MCAT - Testing Format

The MCAT test is administered in a computerized format using a fixed-form method where the questions on the exam vary from version to version, but do not change based on the skill of the individual taking the exam. In other words, unlike some of the other similar graduate school admission tests, the MCAT test is not a computer-adaptive exam and the questions on the exam do not scale in difficulty based on whether you correctly answer each question or not. However, each multiple-choice question on the exam is weighted based on the difficulty of the question and the difficulty of the questions you answer correctly will affect your score. The individual will receive more points for correctly answering questions that are considered to be more difficult than he or she will receive for questions that are considered to be easier. The exam-taker will have a total of four hours and 20 minutes to complete the exam, which includes 70 minutes for the physical sciences section of the exam, 60 minutes for the verbal reasoning section of the exam, 60 minutes for the writing sample section of the exam, and 70 minutes for the biological sciences section of the exam. The exam may take up to another hour in addition to the time necessary to complete each section due to a 10 minute optional tutorial, three 10 minute optional breaks, 5 minutes allotted for a mandatory non-disclosure agreement, 5 minutes allotted for the void option screen, and 10 minutes allotted for an exam survey. During the exam, each question will be displayed one at a time, but the individual may go back to any question that he or she has previously seen or answered within the same section. Once the exam-taker has completed a section, he or she will not be able to go back and view or change any answers within that section.