MCAT ® is a program of the Association of American Medical Colleges MCAT 2015 The Basics

Agenda How is MCAT keeping pace with medicine? Timeline for the new MCAT exam Overview of MCAT 2015 Understanding the Four Sections Using the Preview Guide for the MCAT 2015 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 CompetenciesPersonal Competencies Improving the holistic review of students…. Learn more: Analysis in Brief for September 2011 Medical School Admissions: More than Grades and Test Scores

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 5 th 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).

Partnering For Students MCAT is committed to providing: Resources to help student prepare. A good testing experience.

ANY QUESTIONS? Before moving on…

Overview of MCAT 2015 Final recommendations: Approval by AAMC Board of Directors anticipated February 2012 Administer new exam: Spring

MCAT 2015 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.

MCAT 2015 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

MCAT 2015 – 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) MCAT 2015 # of Test Items Testing Time (minutes) Biological Sciences 5270 Biological & Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems 6595 Physical Sciences 5270 Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems 6595 Lunch Break Verbal Reasoning 4060 Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills 6090 Writing Sample 2 Essays60 Psychological, Social, & Biological Foundations of Behavior 6595 Total Content Time 4 hours, 20 min Total Content Time 6 hours, 15 min

MCAT 2015 Who will take the new exam? 2015 New exam goes live in spring Anticipated BOD approval Feb November 2011 Final recommendations Spring 2014 Prep materials available More prep materials released Jan 2015 First Med School Class selected with new MCAT Fall 2016 Sept entering freshman take 2015 MCAT as Juniors Last dates for current exam Spring 2015

ANY QUESTIONS? Before moving on…

MCAT 2015 – 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 1Foundational Concept 2 Content 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

MCAT 2015 – 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 1Foundational Concept 2 Content 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

MCAT 2015 – 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 1Foundational Concept 2 Content 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

MCAT 2015 – 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

What it tests? This section asks you to critically analyze, evaluate, and apply information presented in a passage.

Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills Application Incorporation of Information Evaluation Comprehension 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?

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

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 required of a topic  courses topic typically taught

Example of Science Disciplines

ANY QUESTIONS? Before moving on…

Answer to Burning Questions Don’t have all the answers right now…. Promise to share what we know and provide timelines for answers.

Why Is the Test So Long? MCAT 2015 # of Test Items* Testing Time (minutes) Biological & Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems 6595 Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems 6595 Lunch Break Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills 6090 Psychological, Social, & Biological Foundations of Behavior 6595 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 2012 Contact : Jen Page

Resources to Prepare Students? By 2014 committed to: Free practice test The Official Guide to MCAT 2015 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:

Other Burning Questions? We’ll share the answers we have!

Spreading the Word Can you help? Share information with your students Reaching out to advisors who aren’t here Reaching students without advisors Boots on the ground Ideas? Ideas?

For students: For faculty, advisors and others: MCAT 2015 Videos For easy sharing visit us on YouTube:

Thanks!