New and Old MCAT

Abstract

This study examines the relationships between the New and Old versions of the Medical College Aptitute Test (MCAT) . The New MCA T scales were introduced in order to measure problem-solving skills in addition to the ability to recall infor mation. The primary sample consisted of 401 medical school applicants who had responded to the Old MCAT. Scores on both the Old and New MCA T were available for 66 of the 401 applicants. Correlations between the Old MCA T scales and the New MCA T scales were corrected for restriction of range in order to estimate the correlations pertaining to the total group of applicants. Despite instances of moderate commonality between the Old and New MCA T scales, substantial variability on all of the New MCAT scales could not be explained by performance on the Old MCA T scales. The results provide preliminary support for the claim that the New MCA T is assessing skills not measured by the Old MCAT.