mcat ® is a program of the association of american medical colleges mcat 2015 the basics
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MCAT ® is a program of theAssociation of American Medical Colleges
MCAT2015
The Basics
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
Agenda• How is MCAT keeping pace with medicine?• Timeline for the new MCAT exam• Overview of MCAT2015
• Understanding the Four Sections• Using the Preview Guide for the MCAT2015
• Answers to Burning Questions• Spreading the Word
Thank You!The MCAT 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
Academic Competencies• Courses completed• Undergraduate grades• MCAT Scores
Personal Competencies• Personal statements• Letters of
recommendation• Reflections on
experiences• Interviews• More tools to come
Improving the holistic review of students….
Transforming Medical School Admissions
Academic Competencies Personal Competencies
Improving the holistic review of students….
Learn more:
Analysis in Brief for September 2011Medical School Admissions: More than Grades and Test Scores https://www.aamc.org/download/261106/data/aibvol11_no6.pdf
How is MCAT Keeping Pace With Medicine?• Periodic reviews to ensure
measure of most important academic competencies in most capable ways
• Competencies required in medical school are shifting
• 5th review of the MCAT since 1928
• Previous review 1991
• New version in place through 2030
How is MCAT Keeping Pace With Medicine?• Formed MR5 Committee
in 2008
• Fact-finding efforts:• Blue-ribbon panels• Holistic Review Project
Advisory Committee• Innovation lab• Large-scale surveys
Roadmap to Diversity: Integrating Holistic Review Practices
Scientific Foundations of Future Physicians Report
Behavioral and Social Science Foundations for Future Physicians
MR5 Final Recommendations• Preserve what works best.• Eliminate what doesn’t.• Enrich with concepts that future physicians are
likely to need.• Use testing format that has proven successful.
MR5 Final Recommendations
• Provide resources to help prepare for the new exam.
• Develop new admissions tools to measure personal competencies important to medical school success (integrity, service orientation, etc).
Ask AAMC to…
Partnering For Students
MCAT is committed to providing:• Resources to help student prepare.• A good testing experience.
ANY QUESTIONS?Before moving on…
Overview of MCAT2015
Final recommendations: Approval by AAMC Board of Directors anticipated February 2012
Administer new exam:Spring 2015
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
MCAT2015
Enriches Exam By Testing:• Competencies in Scientific Foundations of
Future Physicians Report (SFFP)• Scientific inquiry, reasoning, research methods
and statistics skills• Foundational concepts in social and behavioral
sciences.
MCAT2015
Preserves Testing Of:• Natural sciences concepts medical school
faculty want entrants to know• Critical analysis and reasoning skills needed for
success in medical school
Eliminates:• Under-utilized writing sample section in 2013
MCAT2015 – 4 Sections, 4 Scores
Biological & Biochemical
Foundations of Living Systems
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of Biological Systems
Psychological, Social, & Biological
Foundations of Behavior
Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills
current MCAT
# of Test Items
Testing Time
(minutes)MCAT2015 # of Test
Items
Testing Time
(minutes)
Biological Sciences 52 70
Biological & Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
65 95
Physical Sciences
52 70
Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
65 95
Lunch Break
Verbal Reasoning 40 60 Critical Analysis &
Reasoning Skills60 90
Writing Sample 2 Essays 60
Psychological, Social, & Biological Foundations of Behavior
65 95
Total Content Time
4 hours, 20 min
Total Content Time
6 hours, 15 min
MCAT2015
Who will take the new exam?
2015
New exam goes live in
spring
Anticipated BOD approval
Feb. 2012
November 2011
Final recommendations
Spring2014
Prep materials available
More prep
materials released
Jan2015
First Med School Class selected with new MCAT
Fall2016
Sept2012
2012 entering freshman take 2015 MCAT as Juniors
Last dates for current exam
Spring2015
ANY QUESTIONS?Before moving on…
MCAT2015 – 4 Sections, 4 Scores
Biological & Biochemical
Foundations of Living Systems
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of Biological Systems
Psychological, Social, & Biological
Foundations of Behavior
Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills
Scientific Inquiry &Reasoning Skills (SIRS)
Knowledge of Scientific Concepts & Principles
Scientific Reasoning & Evidence-based Problem Solving
Reasoning About the Design
and Execution of Research
Data-based and Statistical Reasoning
Biological & Biochemical
Foundations of Living Systems
What it tests?
Combine knowledge of foundational concepts in the biological and biochemical sciences with your scientific inquiry, reasoning, and research and statistics skills to solve problems that demonstrate readiness for medical school.
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.
