Evolution of the MCAT

The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) has certainly evolved a lot since the time it was introduced. Previously, it was a paper based examination, however from 27^th January 2007 onwards, the MCAT has become computer-based. Let’s take a look at the evolution of the MCAT in detail:

1. The Moss Test

This existed in the period between 1926 and 1946. During the early 1920s there was a sudden rise of the rate of dropouts in the US medical schools, from a mere 5% to a shocking 50%. This lead to the need for developing a test that would be able to measure the student’s readiness for entering the medical schools. F.A Moss, a physician, along with the help of his colleagues formulated a test known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test for Medical Students. This test mostly comprised of multiple choice questions and true or false questions on various topics such as scientific definitions, visual memory, scientific vocabulary, logical reasoning, premedical information, etc. This test helped to bring down the level of dropouts among the freshman medical students.

1. A simpler test

There was an evolution of the test in the period of 1946-62 due to the advancements in test measurement technology. There were introduction of machine scoring for the tests and also the views regarding test scores and readiness for medical college changed. There was also a decrease in the subtests of the exams; it became simpler with only four subtests which were quantitative ability, science achievement, understanding modern society and verbal ability. Things became much simpler and easier for the students with the total score ranging from 200 to 800 only.

Later on in the 1940s, the simpler test was given the name “Professional School Aptitude Test”. However, later on it was again changed to MCAT (Medical College Admission Test by the Graduate Record Office, who was, at that time, under the contract with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

1. Status quo

The third stage in the evolution of the MCAT was from the year 1962 to 1977. The format of the MCAT remained pretty much similar to its previous format; minor changes such as the section “understanding modern society” was renamed into “general information”.

1. The fourth phase

Taking place in the period between 1977 and 1991, this fourth phase witnessed MCAT undergoing several changes. The general information section from the third phase was eliminated and new topics were introduced. The score was also made simpler and ranged from 1 to 15 instead of the previous 200-800. The social and cultural bias was reduced and the AAMC claimed that the new version of this examination was better.

1. Finally the fifth stage in the evolution of the MCAT, which began in 1992 and continues to this day. The MCAT format we see today is a result of further modifications that took place in the fifth stage.