The MCAT2015 Exam:
The Basics for Advisors
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
Presented By: Billy R. Ballard, DDS, MD
Deputy Director, HRSA Center of Excellence
Program
Professor and Chair, Department of
Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology
MCAT ® is a program of the
Association of American Medical Colleges
What We’ll Cover
•
•
•
•
Creating the MCAT2015 Exam
Introducing the MCAT2015 Exam
Changes in Test Administration and Reporting
Resources for You and Your Advisees
We’ll stop for questions after each topic.
2
Creating the MCAT2015 Exam
3
The Broader Context
The new MCAT exam
means change for all of
us.
Planting seeds for a
physician workforce to
improve the health of all.
Transforming
admissions to keep
pace with healthcare.
Transforming Medical
School Admissions
Improving the holistic review of students….
Academic Competencies
• Courses completed
• Undergraduate grades
• MCAT Scores
Personal Competencies
• Personal statements
• Letters of
recommendation
• Reflections on
experiences
• Interviews
• More tools to come
Transforming Medical
School Admissions
Improving the holistic review of students….
Academic Competencies
Personal Competencies
Learn more:
Analysis in Brief for September 2011
Medical School Admissions: More than Grades and Test Scores
https://www.aamc.org/download/261106/data/aibvol11_no6.pdf
How is the MCAT Exam Keeping
Pace with Medicine?
• Periodic reviews to ensure
measurement of most important
academic competencies in
most capable ways
• Competencies required in
medical school are shifting
• 5th review of the MCAT exam
since 1928
• Previous review 1991
• New version in place
through 2030
The MCAT2015 Timeline
New exam
goes live in
Spring
Prep materials available
Last dates for current
exam
More prep
materials released
2015
Sept
2012
2014
2012 entering freshman
take 2015 MCAT Exam as Juniors
8
Jan
2015
Spring
2015
Fall
2016
First Med School Class selected
with new MCAT Exam
Evidence Base for the
MCAT2015 Exam
Fact-finding Efforts
• Blue-ribbon panels
• Holistic Review Project
Advisory Committee
• Over 90 Outreach
events
• Over 2700 completed
Behavioral
surveys
and Social
Science
Foundations
for Future
Physicians
Roadmap to
Diversity:
Integrating
Holistic
Review
Practices
Scientific
Foundations
for Future
Physicians
Report
Recommendations for
the MCAT2015 Exam
• Preserve what works best
• Eliminate what doesn’t
• Enrich exam with concepts that future physicians
are likely to need
• Use testing format that has proven successful
10
Recommendations for
the MCAT2015 Exam
Preserves Testing of:
• Natural sciences concepts that medical school
faculty want entrants to know
• Critical analysis and reasoning skills needed for
success in medical school
Eliminates:
• Under-utilized Writing Sample section
11
Recommendations for
the MCAT2015 Exam
Enriches Exam By Testing:
• Competencies in the Scientific Foundations for
Future Physicians Report (SFFP)
• Scientific inquiry, reasoning, research methods
and statistics skills
• Foundational concepts in the social and
behavioral sciences
12
Recommendations for
MCAT2015 Exam
Also ask AAMC to…
• Provide resources to help students prepare for
the new exam
• Develop new admissions tools to measure
personal competencies important to medical
school success (e.g., integrity, service
orientation, dependability)
13
Before moving on…
ANY QUESTIONS?
Introducing the MCAT2015 Exam
15
New Exam – 4 Sections, 4 Scores
16
Biological &
Biochemical
Foundations of
Living Systems
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Psychological,
Social, & Biological
Foundations of
Behavior
Critical Analysis &
Reasoning Skills
# of Test
Questions
Testing
Time
(minutes)
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of Biological Systems
65
95
Critical Analysis & Reasoning
Skills
60
90
65
95
65
95
MCAT2015 Exam
Lunch Break
Biological & Biochemical
Foundations of Living Systems
Psychological, Social, & Biological
Foundations of Behavior
Total Content Time
6 ¼ hours
Total Time (w/ tutorial, breaks,
survey, etc.)
