Your MCAT Probably Won't Be Canceled (But It Will Be Shorter)
COVID-19 Series The Princeton Review
Hi, everyone.
I’m Rob Franek, Editor-in-Chief at The Princeton Review.
We’ve been providing up-to-the-minute updates about Covid-related test changes and cancellations,
and we’re here today to report a VERY WELCOME announcement from AAMC:
They’re probably not going to be canceling any more MCATs.
To date, eight MCAT test dates have been canceled due to Covid-19, but AAMC is making plans
to prevent a possible ninth test-date cancellation.
What this means, my friends, is that the May 29th MCAT is likely happening—if not in
all locations, then in many.
Same goes for June 5, June 19, June 20, and all of the other scheduled dates.
In addition to those dates, AAMC has added 3 new test dates: June 28, September 28, and
September 29.
And to ensure that everyone who had a test canceled will be able to take the MCAT—and
to make sure that test takers can maintain the necessary 6-foot social distance from
one another—AAMC is also offering three test appointments times for every test date.
Instead of starting at 8:00 a.m., you’ll have three very different timing options:
The new standard start times will be 6:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.
There may also be some variations by test center.
On the bright side—to facilitate three test administrations per test date, AAMC has also
shortened the MCAT—from a marathon seven and a half hours to a…near-marathon 5 hours
and 45 minutes.
You’ll still be tested on content from all four sections of the exam, and you’ll still
be responsible for tackling the same concepts and skills as you would on the full-length
exam.
Your scores will not change—you’ll still get the four section scores plus one combined
total score, like you would if you took the full-length test.
It makes sense that, of all the big standardized tests, the MCAT would be the one NOT to become
an at-home test—the way that the LSAT, GMAT, GRE, and even AP exams have become for the
moment.
After all, it’s the longest of the exams.
And in your future work as a physician, you mostly won’t be able to work from home.
You’ll be on the front lines.
So you may be wearing a mask to your exam—and given the content, it seems,
unfortunately, fitting.
If you’re worried about how this will affect your med-school application—try not to be
too anxious.
Medical schools are of course aware of changes to the MCAT test dates—and AAMC is working
with schools, and encouraging flexibility, given later test score availability.
Additionally, AMCAS has delayed the first transmission deadline to medical schools by
two weeks, so schools will receive the first applications submitted in AMCAS on July 10.
The one takeaway I want you to have from these changes is this: Some of the uncertainty about
your MCAT is now gone.
Nothing is guaranteed, of course—especially not during a global pandemic.
But you can start to make solid plans for your future testing and training.
If anyone is equipped to deal with the exigencies of this moment, it’s you.
Check out our med-school admissions counseling options, including our free medical-school
management tool.
Plus, find out more about our MCAT score guarantee prep options.
We’re here for you every step of the way, and we are cheering you on.