Not only is the MCAT a test that you have to take separately from your college admissions, but it also has different rules and regulations than other standardized tests. Moreover, it is not nearly as forgiving as other tests. You can’t guess your way through the MCAT, so you need to know all of its tricks to succeed. Let’s take a look at how the MCAT stacks up against NEET. Which one is more challenging? Read on to find out.
NEET vs MCAT: What is the MCAT?
The MCAT stands for the Medical College Admission Test. It’s a standardized examination for those looking to apply to a medical school in the United States or Canada. The MCAT is used as a predictor of how you will perform in medical school and on your future job as a doctor. The MCAT has two sections: Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences, and an essay section that tests your critical thinking skills. The Biological and Physical Sciences sections are designed to test your knowledge of the concepts covered in introductory level courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Differences between NEET and MCAT
NEET vs MCAT is more than just a battle of acronyms. These two tests are used for different purposes and have different scopes and methodologies. The MCAT is a single-day exam that is offered only once a year. You must sign up for the exam at least six months in advance, and you must pay a fee of $310. NEET, on the other hand, is conducted in two phases: an online registration phase followed by an offline pen-and-paper-based test. NEET is a government-run exam that is administered by National Testing Agency (NTA). It is used for admission to undergraduate programs at medical, dental, engineering and other health sciences colleges in India. The MCAT, on the other hand, is not a government-run exam. It is administered by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) and is used for admission to medical schools in the United States and Canada.
More About the MCAT
The MCAT was first introduced in 1928, and since then it has undergone several changes.
The latest revision of the MCAT was released in 2015 and includes four sections:
- Biochemistry – 10 questions – 30 minutes
- Cell and Molecular Biology – 9 questions – 30 minutes
- Organic Chemistry – 8 questions – 30 minutes
- Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior – 9 questions – 90 minutes
The Biological and Physical Sciences section tests your knowledge of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The Biological and Social Science section tests your critical thinking skills. Whereas, the Cell and Molecular Biology section tests your understanding of the basic concepts of these fields.
Who is NEET for?
NEET is for Indian students who wish to study in undergraduate programs at Indian colleges and universities. NEET is not meant for international students. If you want to study in a medical school outside India, you must take the MCAT. The MCAT is administered in the United States and Canada, and it is used for admission to all the medical schools in these two countries.
Is the MCAT harder than NEET?
The MCAT is an exam taken by a select few students. The NEET is an exam taken by a much larger section of the population. If you examine the two exams in terms of difficulty, the NEET is more challenging than the MCAT. The fact that more students appear for the NEET than for the MCAT is a clear indication that NEET is more difficult. In fact, NEET has a reputation for being one of the toughest exams in the world.
The MCAT format and rules
There is a lot of confusion about the format of the MCAT. This is because the exam is administered by the AAMC, whereas the format of the exam is controlled by Pearson VUE. Pearson VUE is the company that conducts the MCAT.
It also administers other standardized tests, like the TOEFL, the GED and the GRE. The format of the MCAT is as follows:
- You will be provided with scratch paper and a pencil to write your answers.
- You are allowed to use a calculator, but you must reset it before each question.
- You will have 80 minutes to solve the biological section, 90 minutes to solve the chemical section and 95 minutes to solve the psychological section.
- You will not be allowed to refer to outside sources, like textbooks or notes.
MCAT scoring
The MCAT is scored on a scale from 1-30. The Biological and Physical Sciences sections will be given a score from 1-15, and the Biological and Social Science sections will be given a score from 1-8. The final score for the MCAT is calculated by adding up the scores for all four sections and rounding off to the nearest whole number. There are no minimum or maximum scores for the MCAT. Even if you do miserably on the exam, you will still be able to get into medical school. It is important to note that the MCAT score is used by medical schools as a predictor of how well you will do in their program. The MCAT score is also used by medical schools to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
Duration of MCAT
The duration of the MCAT exam is seven and a half hours. You will be given a 15-minute break between the three sections. The first section of the exam will begin at 9 AM, and the last section will end at 5 PM. The MCAT exam is a rigorous test of your mental and physical endurance. Make sure that you are well rested and well fed so that you can perform at your peak during the exam. You should also make sure that you do not fall behind on your studies. Studying for the MCAT can be monotonous, especially if you are studying alone. It is important to break up the monotony by doing something fun once in a while.
Should You Take the MCAT?
This is a very valid question. You will have to shell out $310 to take the MCAT, and you will be given no tangible benefit in return. You can take the NEET, which is a government-run exam and is free of cost.
What are the reasons why you should take the MCAT?
- Better career prospects: If you get admission to a medical school in the United States or Canada, you will have access to better career opportunities.
- Improved earning potential: A medical degree from the United States or Canada is highly sought after in the global marketplace. You will be able to earn significantly more money than a medical graduate from India.
- Better quality education: The medical schools in the United States and Canada have a better quality education than Indian medical schools. If you go to a medical school in the U.S. or Canada, you will be taught by the best professors in the world. These professors are highly reputed and are leaders in their respective fields.
- Easier to get a visa: If you want to pursue a career as a doctor in India, you will have to go through a ridiculously difficult process to get a visa. On the other hand, if you are a medical graduate from the United States or Canada, you can easily get a visa to work in India.
Final Words
The MCAT and NEET are two different exams with different formats and scoring. While the MCAT is taken by a select few who want to pursue a career in medicine, NEET is taken by a much larger section of the population who wish to study in undergraduate programs in medicine. The NEET is a tougher exam because it is taken by a larger section of the population. If you are wondering which exam is more challenging, the answer is clear. The choice is yours: you can take the easier exam and earn a degree from an Indian university. Or, you can take the more difficult exam and earn a degree from an elite university in the U.S. or Canada.
