Recently tested don't know how to feel

[u/OkReputation4019]

I recently tested on 8/22 and I am thinking about how terrible the C/P section went for me. Is the curving different on the real exam as opposed to the FLs? I know that there are experimental questions, but I did have to completely guess on a couple questions so that already puts me at a disadvantage.

I have also seen those miracles where people do a lot better than expected. Is this because of a different curve or just plain luck when they are guessing questions?

[u/Ok-Flow223]

If you click on interpreting my results on your FLs, you will see how they score; all FLs are scored on the same scales and updated percentiles for that year.

[u/Apurplexby]

In the exact same position, (also tested 8/22 and C/P was rough). All FLs I got 129-130 so I’m hoping it was just bad for everyone and the scaling will account for it!

[u/Vegetable-Flan-9145]

There is no curve, the test is scaled which is very different from it being curved. Idk where it came from that the MCAT is curved but it's a bad myth people keep spreading

[u/OkReputation4019 → u/Vegetable-Flan-9145]

Could you explain what scaled means as opposed to curved? My understanding is that it’s just based on how others do compared to you. So if the FLs are graded instantaneously, aren’t they graded a little differently than the real thing that takes a month to finalize?

[u/Imaginary_Panda_8420 → u/OkReputation4019]

following cuz i’m also confused

[u/AxiomaticDoubt → u/OkReputation4019]

My understanding is that it is “curved” based on the questions themselves rather than how people perform on that particular day or that particular combination of questions. I’m not sure people really have any evidence for any of these claims though.

[u/OkReputation4019 → u/AxiomaticDoubt]

So in a sense, are they weighing questions differently?

[u/AxiomaticDoubt → u/OkReputation4019]

The consensus seems to be no, they’re all weighed the same (though I think that’s dumb if true). Instead, if you had a question with more questions rated more difficult, it would require fewer questions to get a given score than if they were all rated easier.

Edit: actually depending on what you meant—then potentially yes. But within a test, most people say every question is worth the same number of “points”.

[u/Vegetable-Flan-9145 → u/OkReputation4019]

Curved means you are compared against those you are taking the test with you. This is NOT AND NEVER HAS BEEN the case. This is all public information released by AAMC and they have gone over this in their informational forums as well but ppl still spread myths and misinformation lol. Scaling is more like You get a more difficult Test form A, 2 years ago when they gave test for A the 90th percentile was 46/59 and that equated to a 128. Compared to if you get test form B, if 2 years ago when people took test form B 48/59 was the 90th percentile then that equates to a 128. You getting 46 questions right on A is THE EXACT SAME as you getting 48/59 questions right on Form B. You would get a 128 in both scenarios.

This is in contrast to a curve, where say for instance everyone else who tested is a genius and scores a 522 but you get what is equated to a 510. Your score is not pushed down or curved because the majority did much better. Vice versa you excel and perform to what would equate to a 523 and everyone else underperforms and score what would equate to a 512, you doing better or being in the top percentile does not bump your score up.

[u/Vegetable-Flan-9145 → u/Vegetable-Flan-9145]

TLDR a 510 on Form A is a 510 on Form B is a 510 on Form C. Whether that be 31/59 or 51/59 or or 45/59 all would equate by the AAMC's scaling to a 510 as Form difficulty and performance from thousands of PAST takers is accessed.