2016, this is the second year of the new 7.5 hour MCAT. It’s clear that the AAMC is still trying to figure out the nature and direction of the exam based on the feedback of students who tested throughout 2015.
While we know much more about the style and format of the new exam, it appears they are still testing and tweaking the overall exam format despite 2016 coming with hopes of clarity and consistency.
Unfortunately not everyone who registered for January was able to test thanks to the blizzard that swept the mid/upper East Coast but I did hear from a handful of students who took the MCAT on January 22nd and 23rd, 2016. Some of them were repeat MCAT testers and were able to compare their 2015 experience to the January exam.
Multiple MCAT Versions?
Students testing on the SAME day reported DIFFERENT concepts and specific topics tested. This leads me to assume there was more than 1 version of the MCAT given on a single day.
Comments varied greatly from reports of “Lots of genetics questions”’ to “Nothing related to genetics.”
Is this good or bad news?
The answer is, “GOOD!” It means you cannot take someone’s feedback and think, “ So if they were tested on magnetism, I will be too.” Instead, realize that any topic on the AAMC outline is FAIR GAME on test day!
However, there were also many similarities between the January MCAT exams.
Section 1: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
This section was surprisingly heavy with biology and biochemistry, considering that this section is supposed to test just 25% biochemistry and 5% biology.
The January MCAT had lots more physics when compared to the September 2015 version. But it wasn’t just straight up physics. Physics concepts were tested in relation to biological systems.
It’s all about understanding the living organism and how it relates to general chemistry, biochemistry, and yes, even physics. The prior 2015 exam had lots more general chemistry but again, strongly related to biological systems.
This section was relatively math heavy. Nothing too tricky but it REALLY HELPED these students to go through the “Math Without A Calculator” video series.
Knowing equations was REALLY helpful for this section but not just the equations alone. You must be very familiar with the units involved for each equation too.
To demonstrate this point, let’s take a simple equation like F = ma where the units are measured in newtons (N). (Click Here to Review)
What are Newtons comprised of? Newtons can be defined with units of kg times m/s^2
Knowing the units of equations helps you pick out the right answer EVEN IF you weren’t too confident with your calculations. Matching up units and concepts helps you rule out at least one or two incorrect choices. This gives you a quick 50% chance of guessing correctly even if you don’t know the answer.
Section 2: Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills aka CARS
This section is still a tricky one to prepare for. The AAMC unscored sample test and the first AAMC scored full length (see MCAT Resources) did not do a great job preparing students for the real thing.
The real MCAT passages were longer and harder. The questions are VERY unlike the old MCAT verbal section where there was a heavy focus on getting details from the passage.
This exam had many questions asking you to infer information based on what you’ve read.
“What would the author say to a situation… “ where the situation was NOT discussed in the passage, for example.
Given the length and outrageous nature of the passages, your best bet is to practice and build up your endurance using the Newspaper Strategy in addition to practice, practice and more practice.
The CARS questions themselves were both easier and less confusing when compared to Kaplan full lengths. The other companies were off base too.
Section 3: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
As expected, this section was heavy on biology and biochemistry. Students were tested on some very in-depth information like the names of specific enzymes, hormones, and molecules.
Biological pathways and reactions were outlined in passages asking students to identify specific aspects of the reaction (Organic Chemistry) or understanding the TYPE of reaction/chemical change that took place (such as redox).
Some of the passage-based questions were stand alone, ‘discrete’ questions loosely relating to the topic of the passage. Knowing your basics will help you earn ‘easy’ points here.
Section 4: Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior
Much of this section was intuitive, but mostly it was a question of how well you memorized material for this section, like names, concepts, terminology, definitions.
Therefore, create flashcards from the start and carry them in your pocket ALWAYS. The audio strategy is also great for studying terms and definitions on the go.
Next-Step exams are highly recommended (discount on the MCAT resources page), especially for this section, and Khan Academy was surprisingly helpful on this too. (This student didn’t like Khan questions for the other sections)
And the good news is that this section appeared EASIER than the new scored full length MCAT if you had your terminology down.
Despite Kaplan’s reputation for poor exams, their psych/soc section really helped students prepare.
You may want to consider breaking up the Kaplan exams and simply using the psych/soc section for passage practice. While they don’t sell exams outside of their course, they do offer 3 free online exams when you purchase their complete books set (see MCAT Resources).
Overall Feedback on the January MCAT
While the AAMC full lengths are closest to the real thing, the consensus was that NO exam company came close to this one. The AAMC appears to be moving in another direction with a testing style closer to the question bank and new section bank (just added to the MCAT Resources Page) with a focus on Biochemistry, Psychology, and Sociology.
The sections themselves were lengthy and many questions relied heavily on the passage while some of the sciences were discrete within the passage-based questions.
The AAMC scored exam was closest to the real thing. The January MCAT Bio/biochem was MUCH, MUCH HARDER than any full-length company including the AAMC exam.
Next-Step exams were highly recommended, Kaplan for the final section, while TPR did not even come close. I was unable to get feedback for the other exam companies.
