Serious Question Regarding MCAT Scoring Errors

[rsa130]

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Hello all,

I was wondering if any of you out there received very uncharacterisitc scores on this past August 2006 MCAT? I do not mean scores you didn't like, I am talking about people who have taken numerous practice AAMC exams as well as even having taken the MCAT before and received scores on the multiple choice section that are just not at all consistent with other scores.

I had form BS (series 32) and I know another that had BC and we received scores that were very uncharacterisitc of our past performance. Are there others of this series or form that received scores that were 3-4 pts (or more) from the usual? I am thinking about getting a rescore by hand but don't want to waste $50. Thank you.

 

[notdeadyet]

I had form BS (series 32) and I know another that had BC and we received scores that were very uncharacterisitc of our past performance. Are there others of this series or form that received scores that were 3-4 pts (or more) from the usual? I am thinking about getting a rescore by hand but don't want to waste $50. Thank you.

I had a series 32 form and performed slightly worse on PS and much worse on BS than I characteristically do.

I'm not planning on rescoring, though. I think lots of times, uncharacteristically bad scores can be attributable to not catching mistakes that were made, or bubbling errors. I'm sure there are exceptions to the contrary, but the whole idea of scantrons are that they are a pretty smooth operation.

The only thing I'd be curious about is what happens if the cause of your bad score is due to not bubbling in completely. I wonder if they cut you some slack in this case. Otherwise, I can't imagine how a hand scoring would help.

Best of luck regardless and let us know how you get on.

 

[rsa130]

I completely agree with the possibility of scoring errors. However, we both received Biological Science scores that were both much higher. We both typically score around 10-11 (with neither ever breaking 11) and I am saying this based on around 15 practice exams and 2 MCAT scores. This MCAT I recieved a 12 and she received a 14 on BS which shocked us both. Both of our verbal scores were much lower by 3-4 points than normal. I just want to know if there are others. I am aware that mistakes are unlikely etc.

 

[blaqueos]

I totally feel the same way. I had BC or some similar type too, and totally went down 3-4 points on my VR and PS and did better on my BS, which is totally inconsistent with my practice scores which i did so many, also, I didn't get any terrible feeling about the actual exam itself. So I am very interested to see how other feel to and what they plan to do.

 

[UMP]

Everyone has Series 32 if you took it in August 2006... and you'd have 31 if you took it in April 2006... and 30 if August 2005.. 😉

That's all that number means 👍

 

[UMP]

I've never heard of ANYONE getting their scores changed after a regrade... but maybe if it happens enough times it could happen

 

[rsa130]

I totally feel the same way. I had BC or some similar type too, and totally went down 3-4 points on my VR and PS and did better on my BS, which is totally inconsistent with my practice scores which i did so many, also, I didn't get any terrible feeling about the actual exam itself. So I am very interested to see how other feel to and what they plan to do.

Thanks for the reply. If you know others that took the same or similar form try asking them how their scores relate to past performance. It's quite possible we have something here.

 

[akinf]

The exact same thing happened to me. All my other scores were pretty consistent. My VR was uncharacteristically low, by 4-5 points. My MCAT score was 13PS 12BS 6VR WS S

I did AAMC 3R to get acquainted with the questions for MCAT style. So, I went through it without reading the passages but just doing the questions. I got a 6 after doing that. I did the same thing with an EK passage and got a 6 doing that. Note, I DID NOT READ THE PASSAGE WHEN DOING THIS. However, when I got comfortable with the questions, I started reading passages again and shot up to a 10/11. I wrote the real thing, and ended up with a 6. I am absolutely confused. I am sending my request for remarking to AAMC today.

 

[BigRedPremed]

What exactly is the error you think was made? Don't they just feed these things into a scantron machine?

 

[DrBowtie]

No offense but over the entire time I have been here, there have always been 1-2 threads after each test about people thinking there is a mistake. None of those ever got their score changed IIRC.

If you want to pursue it, go for it, but don't expect to get your score changed.

 

[EBI831]

hey this sounds kinda like you're on to something. i would re-submit it. and i have heard of someone getting 2 points back after a regrade. it was on sdn and while everyone commented on how unusual that was i still think it can happen. and if you are noticing this general trend...why not check it out? but i'd wait til i applied tho because i dont know if it will hold up an application...that's if you want to apply with the score you have, if not, why not resubmit?

