MCAT test day questions

[arjusmc]

I've now completed two practice tests and have tried to make them as close to test day conditions as possible, however I have some questions regarding some of the smaller points. First, I was given a spiraled white board note book to use as scratch paper from TPR. Is this what is given as scratch paper during the test and if so can you clean it between sections if you start to run out of room? Second questions is on the 10 minute breaks are you allowed to access your food or drinks that you brought with you or is that only during the 30 min break?

Thanks

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[PapaGuava]

Hi @arjusmc

You cannot erase the marker writings (in my experience), but you get multiple pages of glossy-like paper almost like the stuff they used for overhead projectors. Yes you are able to access the bathroom, food, or whatever you were allowed to bring during your 10 min or 30 min breaks, except remember that the clock is running and the helpers won't remind you when its time. So just be mindful!

In my unlucky experience, the computer skipped one of my 10 minute breaks XD at one point.

 

[toedrag]

I've now completed two practice tests and have tried to make them as close to test day conditions as possible, however I have some questions regarding some of the smaller points. First, I was given a spiraled white board note book to use as scratch paper from TPR. Is this what is given as scratch paper during the test and if so can you clean it between sections if you start to run out of room? Second questions is on the 10 minute breaks are you allowed to access your food or drinks that you brought with you or is that only during the 30 min break?

Thanks

I didn't have scratch "paper", it was a dry-erase notebook with erasable marker. There are plenty of pages so you won't have to worry about running out (you can get a new notebook between sections). And yes, you can access food and drinks during your 10 min breaks, but just be aware that your 10 min breaks are really 5 min breaks after you take into account signing out of your computer, palm scans, pocket checks, and opening up your locker.

 

[arjusmc]

Thanks for the quick response, I take my first AAMC full length in a week and want to recreate it as best as possible.

 

[toedrag]

Thanks for the quick response, I take my first AAMC full length in a week and want to recreate it as best as possible.

I'd recommend picking up some ear buds. Personally, I wore ear buds and then wore the shotgun style headphones over them just so I could cancel out any and all sound in the testing center lol

 

[PapaGuava]

I'd recommend picking up some ear buds. Personally, I wore ear buds and then wore the shotgun style headphones over them just so I could cancel out any and all sound in the testing center lol

I just couldn't do the earbuds, they always feel awkward haha.

 

[arjusmc]

Iwas considering doing that, the over ear headphone ones are provided by the testing center and I can bring in my own earbuds correct?

 

[arjusmc]

yeah those things done feel natural at all

 

[lumya]

Thanks for the quick response, I take my first AAMC full length in a week and want to recreate it as best as possible.

Check to see if Princeton Review or Kaplan offer a free proctored practice MCAT in your area. I went to one and it gave me a chance to get used to being around other people when taking the test, as opposed to my own bubble.

Although some girl in front of me brought a family-sized bag of pretzels and stress ate the entire bag over 6 hours so that wasn't ideal.

 

[toedrag]

Iwas considering doing that, the over ear headphone ones are provided by the testing center and I can bring in my own earbuds correct?

They didn't let me use my own earbuds even though the plastic bag was unopened. They gave me their own ones

 

[PapaGuava]

They didn't let me use my own earbuds even though the plastic bag was unopened. They gave me their own ones

What they were afraid of with your earbuds haha

 

[toedrag]

What they were afraid of with your earbuds haha

LMAO exactly. Why, yes, of course I went through the hassle of engineering a small hearing aid device embedded in this squishy, unopened, unwrapped, earbud so that I can talk to people outside of the testing center about my logic answering CARS questions.

 

[arjusmc]

LMAO exactly. Why, yes, of course I went through the hassle of engineering a small hearing aid device embedded in this squishy, unopened, unwrapped, earbud so that I can talk to people outside of the testing center about my logic answering CARS questions.

LOL

 

[Altius Premier Tutor]

I can verify that the new testing centers (operated by Pearson Vue, a third-party vendor that contracts with AAMC), use this spiral bound notebook with a marker. There are several pages front and back, and you can ask for another booklet at any time, not just during breaks. Here's a pic of the actual booklet (Dropbox - PearsonVue MCAT Booklet.png). They also recently moved from fingerprint scan to a full palm scan. They will usually, but not always, use a metal detector and pat-down every time you come in or out for breaks. It can be INTENSE. Finally, its not 100% consistent. Each center can vary slightly, and I know of a few oddities when one particular proctor decided to go "above and beyond" normal procedures. Just be prepared mentally for pretty intense supervision and some potentially crazy security stuff and you shouldn't be impacted by it. Here's a video explaining test day procedures from Pearson Vue:

 

[arjusmc]

I can verify that the new testing centers (operated by Pearson Vue, a third-party vendor that contracts with AAMC), use this spiral bound notebook with a marker. There are several pages front and back, and you can ask for another booklet at any time, not just during breaks. Here's a pic of the actual booklet (Dropbox - PearsonVue MCAT Booklet.png). They also recently moved from fingerprint scan to a full palm scan. They will usually, but not always, use a metal detector and pat-down every time you come in or out for breaks. It can be INTENSE. Finally, its not 100% consistent. Each center can vary slightly, and I know of a few oddities when one particular proctor decided to go "above and beyond" normal procedures. Just be prepared mentally for pretty intense supervision and some potentially crazy security stuff and you shouldn't be impacted by it. Here's a video explaining test day procedures from Pearson Vue:

Great info, thank you

 

[northwestmedic]

grunching....

they gave markers and boards to write on. i think the idea is they are non-erasable, but you can do a pretty good job of erasing if you want. (and i presume they erase and re-use them).....

where i found a slight problem was that the sweat from my hand subtly affected the abililty to write on the board. the writing was very uneven and i wouldn't have had confidence to write some notes on Q's you wanted to get back. i'm LH so my hand probably touches the board more than most.

as per the day, it was 2 10 minutes breaks and 1 30 minute break............. checking-in and checking-out counts against your break time so if there are lineups 10 minutes might not be enough...... i sense alot of people just did the 30 minute break.

also, as soon as you show up at Pearson (my center was Pearson) you are already subject to most test rules. so do last minute studying before you go to testing company lobby.

lastly, at my center, they sat people by locker number and you could choose any locker you wanted (obviously subject to earlier person not taking it already). so choose a low number as sitting around is no fun and a bit stressful.

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

You can eat and drink during any break. The 'scratch paper' is laminated graph paper. My center used wet erase pens that you couldn't erase. You get more pages than you'll need. The palm scan and wand felt like something out of Divergent. One thing that caught me off guard was being escorted to my computer like I was a prisoner being escorted to my cell.

 

[Smith Martin]

I've now completed two practice tests and have tried to make them as close to test day conditions as possible, however I have some questions regarding some of the smaller points. First, I was given a spiraled white board note book to use as scratch paper from TPR. Is this what is given as scratch paper during the test and if so can you clean it between sections if you start to run out of room? Second questions is on the 10 minute breaks are you allowed to access your food or drinks that you brought with you or is that only during the 30 min break?

Thanks

The scratch paper provided during the test may vary, but you can ask the test administrator for clarification. You should follow the rules and guidelines provided during the breaks, so it's best to check with the test center. Although it's been 5 years, I felt like replying, so I did.