Pay Attention To WHAT the Question is Actually Asking
The MCAT featured long and tedious passages. Many contained details that were unimportant and certainly NOT tested. The key was to balance your time and QUICKLY get through the passages leaving you more time to:
- Work on the actual questions
- Actually UNDERSTAND what the question was asking
I purchased the Barron’s 2015 exam book.
Would anyone recommend the Barrons prep book 2nd edition?
Hey everyone, I JUST took my MCAT on May 6th, here in Nicosia, Cyprus (I’m studying abroad).
I can confidently say that it is much different (apparently) from the January experience I have read about from other students.
Though I haven’t got my score back yet, I feel very confident about it and expect a 505 or above. I obviously can only base this on my feelings after finishing each section, but after thinking back to my feelings taking my practice tests, I feel quite good!
I took 10 timed full length practice practice tests, and my scores were:
-3 Kaplan- averaged a 490-495
-4 next step- 500 on diagnostic
505 on free full length, 506, 509 and 507 on the next three
– AAMC scaled score- 505
– two TPR practice full lengths- 500 and 501
I did kaplans first, tpr’s second, next step diagnostic and free full length third, AAMC 4th, and then continued with next step until test day.
You guys, my best advice is to use ALL OF YOUR RESOURCES!! I started prepping for this exam around February 10, so about 4 months.
I took prep serious, I got through all 7 Kaplan books within 5 weeks, noting areas I was weak in and making flashcards along the way.
I then jumped to Kahn academy and the Kaplan online practice problems. I realized that Cars was my weakest subject in late March and began doing exam cracker verbal passages from the old mcat… DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF TIMED PRACTICE PASSAGES!!!
I can honestly say that this (above all else), helped me feel confident on test day.
I continued using Kahn academy, going back to my books when I would miss a subject on a practice test, and ALWAYS making new (and most importantly, DISCARDING OLD) flashcards.
If you know it, you know it, stop wasting time on it.
Use your exams to guide your study, constantly constantly CONSTANTLY re-evaluate.
Regarding the test itself… Phys and chem was 50{4de72ea05502f43f582be05109791d04c2e06ba4d55e604218cbe1ea315cd788} biochem in my opinion.. I honestly think there were at MOST 7 physics questions, 2 of which involved numbers and the rest were conceptual and based on a biochem like passage.
Traditional gen chem questions were relatively nonexistent, no mole ratios, no hasslebachs, just basic conceptual (calculate pOH, from this [H+] conc, or half life).
Cars was brutal, no joke. 3 art history passages (MY WORST TYPE :'(
Do NOT waste time on this section, if you’re having trouble, Mark it, make a your best choice and MOVE ON. I gave myself STRICTLY 10 minutes/passage, and if I finished earlier I would use that time on questions I were unsure of… MARK YOUR QUESTIONS!!
Biochem was tough, very detailed, VERY passage based and most of the questions were inferring on the text. A few discreet ones that involved some ochem structures, dna transcription translation, immunology, and genetics. Lots of hormones, KNOW YOUR HORMONES. Know if they’re steroid/peptide, why they’re released, what they dude, are they agonist/antagonist and to WHAT hormone are they agonist/antagonistic to?!
Psych/soc… I honestly cant believe how awesome next step did at preparing me for this. The passages were so similar, they did an AMAZINg job at introducing different terms to me as well and teaching me to infer based on the passage. KNOW THE BRAIN, know behaviorist theory, psychoanalytic, cognitive, social, behavior, know the basics. Know conditioning inside and out.
Practice practice practice!!
I can honestly say that Next step did WONDERS for practice test validity compared to the real thing. I swear by them and would absolutely recommend.
Good luck :)))
Dan W.
Awesome feedback! thanks for sharing
The MCAT in january was WAY harder than any practice exam (for CARS especially just because of the length not question content). I think it’s a little ridiculous how different in hardness each one is compared to the next. I took it before in August and it the August one was 10x easier in all sections.
Thanks for the feedback, I heard this from many students and hope that you still did ok despite them switching it all up on you
Reading this feedback has been very helpful. I have been studying for my exam using the Kaplan Complete 7 books for the MCAT and to be honest, their exams are bit harder but going through each section using their online videos is very helpful as well. I actually do love using Khan Academy as well to study. I’m yet to take my full length AAMC exam sometime this weekend. Thank you Leah.
You’re very welcome Patrina. When are you planning to take your MCAT?
Thank you for your post. What are the “best” books, in your opinion, to study from for each subject?
Michael: I’ve personally found the new Kaplan books to be most helpful. I explain and link them on my resource page https://leah4sci.com/mcat-resources
Hi Leah! I find your study tools and resources to be very very helpful. Thank you so much. I am currently studying for the MCAT to take in April. The EK book specifically said not to study specific enzymes for the glycolysis pathway for example. But now reading this post, I think that I should know the specific enzyme name for all relevant pathways and cycles. Is this correct?
Chelsea Unfortunately many books were written before all of these changes. For example, your books probably told you NOT to memorize amino acids. Yet the amino acids keep coming up on the exams. They are still changing their exam so keep an ear out for changes on April 1 if testing Apr 23
I took the Princeton review course and studying the books. I’m freaking out after reading these comments:(
Stella: Don’t freak out, just be very very very well prepared. Do more than just TPR practice. Work through the bundles and section banks, and make sure you are VERY well prepared.