 

[jesed_s]

Interesting,

I was asking about regrading as well... i felt i did a lot better on PS and BS... but managed only a 10 in both. I scored a 28 which is lower than all my practices.

What's the procedure in asking for a regrade? THANKS!! this forum is so helpful =)

 

[akinf]

What exactly is the error you think was made? Don't they just feed these things into a scantron machine?

That's true, but who knows. There are close to 40,000 people who write it, and its unreasonable to think none of that could have been a mistake. What if I bubbled in the wrong test form on my answer sheet? That would have a pretty significant impact. To me, even though it is my fault, that is something I could see being changed. If my mark is not changed, I know it had to have mis-bubbled because I am close to 100% certain I did not bomb VR like that. The only reason I am close to 100% instead of 100% is because it would be unreasonable of me to think mistakes don't happen.

 

[rsa130]

Hi again all,

I want to avoid this thread subject becoming a "I didnt do as well as I hoped on the MCAT". What I am wondering here is that if there are other that have a B.. form that noticed scores that were atypical. That meaning BOTH higher and lower than what was expected. Everyone thinks they could have done better....do you have scores that look like they came from someone else??

 

[jesed_s]

Hi,

Has there ever been in the history of the MCAT that a score has been changed? I really want to get mine regraded but i read on the MCAT essentials that IF they regrade and they find you actually scored LOWER, then they'll make you resubmit the LOWER score.

I had AJ form... anyone else think there was a discrepancy?

 

[BigRedPremed]

That's true, but who knows. There are close to 40,000 people who write it, and its unreasonable to think none of that could have been a mistake. What if I bubbled in the wrong test form on my answer sheet? That would have a pretty significant impact. To me, even though it is my fault, that is something I could see being changed. If my mark is not changed, I know it had to have mis-bubbled because I am close to 100% certain I did not bomb VR like that. The only reason I am close to 100% instead of 100% is because it would be unreasonable of me to think mistakes don't happen.

Wouldn't you expect like a 3 or something if your test was graded using answers from another test form?

 

[ADeadLois]

As BruinBoy mentioned, the scoring range (that is, the raw score-actual score correspondence) for the actual MCAT are different for the actual MCAT than they are for the AAMC. What you might think is a scoring error is actually the result of a curve.

Scoring errors are extremely rare on the MCAT. Human error (i.e. bubbling) is usually the cause of unusually uncharacteristic scores. They use top-of-the-line equipment to score the exams which is basically fool-proof (unlike the SATs)

 

[MeowMix]

'uncharacteristic' would be +/- 7 from multiple practice tests on one section. +/- 2 in either direction is not at all unusual on any section; it is all a function of how well you handle the specific topics and the stresses of that particular day. So I would not recommend paying for the regrade.

 

[azzurri]

Hello everyone,

I found this site about 2 weeks ago but never posted anything however when I saw this thread I had to sign up. I also took the August exam and had form B, I believe it was BJ and my verbal score does not make sense at all. i took the exam last year and my verbal score was an 8. i retook the exam in august and went up in my sciences by quite a bit but my verbal went down to 5 😱 i was shoked, i was scoring between 8 and 10 on AAMC practice tests. the first practice test i did I didnt even try at all just to see how low i could possibly get and i got a 7 so this 5 is just bizarre. so what are you all going to do about this, is there even something we can do? im applying this cycle so i dont wanna do anything that will delay my application. will med schools look at my 8 from last year and realize that this score of 5 is uncharacteristic of me?

thanks for any advice 🙂

 

[rsa130]

Hello everyone,

I found this site about 2 weeks ago but never posted anything however when I saw this thread I had to sign up. I also took the August exam and had form B, I believe it was BJ and my verbal score does not make sense at all. i took the exam last year and my verbal score was an 8. i retook the exam in august and went up in my sciences by quite a bit but my verbal went down to 5 😱 i was shoked, i was scoring between 8 and 10 on AAMC practice tests. the first practice test i did I didnt even try at all just to see how low i could possibly get and i got a 7 so this 5 is just bizarre. so what are you all going to do about this, is there even something we can do? im applying this cycle so i dont wanna do anything that will delay my application. will med schools look at my 8 from last year and realize that this score of 5 is uncharacteristic of me?

thanks for any advice 🙂

I am hesitantly beginning to believe there's the possibilty of a ID coding error with the B form because of the strange nature of my and a friend's scores (meaning test scores could have been sent to the wrong people by an error in ID numbers or something like it, not ssn's mine is correct). I took AAMC 1-6 the last few weeks and never scored so high in BS and so low in VR and this is the exact truth for my friend as well who also had a B form. I jumped from averaging 10 to a 12, my friend jumped from around 10 to 14!! VR we both average around 10 as well, this time I got a 7 they got a 6!! Very questionable. I am considering a hand scoring and making sure they check my name is coded to the proper test and I am not getting someone else's results.

