<p>I heard that there is a strong correlation between MCAT and SAT. How can you "convert" SAT score to MCAT? I know that SAT score does not predict MCAT accurately, though.</p>
<p>The fact that a correlation exists merely means that a higher score in one would, all other things being equal, lead to a higher score in the other. It does not mean that other factors are unimportant, which is what we would need in order to be able to make such a conversion.</p>
<p>my guess at the correlation is that good students who work hard and really push themselves can do good on any test. so the same hard workers do good on the SAT to get into a good undergrad and do the same on the MCAT to get into med school. Where I think the correlation doesn't hold true, is when people say that doing bad on the SAT shows that you will struggle with the MCAT. They are testing entirely different material. Similarly, doing good on the SAT doesn't give you a ticket to a high score on the SAT, but good study habits and test taking skills will help.</p>
<p>Well, a correlation is a correlation. Kids who do poorly on the SAT will tend to struggle with the MCAT, controlling for other factors. That's what a correlation means.</p>
<p>I think what BB means is that there are many other elements involved, too, and that "controlling for other factors" is not a realistic assumption, which I agree with.</p>
<p>In any case, nor do I think it's just about study habits. If anything, I think it's more about innate test-taking ability.</p>
<p>BDM is right. People who inherently do well on the SAT or ACT tend to do well on the MCAT... just like people who tend to do well on the MCAT do well on USMLE. From Kaplan there is a 90% correlation between MCAT VR scores and USMLE step 1 scores on the first try. I've heard from several other people that most people tend to score w/i +/- 2 points of their ACT score on the MCAT (I scored exactly the same on both). If you are good at one standarized test you tend to be good at all standardized tests.</p>
<p>Again, for those of us who aren't statistically edumacated, a 90% correlation implies that an increase in one is very likely to lead to an increase in the other, not that your USMLE score can be added up or whatever to be 90% of your MCAT score.</p>
<p>Holy crap I don't remember writing that...</p>
<p>I just ran into this old thread. I was wondering if a few years later there is something to add.</p>
<p>Bigredmed, were you comparing a 34 ACT to a 34 MCAT in your comment or were you talking about a similar correlation in percentile equivalency?</p>
<p>I was talking about the same numerical score.</p>
<p>Well, it is likely totally unrelated though. A 34 ACT is awesome. A 34 MCAT is a solid and good score.</p>
<p>I think given that a 34 MCAT is typically covering the 90th %ile, it’s more than just “solid and a good score”.</p>
<p>Moreover, a “solid” score among MCAT-takers probably is equivalent to an awesome score among ACT-takers, since the two pools are so different.</p>
<p>BRM’s answer is both correct and more important than mine, however.</p>
<p>but correlation does not infer causation.</p>
<p>i sucked on the SATs. praying to get a good score on the MCATs…when i take them, that is.
i would assume it’d be the factors of diligence and aptitude that holds true for doing well on both of these tests. they do test very different material though.</p>
<p>I don’t think anybody’s ever suggested that it was causation, which would be ridiculous.</p>
<p>exactly. so this whole correlation thing is pretty useless information. </p>
<p>whew.</p>
<p>No, that’s not true either. Just because something isn’t <em>causative</em> doesn’t mean the correlation is useless. It’s still very useful information.</p>
<p>I don’t understand how you can compare the two. One is testing writing/math/critical reading in a while the other tests verbal/bio sciences/chem/physics/writing (and if I’m correct, is spanned over a little longer period of time). I mean, I know the ACT has a science section, but you’re really not comparing a high school to college diagnostic test with an undergraduate to medical school diagnostic test…</p>
<p>The MCAT does involve those things, but like the SAT it is mostly a test of critical thinking. Much of the information you need to know is provided to you; it is just a matter of putting together the things that you already know.</p>
<p>Besides which, standardized testing in general involves a set of fairly transferrable skills.</p>
<p>^^^ Totally agree with that.</p>