Past CBT MCAT test takers

[Summer Sweet]

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Hi,

As someone who has taken the CBT MCAT already, how would you compare it to practice paper materials, and perhaps the paper MCAT?

I'm seeing random questions regarding the CBT around the forum, but I kind of want to know from someone who already has taken it. I know right now, they have that option where you can decide to take paper OR CBT, and I'm sure some people have chosen CBT.

Advice?

Thanks!

 

[ND2005]

Hi,

As someone who has taken the CBT MCAT already, how would you compare it to practice paper materials, and perhaps the paper MCAT?

I'm seeing random questions regarding the CBT around the forum, but I kind of want to know from someone who already has taken it. I know right now, they have that option where you can decide to take paper OR CBT, and I'm sure some people have chosen CBT.

Advice?

Thanks!

This is the first time the CBT test has been offered as an option.

 

[Sundarban1]

This is the first time the CBT test has been offered as an option.

Actually the CBT has been an option, although not mandatory for a few years now at various locations. So, there are some people out there that have taken it in that format.

 

[ND2005]

Actually the CBT has been an option, although not mandatory for a few years now at various locations. So, there are some people out there that have taken it in that format.

Really? I definitely don't remember having it as an option in August.

 

[Sundarban1]

Really? I definitely don't remember having it as an option in August.

Yes, it is true. However the CBT is not available at every testing location. They have offered it at various locations in order to try and work out some of the "bugs" in anticipation for the 2007 conversion. I believe the testing locations that offer the CBT as an option are listed on the AAMC website if you run a search.

 

[ShyD33]

well i wanna know the same info. is there anyone that's taken the CBT and want to share their experiences?

I'm up in the air as to take the August test 2006 (last paper and pencil i heard) or wait for the April 2007 exam (CBT)

 

[ilovehedgehogs]

well i wanna know the same info. is there anyone that's taken the CBT and want to share their experiences?

I'm up in the air as to take the August test 2006 (last paper and pencil i heard) or wait for the April 2007 exam (CBT)

Ill let you know after april 22nd how the CBT goes, I took the paper one last year so i can compare...I am super pumped about it tho

 

[Summer Sweet]

Ill let you know after april 22nd how the CBT goes, I took the paper one last year so i can compare...I am super pumped about it tho

Good luck! I'm dying to know too. I'm uneasy about rushing and cramming just to fit into the August bunch, so hopefully everything will work out well.

Just curious...why are you taking the CBT instead of paper? What made you choose one over the other?

 

[ilovehedgehogs]

Good luck! I'm dying to know too. I'm uneasy about rushing and cramming just to fit into the August bunch, so hopefully everything will work out well.

Just curious...why are you taking the CBT instead of paper? What made you choose one over the other?

At first I miss interpreted AAMCs website-i thought the CBT results came out faster now, not starting with next year. But even after I found out that that is not true, I am taking the CBT because 1) I hate filling in bubbles and I think Im bad at it 2) there is a little count down clock thing on the screen which is easier to use than an analog for me 3) they have headsets at prometrics you can wear during the whole test (which is AWESOME) so no noise 4) everything is faster, like check ins and stuff 5) ive been practicing on the computer and i like it

 

[ShyD33]

Ill let you know after april 22nd how the CBT goes, I took the paper one last year so i can compare...I am super pumped about it tho

did anyone get any info on the CBT experience (any comparisons?)

 

[ilovehedgehogs]

did anyone get any info on the CBT experience (any comparisons?)

heres what i said about it on another thread:
I think its awesome we all had the same test, so we can talk about it...I had the exact same impression: PS was awesome, verbal was pretty good even tho every passage was about american history/ politics and sucked , BS was fine except the last orgo passage, what was that!!!! anyone else think it was a practice passage?? I guess the curve will reflect its ridiculousness?

The CBT: compared to the paper test last year, this was far superior ...only 15 people there max, no slow proctors to make the day last forever (i was there from 8:30 -5 last year, 7:30-2:30 this year) no one talked, only took 20 minute lunch, no 1/2 hour survey at the end...

I will say tho that the answer choices were a bit confusing for the graph answers, where the letters were decievingly misplaced, and the computer screens were a little funky, overall tho, it was MUCH better.

For ShyD-if you still have the option of taking the august test CBT, definately do it, it was SO much better, esp if you practiced the aamc tests on e-mcat because it was very similar to that. Also, I forgot to mention that the fact that you get little cubicles and that is really nice too. I really liked the fact that i didint know anyone there, at the paper cbt I took it at my school and I ran into several people that were really annoying , and id rather just be antisocial

let me know if you have any other questions

 

[ShyD33]

heres what i said about it on another thread:
I think its awesome we all had the same test, so we can talk about it...I had the exact same impression: PS was awesome, verbal was pretty good even tho every passage was about american history/ politics and sucked , BS was fine except the last orgo passage, what was that!!!! anyone else think it was a practice passage?? I guess the curve will reflect its ridiculousness?

The CBT: compared to the paper test last year, this was far superior ...only 15 people there max, no slow proctors to make the day last forever (i was there from 8:30 -5 last year, 7:30-2:30 this year) no one talked, only took 20 minute lunch, no 1/2 hour survey at the end...