7 ½ hours
New Exam – 4 Sections, 4 Scores
18
Biological &
Biochemical
Foundations of
Living Systems
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Psychological,
Social, & Biological
Foundations of
Behavior
Critical Analysis &
Reasoning Skills
Using the Preview Guide
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
Biological &
Biochemical
Foundations of
Living Systems
Combines knowledge of foundational concepts in
the biological and biochemical sciences with
scientific inquiry, reasoning, and research and
statistics skills to solve problems that demonstrate
readiness for medical school
20
Biological &
Biochemical
Foundations of
Living Systems
Concept 1
• Biomolecules have
unique properties that
determine how they
contribute to the
structure and function of
cells, and how they
participate in the
processes necessary to
maintain life.
21
Concept 2
• Highly-organized
assemblies of
molecules, cells, and
organs interact to carry
out the functions of
living organisms.
Concept 3
• Complex systems of
tissues and organs
sense the internal and
external environments
of multi-cellular
organisms, and through
integrated functioning,
maintain a stable
internal environment
within an ever-changing
external environment.
Biological &
Biochemical
Foundations of
Living Systems
Foundational Concept 2
• Highly-organized assemblies of molecules, cells,
and organs interact to carry out the functions of
living organisms.
22
Scientific Inquiry and
Reasoning Skills
Knowledge of Scientific Concepts
and Principles
Scientific Reasoning and
Problem Solving
Reasoning about the Design
and Execution of Research
Data-based and Statistical Reasoning
23
Combining Skills and Concepts
Foundational Concept 1
Content
Category
1A
Content
Category
1B
Content
Category
1C
Foundational Concept 2
Content
Category
2A
Content
Category
2B
Content
Category
2C
Skill 1
Skill 2
Skill 3
Skill 4
• Each cell represents the point at which
foundational concepts, content categories, and
scientific inquiry and reasoning skills cross
• Test questions are written at the intersections
of the content and skills
24
Biological &
Biochemical
Foundations of
Living Systems
Exam content typically taught in:
• Introductory biology
• General chemistry
• Organic chemistry
• First-semester biochemistry
25
New Exam – 4 Sections, 4 Scores
26
Biological &
Biochemical
Foundations of
Living Systems
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Psychological,
Social, & Biological
Foundations of
Behavior
Critical Analysis &
Reasoning Skills
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Combines knowledge of foundational concepts in
the chemical and physical sciences with scientific
inquiry, reasoning, research and statistics skills to
solve problems that demonstrate readiness for
medical school
27
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Concept 4
• Complex living organisms
transport materials, sense
their environment, process
signals, and respond to
changes using processes
that can be understood in
terms of physical principles.
28
Concept 5
• The principles that govern
chemical interactions and
reactions form the basis for
a broader understanding of
the molecular dynamics of
living systems.
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Concept 4
• Complex living organisms transport materials,
sense their environment, process signals, and
respond to changes using processes that can
be understood in terms of physical principles.
29
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Exam content in this section typically taught in:
• Introductory biology
• Introductory general chemistry
• Introductory organic chemistry
• Introductory physics
• First-semester biochemistry
30
New Exam – 4 Sections, 4 Scores
31
Biological &
Biochemical
Foundations of
Living Systems
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Psychological,
Social, & Biological
Foundations of
Behavior
Critical Analysis &
Reasoning Skills
Psychological,
Social, & Biological
Foundations of
Behavior
Knowledge and use of the concepts in
psychology, sociology, biology, research methods
and statistics that provide a solid foundation for
learning in medical school about the behavioral
and socio-cultural determinants of health and
health outcomes
32
Psychological,
Social, & Biological
Foundations of
Behavior
Concept 6
Concept 7
Concept 8
• Biological,
psychological,
and sociocultural factors
influence the
ways that
individuals
perceive, think
about, and
react to the
world.
• Biological,
psychological,
and sociocultural factors
influence
behavior and
behavior
change.
• Psychological,
socio-cultural,
and biological
factors
influence the
way we think
about
ourselves and
others.
33
Concept 9
• Cultural and
social
differences
influence wellbeing.
Concept 10
• Social
stratification
and access to
resources
influence wellbeing.
