Under what circumstances should you void your exam?

[fas376]

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I took AAMC 8 and didn't feel comfortable with it at all. Had this been the real exam, I would have voided for sure. Turns out I got a 33. My goal is a 30+ so this turned out to be way better than I had expected. About a week or two ago, I took an AAMC and thought the verbal wasn't too bad - I ended up scoring a 6 in that section.

It seems like there's no way to know how well you did, so when would it be appropriate to actually void an exam? (assuming there's no crazy circumstances like an earthquake or your grandmother getting hit by a bus)

 

[Melomare17]

I took AAMC 8 and didn't feel comfortable with it at all. Had this been the real exam, I would have voided for sure. Turns out I got a 33. My goal is a 30+ so this turned out to be way better than I had expected. About a week or two ago, I took an AAMC and thought the verbal wasn't too bad - I ended up scoring a 6 in that section.

It seems like there's no way to know how well you did, so when would it be appropriate to actually void an exam? (assuming there's no crazy circumstances like an earthquake or your grandmother getting hit by a bus)

i say if you couldn't finish all 3 sections and couldn't answer 3+ on each before time ran out that should be an indicator of voiding, otherwise just don't, you will kick yourself for it forever thinking how you could have just not voided and known you got 30+

 

[pfaction]

33! Ridiculously awesome.

 

[fas376]

33! Ridiculously awesome.

Not as awesome as you, baby

 

[folktale]

I haven't really thought about voiding at all. I always feel like I did pretty bad on all the last AAMC practice tests myself, and I end up getting better results than I would expect.

 

[pfaction]

Haha, 33 is my highest score too, but on AAMC5. If I get a 34, I apply to MD/PhD schools everywhere, esp NY. If I get lower, only MD in NY, MD/PhD broadly. So if I don't get at least a 32 I don't think I'm getting in NY at all. I think you need a 32 in addition to the regular stuff to be offered an interview and seem strong.

 

[jevo]

Under no circumstances am I going to void. I pushed my test back to July 6th and I'm definitely applying this year, regardless of my mcat score (inb4 I score <20 lol). So for me, it's all or bust.

 

[typicalindian]

I think if it's your first time taking the MCAT, and you actually finish each section without randomly guessing on entire passages. Then you should take what you get. However, if it's not your first time taking it then you should probably void because you wouldn't want your second score to be lower than your first.

 

[fas376]

Good point. It's my first test, so I guess you're right. Probably not a good idea to void

 

[typicalindian]

Good point. It's my first test, so I guess you're right. Probably not a good idea to void

yeah I mean let's be honest, who actually comes out of the MCAT feeling great? Anyone that says they feel great after taking their MCAT is either lying or someone who needs to get smacked

 

[fas376]

yeah I mean let's be honest, who actually comes out of the MCAT feeling great? Anyone that says they feel great after taking their MCAT is either lying or someone who needs to get smacked

well said 😀

 

[kryptonian]

I took AAMC 8 and didn't feel comfortable with it at all. Had this been the real exam, I would have voided for sure. Turns out I got a 33. My goal is a 30+ so this turned out to be way better than I had expected. About a week or two ago, I took an AAMC and thought the verbal wasn't too bad - I ended up scoring a 6 in that section.

It seems like there's no way to know how well you did, so when would it be appropriate to actually void an exam? (assuming there's no crazy circumstances like an earthquake or your grandmother getting hit by a bus)

I think you shouldn't void unless you randomly guess on 5+ passages out of the entire test. Prepping for this test is time-consuming and the mood around it is depressing. If you void, you have to spend at least another month on it while everyone else is working on their application, which sets you behind everyone. This is not to say you should keep going blindly forward but void only in the above circumstance, IMO.

Haha, 33 is my highest score too, but on AAMC5. If I get a 34, I apply to MD/PhD schools everywhere, esp NY. If I get lower, only MD in NY, MD/PhD broadly. So if I don't get at least a 32 I don't think I'm getting in NY at all. I think you need a 32 in addition to the regular stuff to be offered an interview and seem strong.

