Alexander McKinnon and Muzeen Ismath are MD students at the University of Manitoba who provide information about the MCAT. They discuss their personal experiences taking the MCAT, including Muzeen taking it 3 times and Alexander studying for 4 months. They then provide an overview of the MCAT, including the 4 sections, timing, scoring, and content. They conclude by offering tips for preparing, such as focusing on weak areas, practicing with AAMC materials, and developing test-taking skills and habits.

1. MCAT
Alexander McKinnon & Muzeen Ismath
MD Students
Faculty of Medicine
University of Manitoba
2017

2. OBJECTIVES
Who are we?
What is the MCAT?
How do I prepare for the
MCAT?
How do I take the MCAT?
2

3. Born in Winnipeg
B.Sc at Gonzaga University on
a tennis scholarship
Med 2 at the University of
Manitoba
Interested in: Emergency,
Rural Family, Anesthesia
3
MUZEEN ISMATH

4. MY MCAT JOURNEY
MCAT SUMMER OF 2012 -14
Wrote the MCAT 3 times during
that period
Took Princeton Prep Course prior
to the last exam
Studied full-time during summers
of last 2
Applied only to U of M
4

5. Born in Deloraine
B.Sc. (Hons) Mount Allison
University
M.Sc. University of Western
Ontario
Med I at the University of
Manitoba
Interested in: Rural family,
Emergency, Paediatrics
5
ALEXANDER MCKINNON

6. MY MCAT JOURNEY
MCAT SUMMER OF 2014
Bought MCAT prep books on Kijiji
Studied most evenings during my
M. Sc. and wrote a practice
exam each weekend for ~4
months
Wrote the MCAT in the fall
Applied to U of M, U of S and
NOSM.
6

7. WHAT IS THIS “MCAT” YOU SPEAK OF?
7

8. MCAT
“The Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) is a standardized, multiple-choice
examination designed to assess the examinee's problem solving, critical thinking,
and knowledge of science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of
medicine. Scores are reported in
• Biological and biochemical foundations of living systems
• Chemical and physical foundations of biological systems
• Psychology, social, and biological foundations of behavior
• Critical analysis and reasoning skills
-Association of American Medical Colleges
8

9. THE TEST
9

10. Time: 95 minutes
Passages: 10
Questions: 59
 44 passage-based
Questions per passage: 4-6
Minutes per passage: ~8
 15 independent Qs
Passage types:
Information
Experiment
Persuasive Argument
Content:
General chem (30%)
1st term biochem (25%)
Intro physics (25%)
Organic chem (15%)
Intro Bio (5%)
10
CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL FOUNDATIONS OF
BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

11. Time: 90 minutes
Passages: 9
Questions: 53
53 passage-based
0 discrete
 Questions per
passage: 5-7
 Minutes per
passage: 10
Passage types:
Humanities (50%)
Social Sciences (50%)
11
CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND REASONING SKILLS

12. Time: 95 minutes
Passages: 10
Questions: 59
 44 passage-based
Questions per passage: 4-6
Minutes per passage: ~8
 15 independent Qs
Passage types:
Information
Experiment
Persuasive Argument
Content:
Intro bio (65%)
1st term biochem (25%)
General chem (5%)
Organic chem (5%)
12
BIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL FOUNDATIONS OF
LIVING SYSTEMS

13. Time: 95 minutes
Passages: 10
Questions: 59
 44 passage-based
Questions per passage:
4-6
Minutes per passage: ~8
 15 independent Qs
Passage types:
Information
Experiment
Persuasive Argument
Content:
Intro psych (65%)
Intro sociology (30%)
Intro Bio (5%)
13
PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL, AND BIOLOGICAL
FOUNDATIONS OF BEHAVIOR

14. Each section scored: 118-132
Max score: 528
Average MCAT score: 500
Average applicant: 506*
Average applicant invited for mmi: 510*
Average accepted: 513*
Min accepted: 498*
Your target score: 528
* Stats are from the class of 2020 mb pool.
14
SCORING

