The changes in the exam pattern is basically to keep in pace with the rapid and significant transformation in the healthcare sector and shifting the focus of the healthcare professionals to the concepts that will be of great significance in the future. This exam pattern has been prevalent since 1991 however, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) had decided to change the pattern from 2015 which means students applying for medical school admission in September 2016 will have to witness the new exam pattern. The four and a half hour exam tests the knowledge and cognitive skills of the students willing to pursue health profession through scores in the three contexts: natural sciences including test of scientific reasoning skills, problem solving skills and concepts of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics critical analysis and reasoning skills include questions on passages relating to social sciences and humanities to test the analytical and reasoning skills and finally testing the writing skills that includes two comprehensive essays. The eligibility criteria for taking up the MCAT exam are the completion of any of these four courses: one year of biology, physics, English or two years of chemistry. The significance of scores varies depending on the medical school and qualifications and achievements of the applicants. MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is a standard computerized examination for admission into various medical schools including allopathic, osteopathic, podiatric, and veterinary medicine in the US and Canada.
How to keep pace with the changes in medicine and not flunk the MCAT