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 multicellular 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.
Combining SIRS & Concepts
Foundational Concept 1 Foundational Concept 2Content
Category
1A
Content Category
1B
Content Category
1C
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 knowledge and skills.
Biological & Biochemical
Foundations of Living Systems
Exam content in this section typically taught in:• Introductory biology• Introductory general chemistry• Introductory organic chemistry• First semester biochemistry
MCAT2015 – 4 Sections, 4 Scores
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
What it tests?
Combine your knowledge of foundational concepts in the chemical and physical sciences with your scientific inquiry, reasoning, and research and statistics skills to solve problems that demonstrate readiness for medical school.
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.
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
Combining SIRS & Concepts
Foundational Concept 1 Foundational Concept 2Content
Category
1A
Content Category
1B
Content Category
1C
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 knowledge and skills.
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
MCAT2015 – 4 Sections, 4 Scores
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
What it tests?
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.
Psychological, Social, & Biological
Foundations of Behavior
Concept 6
• Biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors influence the ways that individuals perceive, think about, and react to the world.
Concept 7
• Biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors influence behavior and behavior change.
Concept 8
• Psychological, socio-cultural, and biological factors influence the way we think about ourselves and others.
Concept 9
• Cultural and social differences influence well-being.
Concept 10
• Social stratification and access to resources influence well-being.
Combining SIRS & Concepts
Foundational Concept 1 Foundational Concept 2Content
Category
1A
Content Category
1B
Content Category
1C
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 knowledge and skills.
Psychological, Social, & Biological
Foundations of Behavior
Exam content in this section typically taught in:• Introductory psychology• Introductory sociology• Introductory biology
MCAT2015 – 4 Sections, 4 Scores
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?
This section asks you to critically analyze, evaluate, and apply information presented in a passage.
Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills
ApplicationIncorporation of
Information
EvaluationComprehension
Skills tested:
Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills
*Specific knowledge of these disciplines is not required for this section
Passages from humanities & social sciences:• Ethics• Philosophy
• Cross-cultural studies• Population health
Using Preview Guide
Have you already looked at the preview guide in detail?
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
Using Preview Guide• Remember – NOT final• Details of all sections
SIRS Foundational Concepts for
each section Detailed outlines of finer level
of concepts and sub-topics
• Sample items with answers
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
Using Preview Guide• Shows combination of concepts tested
and Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills (SIRS)
• Sample items demonstrate how this works
Using Science Discipline Information• Section outlines include
notes on disciplines• Science discipline
information used to indicate: level of knowledge
requiredof a topic
courses topic typically taught
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
Example of Science Disciplines
ANY QUESTIONS?Before moving on…
Answer to Burning QuestionsDon’t have all the answers right now….
Promise to share what we know
and
provide timelines for answers.
Why Is the Test So Long?
MCAT2015 # of Test Items*
Testing Time
(minutes)
Biological & Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
65 95
Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
65 95
Lunch Break
Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills
60 90
Psychological, Social, & Biological Foundations of Behavior
65 95
Total Content Time
*approximate 6 hours, 15 min
• Test questions have been added to increase the accuracy of individual section scores
• One break has been lengthened to allow examinees time to eat.
How does a longer test impact test administration?We’re not sure yet.
Will share info as soon as we know.
Possible changes:• only administer one test
per day• Small bump in testing
fees for a longer test
Will Medical Schools Accept Scores From Previous Version?• Issue under consideration
• Input from:• MR5 Committee• Holistic Review Project
Advisory Committee• Committee on Admissions• MCAT Technical Advisory
Committee
• Timeline:• Goal to have a decision by
Spring 2012
What Courses Do Students Need?
• Depends on your school
• Providing information in the Preview Guide to assist
Support for Curriculum Change?Prehealth iCollaborative
• Searchable online repository of free recommended content
• Available summer 2012Contact :Jen Pagejpage@aamc.org
Resources to Prepare Students?By 2014 committed to:• Free practice test• The Official Guide to
MCAT2015
By 2015 committed to:• One more practice test
Additional Possibilities:• Improved content outlines• Additional sets of practice
items• Self-assessment package
like one planned for current MCAT (some sections, not all)
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/fapwww.smdep.org
Other Burning Questions?We’ll share the answers we have!
Spreading the WordCan you help?
• Share information with your students
• Reaching out to advisors who aren’t here
• Reaching students without advisors
• Boots on the ground Ideas? mcat2015@aamc.org
For students: For faculty, advisors and others:
MCAT2015 Videos
For easy sharing visit us on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/user/AAMCvideo
Thanks!
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
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