Paper or Computer Test

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SleepPsych72

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Which test would be better to take. It seems like the computer test would be less time efficient with the scrolling backward and forward and all during reading passages.

I am leaning toward the paper test
 
I would rather take the paper test because of your reasoning, the scrolling back and forth on the computer version. Would you get your results right after taking the test if you took it on computer?
 
if you are asking about practicing for the MCAT, paper because that is what the real test does, even if you have to print it out, enter answers afterwards and then get the score. It really doesn't take very long on the AAMC site.

if you are asking about the MCAT of the future, I want WS on computer and everything else on paper
 
I exactly agree with MeowMix, since I am one of the first people who took the computer MCAT. Verbal was very hard to take in computer MCAT but writing section was very handy.

No, you won't get the score straight away after the test. You will still have to wait 50~60 days. That's bad...
 
I didn't know there was an option to take it on the computer. Is that just in certain test locations and not others?

Personally, I'd rather take a paper test for everything but the writing sample (which I think should be abolished 'cuz it's worthless). I like to mark up my passages...it helps me to find the most important info quickly when I refer back to the passage.
 
Should AAMC decide to make the MCAT absolutely computer based, all aspiring medical students should take on passive resistance to the measure. We want the paper, don't we?!
 
On the computer based test: is the written section done with a keyboard (ie. typing)?

My answers would be almost twice as long as if I had to write them down. I type about 75 wpm. I don't know how fast I write by hand, but I doubt if it is even half that. I know this would affect the way that I think about each question because I would know that I could use more information when answering, and use more examples to support my main argument.

In either case I think it's fair, since they must standardize the tests using info from other people taking the test in the same situation (ie. computer/ - no computer).

just my .02

Cheers,

Silenthunder
 
The computer test does not give you back your score immediately.....unfortunately..
 
I heard that a bunch of people who had to take the computer test in foreign locations during the April administration had computer problems (e.g., the computers would take a long time to pull up the next question or passage). Luckly, I don't think you have much of a choice unless you are willing to travel. US is still paper based (at least, as of April) and most international locations are computer.

Anka
 
All the USMLE exams are on computer and eventually the MCAT will go that way too and some specialty boards are on computers now as well.
 
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