The Predictive Value of Full-length Practice Exams for the New MCAT Exam for Premedical Students

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether full-length practice exams could predict performance in the new MCAT exam in a pilot group. Methods: A dataset of the first group of students who enrolled in the premedical post-baccalaureate program, established at Khalifa University of Science and Technology in the 2018-2019 academic year, were used. Nineteen students from the group were subsequently admitted to the newly launched Doctor of Medicine Program at KU in the 2019 fall semester. Results: Performance in the full-length practice exams may significantly predict the MCAT score (β = 0.74, t = 6.50, P = 0.000), independent of English proficiency. Conclusion: These results are the first to provide direct empirical evidence supporting that doing full-length practice exams before the MCAT test day is a good strategy for preparation. Given the size of the cohort and the amount of time the program has been in existence, further studies are thus required to support this initial result.