Most
people preparing for the MCAT fall
prey to the myth that the MCAT is
a straightforward science test. Well, here's the little secret no one
seems to want you to know: The MCAT
is not just a science test; it's also a thinking test. This means that
the test is designed to let you demonstrate your thought process, not
only your thought content. Every section on the MCAT
tests essentially the same higher-order thinking skills: analytical reasoning,
abstract thinking, and problem-solving skills that are essential for success
in medical school.
A recent study commissioned by the MCAT's
authors, the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), confirmed
a direct correlation between MCAT
scores and success in medical school. Therefore, medical schools don't
need to rely on the MCAT to see what
you already know Schools are most interested in your intellectual potential.
They choose applicants carefully because expansive knowledge is not enough
to succeed in medical school or in the profession. There's something more.
And it's this "something more" that the MCAT
is trying to measure.
The Sciences
With this perspective, you may be left asking the question: "What about
the science? What about the content? Don't I need to know the basics?"
The answer is a resounding YES. You must be fluent in the different languages
of the test. You cannot do well on the MCAT
if you don't know the basics of physics,
general chemistry, biology, and organic chemistry.
However,
the key point here is that knowing these basics is just the beginning
of doing well on the MCAT. That's
a shock to most test takers. They presume that once they recall or re-learn
their undergraduate science, they are ready to do battle against the MCAT.
Wrong. They merely have directions to the battlefield. They lack what
they need to beat the test: a copy of the test maker's battle plan.
More Information
Learn more about med school admissions at www.kaptest.com/premed.
Learn about Kaplan's MCAT programs
at www.kaptest.com/mcat.
Enroll in a Kaplan course at www.kaptest.com/enroll.
Find
Great MCAT books at a discount price.
Copyright
©2002 by Kaplan Inc. Medical
College Admissions Test and MCAT
are registered service marks of the Association of American Medical Colleges,
which is not affiliated with this site.
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