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How to Prepare for the MCAT, DAT, etc. (updated 8/7/12)
This document is intended to provide basic information about the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the Dental Admission Test (DAT), and how best to prepare for those exams. It is organized around questions typically asked by premedical and predental students at Xavier. Information regarding other admission tests is also included in this document.
Which schools require an admission test? Almost all of them!! The following is a brief list of different professional schools followed by the different tests required for entry into each.
- Medical (M.D.)--Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), owned by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and administered by Thomson Prometric
- Medical (D.O.)--Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Dental--Dental Admission Test (DAT)
- Veterinary Medicine--MCAT or GRE (check with individual schools to see which test is accepted)
- Optometry--Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
- Podiatry--Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Public Health--GRE or MCAT (check with individual schools to see which test is accepted)
- Graduate School--Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
What Is Covered on the Exams? The following are brief overviews of the DAT and MCAT (the two tests of most interest to XU students). The OAT is similar to the DAT. Websites which provide more detailed information about these tests (as well as the the DAT and the MCAT) are included in this document. NOTE: The MCAT was recently revised and future administrations of the test are in the process of being changed. Please go to https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/ for more details.
- MCAT (Currently Administered): 4 Parts [Total "seated" time for MCAT (including tutorial & breaks) is 5 hours and 25 minutes]
- [1]Biological Sciences (52 questions from General Biology and Organic Chemistry), 70 minutes,
- [2]Physical Sciences (52 questions from General Chemistry and General Physics), 70 minutes,
- [3]Verbal Reasoning (40 questions drawn from humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Designed to examine students' abilities to comprehend, reason, and think critically), 60 minutes, and
- [4]Writing sample (Write TWO essays on provided topic), 30 minutes each. NOTE: The Writing Sample will be REMOVED from the MCAT beginning in 2013 and will be replaced with a voluntary, unscored trial section.
- MCAT (future administrations beginning in 2015): There will be four parts to the 2015 MCAT...
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (65 questions from biological and biochemical sciences as applied to living organisms), 95 minutes,
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (65 questions from chemical and physical sciences as applied to biological systems), 95 minutes,
- Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior (65 questions from psychology, sociology, biology, research methods and statistics as applied to the psychological sociocultural determinants of health), 95 minutes, and
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (60 questions from a wide range of social sciences and humanities), 90 minutes.
- DAT: 4 Parts [Total "seated" time for DAT (including tutorial, breaks, and survey) is 5 hours]
- [1] Natural Sciences (40 questions from General Biology, 30 from General Chemistry, 30 from Organic Chemistry), 90 minutes,
- [2] Quant. Reasoning (40 math and applied math problems), 45 minutes,
- [3] Reading Comprehension (3 reading passages on various topics with 50 questions total), 60 minutes, and
- [4] Perceptual Ability (90 2-D and 3-D perception problem that assess visual acuity), 60 minutes.
How Are The Exams Scored? What Scores Are Needed for Acceptance?
- MCAT: Four scores are reported on the MCAT for each of the separate sections on scale between 1 (lowest) and 15 (highest) where "8" is average. Past experience has indicated that anything lower than a "6" in any area will likely keep you out no matter how high your grades are. The Writing Sample, which will be REMOVED from the MCAT in 2013, is assigned a letter grade between J (lowest) to T (highest). Generally, we have found you need at least an "M" to get in. MCAT and GPA ranges for students accepted into allopathic (M.D.) medical schools can be found in the most recent edition of the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR), a publication from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). A copy of the current MSAR is available for review in the Premed Office. You should note that the number of applications to medical school has increased dramatically in the past few years, a factor which seems to be translating into the need for higher MCAT scores to get in. Students who wish to receive feedback on their scores from the Premedical Office should be sure to release their scores to XU's Premedical Adviser when asked to do so during the MCAT registration process.
