The MCAT is changing: for better or worse?

The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is a standardized test taken by individuals who wish to apply to most medical schools in the United States and Canada. 

The MCAT was created in 1928 and has undergone four major revisions since, based on the changing pace of medicine and health care. The last time it went through a major change was in 1991. It was also subject to minor changes in 2003 and 2007. 

The biggest update to the MCAT in more than 20 years will take place in early 2015, and will place a greater emphasis to the humanities and social sciences. The new version will address the importance of social and behavioural health determinants.

Dr. Wanda Parsons, Assistant Dean for Admissions at Memorial University of Newfoundland, commented, “Prospective medical students need to understand the importance of socio-cultural and behavioural determinants of health and health outcomes in order to serve a diverse population.” Parsons added, “The Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behaviour (PSBB) section of the new MCAT emphasizes these important concepts.” 

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the newer version of the MCAT also “gives examinees more working time per question than [that provided by] the current exam.”

However, the test is becoming a lot longer. The seated time is increasing from around five hours to seven and a half hours. This places a larger burden on pre-medical students, who are already stressed by the difficult requirements of medical school applications. 

“It’s going to be different, but not necessarily more difficult,” emphasized Parsons.  She said, “ The new MCAT will test both the natural sciences and the social sciences which will encourage students from a wide variety of different programs to apply to medicine to provide a diverse student body.”

Parsons added, “In accordance with the Future of Medical Education in Canada (FMEC) collective vision for MD Education, our admissions process looks not only at cognitive abilities but also personal qualities such as communication and collaboration.” 

In addition to MCAT scores, medical schools also take into account transcripts, courses taken, and other academic information regarding applicants. Parsons added, “The MCAT is only one part of this large holistic process when it comes to medical school admissions.”  

A popular method of studying for the MCAT is through preparatory companies such as Kaplan or Princeton Review that offer study guides and courses. 

However, there are several sources where students can access free resources to prepare themselves for the new MCAT. Parsons suggests that students refer to the AAMC website and make use of free and independent resources, such as Khan Academy.