<p>Unlike the SAT you're not punished for guessing.</p>
<p>I see. Do you have any links detailing the scoring process with specifics? As in how much each wrong answer takes off your total score. I google'd it but i couldn't find anything.</p>
<p>It's based on how many questions you get right (no penalty for guessing). Simple as that. How the # correct translates into a scaled score out of 15 for each section, as I said before, depends on everyone else's performance. If it was an easy test and everyone's getting a large number of questions correct, then the curve will be harsher.</p>
<p>Scoring tables vary from year to year and within the exam itself. Hypothetically, it could be ... I don't even remember how many questions to a section anymore. But this is reasonable. (NOTE: I am making this up. Do not take this as gospel.)</p>
<p>Verbal (60 questions):</p>
<p>60: 15
59: 14
58: 13
55-57: 12
50-54: 11
44-49: 10</p>
<p>Etc. The ranges get broader as you go down. Biological sciences will sometimes give you a 15 for -2 questions (?), and then it's point-per-question for a couple points, and then the ranges expand. Physical sciences gives you a few more wrong and then it's point-per-question and then the ranges expand.</p>
<p>Back in the day the verbal section was 60 questions and the two science sections were 77 questions each (the MCAT is only about 2/3 as long as it usd to be). You could generally miss 0-1 questions on the science sections and still get a 15. After that, it was approx. 1 pt. off for every 2-3 questions missed. I generally strove for a 12-13 on the science sections which equated to missing 8-9 questions out of 77. You had 100 minutes to do the 77 questions but since you had to read the passages, you really only had 1 minute per question.</p>
<p>Obviously, these numbers are only approx. but the scoring is much different than, say, on the AP test where you can miss 40% of the questions and still get a 5. You generally have to get around 85-90% of the questions right if you want to be one of those people who scores 35+ on the MCAT.</p>
<p>NCG, at least on the Physical science section, you could miss more like 3-4 and still get a 15. The scale on that section was ridiculous and it was probably pretty likely you could miss 15-18 and still be a 10. Bio was considerably more difficult and definitely fits what you've described. </p>
<p>But now, given the shorter test, I have no idea how the scales line up.</p>
<p>Really? I never noticed that. I always figured the slightly higher % of people scoring 15's on the PS was due to the fact it is the first section they take (hence, they're more rested).</p>
<p>I won't attempt to say whether bio or physics questions are easier but the BS section definitely takes less time due to the nature of the problems (for bio you either know it or you don't while for physics you have to do calculations). The harsher curve is probably to balance that out.</p>
<p>I was always under the impression that it was because on the whole people do less well. Part of it is nerves, a lot is the calculations, part of it is bio is a subject of greater interest to most pre-meds.</p>
<p>I guess I should clarify on "ridiculous". In a way, physical sciences is more generous...and bio because people have a greater feel for it, in order to separate yourself out, you have to be almost perfect to get a high score. Same thing with the VR curve.</p>
<p>does it matter which section you do better on. im probably going to do better on ps because i love chem and phys.</p>
<p>^Not really as long as the scores aren't lopsided like 6VR 11 BS 13 PS</p>
<p>The most important thing is balance. If you must have an imbalance, it's probably better to have a high verbal score.</p>
<p>Hey, just wondering. Would you compare MCAT verbal section to an AP english language test (without essay) with a ridiculous curve?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hey, just wondering. Would you compare MCAT verbal section to an AP english language test (without essay) with a ridiculous curve?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I barely remember the AP English test. But from what I do recall, no, "ridiculous curve" doesn't adequately describe it. Frankly, I didn't think the AP English test required much brain power - as I remember it, it was basically regurgitating, "This is a metaphor, and this is a simile. Ooh, look at the use of imagery here! Hamlet did this, and his actions signified blahblahblah."</p>
<p>The MCAT verbal section doesn't ask you to regurgitate. They will ask you some really tricky questions to see if you understand what the author really meant. The MCAT asks much more of you than any AP test will. It's very easily to get sidetracked by the tricks that the MCAT test writers will throw at you - to borrow an AP English term, there are red herrings everywhere. I had to practice a lot (I think I used the Kaplan Q-bank) before I could consistently answer the more difficult passages/questions correctly.</p>
<p>It's harder, not only the curve, but the actual passages. I remember Princeton Review gave us a passage on the strong and weak gravitational theory. After reading the entire passage, I still had no idea what either theory was and of course the first question was "what is the difference between the strong and weak gravitational theory?" It's not unusual to read a passage and not comprehend 75% of it. That's why we suggest you read something like the Economist for practice.</p>
<p>I had a 5 on both English AP tests and a 790 on SAT verbal but only managed in the 11-12 range on MCAT verbal.</p>
<p>Damn!!! I'm scared now!!! (3 on AP English Lang exam...though I really wasn't having the best day; i was scoring 4's on practice exams, 31 on ACT reading, 71 on PSAT reading, and 660 on SAT reading)</p>
<p>Better get reading...</p>
<p>
[quote]
Damn!!! I'm scared now!!!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If you're still in high school, you don't have to start reading the Economist just yet. Just know that when you start thinking about taking the MCAT, it might be good to read stuff like the Economist to help you adjust to the style of the MCAT.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I had a 5 on both English AP tests and a 790 on SAT verbal but only managed in the 11-12 range on MCAT verbal.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That gives me a clear idea of how difficult the MCAT verbal is!</p>
<p>Clearly, only a person who scores 6's on AP English tests and 850's on SAT verbal is capable of managing over a 12 on the MCAT verbal section.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Clearly, only a person who scores 6's on AP English tests and 850's on SAT verbal is capable of managing over a 12 on the MCAT verbal section.
[/quote]
Now I realize how ridiculous it was for me to even aim for a 15 in MCAT verbal when in fact I dropped out of AP English Lit in HS LOL.. English is my weakest weakness and it's my second language. :( I'm already worried about the MCAT verbal, even though I'm still only a soph.</p>
<p>Also when about 30 kids in the country get a 15 each year.</p>