Kaplan recently announced several changes to the MCAT, the entrance exam for medical schools.
Matt Fidler, Program Manager for Kaplan test preparation and admissions, spoke briefly with the Daily about what exactly the changes are and what they mean for students.
"The largest change for the test is the move from pen and pencil to computer," Fidler said.
The material covered in the test will remain the same, but will be almost half as long, going from eight-and-a-half hours to five-and-a-half hours.
Kaplan also decided to hold testing 22 times between April and September, rather than only twice a year in April and August, Fidler said.
Kaplan and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), which writes the MCAT test, decided that the changes were necessary because of the number of students relative to proctors available, and variations caused in different testing locations.
"There were 150 people in the room with one proctor, which means there could be a lot of variation," said Fidler. "The computer remedies a lot of that variation."
The new computer test sites will only accommodate 18 people, avoiding overcrowding.
For in-demand test dates, however, like those in June and July, sites will fill up quickly.
"Kids are going to have to be a lot more responsible for signing up and scheduling the exam earlier," Fidler said.
The computer test employs tools allowing for an easy transition from paper to digital, including a highlighting function and a button to cross out answer choices.
Sophomore pre-med student Brian Dulmovitz was optimistic about the changes. "It might be better," he said, "although I don't think it'll be any easier. It is nice that you can take it when it's most convenient, though."
Senior Ameer Shah took the MCAT's paper former version last April - all eight and a half hours of it. But he said both versions of the test had their benefits and drawbacks.
"It's really a toss-up," he said. "Your brain is flustered after eight hours, but you're also staring at a computer screen for four hours or so.
"The old one was longer, [but] I personally like the ability to hold the exam in my hand and go back and review my answers without being worried about hitting the back button."
And the stakes for each question are higher. "Even though it's shorter, there are fewer questions you can afford to get wrong," he said.
Whatever the format, Shah had one word for the MCAT: A "monstrosity," he said. "'Beast' is also applicable."
- Hayden Reich, James Bologna and Kat Schmidt