Psychological,
Social, & Biological
Foundations of
Behavior
Concept 7
• Biological, psychological, and socio-cultural
factors influence behavior and behavior change.
34
Psychological,
Social, & Biological
Foundations of
Behavior
Exam content typically taught in:
• Introductory psychology
• Introductory sociology
• Introductory biology
35
New Exam – 4 Sections, 4 Scores
36
Biological &
Biochemical
Foundations of
Living Systems
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of
Biological Systems
Psychological,
Social, & Biological
Foundations of
Behavior
Critical Analysis &
Reasoning Skills
Critical Analysis &
Reasoning Skills
What it tests?
Asks examinees to critically analyze, evaluate,
and apply information presented in passages
Skills:
• Foundations of comprehension
• Reasoning within the text
• Reasoning beyond the text
37
Critical Analysis &
Reasoning Skills
Passages from humanities & social sciences, including:
• Ethics
• Philosophy
• Population health
• Cross-cultural studies
Specific disciplinary knowledge not needed
38
Using the Preview Guide
•
Describes the 4 sections
 Foundational concepts for
each section
 Detailed outlines of
content categories and
topics
 Scientific inquiry and
reasoning skills
• Sample items with answers
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
Using the Preview Guide
•
•
Narrative descriptions of
foundational concepts
Information indicating:
 Level of knowledge needed
for topics
 Courses in which topics
typically are taught—
according to surveys from
faculty in minority- and
majority-serving schools
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
Example of Topic List
41
The “Preview Guide”
•
•
Shows how concepts and scientific inquiry
and reasoning skills come together
Sample items demonstrate how this works
PE = Phosphatadylethanolamine
Before moving on…
ANY QUESTIONS?
Changes in Test Administration
and Reporting
44
Testing in 2013 and 2014
• Writing Sample section will be eliminated
effective January 2013
• A 45-minute trial for the 2015 exam containing
32 field-test questions will be offered
• Trial Section is voluntary and unscored
• Examinees will be opt-in/opt-out on day of exam
45
Testing in 2013 and 2014
• Trial Section will be administered at the end of
the exam
• Include questions in either: biochemistry,
biology, chemistry, and physics or in
psychology, sociology and biology
• Questions will be assigned using data that
students provide at registration about the
courses they’ve completed
• Even with the Trial Section, the exam will be
shorter than in the past.
46
What’s the Incentive?
Examinees who volunteer and make a good-faith
effort will get:
• $30 Amazon.com Gift Card* Claim Code**
• Feedback on their performance compared to others
who participated in the Trial Section
• Chance to preview content medical schools find
important.
We ask for your help to encourage your
students to participate in the Trial Section!
*Amazon.com is not a sponsor of this promotion. Amazon, Amazon.com, the Amazon.com logo, Gift Codes on Demand, the Amazon Gift Card logo and 1-Click are
trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
**Amazon.com Gift Cards may be used only to purchase eligible goods on Amazon.com or its affiliated website Endless.com. Gift Card’s cannot be redeemed for
purchases of gift certificates or cards or for items from some third party sellers. Purchases are deducted from the Gift Card balance. Gift Card’s cannot be reloaded,
resold, transferred for value, redeemed for cash or applied to any other account. Amazon is not responsible if a Gift Card is lost, stolen, destroyed or used without
permission. See www.amazon.com/gc-legal.com for complete terms and conditions. Gift Card’s are issued and © 2012 by ACI Gift Cards, Inc., a Washington
corporation.
47
Scoring in 2013 and 2014
Will scores be released earlier without the Writing
Sample section?
48
•
Unfortunately, No
•
Still 30-35 days
•
Multiple-choice scaling and equating takes the
same amount of time as Writing Sample
scoring.
