Medical students will need to learn more about the human mind than those in previous years if they want to pass the new Medical College Admission Test.

Starting in 2015, aspiring medical school students will have three more subject areas to master. Last week, the Association of American Medical Colleges approved changes to the MCAT that expand knowledge beyond the basic natural sciences.

The changes to the MCAT include four new sections that focus on the understanding of sociology, psychology and biology to better comprehend the social and human aspects of health, according to a Feb. 16 AAMC press release.

Darrell Kirch, AAMC president and CEO, said in the release that being a physician in the modern world is more than just knowing scientific facts. By understanding people, he said, students will gain knowledge about the social, cultural and psychological issues that are also important to health.

The new section, ‘Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior,’ will include questions that examine the effect of behavior, socioeconomic status, culture and social perception on a patient’s well-being.

Leah Persky, a senior nutrition science major, took the MCAT last spring but said the changes to the MCAT are definitely worthwhile.

‘The focus is on academics,’ she said. ‘But the social aspects of being a doctor are, if not as important, but more important when dealing with patients.’

The AAMC also emphasized critical thinking ability with an additional section titled ‘Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.’ This new portion of the MCAT will include interdisciplinary material from various social sciences such as philosophy and cross-cultural studies. The students will be asked to evaluate and apply knowledge after reading passages from specific fields to test their reasoning ability.

Basic skills will also be addressed in the remodeling of the test. It will consist of two sections on the foundation of natural science. Lessons and concepts from introductory biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry and physics are continuously ranked as the most important to medical school success by faculty and residents, according to the release.

Based off a report titled ‘Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians,’ these new sections will analyze students’ ability to apply their scientific knowledge and reasoning skills to solve a problem.

The AAMC also approved another major change by eliminating the writing portion of the test. This section provided medical schools with minimal information on an applicant’s preparation or potential, according to the release.

With the additional sections, the length of the exam will increase to approximately six and a half hours. The AAMC will provide new resources such as sample questions, videos and study tips to help students adapt to the changes.

Students must now prepare for the first changes to the MCAT since 1991. AAMC said in the release that these changes aim to better prepare medical students for the rapidly changing health care system and a population that is aging, growing and diversifying.

Persky agrees with the AAMC. She said students are already studying a lot, and the additional information will only make them stronger candidates.

‘It is extremely important for doctors to understand their patients,’ Persky said. ‘Not just their physical well-being, but their overall well-being.’

jbundy@syr.edu 

Published on February 27, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Jen: jbundy@syr.edu