The Medical College Admission Test, the standardized test administered to prospective medical school applicants to assess their mastery in medical-related skills and concepts, is being converted into a new test format beginning in 2007.

The Association of American Medical Colleges is working with testing company Thomson Prometric to convert the MCAT into a computer-based format from its usual pencil and paper format. Other tests offer computer-based formats include the Dental Admission Test, the Optometry Admission Test and the Graduate Management Admissions Test. The last MCATs using the paper and pencil format will be administered on April 22 and Aug. 19.

Amjed Mustafa, MCAT program manager for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, said the AAMC is trying to incorporate new technology into its testing and to allow students more choices of test dates.

Despite the beneficial changes, Mustafa said many students have expressed anxiety about the MCAT's change from a pencil and paper to computer-based format because of the extensive reading and note-taking that is needed and because computer-based tests are unfamiliar for most students.

"Even though there are a lot of great benefits that the AAMC has planned for students and for the new computer-based test, there are some distinct challenges as well," Mustafa said.

Mustafa said a Kaplan survey of nearly 4,000 MCAT students revealed that 80 percent of them had never taken a computer-based test and that 82 percent would rather take the pencil and paper version instead of the computer-based test.

AAMC is offering computer-based testing for the MCAT exams in 11 selected cities as a test run to help figure out what problematic issues may arise. Kaplan also offers 11 full-length MCAT practice exams on its Web site. Mustafa said the test runs help deal with computer-related problems such as malfunctions and distractions such as typing noise.

The conversion of the MCAT to a computer-based format may result in significant changes as to where the exam can be taken. The University currently serves as an MCAT testing location for 80 to 100 applicants a year, according to David Espinoza, Coordinator for Testing Services at the Counseling Center Testing Office.

Espinoza said the University has offered to work with Thomson Prometric to administer the computer-based MCAT exams, but that the details of the contract with them will decide whether the University will be able to continue administering the exams on campus. He said they are hoping to avoid the situation with GMAT, for which students have to travel either to Salem, Ore., or to Medford, Ore., to take the exam.

Mustafa said the AAMC is requiring that testing centers be located within 100 miles of students who are taking the exam.

Mustafa said Kaplan is offering a free seminar about the changes at Eugene's Kaplan center on March 16. He said students who are planning to take the test shouldn't worry that the new exam format will affect their scores, but that they should start preparing for it early.

Contact the city, state politics reporter at chall@dailyemerald.com

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