I will say tho that the answer choices were a bit confusing for the graph answers, where the letters were decievingly misplaced, and the computer screens were a little funky, overall tho, it was MUCH better.

For ShyD-if you still have the option of taking the august test CBT, definately do it, it was SO much better, esp if you practiced the aamc tests on e-mcat because it was very similar to that. Also, I forgot to mention that the fact that you get little cubicles and that is really nice too. I really liked the fact that i didint know anyone there, at the paper cbt I took it at my school and I ran into several people that were really annoying , and id rather just be antisocial

let me know if you have any other questions

thats a heck of an idea. i might register for the CBT in august. thanks!

 

[Kristiyana]

heres what i said about it on another thread:
I think its awesome we all had the same test, so we can talk about it...I had the exact same impression: PS was awesome, verbal was pretty good even tho every passage was about american history/ politics and sucked , BS was fine except the last orgo passage, what was that!!!! anyone else think it was a practice passage?? I guess the curve will reflect its ridiculousness?

The CBT: compared to the paper test last year, this was far superior ...only 15 people there max, no slow proctors to make the day last forever (i was there from 8:30 -5 last year, 7:30-2:30 this year) no one talked, only took 20 minute lunch, no 1/2 hour survey at the end...

I will say tho that the answer choices were a bit confusing for the graph answers, where the letters were decievingly misplaced, and the computer screens were a little funky, overall tho, it was MUCH better.

For ShyD-if you still have the option of taking the august test CBT, definately do it, it was SO much better, esp if you practiced the aamc tests on e-mcat because it was very similar to that. Also, I forgot to mention that the fact that you get little cubicles and that is really nice too. I really liked the fact that i didint know anyone there, at the paper cbt I took it at my school and I ran into several people that were really annoying , and id rather just be antisocial

let me know if you have any other questions

Hmmmmm ... I dunno ... I have a feeling I would have trouble with the computer MCAT because you're not able to circle stuff as you read (and thus I would miss a lot of details) ...

Also, do you get scrap paper or anything??

 

[thedelicatessen]

only took 20 minute lunch

So the proctors don't determine lunch, breaks, etc.?

 

[Kris1]

So the proctors don't determine lunch, breaks, etc.?

I took the CBT MCAT in April '05 and I LOVED IT!! I was done by 1:00 p.m. The test wasn't shorter (thought it will be soon), but so much time is saved without the proctors having to read and re-read the rules, take up the test booklets, and count the pages in each book before break everytime. Also, I took a five minute lunch and was back in front of my computer hacking away before my brain had time to get lazy. I improved my CBT MCAT by four points over my paper MCAT a year before. I would recommend it to anyone, but keep in mind you can't leave once you are there. I was expecting to go out and get lunch, and the proctors said "No way, Jose!" So pack a lunch!

 

[ilovehedgehogs]

So the proctors don't determine lunch, breaks, etc.?

nope, its self paced, you just cant take longer than the allowed time obviously...for people worried about circling stuff, i was worried about that too till I did a few AAMCs on the computer are realized its not that big a deal, in fact maybe even helpful that i couldnt "waste" time drawing little boxes around things that probably arent that important. Like for bio i still mapped stuff out-they give you ample scratch paper, and i use a crap load-so for like a hormone related question i would map out the feedbacks and stuff and not being able to write on the test really didnt affect me. I feel like if your a kaplan student you might not get much love for the CBT idea, as i didntn when i asked them about it, as it sort of flies in the face of some of their teachings-like circling and passage mapping directly on the test.

 

[theunremarkable]

Why would they not let you go out for lunch? That seems a bit odd, but the CBT seems to definitely be a step up from the paper. . .

 

[medschool22]

I would have taken the CBT this April except for some things they lacked:
1) couldn't highlight any text
2) couldn't strike out text and/or wrong answer choices

If you've taken an AAMC computer-based exam, you know that these can be surprisingly helpful.

I don't mind taking exams on the computer, but if there's no way to highlight text (equivalent of underlining) and you can't cross out an answer choice (helps if you're stuck on a question) than I just didn't see the point.

When the MCAT switches to full-blown CBT, these features will be included. No idea why they couldn't implement them this time around

 

[pseudoknot]

I took the CBT in April '05 and thought it was great. I loved the ability to control the timing and finish early. I don't write on tests or answer questions out of order, so those things didn't matter to me. I've posted previously on the experience in more detail if you want to search for it.

 

[ilovehedgehogs]

Why would they not let you go out for lunch? That seems a bit odd, but the CBT seems to definitely be a step up from the paper. . .

My test center, in DC, let people go out for lunch, guess it depends on the test center, and im sure you could call ahead to check their policy

 

[Twitch]

My test center, in DC, let people go out for lunch, guess it depends on the test center, and im sure you could call ahead to check their policy

I took the CBT in Dallas, TX and went outside to eat my lunch. I never asked anyone's permission if it was ok or not.

Not sure if anyone else noticed this, but the monitor refresh rate was set to 60Hz (which is the default hardware refresh rate). Very annoying and irritating.

Make sure you make pretty faces for the camera since they have a nice camera on the ceiling for each person taking the test recording your every move.

Actually, I'd very much like to see that. And...that's me scratching my head....and that's me slapping the monitor...and that's some girl taking her top off... oh wait that was a dream 😀