MCAT SCORE SCALING 2015

[ATM92]

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Hello everyone! I just wanted to ask how exactly is the MCAT scored and what is individual percentile based on? Is it based on those who took the same exam, or is it based on everyone who took the exam within the same year? Please answer only if you're sure, if you are going to make assumptions, just refrain from answering.

 

[Spinach Dip]

As far as I know, in the past all people who took the test on a specific day were graded against one another.

As for scoring, http://lmgtfy.com/?q=MCAT+percentiles

 

[ATM92]

As far as I know, in the past all people who took the test on a specific day were graded against one another.

As for scoring, http://lmgtfy.com/?q=MCAT+percentiles

LOL, I have googled it before, but I find it confusing. Maybe its just that I'm very anxious about getting my score back since I took the exam last Wednesday. I just wanted someone who was to to confirm how the exam is scored.

 

[gyngyn]

"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.

When the testing year is done, we will update the percentile rank tables for the new MCAT total and
section scores using the scores of all test takers who took the new exam in 2015. These percentile rank
tables will be available for the 2017 application cycle. As the new exam matures, more and more data
will be used to populate the percentile rank tables for the new test."
https://www.aamc.org/students/download/378098/data/mcat2015scorescaleguide.pdf

You will be compared to those who have answered the questions you were asked with the additional use of historical norms.

 

[mcatjelly]

http://premedfaq.com/mcat-curved/

 

[efle]

In the past your percentile was based on the performance of people from the previous year, and was completely independent of how the people sitting with you on test day performed. Looks like for this test they're doing a mix of both, scoring you against the past 6 months and the people with you on test day.

 

[Cotterpin]

"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.

When the testing year is done, we will update the percentile rank tables for the new MCAT total and
section scores using the scores of all test takers who took the new exam in 2015. These percentile rank
tables will be available for the 2017 application cycle. As the new exam matures, more and more data
will be used to populate the percentile rank tables for the new test."
https://www.aamc.org/students/download/378098/data/mcat2015scorescaleguide.pdf

You will be compared to those who have answered the questions you were asked with the additional use of historical norms.

So if they're going to update the percentile rank tables, does that change anything about the scores of the people who already took the new exam this year?

 

[efle]

So if they're going to update the percentile rank tables, does that change anything about the scores of the people who already took the new exam this year?

THx did update old scores to the new rounded-off percentile system, so they probably could update percentiles if any of them change

 

[gyngyn]

So if they're going to update the percentile rank tables, does that change anything about the scores of the people who already took the new exam this year?

There is no precedent for changing scores that have already posted, so I doubt it.

 

[gettheleadout]

In the past your percentile was based on the performance of people from the previous year, and was completely independent of how the people sitting with you on test day performed. Looks like for this test they're doing a mix of both, scoring you against the past 6 months and the people with you on test day.

Not only the previous year, but effectively all years from which the questions on your exam were initially given as experimental items.

 

[lovelydragon]

.

 

[Gauss44]

AAMC's Guide to the MCAT answered all of these questions for the 2014 test, and I suspect that it answers them again for the 2015 test. Can anyone check the 2015 book? AAMC's word is the final word on this.