardizes the integrity of the test.

 

[premedjeff]

OK SO

I was caught calling my mom to see where she was during my break with MY CELL PHONE!

The lady heard me in the bathroom n wrote down my phone serial number and everything...


Whats gonna happen ;(

How did this turn out? I didn't realize that I wasn't allowed to go outside the building during my break, but I sure found out when I returned and the proctor told me she was going to have to report it...

 

[Maxine450]

And note: YOUR TIMER FOR THE NEXT SECTION DOES NOT START ON ITS OWN...even if you are 10 mins late from your break, you have to click to begin (it just waits at the "Biological Sciences" or whatever, screen that explains the section)

This guy is right. I've taken it twice. You can leave for 10, 20 minutes, an hour if you want. It won't start unless you click on the box. So just relax.

You're not allowed to leave the building, though. So don't think about going to a coffee shop outside. Bring your lunch with you and a drink and keep it in the locker. Take your time and don't worry about the clock.

 

[bananaz]

How did this turn out? I didn't realize that I wasn't allowed to go outside the building during my break, but I sure found out when I returned and the proctor told me she was going to have to report it...

You're replying to a thread that's almost 3 years old, but that poster's most recent status is "Medical Student" so clearly things didn't go too badly.