Taking the MCAT is an intimidating experience for nearly every student who wishes to attend medical school. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most exciting yet challenging endeavors of your life that helps you get admission in the top Caribbean medical school. The MCAT is a long exam that takes 7 hours and 30 minutes and entails a lot of content. Utilizing every moment of your exam day, including breaks, at its best, can help you have the best possible test day experience. With plenty of mental stamina, intellectual endurance and preparation, you can ensure that your actual MCAT test day is a cakewalk.
In addition to studying, practicing and reviewing all the academic material that you might be tested on, consider some other factors that can make or break your MCAT test experience. If you are fully prepared for this long testing session, here are some effective techniques for the test takes that will better prepare you for a successful MCAT test day.
Let’s dive into them.
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Know the Rules
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is dedicated to providing examinees with fair and secure testing conditions in order to ensure the accuracy of test scores. There are some test day rules that every test taker needs to be aware of. It is important to read an in-detailed overview of everything pertaining to the MCAT, including testing day protocol, testing center regulations and procedures, items allowed in the testing room, and items allowed during breaks to ensure successful MCAT test-day experience.
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Use Your Breaks Smartly
During the MCAT exam, examinees are allowed to take two 10-minute breaks and one 30-minute break mid-exam . You can use your break time strategically to your advantage. On the actual MCAT exam day, you are not allowed to use your cellphone or any electronic device. You can’t access any academic material or course notes and can’t leave the testing center. To spend your breaks more productively, you can use active recall techniques to give your brain a boost for the next section. You can simply rejuvenate your mind by using meditation and mindfulness techniques.
To ensure a successful MCAT test day, consider using different break strategies during full-length practice exams. This will help you figure out which strategy works better for you that you can use on your actual test day.
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Make the Most of Noteboard Booklet
Before you start your test, you will be given a Noteboard booklet and a fine point marker to make any calculations and notes during the exam. Noteboard can greatly help you solve the trickiest of MCAT questions. When used right, it can help you save time by solving difficult questions of particular sections. Noteboard booklet can be used to identify the most relevant information and make comprehensive notes for critical analysis and reasoning passages. You can use noteboard to write important formulae or equations that you find trouble remembering under stressful conditions. No matter how you will use noteboard booklet, make sure it improves your performance.
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Develop a Deeper Understanding of MCAT Tools
Prior to taking MCAT test, it is critically important to have a clear understanding of MCAT tools. The MCAT exam gives test takers the option to use the keyboard shortcuts. There is no need to memorize all the shortcuts. They are available on your screens. It is strongly suggested to practice using your mouse and shortcuts used by the MCAT before taking the actual exam. Make sure you know how highlight and strike-through functionalities work, how to select answers and cross out answers prior to the test day. When you have a clear understanding of the various features of the MCAT testing interface, it will help you feel more confident, prepared and comfortable on the actual MCAT test day.
Wrapping UP
The MCAT is a standardized test intended to help medical school admission committees evaluate your critical thinking, problem-solving and basic knowledge of natural, behavioral and social science concepts and principles essential to studying medicine. Knowing what to expect and what is offered on the MCAT test day beforehand can help you devise a strategy that helps you make better use of your time. Hopefully, these easy tips will better prepare you form a successful MCAT test day.
