Random comments posted by chandler742:
Yet, no one has received a 15 on VERBAL in over 5 years (I verified by calling MCAT 319-337-1357).
Actually, a 15 is an available score (I talked to a MCAT representative)
I posed my original question to the MCAT people and they said they could not answer that question because it is confidential.
It is just that no one has earned a 15.
However, they are not ruling out the possibility the person could have earned a 15.
Perhaps because I am an ignoramus and charlatan, I am not mentally developed enough to decipher beyond the contradictions here. It seems to me that you are saying it's all highly confidential, a representative in Iowa has access to statistical information handled in Washington D.C., and you were able to pull a Jedi mind trick to get a fact out of them. I am impressed that you were able to extract score information from the site that handles the registration and administration aspects.
You are truly amazing Chandler, and without a doubt the smartest person in the entire world. I think it's remarkable that you would share with us the secrets of how to contact people by phone and then teach us how to understand the complicated message you are sharing. Thank you so much oh brilliant one.
I hope I don't offend your deity-like ego here, because I actually have a few pieces of
highly confidential information available exclusively to people with opposable digits and coordination skills high enough to type their web address. Despite the limitations caused by my neo-Cambrian development, I was able to access the information as well. Also, I called a few years ago for statistics, and the representative at the Iowa number told me that all statistical information was available at their Washington D.C. office, where they were in charge of that aspect of the exam. They told me to speak to Jack Hackset, the person most qualified (besides you of course) to tell me about the exam scoring. I had to obtain information through that channel. I think it's just amazing that you could pull the Jedi mind trick on the Iowa person and get an answer.
Anyhoo, here is what I learned from Mr. Hackset:
In April of 1991, there were a substantial number of perfect verbal raw scores. This truncated the top of the distribution. Their solution was to assign a 13-15 to the entire group. Since that time, to maintain uniformity for people applying to medical school from different administration of the MCAT, they have maintianed that same scale maximum.
There is nothing more and nothing less according to him, but apparently you have discovered a deeper conspiricy going on. I suspect you know that all scoring was actually done by Arthur Anderson and they are trying to keep it a secret. I do hope you share, although I doubt I have the cerebral development necessary to comprehend your brilliance.
So, based on what Mr. Hackset told me, I can onyl assume that the shift to a new test, whether it be out of 60 questions or 1000 questions, forces the issue to establish a new curve. I have no idea about the plans to include a few
harder verbal questions to separate the top students, but I do know that they are free to set a new curve now. I also know that Doc Oct is 100% correct in his assessment of the statistics associated with an exam. The fact that they can quantify how many students choose an answer and make the quantum leap to determine that more errors are associated with harder questions is amazing, but I suspect that as Doc Oct suggests, that is exactly what they'll do.
NOTE to everyone besides Chandler
I apologize for the sarcastic tone (one that is out of character at a site where people help one another), but I find this pompous windbag to be annoying, and feel that such a reply as this is warranted each time he posts his drivel. Please accept my apology if my tone does not match the
feel good nature of the site and the caring attitude that Tweetie sets.