- DAT: Five scores are reported for the DAT, one for each of the four areas tested (above) as well as the Total Science score for the science sections. Each score is based on a scale of 1-30 with "17" being average. Generally, a "14" on each section is the absolute minimum needed to gain acceptance into dental school. In addition, the Total Science score should be no lower than 16 to be considered for acceptance into dental school. DAT and GPA ranges for matriculants at each dental school in the U.S. can be found in ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools, a publication from the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). A copy of the current publication is available for review in the Premed Office. Students who wish to receive feedback on their scores from the Premedical Office should be sure to release their scores to XU's Premedical Adviser when asked to do so during the DAT registration process.
EXTRA INFO ABOUT THE MCAT:
The MCAT is VERY difficult because, unlike most other tests college students encounter, it is designed to test one's ability to a) extract pertinent from extraneous information and b) make inferences when given incomplete data. It is designed this way because physicians constantly face similar circumstances when dealing with patients. Thus, we frequently see students who have made good grades in science courses and can do well on the usual, more straight-forward type of exams, have difficulty scoring well on the MCAT because even the science sections are based on reading. Further, past experience has shown that the Verbal Reasoning section of the exam (i.e. "Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills" section of the 2015 MCAT)is especially difficult because a) unlike the biological and physical sciences sections, there is no specific content to study for and b) given incomplete data in reading passages, you must be able to extract pertinent information and make inferences . Therefore, we recommend that XU students start preparing for the MCAT in their freshman year by a) taking a sample Verbal Reasoning exam (which doesn't depend on content which they may not yet have had) and b) read, read, read while at XU so they improve their ability to read and comprehend complex material. NOTE: WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT READING SCIENCE TEXTS. WE MEAN NOVELS, MAGAZINES (such as Newsweek or Time), etc. The Princeton Review recommends these books for supplemental reading to prepare for the Verbal Reasoning section of the MCAT.
How Much Does It Cost to Register for the MCAT/DAT? The current registration fee to take the MCAT is $240. The current registration fee to take the DAT is $360. Students may who are experiencing severe financial hardship may be eligible to apply for fee waivers to help defray the cost of taking these admission tests.
How Many Times Can You Take the MCAT? The MCAT, a computerized test, is currently offered a number of times per year at approved testing sites. Students are allowed to take the test no more than three (3) times per year. Be advised, however, if you take it more than twice, people start thinking that you are a little "off in the head" to spend the time and money and may wonder whether or not you have what it takes to perform well on the test. As a result, if you need to retake the MCAT, it is IMPERATIVE that you study very hard so that you improve your scores (and don't go down in any section from your previous test administration). Multiple test scores are interpreted differently by each medical school. Some schools evaluate only the most recent scores; others evaluate all scores, noting improvement (and/or a decrease in scores); and others may choose to review MCAT scores where the student scored highest in an individual section OR the MCAT with the highest composite score.
How Many Times Can You Take the DAT? The DAT is a computer-based test that is offered year round at approved testing sites. Although you can register to take the DAT as many times as you want, taking it more than twice makes one wonder if you actually have what it takes to make it through the rigorous dental school curriculum.
When Should A Student Take the MCAT for the 1st Time? Generally, in the Spring (i.e. April or May) of your junior year. You should definitely plan to review for the test and take a lighter load (no more than 14 semester hours) that semester so you have time to study for it. In addition, students interested in medical school (which is the most competitive of the schools to gain entry into) should definitely plan to participate in an MCAT review course (e.g. Princeton, Kaplan, Examkrackers, etc.). Kaplan and Princeton MCAT reviews are both offered on XU's campus in the Spring at a discounted rate for Xavier students. In the past, LSU Medical School in New Orleans has provided a FREE MCAT prep course to a select number of Louisiana Residents. Please check your email DAILY and signs posted in the Premed Office and NCF for information on MCAT reviews.
When Should A Student Take the DAT for the 1st Time? In the spring of your junior year OR the summer between your junior and senior years.
When Should A Student Take the MCAT the 2nd Time (if needed)? The fall semester (August/September) of your senior year. Please note that this is also the final chance to take it for entry into the following year's class. NOTE: Please check with the medical schools to which you are applying to make sure September MCAT scores are accepted.