 

[ADeadLois]

I am hesitantly beginning to believe there's the possibilty of a ID coding error with the B form because of the strange nature of my and a friend's scores (meaning test scores could have been sent to the wrong people by an error in ID numbers or something like it, not ssn's mine is correct). I took AAMC 1-6 the last few weeks and never scored so high in BS and so low in VR and this is the exact truth for my friend as well who also had a B form. I jumped from averaging 10 to a 12, my friend jumped from around 10 to 14!! VR we both average around 10 as well, this time I got a 7 they got a 6!! Very questionable. I am considering a hand scoring and making sure they check my name is coded to the proper test and I am not getting someone else's results.

AAMC 1-6 are older versions. The content, difficulty and scoring range are all different. Those kind of jumps in scores that you mention are indicative of the changes to the MCAT. The AAMC practice exam scoring ranges are static, whereas the actual MCAT scoring can vary. I think you're making something out of nothing.

 

[rsa130]

You may certainly be correct. I would like to add that I have taken every single Kaplan practice test as well. I also took the last August MCAT, 10-BS and 10-VR. So my claim is not from a few exams but rather something in the range of 15 exams. If those arent reliable predictors why do they even bother giving scores?

 

[Pshizzle]

If you arent comfortable with your scores, you should jsut go for the regrade. That being said, it's not uncommon to get really weird results that differ from your practice tests. I took 10 practice tests and recieved a 13 on a section only once, and that time i thought i really rocked that section. On the mcat i thought i did so-so on PS and ended up with a 13 which makes no sense to me. It most likely has to do with their secret/weird grading system.

 

[melissa123]

Hello everyone,

I found this site about 2 weeks ago but never posted anything however when I saw this thread I had to sign up. I also took the August exam and had form B, I believe it was BJ and my verbal score does not make sense at all. i took the exam last year and my verbal score was an 8. i retook the exam in august and went up in my sciences by quite a bit but my verbal went down to 5 😱 i was shoked, i was scoring between 8 and 10 on AAMC practice tests. the first practice test i did I didnt even try at all just to see how low i could possibly get and i got a 7 so this 5 is just bizarre. so what are you all going to do about this, is there even something we can do? im applying this cycle so i dont wanna do anything that will delay my application. will med schools look at my 8 from last year and realize that this score of 5 is uncharacteristic of me?

thanks for any advice 🙂

omg! I got the SAME scores! I had an 8 on verbal last time, this time a 5! But my sciences and writing improved! Don't feel alone. I'm thinking of having it rescored. It can't get worse......

 

[akinf]

I have already sent my rescoring request. Also, my verbal score changed by -4/5. +/- 2 I can understand, but those numbers are ridiculous.

 

[akinf]

Wouldn't you expect like a 3 or something if your test was graded using answers from another test form?

i don't know...maybe...or maybe i'd expect a 6...for all i know...i could expect a 15...i just don't think a 6 is what i got.

 

[BigRedPremed]

For $50, I'd get a regrade too. I'm just not sure how an error could be made.

 

[DrBowtie]

I have already sent my rescoring request. Also, my verbal score changed by -4/5. +/- 2 I can understand, but those numbers are ridiculous.

Make sure and post back.

 

[Despina]

I think a lot more post-bacs (aka they majored in something like English before) take the August MCAT. Many of them take all the science classes in a year, so they take the later MCAT...as a result I imagine they skew the VR section bell curve a little.

 

[kaybam20]

I think a lot more post-bacs (aka they majored in something like English before) take the August MCAT. Many of them take all the science classes in a year, so they take the later MCAT...as a result I imagine they skew the VR section bell curve a little.

shut the hell up.

 

[akinf]

dude, relax... just retake this test!!! Good luck in the future!!!

I don't think you understand. I am not freaking out because I got a 6, I am confused as to why I thought I did well but got a 6. I am just trying to make sure I wasn't given a score that didn't represent my abilities. I am more so worried because a 6 is extremely damaging to my medical school admission process this year, it completely eliminates me from a lot of schools, including my home province. If I had gotten a 7 or an 8, I wouldn't be eliminated, but I would still send a request. I am not cocky or think I am immune from failure, but I know my skills and abilities when it comes to verbal reasoning, and a 6 does not reflect that. Mind you, many say it is luck, if so, then how are some people good at verbal reasoning. Are they consistently lucky? If so, then it cannot be luck, because luck lacks all pattern and consistency. Therefore, verbal reasoning like the other sections is a skill that must be practised and honed. I spent 3 and half months doing that to get to a 10/11.

 

[DrCurious]

keep in mind the experimentals could have totally not gone ur way. Hypothetically, if u got only 10 wrong but none of those were experimental then yea 4-5 points seems possible. On a side not I though I got 10-11 on verbal and got an 8. In april I thought I i bombed with like 4 (didnt get to two passages) and got a 6. How you feel about the test has no correlation to your score, its how you performed on test day and how that compared to everyone else. Theres no reason not to get a rescore, cuz although its unlikely there was a grading error there could be a recording error to your name/id etc. Plus itll def give u piece of mind. Good luck with what ever happens.

 

[akinf]

keep in mind the experimentals could have totally not gone ur way. Hypothetically, if u got only 10 wrong but none of those were experimental then yea 4-5 points seems possible. On a side not I though I got 10-11 on verbal and got an 8. In april I thought I i bombed with like 4 (didnt get to two passages) and got a 6. How you feel about the test has no correlation to your score, its how you performed on test day and how that compared to everyone else. Theres no reason not to get a rescore, cuz although its unlikely there was a grading error there could be a recording error to your name/id etc. Plus itll def give u piece of mind. Good luck with what ever happens.

Thanks. Even if I did get 10 questions wrong, 4-5 points may seem possible, but not in the 10/11 to 6 range. It seems reasonable in the 15 to 10 range however. The farther you get from the mean, the more single point changes affect your scaled scored. I wasn't scoring the 15s so I am still confused how I could have gone from 10/11. I may have mis-bubbled, but I don't think so, and my feeling on every other section was pretty close (within 1 point).

The people I talked to who said they bombed got 7s. I had a friend physically get up and go to the washroom during verbal reasoning. I had been giving him pointers throughout the summer on improving because he was having trouble (he had been getting 6s and 7s) and he ended up with an 8. Everything seems to make sense for everyone else except for me. If you were getting 7/8 before and you ended up with a 6, that isn't surprising. However, I once scored incredibly close to a 12 on AAMC practice material.

I fully understand that what you get on practice material will not be exactly what you get on the real thing, however, the purpose of practice material is to give you an indication of what the real MCAT will be like. I believe they practice tests were accurate in doing so as I am sure many of this forum will agree with. The obvious contention I have is not saying I got this on the practice tests so therefore I must get this on the real thing. The problem is saying I had been getting this on practice tests, and I got this on the real thing, why is there such a discrepancy??

 

[lakerlovin]

I too had form BS and ended up with a very atypical breakdown. I received a 10 PS, 11 BS, and a 5 VR. On my AAMC tests prior to the test i was getting 30-31's. However, unlike some others on here I did think the verbal was one of the hardest verbal's that I have ever taken, just was not expecting a 5. Does anyone think that a re-score would be beneficial?

Also, how much will a 5 affect my application process? I still want to go through the process and feel like my overall score will still get me some interviews to some of the schools I applied to. I am hoping that at the interview they will realize that I am not "verbally challenged" and realize that this was just a bad section. It really does seem like something is a little off on many of the B verbal scores.

 

[inside_edition]

I too had form BS and ended up with a very atypical breakdown. I received a 10 PS, 11 BS, and a 5 VR. On my AAMC tests prior to the test i was getting 30-31's. However, unlike some others on here I did think the verbal was one of the hardest verbal's that I have ever taken, just was not expecting a 5. Does anyone think that a re-score would be beneficial?

Also, how much will a 5 affect my application process? I still want to go through the process and feel like my overall score will still get me some interviews to some of the schools I applied to. I am hoping that at the interview they will realize that I am not "verbally challenged" and realize that this was just a bad section. It really does seem like something is a little off on many of the B verbal scores.

i also had form BG. and even with my overall score of a 30, i feel like i'm not gonna get in. just click on my mdapps profile

 

[ADeadLois]

I too had form BS and ended up with a very atypical breakdown. I received a 10 PS, 11 BS, and a 5 VR. On my AAMC tests prior to the test i was getting 30-31's. However, unlike some others on here I did think the verbal was one of the hardest verbal's that I have ever taken, just was not expecting a 5. Does anyone think that a re-score would be beneficial?

Also, how much will a 5 affect my application process? I still want to go through the process and feel like my overall score will still get me some interviews to some of the schools I applied to. I am hoping that at the interview they will realize that I am not "verbally challenged" and realize that this was just a bad section. It really does seem like something is a little off on many of the B verbal scores.

Not being "verbally challenged" and doing well on VR is very different. VR does not test your verbal aptitude (like the SATs) but rather your ability to critically analyze and reason an answer. Those qualities cannot be tested in an interview

The 5 on VR will be prohibitive and will probably warrant a retake. Your science aptitude seems excellent. But I would argue that a 9VR, 10 BS or PS is better than a 5 VR/14 BS or PS.

 

[Pshizzle]

The more i read this thread the more I think there was a mistake in your grading or bubbling. Although you may just be horribly unlucky and guessed wrong on alot of questions. Typically in VR there are 10 or so questions that i can eliminate down to 2 answers, and among those I answer correctly 70% of the time. That is the luck portion vital to every grade.

 

[DoctorSumday]

Yup, same here. I did pretty much the same on my BS as my practice tests, but my PS and VS were BOTH more than 3 points lower than my lowest practice test score. I am gonna have to take it again next April sadly. Unfortunately I have already applied to a zillion schools, so I am just gonna finish out the cycle. I still have secondaries left and it is so depressing filling them out knowing they will probably never be read considering my numbers.
🙁

 

[Hassler]

If it only costs $50 and you are really uncomfortable with your score, then you should definitely ask for a regrade. Yes, $50 does sound like a lot but if it makes a difference to whether you get accepted or interviewed, then it is worth it. Your future is worth more than $50.

That said, it is probably rare that there is a scoring error. It's not like this is the first ever MCAT administered.

Good luck to all you future med students 👍

 

[akinf]

maybe, the curve was really harsh for your form... what form did you have?>

I had form DJ.

 

[gau232000]

Hello all,

I was wondering if any of you out there received very uncharacterisitc scores on this past August 2006 MCAT? I do not mean scores you didn't like, I am talking about people who have taken numerous practice AAMC exams as well as even having taken the MCAT before and received scores on the multiple choice section that are just not at all consistent with other scores.

I had form BS (series 32) and I know another that had BC and we received scores that were very uncharacterisitc of our past performance. Are there others of this series or form that received scores that were 3-4 pts (or more) from the usual? I am thinking about getting a rescore by hand but don't want to waste $50. Thank you.

I had a series 32 form and thought I performed really good on the bio section and was expecting like a 12 on that one since my usual average was a 12 on aamc; but I ended up getting a 10. I think I'll probably get it regraded because 1 or 2 points really means a lot to me since I am on the border with a composite of 28. I think its better to get it regraded than to suffer from mental dillema like may be it was not my exam?

 

[tp709]

maybe a 'harder' section doesn't necessarily mean there will be a more generous curve, as we'd like to think. My test (CF) had by far the hardest PS section I had ever taken (of all the aamc practice tests), which many people on SDN seemed to agree with, which I thought would = a better curve, but I ended up doing 3 pts worse than I normally do on that section, which is pretty significant. I did also end up doing 5pts lower than my average practice test, but that's life.

 

[xylem29]

I had a series 32 form and thought I performed really good on the bio section and was expecting like a 12 on that one since my usual average was a 12 on aamc; but I ended up getting a 10. I think I'll probably get it regraded because 1 or 2 points really means a lot to me since I am on the border with a composite of 28. I think its better to get it regraded than to suffer from mental dillema like may be it was not my exam?

yea, it's quite important - you'll be left wondering..."what if??" It is possible for the AAMC to make mistakes, perhaps you didn't bubble properly and the machine read it wrong...getting a hand-regrade would help in this scenario. $50 is nothing when u consider the importance of the test.

 

[Hassler]

yea, it's quite important - you'll be left wondering..."what if??" It is possible for the AAMC to make mistakes, perhaps you didn't bubble properly and the machine read it wrong...getting a hand-regrade would help in this scenario. $50 is nothing when u consider the importance of the test.

I think gau was trying to sound sarcastic.

 

[MadHopsMD]

That's true, but who knows. There are close to 40,000 people who write it, and its unreasonable to think none of that could have been a mistake. What if I bubbled in the wrong test form on my answer sheet? That would have a pretty significant impact. To me, even though it is my fault, that is something I could see being changed. If my mark is not changed, I know it had to have mis-bubbled because I am close to 100% certain I did not bomb VR like that. The only reason I am close to 100% instead of 100% is because it would be unreasonable of me to think mistakes don't happen.

If you "mis-bubbled" test form number, you will theoretically stand to get 25% correct in the whole test. ..that means on average you will score 60 x 0.25 (1 out 4 answer choices) = 15. A 6 is usually around 35 out of 60. This eliminates this theory.

Most likely what happened is you missed a bubble and ended up screwing up the bubbles in the middle somewhere. What is your strategy for bubbling? Bubble in the end, or after each passage or one at a time...? ONE PASSAGE WORTH 10 questions is all it takes to drop from a 10 to a 6.

This has happened to me once before on the practice tests...

Sadly though, this mistake you cant fix by asking them to remark🙁

 

[BruceWayne]

Does anyone know how long the re-grade takes? I didn't see that on AAMC's site. 😕

 

[kaybam20]

how do u go about it.

 

[FishHungry]

I've also wondered about the possibility of errors, but dismissed it as highly unlikely. Here's my story: Last six AAMC tests, 4-9, in order: 37, 38, 41, 44, 42, 44. My lowest score ever on PS was a 12. My lowest score on VR was also a 12, but I had been scoring 14s and 15s consistently on AAMC, Kaplan and EC Verbal tests for months. My August scores were 10s on VR and PS, and a 13 on BS (33S). Since I've always done very well on standardized tests, and felt quite good on test day, a 10+ point drop is kind of hard to swallow.

Any realistic ideas on why my real score would be so insanely different? (Besides the same old "you got nervous", "the real thing is harder") Are the AAMC tests that inaccurate of a predictor?

 

[akinf]

If you "mis-bubbled" test form number, you will theoretically stand to get 25% correct in the whole test. ..that means on average you will score 60 x 0.25 (1 out 4 answer choices) = 15. A 6 is usually around 35 out of 60. This eliminates this theory.

Most likely what happened is you missed a bubble and ended up screwing up the bubbles in the middle somewhere. What is your strategy for bubbling? Bubble in the end, or after each passage or one at a time...? ONE PASSAGE WORTH 10 questions is all it takes to drop from a 10 to a 6.

This has happened to me once before on the practice tests...

Sadly though, this mistake you cant fix by asking them to remark🙁

I bubble after each passage. However, I tell myself the number along with the letter before I bubble and as I physically bubble. I may have missed, but we'll see once they respond.

 

[akinf]

I've also wondered about the possibility of errors, but dismissed it as highly unlikely. Here's my story: Last six AAMC tests, 4-9, in order: 37, 38, 41, 44, 42, 44. My lowest score ever on PS was a 12. My lowest score on VR was also a 12, but I had been scoring 14s and 15s consistently on AAMC, Kaplan and EC Verbal tests for months. My August scores were 10s on VR and PS, and a 13 on BS (33S). Since I've always done very well on standardized tests, and felt quite good on test day, a 10+ point drop is kind of hard to swallow.

Any realistic ideas on why my real score would be so insanely different? (Besides the same old "you got nervous", "the real thing is harder") Are the AAMC tests that inaccurate of a predictor?

I think your case is a little different because I don't think it takes that many questions to go from a 15 to a 13. Maybe 3 or 4. In my case, you need a lot more questions to go from a 10 to 6. Yours seems easier to envision from my angle, but if you actually don't feel right about it, join the band-wagon and request a rescore. It's only $50.