| Because pre-med students come from a number of | | | | computer. The final section tests the biological |
| different undergraduate programs and areas of the | | | | sciences covering questions related to biology and |
| country, it is understandable why there was the | | | | organic chemistry, leaving the student to wait for |
| development of a standardized way to compare | | | | their MCAT scoring. |
| individual students wishing to gain entrance into | | | | Each section of this test is scored individually; |
| medical school. While GPA is one determinate, it is not | | | | however, physical sciences, verbal reasoning and |
| the only consideration. Moreover, GPAs are not | | | | biological sciences are given a 'raw' score that is then |
| offered on a countrywide standard, various classes | | | | translated into the MCAT scores. The score is |
| will present differences and well as grading systems | | | | reported on a scale from 1 to 15, 15 being the |
| from separate schools will vary. In a search for a | | | | highest. In addition, the writing exam's score is initially |
| standardized way to test potential students the | | | | based on a scale from 1 to 6, which is then |
| MCAT was developed. MCAT scoring allows medical | | | | translated into a letter grading scale of J to T, T |
| schools to look at various students based on the | | | | being the highest. Most medical schools are looking |
| same criteria. | | | | for a grade of at least 30 and a letter grade of at |
| The five and three-quarters of an hour test is divided | | | | least a P. |
| into four sections. The first section is the physical | | | | Most medical schools not only look for individuals that |
| sciences test, composed of seventy-seven multiple | | | | exhibit exceptional GPAs; they are also going to base |
| choice questions and allotted one hundred minutes to | | | | their decision on the MCAT. Medical Schools have |
| complete. While the second section focuses on verbal | | | | their own formulas for student selection, some place |
| reasoning allowing eighty-five minutes to finish. | | | | more importance on MCAT scoring while others feel |
| Following a lunch break the third section will be | | | | GPAs are of greater value. Regardless of the school |
| offered. Section three requires the student to write | | | | or their formulas, one must understand that the |
| two thirty minute essays that will be given two | | | | MCAT is a very challenging exam and must be taken |
| grades one by a human and the other by a | | | | seriously with extensive preparation. |