15. HOW ON EARTH DO I PREPARE FOR THE MCAT
15

16. Undergrad
Textbooks
MCAT Book
MCAT Course
WikiPremed
16
HERE ARE THE OPTIONS

17. PRO
You already have them
CON
A lot of extra material
Won’t teach how to take the
test
17
UNDERGRAD TEXTBOOKS

18. PRO
Designed for the
MCAT
CON
$100-$200ish
There’s so much to
choose from
18
MCAT BOOK

19. MCAT COURSE
PRO
Teach to the test
Provide you with a schedule
An instructor to answer questions
CON
EXPENSIVE
Sessions depend on quality of instructor
Doesn’t have good data for new MCAT
19

20. http://www.wikipremed.com
http;//www.khanacademy.org
PRO
FREE
Khan is advertised on aamc
CON
Does not have good data for
new MCAT
20
WIKIPREMED/
KHAN ACADEMY

21. Learn the content however you want.
DO PRACTICE TEST/QUESTIONS
These are the best way to study
21
SO WHAT SHOULD I DO?

22. PRACTICE TESTS
Buy online from AAMC (http://www.e-mcat.com)
$35 for 1 (there are currently 2- exams)
Included with some books
Included with courses
Computer-based test
DO aamc exam as a diagnostic and then again closer to test date
YOU CAN NEVER DO ENOUGH PRACTICE
TESTS/QUESTIONS FROM AAMC
22

23. FREE MCAT-STYLE QUESTIONS
http://www.bestsamplequestions.com/mcat-sample-questions/mcat-sample-
questions.html
Not an exact representation the new MCAT questions but excellent practice
23

24. WHAT UNDERGRAD DO I NEED TO KNOW?
Physical Sciences
First year physics
First year chemistry
Know your equations!!!
First Semester Biochem
Biological Sciences
First year biology
Organic chemistry
Social Sciences/Humanities
First year Psychology
First year Sociology
24

25. WHAT VERBAL DO I NEED TO KNOW
No outside knowledge is required
WE read for pleasure or for knowledge
MCAT reading is for purpose and structure
Purpose = why the author wrote what he did
Structure = how the author presents ideas
Know keywords
Continuation
Contrast
Conclusion
Opinion
25

26. HOW TO STUDY
Make a calendar/Stay organized
Build in obligations
Time for friends/family
Study in a test-like environment
Study at the same time as when you will take your test
Practice, practice practice
Do what works for you!
26

27. Focus on weak areas
Read, Read, Read
Address any fatigue or
focus issues
Practice at the
computer
Create test-friendly
habits
No coffee during the test
27
UNTIL A WEEK BEFORE TEST DAY

28. Focus on strengths
Eat good meals at
regular times
Continue your
sleep/wake
schedule
Practice in a test-like
environment
Visit the test site!!!
28
DURING WEEK OF TEST DAY

29. 29
Plan your day!!!!

30. TEST DAY
Wake up on time
Eat normal breakfast
Warm up physically and mentally  FLASHCARDS/practice exam/study sheet
Wear comfortable clothing
Dress in layers
Bring high-energy foods
Arrive at test site at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment time
Don’t forget current photo ID
30

31. Printout of confirmation
email
Personal photo ID (2)
Snack / Sports drink
Extra jacket or
sweatshirt
Watch
31
CHECKLIST FOR TEST DAY

32. TAKING THE MCAT
32

33. 33

34. THE TEST
34

35. TUTORIAL
Can I highlight keywords located in the passage or in the
question stem?
Can I strike out wrong answer choices using the mouse?
Can I access a Periodic Table using an icon on the screen?
Will I be able to adjust the screen layout?
Is a test timer provided? If so, where will it be located?
Can I mark questions that I would like to go back and review
if time has not expired?
35

36. TOUGH QUESTION?
Do you get points for 2nd best answer?
Do you get points off for guessing?
Are hard questions worth more than easy question?
Are all passages the same difficulty?
Are passages in a particular order?
If you don’t know…guess.
If it looks tough…come back to it.
DO NOT LEAVE A QUESTION BLANK
36

37. • If two answers mean the same,
neither can be right
• Avoid absolute language (i.e. all,
never, always, etc)
37
GUESSING STRATEGY

