cokezero Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 I was wondering if anyone who has written the MCAT can share the format of the testing day. Is each section (e.g. verbal, biological) done in a certain time period? Or can you switch back and forth between sections during the time allotted to write the test and choose how much time you want to spend on each section? If the sections are timed, in what order do you write the sections? What is the length of the test in total? The reason I am asking is because I was planning on just writing the verbal portion of the MCAT this summer, and I had called the AAMC and they said I could just write the verbal section. Then, on further communication with the AAMC, they changed their minds and told me that I could not just write the verbal section and that I had to sit for the "entire" test. So understandably, I am confused, and a little peeved that I paid the fee to write the test with the understanding that I could just write the verbal section, which I now apparently can not do. If any experienced MCAT writers could shed some light on this situation for an MCAT newbie such as myself, it would be much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanillabear Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 If you paid the fee then you also agreed to the fact that you've read the "MCAT Essentials" PDF. If you even GLANCED at that PDF, you would have the answers to all of your questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wan2BMD Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 When the test begins, the clock starts ticking. The first section is the physical sciences, then VR, followed by writing sample and lastly biological sciences. Technically, you could sit through the PS and watch the timer count down without actually completing the test - then start the VR when it's time. You cannot skip between sections. A bit of advice: You have an optional 10 minute break between sections so make sure you're back in your seat before the next section begins because the test starts automatically after 10 mins and you'll lose time off of your section if you're not there. I wrote for the VR only as well but I decided to do the entire test anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obi Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 ...Why don't you just click through random answers and then hit submit. It will trigger your 10 minute break, then you properly write verbal, then just write a random funny story for the writing samples, then just click random anwers for bio and hit submit... It'll take you like an hour extra tops (mostly just the clicking and thinking of a funny story to amuse the marker) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cokezero Posted July 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 Wan2BMD/obi - Thanks for the advice! And just to clarify, if you finish a section before the allotted time runs out, you are free to begin the next section whenever you want? Or do you have to wait for the allotted time for each section to run out before starting the next section? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wan2BMD Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 If memory serves me right, I believe you can. I know you have the option of skipping the break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatonekid Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 If memory serves me right, I believe you can. I know you have the option of skipping the break.That's correct. You can end each section whenever you want and move on to the next section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockey_whiz Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 they offer ear plugs at every location, right? my friend said he had a lot of difficulty concentrating on the VR when people ahead of him were on the written sample typing away. edit: he also mentioned that he was never offered earplugs at his location... so i'm just wondering if all locations offer them or should we bring our own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mithril Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 You can bring your own but they have to be in the package and inspected from what I remember. Some testing locations offer earplugs and some don't, but I would never use those dirty earplugs anyways. My testing location offered industrial earmuffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lekarza Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 I took the MCAT for the verbal section only last year as well. I had zero background in physical sciences so I just put 'C' for every answer. I also took it as an opportunity to try out the writing section. Then for bio I put 'C' for all the orgo questions, and tried a couple of the paragraphs that were on topics I was familiar with. If you have to pay the entire test fee anyways, might as well take a peek at the other sections. The only problem is that you end up with an extremely odd looking test score lol. Just out of curiosity what were your scores for the sections you chose c for? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rar Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Instead of putting in random answers, I think you can just end the section with all questions left incomplete.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AccountantGirl Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 I am was just wondering about this today... So you can just write for the verbal? Do you think it looks worse to score zero or just badly if you try and don't do well? I'm struggling with this. Is it common to only write the verbal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilirubin3 Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Only doing verbal will severely limit your chances of acceptance, for the Ontario schools I think you can only apply to McMaster and Ottawa if I'm not mistaken. I only know a few people that tried this, and I don't think any of them got into any schools. If you are serious about going into medicine I think you should at least try to make cutoffs, as it will increase your chances of acceptance to a Candian school by about four-fold. Also, you need to know alot of the science anyways for med school, so you might as well learn it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
04291991 Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 I am was just wondering about this today... So you can just write for the verbal? Do you think it looks worse to score zero or just badly if you try and don't do well? I'm struggling with this. Is it common to only write the verbal? i guess it's a legitimate plan because it'll save time for studying all the sciences and also saves you from being worn out by doing 70 mins of PS psgs... FWIW I'd only do this under these 2 conditions. 1) Verbal is ma $hit and I finna get a 13 no problem. 2) I don't care about UWO, Queens, NOSM, UT...I only wanna go to Mac or Ottawa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AccountantGirl Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 You don't need the MCAT for NOSM. I'm planning to apply to U of C and NOSM this year (I'm northern and aboriginal). U of C now only uses the VR section and MCAT is not required for NOSM that was why I was wondering if I should just focus on acing verbal and not worry about the rest since I haven't been in uni for over 7 years. It was just a passing thought since I probably have already covered 1/2 the other material and don't write until Sept 10. I was just wondering what other non science people do who are only applying to places that use only the VR section. Thanks for the info... :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cokezero Posted July 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Instead of putting in random answers, I think you can just end the section with all questions left incomplete.. I actually spoke to someone at the AAMC about this on the phone, and apparently you have to answer at least one question in each section of the MCAT n in order for your test to be valid. Not sure why, but that's what they told me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AccountantGirl Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 I don't know anything for sure yet.. I was going to phone the admissions office but am waiting for the new applicant manual to come out. It was pretty vague in the document yesterday I thought...?? Do you think it does count then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBoss Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Honestly, if you only want your verbal score, I think the best way to do it would be to skip the other sections completely, if possible. It's unlikely that your science section scores will be anywhere near competitive if you're not properly prepared for them, and no schools average your MCAT scores. If you ever apply to e.g. US med schools where your scores are evaluated subjectively, you want it to be obvious that you weren't trying the first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockey_whiz Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 I don't know anything for sure yet.. I was going to phone the admissions office but am waiting for the new applicant manual to come out. It was pretty vague in the document yesterday I thought...?? Do you think it does count then? i believe your overall MCAT score does count towards the subjective component, in the file that dr.walker uploaded, there were lines that mentioned "if a music student scored a 12 in BS, then that is significant" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AccountantGirl Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Ahh yes.. :-) I think I can meet the cut offs since my practice scores have been decent but man, I am just exhausted from learning all of this basic science stuff again, probably never to have to remember much of it again... But I'm willing to do it for a chance at my dream.. Keep plugging away and no more random thoughts about skipping other sections I guess!! I may want to apply elsewhere next year too and I only want to write this thing once so I might as well just do the whole thing and try my hardest!! Thanks for the advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockey_whiz Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 You can bring your own but they have to be in the package and inspected from what I remember. Some testing locations offer earplugs and some don't, but I would never use those dirty earplugs anyways. My testing location offered industrial earmuffs. lol! industrial earmuffs wooooow nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebriz Posted July 12, 2011 Report Share Posted July 12, 2011 Capn Crunch Man.. you do know that you can purchase online tests (real old exams) from aamc for 35 dollers right?? Just think that that would be a better way to see what a real exam was like for a whole lot cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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