- Joined
- Jan 16, 2012
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
I had a buddy take the MCAT on a different day and we're certain we had at least one of the same passages. This gives me confidence that they re-use passages to a degree. But, what I don't think people realize is that for each passage they write they most likely have a
large bank of questions that vary in difficulty and in what concepts are tested. In compiling a test, they choose from a large bank of passages and then they choose specific questions for each passage from their large bank of questions. This allows them to make sure that they test different concepts on a given test and that balance the test out in terms of difficulty. I can go into more detail why I think this is the way it's done, but I'll stop there unless people are interested in hearing more.
I also don't know who ever perpetuated the idea that the "experimental" questions are the "hard" ones. That holds no weight at all. The easiest question on the test is just as likely to be experimental as the hardest question. Also, I am utterly against the idea that ENTIRE passages are experimental. The Official Guide To the MCAT says there are experimental "items." In my opinion, there are only individual questions that are experimental. These questions are those that haven't shown up on an MCAT before and therefore need to be controlled for question wording, etc... to make sure they are properly suited for non-experimental items within a test in the future. They also probably use these items to help determine the difficulty of the experimental question. For example, if only 30% get it right, then they know this question can be classified as "Hard". This also feeds into my theory that they have a larger bank of questions per passage than what is seen on a given test.
Finally, I doubt that there is any more than 4 experimental QUESTIONS on the entire exam. If there were more than that than leaves an increasingly small amount of questions available from which they determine your score. Think of the Practice AAMC tests: for scores of 14 and 15, there's usually a 1-2 question buffer in achieving each new score. If you suddenly take out 4 or 5 questions on a given section, where does that buffer stand? Less than 1 question difference per score step? Even a 1 question difference is probably so statistically insignificant that they wouldn't feel as comfortable assigning someone a higher score. They want as much room as possible to distinguish one person's score from another.
Ugh thinking back to PS and I feel like I messed up some more discretes...
25 days starting tomorrow
Please stop counting down
haha because you think it feels longer that way or you don't want scores back?
I don't often post, but I need to correct you here. I'm a retaker from 5/19 (my first MCAT was Aug 2011), and I know for a fact that they reuse questions. I know this because one of the questions I received on my second MCAT was used verbatim on my first one. And it's not a vague recollection, it was the exact same question (I know this because I agonized over that question for a long time the first time I wrote the exam).
tdlr: They reuse questions. Why do you think they're so strict about the non-disclosure agreement?
Haha yeah it makes it seem wayyy longer. It's whatever lol.
And I keep running into a problem. Only averaged a 34 until getting a 36 on AAMC 11, and while I think I peaked on the actual MCAT, I think I'm setting my expectations too high. I've been reading a lot about schools like Cornell, Vandy, Stanford, and Mayo lately...and I'm getting a little too excited here. Might be setting myself up for some disappointment.
I recant. I figured they wouldn't reuse questions since people are kinda chatty and there is probably rampant sharing already. Oh well.
I had a buddy take the MCAT on a different day and we're certain we had at least one of the same passages. This gives me confidence that they re-use passages to a degree. But, what I don't think people realize is that for each passage they write they most likely have a
large bank of questions that vary in difficulty and in what concepts are tested. In compiling a test, they choose from a large bank of passages and then they choose specific questions for each passage from their large bank of questions. This allows them to make sure that they test different concepts on a given test and that balance the test out in terms of difficulty. I can go into more detail why I think this is the way it's done, but I'll stop there unless people are interested in hearing more.
I also don't know who ever perpetuated the idea that the "experimental" questions are the "hard" ones. That holds no weight at all. The easiest question on the test is just as likely to be experimental as the hardest question. Also, I am utterly against the idea that ENTIRE passages are experimental. The Official Guide To the MCAT says there are experimental "items." In my opinion, there are only individual questions that are experimental. These questions are those that haven't shown up on an MCAT before and therefore need to be controlled for question wording, etc... to make sure they are properly suited for non-experimental items within a test in the future. They also probably use these items to help determine the difficulty of the experimental question. For example, if only 30% get it right, then they know this question can be classified as "Hard". This also feeds into my theory that they have a larger bank of questions per passage than what is seen on a given test.
Finally, I doubt that there is any more than 4 experimental QUESTIONS on the entire exam. If there were more than that than leaves an increasingly small amount of questions available from which they determine your score. Think of the Practice AAMC tests: for scores of 14 and 15, there's usually a 1-2 question buffer in achieving each new score. If you suddenly take out 4 or 5 questions on a given section, where does that buffer stand? Less than 1 question difference per score step? Even a 1 question difference is probably so statistically insignificant that they wouldn't feel as comfortable assigning someone a higher score. They want as much room as possible to distinguish one person's score from another.
I agree, thought the test was more on the challenging side. Hope the curve compensates it..
Then I'll kindly let you know you should stand for a pleasant surprise
My expectations just keep dropping and dropping. My research will start up this week though so I can stop beating myself up all afternoon and my two summer classes are getting a little more intense. Still, lots of free time to kill.
Did you guys with relatively low GPAs take hard (honours perhaps?) majors? If you have the capability to get >35 MCAT scores then it shouldn't make sense for you not to have 3.8+ cGPA unless you really had it rough over the last 3 or 4 years of UG.
