The Nation : Revised Medical School Entrance Test Shifts Emphasis

In an effort to produce doctors who relate better to patients, the Assn. of American Medical Colleges announced an overhaul of its medical school admission test to emphasize communication skills and a well-rounded education. The Medical College Admission Test, a standardized exam required by nearly all U.S. medical schools, will be the first professional school admission test to use essays to evaluate applicants’ writing ability, said Dr. Robert Petersdorf, president of AAMC. The two 30-minute essays, which will be included in the test starting in the spring of 1991, will not deal with scientific or medical issues, AAMC officials said. Another significant change in the MCAT will be shortening the average test day by about 80 minutes. The revised test will have four test sections--biological sciences, physical sciences, verbal reasoning and writing essays--compared with the current six sections.