When Should A Student Take the DAT the 2nd Time (if needed)? The fall semester of your senior year. NOTE: Please check with the dental schools to which you are applying to inquire about DAT score deadlines.
How to Study for the MCAT or DAT?
- To study for the DAT: The science parts of the DAT are similar in format to the tests you take in college science courses. Therefore, you can probably study for them alone in the same way you study for science classes. Our recommended materials are:
- [1] Your class notes from General Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry,
- [2] The latest edition of the Kaplan Review's Basic Prep Option for the DAT available at www.kaptest.com or check Barnes and Noble at www.bn.com.
- [3] Dental Admissions Test Preparation and Registration information (including sample DAT) available at http://www.ada.org/dat.aspx.
- [4] Sample Tests & Study Guide for the Computerized DAT Top Score Pro for the Dental Admission Test by ScholarWare. For more information, go to www.scholarware.com.
- [5] Several Xavier students have reported that various online video series, which review MCAT, DAT, and OAT content, have been good supplemental tools for test preparation. Examples are Coursesaver at http://www.coursesaver.com/index.php and Khan Academy at http://www.khanacademy.org/.
- To study for the MCAT: The MCAT is not like tests you take in college. It requires much more reading and interpretation than does the typical college science test. You definitely need to study for it in a structured way. We believe the best way to study is to enroll in an MCAT review course such as the Kaplan or Princeton Review (which are held on XU's campus January-March at a DISCOUNTED rate) and use their materials, classroom instruction, and studying outside of the review course. Studying on your own (without a structured review course) is NOT a replacement for Kaplan or Princeton...Here are some study materials you should consider utilizing outside of your review class:
- [1] Your class notes from General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and General Physics and other courses related to MCAT content.
- [2] Review the "Preparing for the MCAT Exam" page at https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/preparing/ for details regarding MCAT content areas, practice test resources, etc.
- [3] 10 Actual, Official LSAT PrepTests, a publication of the Law School Admission Council. The Reading Comprehension section offers great practice for the verbal reasoning/critical analysis portion of the MCAT. You may purchase the book from Barnes and Noble or any major bookstore. NOTE: You can begin preparing for Verbal Reasoning well BEFORE junior year!!!
- [4] MCAT Practice Tests. They are available at http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/. One full-length MCAT is available for FREE; you may purchase access to additional tests.
- [5] Examkrackers 101 Passages in MCAT Verbal Reasoning. It is available available at https://www.examkrackers.com/store/ or any major bookstore. NOTE: You can begin preparing for Verbal Reasoning well BEFORE junior year!!!
- [6] Several Xavier students have reported that various online video series, which review MCAT, DAT, and OAT content, have been good supplemental tools for test preparation. Examples are Coursesaver at http://www.coursesaver.com/index.php and Khan Academy at http://www.khanacademy.org/.
- [7] Read books listed on the Princeton Review's Hyperlearning MCAT: Verbal Reasoning Suggested Supplemental Reading List .
- To study for the OAT: This test similar to the DAT. You can probably study alone using the materials listed above for the DAT and any supplemental materials available from the testing agencies. Please visit www.opted.org for more information regarding the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). You might also utilize the computerized testing preparation software available at www.scholarware.com . NOTE: A statistics course is usually REQUIRED for application to optometry school. Make sure you enroll in such a course to satisfy this requirement before applying.
- To study for the GRE:Visit the GradStar Office at XU or go to www.gre.org.
Where can a student get additional information about the MCAT Review options available in New Orleans?
- The Kaplan Review Testing Center: Call 504-866-TEST(8378) or visit www.kaptest.com. The Kaplan MCAT Review is usually offered during the Spring semester at Xavier (at a reduced cost).
- The Princeton Review Testing Center: Call 1-800-2REVIEW x1400 or www.princetonreview.com. The Princeton MCAT Review is usually offered during the Spring semester at Xavier (at a reduced cost).
- Examkrackers MCAT Preparation: Call 1-888-572-2536 or http://www.examkrackers.com/MCAT/. Examkrackers is currently NOT offered on XU's Campus, although representatives usually visit to share course information on-campus.
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