Not All the MCAT is scored

[nvestr21]

I had a friend tell me that not all the MCAT is actually scored. Instead, there is one random passage in each of the sections that is considered experimental and used only for research purposes. Is this true? Can anyone shed and light on this? Lastly, do you know which ones are experimental versus the real ones?

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[Apparition]

This is true and you never know which one is experimental.

 

[natureboy]

This is true and you never know which one is experimental.

Exactly...there is at least one experimental passage in each section of the MCAT for each form that is administered.

 

[aamartin81]

Exactly...there is at least one experimental passage in each section of the MCAT for each form that is administered.

So our score is out of roughly 70 questions for PS and BS then?

Adam

 

[chaeymaey]

I heard it wasn't one whole passage that's experimental, rather a few questions. They test out some questions on people.

 

[natureboy]

So our score is out of roughly 70 questions for PS and BS then?

Adam

Probably...unless they stick two experimental passages on there. It all depends on how many experimental passages they test out on the form you get, but esentially you can count on at least one passage being experimental.

 

[gujuDoc]

Granted there is an experimental question or few, I don't think that they are not counted. you are still going to get a 14 or 15 if you get all the questions right instead of missing 5 or 6. So it still will count towards your overall score. At least that's my belief.

 

[firebird69guy]

The whole test is experimental and they just draw each of our scores from a hat.

Kinda how the whole application/acceptance process works! =)

 

[MeowMix]

Granted there is an experimental question or few, I don't think that they are not counted. you are still going to get a 14 or 15 if you get all the questions right instead of missing 5 or 6. So it still will count towards your overall score. At least that's my belief.

The exptl questions are not scored and do not affect your score. Which is a really good thing, because there was some entire passage on the Aug 2003 MCAT about keystone species etc. that I know I got at least a few wrong, and I still got a 14 on BS.

 

[45408]

READ THIS! http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=46048

and this: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=137539


Basically, don't spend all your time on one passage at the expense of finishing the other passages, because it might not even count.

 

[Tinker Creek]

When you get back the scores... does it say how many out of 77, for example, you were right? In that case, wouldn't all 77 count? Because it's converted to the scaled score.

Let's focus on the studying so we will never need such contingency plans.

edit: I see that I can't give advice about this... just do what's best for you.

 

[natureboy]

When you get back the scores... does it say how many out of 77, for example, you were right? In that case, wouldn't all 77 count? Because it's converted to the scaled score.

Let's focus on the studying so we will never need such contingency plans.

See, that's the thing. They never tell you how many you get correct. Otherwise we would all know their "secret".

 

[tigress]

READ THIS! http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=46048

and this: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=137539


Basically, don't spend all your time on one passage at the expense of finishing the other passages, because it might not even count.

I can't decide if this info is helpful or hurtful. I suppose it's psychological helpful to know that if I feel like I really bombed a passage I shouldn't dwell on it -- maybe it will help me keep moving without thinking about old questions. On the other hand, I might start second-guessing the test and what could be experimental. I have to force myself not to think about that because I think it could hurt me.

thanks for the links