Reading notes during breaks-reported to aamc-please help

[yma]

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[SN2ed]

I think the last person that posted something like this had their test voided.

For other test takers, make sure you actually read the MCAT Essentials document to avoid this situation.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/63060/data/mcatessentials.pdf

Edit: However that doesn't necessarily mean the same will happen to you.

 

[yma]

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[GreenRabbit]

Doesn't seem vague to me. They didn't "append" the part about not studying during breaks, that's the independent clause. "To protect the security of the exam questions," is the dependent clause. Therefore the main point is not to review notes during breaks.

I imagine they don't want someone finishing a section early, checking his answers using notes, and being overseen by someone who had started later and had yet to do that section. Or worse, have someone leave the exam room in the middle of a section.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

The prometric test center at which you took the exam isn't going to risk losing the ability to provide future administrations of the MCAT just to be nice to you. Yes, they are going to report you. And yes, your score is going to be voided and you will possibly be barred future registration for the exam. Not many people actively involved in this forum have interacted with the AAMC this way, for reasons I'm sure you can gather, so you aren't really going to get more than conjecture (which is all I'm giving, FWIW.) To be honest, if I were in your situation, I would do a little googling around and try to figure out who has successfully legally challenged a similar action by the AAMC and contact an attorney. Your ability to pursue medicine as a career is in danger. Medical school adcoms and state licensure boards tend to, let's call it, frown upon blatant, willful academic dishonesty.

 

[flodhi1]

Doesn't seem vague to me. They didn't "append" the part about not studying during breaks, that's the independent clause. "To protect the security of the exam questions," is the dependent clause. Therefore the main point is not to review notes during breaks.

I imagine they don't want someone finishing a section early, checking his answers using notes, and being overseen by someone who had started later and had yet to do that section. Or worse, have someone leave the exam room in the middle of a section.

Well are you allowed to read like a magazine like The Economist?

 

[yma]

Pons Asinorum, was there any basis for your claim that there were major consequences for reading during the break?

 

[BA11]

You're lucky you even got to finish, my testing center had a "you're done" policy if you were caught breaking any AAMC rules. We were told we would be asked to leave and our test voided.

 

[yma]

You're lucky you even got to finish, my testing center had a "you're done" policy if you were caught breaking any AAMC rules. We were told we would be asked to leave and our test voided.

That's brutal, I guess that I'm lucky compared to others. Part of the reason I got the impression that there is not a single policy on reading during the breaks, is that there seems to be so much variability from center to center.

 

[BA11]

You should expect your test to be voided IMO, but if you go about things the right way, contact the AAMC and at least try and explain things I would doubt that this will ultimately hinder your ability to get into medical school. People make mistakes and assuming you dont have an academic or criminal record of dishonest/illicit behavior I would imagine you'll be able to get past this. You'll have to retake and maybe one day answer an interview question about it, but known people with far worse scars on their record who made it into medical school or are hopeful applicants this coming cycle.

Make sure you handle your business and hopefully it will all work out. Spotting an honest mistake isnt too difficult, especially if you take initiative to resolve the issue.

 

[gettheleadout]

I've always been under the impression that once a standardized test had begun, introduction of any new materials that provide outside information would compromise the integrity of the test and tester. To me at least, this would obviously be considered cheating (it shouldn't need to be spelled out in the AAMC's instructions.)

 

[flodhi1]

I've always been under the impression that once a standardized test had begun, introduction of any new materials that provide outside information would compromise the integrity of the test and tester. To me at least, this would obviously be considered cheating (it shouldn't need to be spelled out in the AAMC's instructions.)

Okay for the last time ARE YOU ALLOWED TO READ A MAGAZINE DURING THE BREAKS!? Something like "The Economist"?

 

[golgiapparatus88]

Okay for the last time ARE YOU ALLOWED TO READ A MAGAZINE DURING THE BREAKS!? Something like "The Economist"?

Why would you even want to read in between sections? Don't you want to give your brain a few minute rest before or after doing 7 verbal passages?

 

[Anonymous01]

Okay for the last time ARE YOU ALLOWED TO READ A MAGAZINE DURING THE BREAKS!? Something like "The Economist"?

Mightly impatient, aren't we? SDN does not exist to answer to your demands.

At my testing center, there are magazines in the waiting room/break area. Then again, my testing center has luxury hand soap in the bathroom and free snacks (twinkies, candy bars, muffins, granola bars, even fruit!) and free refrigerated water. I doubt most centers have any of these luxuries.

 

[gettheleadout]

Okay for the last time ARE YOU ALLOWED TO READ A MAGAZINE DURING THE BREAKS!? Something like "The Economist"?

Is it really worth the risk to try? What do you need this magazine for anyway? Using those few minutes to rest your mind and eyes sounds like a better plan anyway IMO.

 

[tartrate]

This is more for future test takers:

I think the risks in no way compare to any psychological benefit you may receive while reading ANYTHING you bring from home during the breaks.

It's probably best to not even bring anything other than food/drink/ID/other essentials to the test center, lest you are tempted.