I don't think a 32 on MCAT makes you seem strong. A 34 is considered to be average for MD/PhD. A 36 will make you look strong, but definitely not a 32, unless you have outstanding research record and soaring GPA.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

If you look at many posts in this forum, TONS of people felt crappy coming out of their exam and ended up scoring 35+. At the same time, a good number of people also were spot-on with their feelings.

Moral of the story? Don't trust your post-test emotions. Trust in your preparation and how you felt going through the exam, and even then that might not be accurate. Like stated in other posts, void only if you feel like you completely guessed on a good number of passages. But as you take more FLs, you'll see how you react to the test. Good luck!

 

[fas376]

I think you shouldn't void unless you randomly guess on 5+ passages out of the entire test. Prepping for this test is time-consuming and the mood around it is depressing. If you void, you have to spend at least another month on it while everyone else is working on their application, which sets you behind everyone. This is not to say you should keep going blindly forward but void only in the above circumstance, IMO.

That's a really good point. I want my apps submitted by May 15th, and if I postpone, I probably wouldn't be able to send them in until early-mid June. Thanks mate

 

[fas376]

If you look at many posts in this forum, TONS of people felt crappy coming out of their exam and ended up scoring 35+. At the same time, a good number of people also were spot-on with their feelings.

Moral of the story? Don't trust your post-test emotions. Trust in your preparation and how you felt going through the exam, and even then that might not be accurate. Like stated in other posts, void only if you feel like you completely guessed on a good number of passages. But as you take more FLs, you'll see how you react to the test. Good luck!

Thanks man!

 

[kryptonian]

That's a really good point. I want my apps submitted by May 15th, and if I postpone, I probably wouldn't be able to send them in until early-mid June. Thanks mate

lol you're kidding again, aren't you ? I thought AMCAS would be submittable on June 5th this year.

 

[fas376]

lol you're kidding again, aren't you ? I thought AMCAS would be submittable on June 5th this year.

Nah bro, I'm from Texas. TMDSAS opens up May 1st (even more reason for me to not void it).

 

[kryptonian]

Nah bro, I'm from Texas. TMDSAS opens up May 1st (even more reason for me to not void it).

I see. I forgot you're from Texas. Let's work hard and kill the beast once and for all, bro !

 

[Cinclus]

yeah I mean let's be honest, who actually comes out of the MCAT feeling great? Anyone that says they feel great after taking their MCAT is either lying or someone who needs to get smacked

I felt like I'd been hit by a bus, and I didn't feel that my performance had been very strong. Upon receiving my score one month later, I was incredibly and unexpectedly happy. It's a feel-bad test, for sure.

 

[fas376]

I see. I forgot you're from Texas. Let's work hard and kill the beast once and for all, bro !

Let's own this shi.t!

 

[typicalindian]

I felt like I'd been hit by a bus, and I didn't feel that my performance had been very strong. Upon receiving my score one month later, I was incredibly and unexpectedly happy. It's a feel-bad test, for sure.

This is how I imagine you:
Day of test: "IDK man I think I may have bombed that thing, definitely less than 20"
one month later " holy **** I got a 39 😱 "

 

[Cinclus]

This is how I imagine you:
Day of test: "IDK man I think I may have bombed that thing, definitely less than 20"
one month later " holy **** I got a 39 😱 "

That was pretty much my "one month later" reaction.

 

[chemhead123]

Unless you have a meltdown, there is a natural disaster, you don't finish 2 out of the 3 sections, or you had to completely guess on 4+ questions on each section, you should void.

Otherwise... I think you should know whether or not you are going to void the exam before taking it. For instance, I knew I wasn't ready to take the MCAT last year because of the lack of preparation, but I decided that I was going to take it anyways and void it for the experience. I went in, skipped the writing section and did the whole exam. Voided it and now I know what to expect this year.

It was a good, costly, but good experience.

 

[notbobtrustme]

vomitting blood is a good sign that you should void (happened to the kid in the next booth to me).