Marc Kroopnick Manager MCAT2015 Development amp Psychometrics Presentation made at the Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences Conference Arlington VA March 14 2014 Todays Agenda Overview of exam changes ID: 914893
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Slide1
An Overview of the New MCAT Exam
Marc
Kroopnick
Manager, MCAT2015 Development & Psychometrics
Presentation made at the Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences Conference
Arlington, VA
March 14, 2014
Slide2Today’s Agenda
Overview of exam changes
Schedule
Description of the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section
Support for Students, Advisors, and Faculty
Outreach
Q&A
Slide3Overview of Exam Changes
Preserve what works
best
Eliminate what
doesn’t
Enrich exam with concepts that future physicians are likely to needUse a testing format that has proven to be successful
Slide4ScheduleThe new exam will launch in the spring of 2015
The
current exam will be administered for the last time in January 2015
4
Slide5MCAT2015 Exam – Four Sections
Slide6What’s innovative?Mirrors the interdisciplinary nature of scientists’ work
Asks examinees to use their knowledge, not repeat it
Speaks to current initiatives in competency-based science education
Recognizes the behavioral and socio-cultural determinants of health
Balances testing in the natural sciences with testing in the social and behavioral sciences and critical analysis and reasoning
6
Slide7Natural and Behavioral/Social Sciences sections:
Natural or Behavioral/ Social Sciences Concepts
Scientific inquiry, reasoning, research methods, and statistics skills
Questions
Questions will ask examinees to
combine:
knowledge
of natural or behavioral/social sciences concepts with
scientific inquiry, reasoning, research methods and statistics
skills
to solve problems that demonstrate readiness for medical school
Slide8MCAT2015 – 4 Sections, 4 Scores
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Slide9Chemical & Physical
Foundations of Biological Systems
Solve problems combining knowledge of chemical and physical foundational concepts with scientific inquiry and reasoning skills that demonstrate one is ready for medical school.
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Slide10Chemical & Physical
Foundations of Biological Systems
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Slide11Chemical & Physical
Foundations of Biological Systems
Exam content draw from:
Introductory general chemistry – approx. 30%
Introductory organic chemistry – approx. 15%
Introductory physics – approx. 25%
First semester biochemistry – approx. 25%
Introductory biology – approx. 5%
11
Slide12Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Foundational Concept 4
Complex living organisms transport materials, sense their environment, process signals, and respond to changes using processes that can be understood in terms of physical principles.
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Slide13Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
4A: Translational motion, forces, work, energy, and equilibrium in living systems
4B: Importance of fluids for the circulation of blood, gas movement, and gas exchange
4C: Electrochemistry and electrical circuits and their elements
4D: How light and sound interact with matter
4E: Atoms, nuclear decay, electronic structure, and atomic chemical behavior
Content Categories
Foundational Concept 4
13
Slide14Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
4C: Electrochemistry and electrical circuits and their elements
Electrostatics (PHY)
Circuit Elements (PHY)
Magnetism (PHY)
Electrochemistry (GC)
Specialized Cell – Nerve Cell (BIO)
Content Category
Foundational Concept 4
14
Slide15Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Foundational Concept 5
The principles that govern chemical interactions and reactions form the basis for a broader understanding of the molecular dynamics of living systems.
15
Slide16Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
5A: Unique nature of water and its solutions
5B: Nature of molecules and intermolecular interactions
5C: Separation and purification methods
5D: Structure, function, and reactivity of biologically-relevant molecules
5E: Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics
Content Categories
Foundational Concept 5
16
Slide17Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
5E: Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics
Enzymes (BC, BIO)
Principles of Bioenergetics (BC)
Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions –
Thermochemistry
, Thermodynamics (GC, PHY)
Rate Processes in Chemical Reactions – Kinetics and Equilibrium (GC)
Content Category
Foundational Concept 5
17
Slide18Scientific Inquiry & Reasoning Skills
Knowledge of Scientific Concepts & Principles
Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving
Reasoning About the Design
and Execution of Research
Data-based and Statistical Reasoning
18
1
2
3
4
Slide19Natural and Behavioral/Social Sciences sections:
Natural or Behavioral/ Social Sciences Concepts
Scientific inquiry, reasoning, research methods, and statistics skills
Questions
Questions will ask examinees to
combine:
knowledge
of natural or behavioral/social sciences concepts with
scientific inquiry, reasoning, research methods and statistics
skills
to solve problems that demonstrate readiness for medical school
Slide20Support for Students, Advisors and FacultyDeveloping resources for:
Prospective
examinees
Pre-health advisors and
faculty
Slide21Resources for prospective examinees:The Preview Guide for MCAT2015
(free)
Detailed descriptions for all 4 sections, including knowledge and skills tested
Detailed topic lists
Sample test questionsVideos describing MCAT2015 and preparationDedicated web site: www.aamc.org/mcat2015
Slide22Resources for prospective examinees:Free, on-line Khan Academy video tutorials and review questions
In collaboration with the AAMC, and with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Developed by medical students
First video tutorials launched in October 2013
500 videos (and 1,000 review questions) anticipated by this summer
Sociology and Psychology Textbook Resource (May 2013)
Slide23MCAT2015 Exam: Test Preparation
MCAT
2015
Interactive Content Outline
The Official Guide to the MCAT, Fourth Edition (2015 Exam)
Sample Test
23
www.aamc.org/mcat2015
Slide24Resources for pre-health advisors and other faculty:The Preview Guide for the MCAT
2015
Exam
Presentation
materials that can be used with colleagues and students
Webinar recordings on exam contentCourse-Mapping Tool for the MCAT2015 Exam
Slide25Pre-health Collection within MedEdPORTAL’s iCollaborative
Online repository of instructional materials recommended for teaching
pre-health competencies
100
+ pre-health teaching resources in the collection,
including self-study materials
Searchable
by competency,
MCAT
2015
Foundational
Concepts, or key words
User community comments and shares resources
Khan Academy video tutorials and review questions included
www.mededportal.org/icollaborative/pre-health
Slide26Slide27Slide28Share a resource you
created
Refer a resource you like
www.mededportal.org/icollaborative/pre-health
Help Us Grow the Pre-health Collection!
Slide29New Call for SubmissionsSubmit an original resource that teaches a pre-health competencySix prizes of $750 for best submission
biology
biochemistry
chemistry
physics
psychology sociologyOpens May 1, submissions due June 30, 2014www.mededportal.org/icollaborative/pre-health
Questions?
Juan Burciaga
jburciag@mtholyoke.edu
Ralf Widenhorn
ralfw@pdx.edu
Jen Page
jpage@aamc.org
Slide3030MCAT2015 Exam: Outreach
www.aamc.org/mcat2015/admins
Ideas? E-mail mcat2015@aamc.org
Q-UPP
eNewsletter
and webinars
Resources for medical schools, pre-health advisors, undergraduate faculty and pre-med students—find it all on our website!
Outreach to a broad audience
Students without pre-health advisors
Under-resourced undergraduate institutions without formal health advising programs
Slide31Questions?www.aamc.org/mcat2015/admins
mcat2015@aamc.org
Slide32Thank you!