38. VOID MY SCORE
You only have ONE opportunity to void your exam
I wish to have my MCAT exam SCORED.
I wish to VOID my MCAT exam.
Only voided if requested on test day
Cannot void scores at a later date for any reason
Scores cannot be reinstated at a later date for any reason
38

39. VOID MY SCORE
Yes, if you…
Left a large number of questions blank
Got physically ill during test
Had extreme test administration problems
Shouldn’t have been there in the first place
No, if you…
Felt the test was hard
Felt like you guessed too much
Didn’t finish every passage
39

40. • Can have one MCAT reservation at a time
• Take the exam up to 3 times per calendar
year
• A void exam does not count as one of the 3
attempts in a year
• No shows count as an attempt
40
MCAT RULES

41. FINISHING THE MCAT!!
41

42. FINAL TIPS
• Practice, practice,
practice
• Stay motivated
• Find friends
• Make it fun
• Remember end-goal
• Nerves are expected
• Practice
42

43. SEE YOU ON THE WARDS!!!!
43
Any Questions?

44. PASSAGE BASED EXAMPLE
Cholesterol is a structural component of plasma membranes and a precursor of steroid
hormones. The typical blood cholesterol level of healthy humans is about 1.8 mg/mL.
Familial hypercholesterolemia (HC) is a disease associated with high cholesterol levels; HC
affects 1 in 500 people. The cholesterol level of moderately affected individuals is about 3.0
mg/mL. Severely affected individuals have cholesterol levels around 7.0 mg/mL.
HC is relatively common in some families and absent from others. Research shows no
significant difference between the dietary habits of individuals in affected and unaffected
families.
Biologists believe that HC is caused by a malfunction at the plasma membrane. The cells of
healthy individuals have cholesterol-containing vesicles, whereas the cells of individuals with
HC do not. A comparison of the homogenized cells reveals that individuals with HC lack a
membrane protein that normally binds to a particular cholesterol-containing particle (LDL).
This same protein is found in the membrane of cholesterol-containing vesicles.
44

45. Cholesterol is a precursor of which of the following hormones?
a. Insulin
b. Gastrin
c. Thyroxin
d. Estrogen
45

46. Cholesterol is a structural component of plasma membranes and a precursor of
steroid hormones. The typical blood cholesterol level of healthy humans is about 1.8 mg/mL.
Familial hypercholesterolemia (HC) is a disease associated with high cholesterol
levels; HC affects 1 in 500 people. The cholesterol level of moderately affected individuals is
about 3.0 mg/mL. Severely affected individuals have cholesterol levels around 7.0 mg/mL.
HC is relatively common in some families and absent from others. Research shows
no significant difference between the dietary habits of individuals in affected and unaffected
families.
Biologists believe that HC is caused by a malfunction at the plasma membrane.
The cells of healthy individuals have cholesterol-containing endocytotic vesicles, whereas the
cells of individuals with HC do not. A comparison of the homogenized cells reveals that
individuals with HC lack a membrane protein that normally binds to a particular cholesterol-
containing particle (LDL). This same protein is found in the membrane of cholesterol-
containing vesicles.
46

47. Cholesterol is a precursor of which of the following hormones?
a. Insulin
b. Gastrin
c. Thyroxin
d. Estrogen
47

48. Cholesterol is a precursor of which of the following hormones?
a. Insulin
b. Gastrin
c. Thyroxin
d. Estrogen
48

49. Is it reasonable to conclude that HC is caused by a genetic disorder?
a. Yes, because HC is common in certain families, regardless of the type of diet
they consume.
b. Yes, because HC is common in families that consume low-cholesterol diets.
c. No, because individuals in families that consume high levels of cholesterol are
more likely to acquire the disease.
d. No, because HC appears to be caused by a defective protein and not a
defective DNA sequence.
49

