The Old and New MCAT Examinations: What Do They Measure?

Autor/inn/en	Molidor, John B.; und weitere
Institution	Michigan State Univ., East Lansing. Coll. of Human Medicine.
Titel	The Old and New MCAT Examinations: What Do They Measure?
Quelle	(1979), (12 Seiten)Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Quantitative Daten; Admission Criteria; College Entrance Examinations; Factor Structure; Higher Education; Medical Students; Scoring; Test Interpretation; Medical College Admission Test + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Admission; Admission procedures; Zulassungsbedingung; Zulassungsverfahren; Zulassung; Aufnahmeprüfung; Faktorenstruktur; Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen; Bewertung; Test analysis; Testauswertung
Abstract	Scores on the four subtests of the old Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and the six subtests of the new edition (1978) were factor analyzed. Scores were derived from similar groups of applicants. Two-factors, verbal-general information and science-quantitative, known from previous factorial studies of the old MCAT, emerged again. Five of the six subtests of the new edition load on the science-quantitative factor. Problem solving skill is not clearly differentiated from knowledge in the three science areas. Only the reading subtest loads on the verbal-general information factor so clearly assessed in the old MCAT. Most admissions committees interpret the new MCAT either by averaging all six subtests, or by determining if any subtest score falls below a preset level. The science-quantitative factor may thus inadvertently be given twice the weight of the verbal ability factor. Instead, two scores should be calculated: the mean of the four science subtests, and the mean of the two skills analysis subtests. Each candidate would then be represented by two scores, not six or one. (Author/CP)
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC