stats nerds: Can test date affect your MCAT score (due to national avg,SD,med)?

[Lecter]

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When you MCAT score is generated, what test dates factor into the mean against which your score is compared? They can't be using identical copies of the test multiple times, so the stats must be from a single day only.

if this is the case, and the national mean = the nat'l mean on the day you took the exam, couldn't the SD and/or national mean be different at different times of the year? That could mean, (just an example) that 80% of the questions right on the BS section in April might be a 9, while in August it could be a 10. Of course it would be harder to change your score the closer it is to the median, but you get what i'm saying?

What time of year do you think the mean is lowest, and when do you think the SD is least? i would think the mean is least in the spring but conversely the SD is largest in the spring.

These are the things that run through my mind when i study 😛

 

[Vihsadas]

It cannot (at least not significantly). My understanding of how this works is that curve for your test is more or less set before you even sit down. Since the AAMC reuses passages and it has for the past 20 years, the curves for all test-takers from all years is used to generate the curve for your test form. There are specific rules methods with regards to how they do this when they mix and match passages but there are statistical ways to make sure that the curve is as accurate as possible. They DO adjust the curve based on the test takers for your particular test day and test form, but the effect on the overall curve is probably nearly insignificant because of how many years the test has been administered. I also know that the same test form can be used for multiple testing days so the curve from year to year probably doesn't shift because of 'test day bias' over numerous years. The sample size is large enough where it probably wouldn't matter anyway.

 

[SDN2013]

yo lecter can I buy a pirated version of audio osmosis?

what a stupid way to advertise that you are trying to ILLEGALLY sell pirated material, by having it in ur sig.

 

[Lecter]

yo lecter can I buy a pirated version of audio osmosis?

what a stupid way to advertise that you are trying to ILLEGALLY sell pirated material, by having it in ur sig.

What are you talking about? they were originals, and have already been sold.

 

[drcoxer]

What are you talking about? they were originals, and have already been sold.

haha it's so easy to download it. no i did not do this myself. yes...it is illegal tho. if you are seriously poor tho and can't afford $125 for an audio cd, i don't see why it's completely unethical. for example, in Saudi Arabia they cutoff your hand for stealing, BUT if you are actually poor and cannot afford your own food, they will not apply that law since then it is not deemed unethical.

 

[Tired]

haha it's so easy to download it. no i did not do this myself. yes...it is illegal tho. if you are seriously poor tho and can't afford $125 for an audio cd, i don't see why it's completely unethical. for example, in Saudi Arabia they cutoff your hand for stealing, BUT if you are actually poor and cannot afford your own food, they will not apply that law since then it is not deemed unethical.

Thank you for the most nonsensical post of the night.

 

[tncekm]

Thank you for the most nonsensical post of the night.

I have to agree.

And since when do we look to Saudi Arabia, where a woman can be stoned to death for having been raped, for ethical advice?

 

[pingouin]

aaaaaaaaand.... back to our regularly scheduled topic...

 

[RoadRunner17]

I gotta say... doubtful... even if the AAMC decides to generously release this information for each test date... it would still be hard. Too bad I'm no statboy. Just take the test and be done with it, that's what I say.

 

[SDN2013]

yea I think I read somewhere a girl got killed because his dad caught her on facebook..

 

[drcoxer]

I have to agree.

And since when do we look to Saudi Arabia, where a woman can be stoned to death for having been raped, for ethical advice?

haha, true but actually saudi arabia doesn't correctly follow the laws ethically. they still cutoff your hand even if you are poor. the initial RELIGIOUS law, tho, where the handchopping came from was what i mentioned above. saudi arabia doesn't actually follow the true law tho. 😡 because yes, saudi arabia is corrupt and run by rich royalty.

yea i contradicted myself since I said Saudi Arabia followed that law. what i meant to say is that's the way the law is SUPPOSED to be. if they actually followed, it's completely logical. just like why if you can't afford a $125 cd it shouldn't be unethical to get it for free. it should only be illegal on those who can afford it yet still download it. IMO, makes perfect sense to me

 

[bozz]

If someone knew which test date was best, everyone would take it then

lol I used to try and figure this stuff out for myself.. but in the end.. it doesn't even matter

 

[Lecter]

If someone knew which test date was best, everyone would take it then

lol I used to try and figure this stuff out for myself.. but in the end.. it doesn't even matter

Right, and then there would be a psychological paradox and we'd all be fcuked and have to settle for valid scores. 😛

 

[RapplixGmed]

If you go back and look at the data (back when they released individual test date data), april scores are usually slightly higher than august scores. The difference is close enough to be insignificant though. Additionally, the august scores are probably skewed by those who didn't do so well on the april test and are retaking... and not doing well the second time as well.