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What kind of test is the MCAT?
Home » Test Preparation » MCAT Preparation » What kind of test is the MCAT?The MCAT is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The test is about to undergo a major change, from an old-fashioned, No.-2-pencil standardized test to a totally computer-based test. The AAMC has been testing the computer-based MCAT in certain cities for about a year, and August 2006 will be the last administration of the paper MCAT. The first completely computer-based administrations will take place in early 2007.
The yearly testing schedule will also change. In the past, the MCAT has been offered only twice a year, in April and August. Beginning in 2007, the AAMC plans to offer the new computer-based MCAT 22 times a year. These administrations will not be evenly spaced throughout the year, but most likely will occur in five "testing windows" of two to five days each, in winter, late spring, mid-summer, late summer, and early fall. In the past, the MCAT has been the most grueling of the standardized tests, at a full eight hours in length. The AAMC has graciously decided to reduce the length of the test (and number of questions) by one-third when the switch to computer-based testing takes place. Also, they will no longer require all test-takers to finish each section at the same time; you will be able to work at your own pace through each section of the test, up to the time limits for each section.
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