I mean, I'm biochem major, been procrastinating more than I could care to admit, but my cGPA is still sitting around 3.85. Not great (some peers have 3.95+ GPAs in my major) but not disappointing either.
I have no clue as to how different / more difficult Grad is compared to UG though, so perhaps that plays a role here.
Depend on the grad program. Most are easier than UG since they are more health-related and less diverse, the Professors tend to curve more. HOWEVER, the materials can be much in depth and denser. Students in Grad are usually more mature and focused which lead to a lot of high marks.
I did a grad program and has taken a med course. Med course aren't necessarily as conceptually challenge as some undergrad course, BUT the instructor tend to cover more stuffs(like present you with more research focused areas that are related) and more volume.
Haha yeah it makes it seem wayyy longer. It's whatever lol.
And I keep running into a problem. Only averaged a 34 until getting a 36 on AAMC 11, and while I think I peaked on the actual MCAT, I think I'm setting my expectations too high. I've been reading a lot about schools like Cornell, Vandy, Stanford, and Mayo lately...and I'm getting a little too excited here. Might be setting myself up for some disappointment.
guys i am nervous for the 5/12/12ers to get their scores tomorrow. I feel like I will get freaked out my all of the people who did worse then their average but not really feel better or connected with the people who did better than their average!
Why is that? I am setting myself up for miseeerrryyyyy!!! D:
Anyone else scared for this poor poor group of unsuspecting pre-meds?!
I keep thinking what it will be like for them, actually going to the mcat website and their scores will just be there. I get nervous just picturing it.. 3 more weeks for us, oh how time doesn't fly.
I feel like I'm going to be the - 3 from my aamc average. Still clinging to the possibility of +2 or +3 from my average, I'll be ok with average, anything below and I'll start thinking retake.
PS catzz if you were a chemistry nerd your sig would say: if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the precipitate
Hey all,
I have been a leaching off of this tread for moral support for months now, but I never really brought myself to register....so now:
He is my feeling after the weeks have dulled my memory,
PS was calculation skewed, had to guess 3-4 at the end, but the content was not difficult
VB- finished on time, but really only was going off intuition
BS- Hardest of the bunch, yes that passage took most of my time and I didnt feel comfortable with it
As for the number of people posting on the tread, I know many more are viewing and have stuff to add but for what ever reason.
Regarding the "not counted" questions, It doesn't make sense that they would have those in passages. Wouldn't it make since that they would be found in the solos because its meant to gauge how much of the population of test takers know the answer?
My stats: I started with 3 and ended at 11
avg 28 that spanned all practices
High 32 on test 10
Low 24 on test 6 I think
____________________
Feel like I got a 23, but IDK
Hey all,
I have been a leaching off of this tread for moral support for months now, but I never really brought myself to register....so now:
He is my feeling after the weeks have dulled my memory,
PS was calculation skewed, had to guess 3-4 at the end, but the content was not difficult
VB- finished on time, but really only was going off intuition
BS- Hardest of the bunch, yes that passage took most of my time and I didnt feel comfortable with it
As for the number of people posting on the tread, I know many more are viewing and have stuff to add but for what ever reason.
Regarding the "not counted" questions, It doesn't make sense that they would have those in passages. Wouldn't it make since that they would be found in the solos because its meant to gauge how much of the population of test takers know the answer?
My stats: I started with 3 and ended at 11
avg 28 that spanned all practices
High 32 on test 10
Low 24 on test 6 I think
____________________
Feel like I got a 23, but IDK
I thought verbal was pretty tough....
Agreed, I thought overall the difficulty was harder than any of the aamc's and I am most unsure about this section.
So...you're saying that in general those who go on to do grad after UG tend to have a boost in cumulative grades? My major / university is full of over-achievers then, as my 3.85 cGPA feels mediocre amongst my peers.
Not necessarily. I have peers who have made the same mistakes as they did in undergrad. But gpa in grad tend to be around 3.5 +/-1 ...assuming you are only doing grad courses. However, most on SDN who did grad(smp) took medical school courses which are significantly harder than UG just because of volume. I think by doing well in med courses really distinguish you from other students who did grad. There is no inflation nor any curves given in those courses..at least the ones my friends and I took.
I don't know maybe your university/major has grade inflation?
Wow longest week of my life.. until the week before our scores.
Did anyone/everyone see what someone from 5/19 posted about how they score the mcat? I knew they didn't curve it based on our testers but I thought it was based off of a preset curve. I guess there is still some sort of cut-off that determines where a 13 ends and 14 starts but I didn't know that harder questions were worth more than easier questions. I'm actually kind of happy about that, I feel like I messed up several easy discretes, but who knows.
T minus 2 weeks.. hasn't really hit me yet that we're getting our scores soon and will hopefully be done with this monster... heavy anxiety should kick in by next weekend.
Haha ikr, I just want to know so I can relax or set up a retake. Going to party with some friends two weeks after scores are out so I'll either still be celebrating or still a bit disgruntled about studying again.
I still feel like my scores could range anywhere within like a 14 point range.
Haha, it was quiet without you guys. How did they justify suspending your accounts?