And for current poster:

You will unfortunately have to live with the consequences of your actions. While people here may sympathize with you, the fact is you took out your notes and looked through them, even though the AAMC explicitly tells you that is prohibited.

If a police officer catches you with drugs, you can say "I was holding it for a friend," or give them the bewildered "I don't know how it got there!" but to them, you were in possession of illegal substances, no matter what your motive or cause.

 

[NickNaylor]

I can't believe that someone is actually trying to argue that reading notes during a standardized exam isn't cheating. I've seen it all.

 

[ridethecliche]

I can't believe that someone is actually trying to argue that reading notes during a standardized exam isn't cheating. I've seen it all.

I mean, I don't think it would be an issue if everyone was doing the same sections at the same times and you did it during a break.
However due to time differences and such, there exists a chance that you hear from someone that's already done etc.

So if your phones were locked away till you were 'done' done, then maybe...

But the way it sits now yeah... You can't really argue it because the chance that you knew something via phone or saw someone elses screen is a possibility.

Tough.

 

[Cinclus]

Mightly impatient, aren't we? SDN does not exist to answer to your demands.

At my testing center, there are magazines in the waiting room/break area. Then again, my testing center has luxury hand soap in the bathroom and free snacks (twinkies, candy bars, muffins, granola bars, even fruit!) and free refrigerated water. I doubt most centers have any of these luxuries.

Dang, that sounds pretty nice.

 

[ridethecliche]

Dang, that sounds pretty nice.

Not really. Unless they had the warm towels for your face too.

 

[NinjaMed]

Not really. Unless they had the warm towels for your face too.

...and back and neck massages.

 

[ridethecliche]

...and back and neck massages.

Yeah. That'd be nice.

Actually, I might get moist towels for test. Wiping my face off and refreshing myself before hitting the rest of the test could be really nice.

Side question: do they let you take water in?

 

[LifeTake2]

Pons Asinorum, was there any basis for your claim that there were major consequences for reading during the break?

yma, I'll answer for Pons as this is such an easy one:

The rules CLEARLY state you are not allowed to study. They CLEARLY state that violating the rules you agreed to will result in your exam being voided (in this due to cheating).

Now it doesn't state that ADCOM's will consider it a major issue that you cheated on the MCAT, but I don't think that is much of a stretch.

Whatever led you to choose to CHEAT on the MCAT (ignorance because you didn't read the rules you agreed to is not an excuse) will ultimately most likely cost you the chance to practice medicine. I'm sorry, but I seriously doubt you will get much leeway on this one, it is printed in black & white.

 

[bkprodigy]

I don't get some people. Last thing I want to do during the MCAT break is to study even if it was allowed.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Gracias for the assist. Exactly. No, I've never had to deal with the AAMC in this way...because I understood they kinda mean business when they say "we think that this is cheating; don't do it."

yma, I'll answer for Pons as this is such an easy one:

The rules CLEARLY state you are not allowed to study. They CLEARLY state that violating the rules you agreed to will result in your exam being voided (in this due to cheating).

Now it doesn't state that ADCOM's will consider it a major issue that you cheated on the MCAT, but I don't think that is much of a stretch.

Whatever led you to choose to CHEAT on the MCAT (ignorance because you didn't read the rules you agreed to is not an excuse) will ultimately most likely cost you the chance to practice medicine. I'm sorry, but I seriously doubt you will get much leeway on this one, it is printed in black & white.

 

[ridethecliche]

It's okay.

Some people are self righteous even when they break the rules. Clearly they're too good for the rules.

 

[NinjaMed]

Yeah. That'd be nice.

Actually, I might get moist towels for test. Wiping my face off and refreshing myself before hitting the rest of the test could be really nice.

Side question: do they let you take water in?

No, water is not allowed to be taken in. It is possible to cheat (label printing, youtube has a video), or it may be distracting to other test takers. Food and drinks are to be left in the assigned lockers. Your refreshers will have to be done during breaks.

 

[ridethecliche]

No, water is not allowed to be taken in. It is possible to cheat (label printing, youtube has a video), or it may be distracting to other test takers. Food and drinks are to be left in the assigned lockers. Your refreshers will have to be done during breaks.

Bollocks. I get parched really easily. Maybe I'll just chew gum or something.

On the bright side, this probably means that I can power through without getting up to pee. Huzzah.

 

[TXKnight]

OP, even though you shouldn't have read on your break, that hardly makes you a cheater. You can't cheat like that on the MCAT. I dare anyone in here to try taking the test OPEN book. That won't yield you any points, while, in fact, it may be counter-productive. Yes, it's technically cheating but it won't "cost you" the practice of medicine. good luck.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

OP, even though you shouldn't have read on your break, that hardly makes you a cheater. You can't cheat like that on the MCAT. I dare anyone in here to try taking the test OPEN book. That won't yield you any points, while, in fact, it may be counter-productive. Yes, it's technically cheating but it won't "cost you" the practice of medicine. good luck.

Unfortunately, you don't get to use your common sense to define what is "cheating" on the MCAT, the AAMC does. And they define what the OP did as cheating, and yes, when there are two applicants for every medical school seat in America, it can make getting to the point where you get to practice medicine difficult.