2019 MCAT Testing Year and Registration Opening

October 11, 2018

Kim DavisonMCAT Program Manager

Salaeha ShariffDirector of Strategy, MCAT Preparation & Outreach

Cynthia A. Searcy, ModeratorSenior Director, MCAT Research and Development

Before we get started…

Technical Support

• Email aamc@commpartners.com

• Send a message in the chat box in the lower left corner.

• Listening over the phone? Press *0 for an operator.

To Submit Questions:

• Submit a question in the chat box in the lower left corner.

This webinar is being recorded

Resources and information

• Go to the LINKS box in the lower left of the screen to download these

slides.

Today’s Agenda

❑ 2018 Testing Year In Review

❑ 2019 Testing Year & Registration

❑ 2019 MCAT Policies

❑ AAMC MCAT Official Prep Hub

❑ Guiding students through test preparation

❑ Q&A

2018 Testing Year by the Numbers

• 35 administrations dates in 2018

• ~58,000 exams administered from January – June

➢ Registration for this window opened mid-Oct 2017

• ~47,000 exams administered from July – September

➢ Registration for this window opened mid-Feb 2018

• Total exams administered: ~105,000 (5% ↑ over 2017)

➢ About 13% of students took the exam twice

➢ < 1% took the exam three times

• About 1% tested with accommodations

4

2019 Testing Year

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

2019 U.S. Testing Calendar

6

Students-residents.aamc.org/mcatdates

Students-residents.aamc.org/CanadianMcatDates

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

Score Release Dates

7

Students-residents.aamc.org/mcatdates

Students-residents.aamc.org/CanadianMcatDates

MCAT Registration Survey

8

Test Date & Location Preferences

2017 2018 Difference

Preferred Date

• Were able to register for

their preferred exam date

63% 82% 19

Preferred Test Center

• Were able to register

within 10 miles of

preferred test center

• Registered greater than

50 miles from preferred

test center

72%

20%

93%

4%

29

16

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October 25, 2018(for January-June dates)

Registration Dates: 2019 Testing Year

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February 2019(for July-September dates)

Pre-Registration

• Complete required registration questions in the system

• Contact information

• Background

• Agree to Terms

• Examinees aren’t rushed

• October 25: when they can select test date and location

11

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

• Approval valid for up to 2 calendar years

• Financial information required for all living parents

• DACA students eligible

Fee Assistance Program

12

MCAT Benefits

• Reduced registration fees

• Free MCAT prep materials

• Stipend for updated evaluation for accommodations

Additional Benefits

• AMCAS application submission (up to 16 schools)

• MSAR access

Benefits are not

retroactive!

aamc.org/fap

MCAT Policies

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

Registration Zones

14

MCAT Essentials: More than Required Reading

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Registration Essentials

• How to: register/reschedule/cancel

• Policies for deadlines, fees, and refunds

• Test attempt limits

Test Day Essentials

• Defining an MCAT-Accepted ID and instructions on providing it properly on test day

• Test day procedures and rules

• Violations and investigations

Post Exam Essentials

• Sending and receiving scores

• Reporting test day anomalies

How Often Can Students Test?

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1 YEAR

• Up to 3 attempts in a testing year

2 YEARS

• Up to 4 attempts over 2 consecutive years

LIFETIME

• Up to 7 attempts in a lifetime

Voids and No-Shows

count towards attempts

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

• MCAT Accommodations Online (MAO):

• Examinees submit applications & documentation securely online

• Information available on MCAT website

• “MCAT Exam with Accommodations”

• Extended Testing Time

• Examinees can test over two days.

Testing with Accommodations

17

aamc.org/mcataccommodations

accommodations@aamc.org

Test Day

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

MCAT-Accepted ID is Required

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New Check-In Policies

• Palm vein scans

• Electronic Signatures

• Cell phone bags

20

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

Test Day: 7 ½ Hours

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Examinee Agreement

Why it’s important?

• Protects Integrity of the Exam

• Ensures MCAT scores are reliable and valid, and ensures a fair registration process

Examples of previous violations?

• Using unauthorized materials

• Proxy testing

• Posting test content online

2222

What can happen?

• Cancelled scores

• Report sent to schools

• Registration privileges suspended

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

Discussing the MCAT Exam

23

students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/

guidelines-discussing-mcat-exam/

MCAT Preparation

What’s New in 2019

25

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

AAMC MCAT Official Prep Hub

26

aamc.org/mcatprep

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

AAMC MCAT Official Prep Hub

27

Launch Date: October 15, 2018

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

Free Resources

28

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

Score Reports

29

AAMC MCAT Preparation Resources

30

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

AAMC MCAT Preparation Resources

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Official Guide Full Length Exams Practice Questions

Free Study

ResourcesFree Study

Resources

aamc.org/mcatprep

Poll Question:Which of the following preparation activities do you get the most questions about when advising your students? (Select One Response)

A. Creating a study plan

B. Finding resources

C. How or where do I start preparing

D. Study strategies

E. Other?

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“What’s the best way to prepare for the MCAT exam?”

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“How do I start preparing for test

day?”

Creating a Study Plan

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Find Out Everything

35

What is on the MCAT Exam?

What do I need to know for test

day?

What are the medical school

application deadlines?

How is the exam scored?

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

Student Testimonials

36

Setting a Baseline

Sample Test: Strengths & Weaknesses

37

Gather Resources

38

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

Creating a Study Plan

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Study, Practice, and Assess

• Active learning strategies

• Study in small chunks

• Review what you learned

• Study with a partner

• Summarize what you learned in your own words

• Practice and assess with questions and tests

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Simulate the Exam Day

• Take a full-length practice exam

• Set-up a mock exam day for your students

Mock Exam Day materials

Students-residents.aamc.org/mockexam/

Practice with the Exam Features

aamc.org/practiceexamfeatures

41

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

AAMC MCAT Student Hub: Free Resources

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aamc.org/mcatprep

© 2018 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

Advisor Hub

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advisors@aamc.org

aamc.org/advisors

202-828-0950

Poll Question:

How do like to receive AAMC MCAT updates, announcements, new resources and product offerings? (Select one)

A. Email

B. Website

C. Social Media

D. Listserv communications

44

WebsiteAdvisors: aamc.org/advisors

Students: aamc.org/mcat

Contact Us: Email: advisors@aamc.org

Call: 202-828-0950

THANK YOU!

Connect @AAMC_MCAT

@AAMCPreMed

/aamcpremed

Q&A Session

Technical Support

• Email aamc@commpartners.com

• Send a message in the chat box in the lower left corner.

• Listening over the phone? Press *0 for an operator.

To Submit Questions:

• Submit a question in the chat box in the lower left corner.

This webinar is being recorded

Resources and information

• Go to the LINKS box in the lower left of the screen to download these

slides.