The American Association of Medical Colleges announced recently that the format of the Medical College Admissions Test, mostly known to pre-medical students as the MCAT, will be changing sometime in 2007.

The AAMC says that though there has not been an official date of change set yet, this is the last year that MCAT will appear same as usual. This has many students asking about the kinds of changes that have occured and how it will affect their scores. The changes include:

• The test will no longer be in paper and pencil format; it will be entirely computer based. According to Liz Wands, National Director of Graduate Programs at the Princeton Review, the computer based tests is obviously much cheaper because no paper is involved.

• The test will be administered in five and a half hours versus the usual 8.

• The test will be given 19 times a year instead of only twice. Though the dates are not yet set, the test will be given four times a year over a period of five days.

Wands seems positive about the changes and is trying to encourage the students who will be effected.

“By all appearances, the switch from paper-and-pencil to a computer seems like a positive move for students. But with that being said, we understand why some pre-meds may be stressing over the changes. Anything unfamiliar tends to cause some fear and most students are used to taking tests the traditional way. But I would like to reemphasize again to all those who plan on taking the MCAT, content of the exam will remain status quo, so having a strong background in science will remain important,” says Wands.

Wands says that they changes came after the AAMC wanted to improve the testing experience. Many test takers complained about the 8-hour test, and these “complaints did not go unheard.” Also, money played a large factor. The printing of the tests is an expensive endeavor, and the computer based test would be cost efficient in the long run.

So, how will this effect the students and their scores? None of the changes themselves would make a student to better or worse than they normally would have. However, because the changes will be new, then many students feel as if they need to take it now, even though they are not prepared.

“Students do not need to hurry up and take this test for fear that they might not do well on the new format,” says Dr. David W. Sammons, UTM’s Biology Chair and a pre-med advisor. “It is important to make sure that you are prepared to take a test of this magnitude. Take the MCAT as late in your learning curve as you possibly can. Don’t get in a rush.”

Dr. James Smart, associate Biology department professor and another pre-med advisor, agrees. “Practice as much as possible. So many students think that they can take the MCAT as many times as they want in order to improve; however, the medical schools still see the bad scores. The key is to take the test once, being as prepared and informed as possible.”

What advice does Dr. Smart give UTM’s pre-med majors who will have to take the MCAT in the future? “There are many practice MCATs available online. Take as many of these as you possibly can.

Buy the Kaplan study materials if you have to. Take an MCAT preparation class. Take the MCAT as late as possible so that you will have taken the important upper division science courses, which you will definitely need. There are many ways you can prepare for the MCAT.”

One of the ways that Dr. Smart and Dr. Sammons are helping UTM pre-med students is by offering free practice MCATs on campus. The last one of the semester will be held on Saturday, April 15. If any student wants to get involved with this session, contact Dr. Smart at jsmart@utm.edu.

“We hope to hold more practice sessions next spring. They will, hopefully, be more spread out over the semester and more advertised,” says Smart.

Tucker Leigh, a senior Chemistry major and pre-med student, does not see a real problem in the changes. “The main issue with the change in my eyes in one of convenience, both for the student and medical schools. I have yet to see how the questions have been modified, however, I am sure it will be the same MCAT it has always been. The questions themselves have never been the main concern.

The purpose of the MCAT is to properly identify one’s thinking pattern. Thus, these changes do nothing to hinder that while making the taking of the exam easier in a logistical sense. All things considered I like the changes.”

However, senior and pre-med student Phuong Nyugen, disagrees and is not quite so optimistic about the changes. “I think it’s good that they cut the test to only 5.5 hours, and have fewer questions. But at the same time, taking the test on a computer can be really frustrating. Our eyes can get really tired after a while. I think it may affect the ability to think clearly, plus lower our potential grade. To me, I’d rather take it on paper instead of taking it on the computer.”

Despite the wide range of opinions concerning the changes, they will still take place beginning sometime in 2007.

For more information about the changes to the MCAT, go online to www.princetonreview.comand click on “Medical Schools.”

Changes to the MCAT

• Only one essay instead of two
• 33 percent fewe questions on the test
• Will still have three sections: Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences and Verbal Reasoning
• Test time decreases by two-and-a-half hours