Testing in 2015
• January 2015 will be the last administration of
the current MCAT exam
• New exam will launch in Spring 2015
• Anticipating and planning for a higher demand in
2014 and January 2015
49
Logistics for the New Exam
• Total testing time will be 7 ½ hours
• Accommodated examinees with extra testing
time will test over two or more days
• Don’t yet have specifics, but the testing fee will
increase
• Fee Assistance Program will be available for
those who qualify
www.aamc.org/fap
50
Spring 2015+ Scoring
• New score reports and scaled scores will be
released in conjunction with MCAT2015 exam
• For 2-3 application cycles, AMCAS will continue
to report MCAT scores taken prior to spring 2015
(if applicable)
• AMCAS will provide a way for examinees,
advisors and medical schools to compare old
and new scores
51
Work Continues on …
• Scoring and score reports
• Plans for working with medical schools on using
and evaluating the new exam
• Test administration logistics
• Preparation materials
• Outreach strategies
52
Before moving on…
ANY QUESTIONS?
Resources for You and
Your Advisees
54
Now Available for the New Exam
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Preview Guide for the MCAT2015 Exam (Second Edition)
3 videos
Webinars – over 10 presentations
Slide presentations and handouts
Resources
FAQ’s
Research reports providing data used to design the exam
Web site
www.aamc.org/mcat2015/admins
55
Advising Students on Needed
Courses
• Varies by institution
• The Preview Guide for the
MCAT2015 Exam (Second
Edition) and the MCAT2015
webinars provide
information about typical
coverage (according to our
surveys)
• Find the webinars and more at:
www.aamc.org/mcat2015/admins
The Course-Mapping Tool for the
MCAT2015 Exam
www.aamc.org/mcat2015/admins
57
Testing and Course
Completion Data
Some examinees test for the first time as juniors,
some as seniors, and some later:
• Juniors—41%
• Seniors—27%
• Later—27%
Before testing, many current examinees complete
biochemistry, psychology or sociology:
• Biochemistry—63%
• Introductory psychology—65%
• Introductory sociology—32%
58
Testing and Course Completion
Testing and course-taking data for are similar for:
• Minority applicants
• Applicants at schools w/out advisors
• Non-science majors
Except that:
• Slightly more minority examinees, students without
advisors, and non-science majors tested later
• Slightly more science than non-science majors took
biochemistry
• Opposite was true for psychology and sociology
59
Applying to Medical School
Some apply after junior year, some after senior
year, and some while in post-bac or grad school:
• Juniors—37%
• Seniors—44%
• Post-bac or grad school—19%
Many medical schools require or recommend
biochemistry or a behavioral or social science
course:
• 83% biochemistry
• 53% behavioral or social science
60
Applying to Medical School
Application patterns were similar across groups,
except:
• Slightly more minority examinees, students
without advisors, and non-science majors
applied later
61
Support for Curriculum Change
MedEdPORTAL iCollaborative Pre-health
Collection:
Ensuring access to instructional resources for all who
need them
•
•
•
•
Free online collection teaching pre-health
competencies.
Searchable by competency, foundational concept or
key words.
Recommended by faculty reviewers.
User community comments and shares resources.
Contact : Jen Page
jpage@aamc.org
62
MedEdPORTAL iCollaborative
Pre-health Collection
https://www.mededportal.org/icollaborative/pre-health
63
Resources for Students
The MCAT Program is committed to providing:
• Resources to help student prepare
• A good testing experience
64
Resources for Students
Available now:
• “Preview Guide for the
MCAT2015 Exam (Second
Edition)”
• Videos describing the exam
• FAQ’s
AAMCvideo:
www.youtube.com/user/AAMCvideo
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
Test Preparation for
the New Exam
By 2014:
• The Official Guide to
MCAT2015 Exam
• Free practice test
By 2015:
• One more practice test
Additional Possibilities:
• Additional sets of items
• Question bank
Financial Support For Students?
• Fee Assistance Program will continue
• Continue free test prep resources
• Free Summer Medical and Dental Education
Program continues
• Considering additional support
More info at:
www.aamc.org/fap
www.smdep.org
67
Spreading the Word
Can you help?
• Share information with your
students
• Encourage participation on
the Trial Section
• Sharing information with
advisors who aren’t here
• Talking to students without
Ideas?
mcat2015@aamc.org
advisors
Thanks!
Thank you very much
for your active
participation
and helpful input
For more information
please visit:
www.aamc.org/mcat2015