Time on MCAT vs. Time on Boards

[Taliesinrk]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I know there are a few threads already comparing the MCAT to the boards, but, despite the question arising a couple times, each fails to address the time comparison from the MCAT to the boards.

I know that many who've taken the MCAT have struggled with their strict time demands, and I was wondering if the boards were essentially the same, or perhaps a bit more forgiving? I believe that the boards aren't passage based like the MCAT, so this could be a contributing factor.

Any insight is welcomed.. thanks

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I think they're similar in time alottment.

 

[45408]

I came a lot closer to the time limit on the boards than on the MCAT, but I finished each section on each test with a few minutes.

 

[MoosePilot]

I was somewhat close to time on each section on the MCAT. Finished Step I with hours to spare. I think I was out of there in 5 hours.

 

[The Angriest Bird]

Objective Data:

MCAT: 2-3 hours a day for about 10 months
Physics = 12
Biology = 13
Verbal = 8 (Excuse: English is not my native language)

Step I: 8-10 hours a day for 6 weeks
NBME 2 weeks out = 226
Actualy Score = 245/99

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

I struggled more with time on the MCAT, but I took it back in the old "paper" days and taking Step 1 on the computer seemed much more natural (no filling bubbles, checking to make sure I hadn't skipped questions miss checked whole stretches of questions).

 

[njbmd]

Completed Step I in 5 hours (didn't take any breaks).
Completed Step II in 5 hours (didn't take any breaks).
Completed Step III in 5 hours on Day I and 4 hours on day II.

Didn't have any time problems on MCAT and finished with plenty of time to spare (did the paper exam).

 

[The Angriest Bird]

I'm sorry for misunderstanding the OP.

I took the paper-n-pencil version of the MCAT. On the science section, I finished 40 minutes earlier. On verbal, time was an issue for me, because I plainly suck at verbal.

For me and most people I know, time is not a problem for Step I. You will do so many practice questions by using the same time restriction, so you should know the pace extremely well. I finished 5-10 minutes early on all 7 blocks.

 

[Flaxmoore]

My school schedules exams at the same question/time pace as Step I, so hopefully that will help.

 

[deleted77919]

…

 

[Long Dong]

Completed Step I in 5 hours (didn't take any breaks).
Completed Step II in 5 hours (didn't take any breaks).
Completed Step III in 5 hours on Day I and 4 hours on day II.

Didn't have any time problems on MCAT and finished with plenty of time to spare (did the paper exam).

Step 1 took all the time given
Step 2 took all the time given
Step 3 took all the time given
Did not have enough time to finish on quit a few blocks on all steps. I can't go 5 hours without food or bathroom.

MCAT did not have plenty of time to finish (took paper exam).