50. Cholesterol is a structural component of plasma membranes and a precursor of
steroid hormones. The typical blood cholesterol level of healthy humans is about 1.8 mg/mL.
Familial hypercholesterolemia (HC) is a disease associated with high cholesterol
levels; HC affects 1 in 500 people. The cholesterol level of moderately affected individuals is
about 3.0 mg/mL. Severely affected individuals have cholesterol levels around 7.0 mg/mL.
HC is relatively common in some families and absent from others. Research shows
no significant difference between the dietary habits of individuals in affected and unaffected
families.
Biologists believe that HC is caused by a malfunction at the plasma membrane.
The cells of healthy individuals have cholesterol-containing endocytotic vesicles, whereas the
cells of individuals with HC do not. A comparison of the homogenized cells reveals that
individuals with HC lack a membrane protein that normally binds to a particular cholesterol-
containing particle (LDL). This same protein is found in the membrane of cholesterol-
containing vesicles.
50

51. Is it reasonable to conclude that HC is caused by a genetic disorder?
a. Yes, because HC is common in certain families, regardless of the type of diet
they consume.
b. Yes, because HC is common in families that consume low-cholesterol diets.
c. No, because individuals in families that consume high levels of cholesterol are
more likely to acquire the disease.
d. No, because HC appears to be caused by a defective protein and not a
defective DNA sequence.
51

52. Is it reasonable to conclude that HC is caused by a genetic disorder?
a. Yes, because HC is common in certain families, regardless of the type of diet
they consume.
b. Yes, because HC is common in families that consume low-cholesterol diets.
c. No, because individuals in families that consume high levels of cholesterol are
more likely to acquire the disease.
d. No, because HC appears to be caused by a defective protein and not a
defective DNA sequence.
52

53. A man and a woman, each with a cholesterol level of about 3.0 mg/mL, have a child
with a cholesterol level of 7.0 mg/mL. Assuming that HC is determined by alleles at a
single locus, does this observation provide evidence that the HC allele is dominant to
the normal allele?
a. No; HC is recessive, because the disease is expressed in the child but is not
expressed in the parents.
b. No; HC is codominant, because the heterozygous parents have a less severe
form of the disease than does the homozygous child.
c. Yes; HC is completely dominant, because the child inherited the most severe
form of the disease.
d. Yes; HC is completely dominant, because both parents carry the allele and have
the disease.
53

54. Cholesterol is a structural component of plasma membranes and a precursor of
steroid hormones. The typical blood cholesterol level of healthy humans is about 1.8 mg/mL.
Familial hypercholesterolemia (HC) is a disease associated with high cholesterol
levels; HC affects 1 in 500 people. The cholesterol level of moderately affected individuals is
about 3.0 mg/mL. Severely affected individuals have cholesterol levels around 7.0 mg/mL.
HC is relatively common in some families and absent from others. Research shows
no significant difference between the dietary habits of individuals in affected and unaffected
families.
Biologists believe that HC is caused by a malfunction at the plasma membrane.
The cells of healthy individuals have cholesterol-containing endocytotic vesicles, whereas the
cells of individuals with HC do not. A comparison of the homogenized cells reveals that
individuals with HC lack a membrane protein that normally binds to a particular cholesterol-
containing particle (LDL). This same protein is found in the membrane of cholesterol-
containing vesicles.
54

55. A man and a woman, each with a cholesterol level of about 3.0 mg/mL, have a child
with a cholesterol level of 7.0 mg/mL. Assuming that HC is determined by alleles at a
single locus, does this observation provide evidence that the HC allele is dominant to
the normal allele?
a. No; HC is recessive, because the disease is expressed in the child but is not
expressed in the parents.
b. No; HC is codominant, because the heterozygous parents have a less severe
form of the disease than does the homozygous child.
c. Yes; HC is completely dominant, because the child inherited the most severe
form of the disease.
d. Yes; HC is completely dominant, because both parents carry the allele and have
the disease.
55

56. A man and a woman, each with a cholesterol level of about 3.0 mg/mL, have a child
with a cholesterol level of 7.0 mg/mL. Assuming that HC is determined by alleles at a
single locus, does this observation provide evidence that the HC allele is dominant to
the normal allele?
a. No; HC is recessive, because the disease is expressed in the child but is not
expressed in the parents.
b. No; HC is codominant, because the heterozygous parents have a less severe
form of the disease than does the homozygous child.
c. Yes; HC is completely dominant, because the child inherited the most severe
form of the disease.
d. Yes; HC is completely dominant, because both parents carry the allele and have
the disease.
56

57. 57

58. THANKS AGAIN!!!
58