PLM Series: Braving the MCAT

 As a continuation of my PLM series, here's the second part of the admission requirement for PLM College of Medicine - the MCAT. If you haven't read the first part of my blog regarding applying to PLM CM, read it here. You cannot proceed with taking this test if you haven't qualified on their primary medical school requirements. 

The first step is filling your application form at the dean's office and afterwards, you'll be asked to pay the MCAT fee of 3,500 pesos to the cashier (in another building across the Gusaling Bagatsing/Med building), then return to the dean's office and the staff will ask you to fill your test permit. Two 1x1 photos will be ask from you during this process, one for your application form and another for the test permit so make sure you have 1x1 photos with you and avoid the delay.

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is unique to PLM as they are the only medical school in the Philippines (that I heard of) which has an entrance exam. You'll feel like, wait another exam? But I already took the NMAT! Yes, I know the feeling trust me but PLM MCAT is nowhere near the NMAT. 

This blog post will give you a glimpse of what you need to do, and expect on the exam day and of course what to study for. So here it is:

Things to bring:

1. Test permit - the most important thing to bring, this will serve as your "ticket" to get into the testing site. No test permit, no exam policy applies.
2. Pencils and/or with erasers - just use the pencils you used in your NMAT
3. Valid ID 
4. Water - keep yourself hydrated during this day.
5. Watch- to keep track of you time. It is really a time pressured exam. Worse than NMAT.
6. Pen
7. Jacket - being cold during an exam should be the least thing in your mind while taking the test.

There's only one scheduled MCAT for all the applicants which always falls on a Sunday. On this day, you will witness the faces of everyone applying for the College of Medicine. Make sure to report to PLM test site early (before 7 am) because there will be a lot of people in PLM - test takers, friends/relatives of the test takers and current students of the Pamantasan. Being early means you'll be able to relax while waiting for the actual test and if you're not familiar with PLM, the least thing you want is to get lost and be late on the exam day.

Some medical scholars aka medical fraternities and sororities are proactively present to assist you, boost your confidence, and they even gave out prayer bookmarks and pencils. Do not be afraid to talk to them as they will really give out tips on how to do good in your long I-hope-I'll-get-in-to-PLM CM journey. They will also get your name, contact details and email to be added to a Facebook group managed by them to get updates and the most awaited results. These groups will also invite you to join their medical missions - experience it and you'll learn a lot, believe me. I learned how to circumcise and even did the whole procedure myself!  That's a story to tell in another blog post so stay tuned and subscribe to my blog.

I think it is more or less 8 am when we are allowed to get in to the campus, go straight to the testing class room you are assigned to and sit wherever you like. Unlike in NMAT, in MCAT there's no seat assignment and not strict with what you can bring inside the testing room but when I took the exam, I just brought the things I need mentioned above. It was a long wait before the exam started, if I'm not mistaken, it is already past 9 am! Imagine the boredom and restlessness we felt while waiting. Before the exam starts, make sure you ate your breakfast and do your bathroom visits.

The MCAT is a 2-part exam, part 1 of the exam is more about general knowledge type of test which is time pressured while part 2 is a not timed psychological exam which will help test your personality and to know if you're fit to take medicine. I am also surprised how the students are sectioned in PLM, it is based on your personality (according to higher batches), perhaps it is another use and basis of the test's part 2.  

Part 1:

The part 1 of the exam includes, analogy, finding the mistake in the sentence and writing it in the answer sheet - yes you read that right, you have to write the answer on the given answer sheet. Other parts of the exam is not the 'shade the correct answer' (not scantron sheet) that we are used to but 'put a check mark on the correct answer' so make sure to listen carefully to the proctor's instructions. You wouldn't want to lose your chance of getting in by not following the test instructions. Part 1 also involves math - word problems, wherein calculators of any kind is not allowed just like in NMAT so you might want to practice as early as now on how to quickly calculate and deciphering word problems - the commonly used words and how to solve them with utmost speed. Reading comprehension is also present in the test so might as well brush up the techniques you used during the NMAT verbal subtest.

In my experience, the MCAT is more on the general knowledge type of test. It is very random and very quickly time pressured test to the point that you'll never know what happened during the test. If you're a wide reader you should be fine but for someone who's not that much, like me, make sure to take a read about world history, constellations, animals, books, famous authors, plays, Philippine provinces (capitals/city), well known paintings/artworks and the Presidents of the Philippines - there are 2 items in this question so make sure to get these points correct. My advice is do not study those subjects you studied for NMAT - there are no Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Social Science related questions appeared and you'll only waste your time and energy on studying these subjects. The test is about stock and general knowledge. Also should I say, it boils down to your testmanship and the rivalry who can best guess the correct answers. It is funny but it's true.

The test is like a flash, it is impossible for you to read the questions more than once. You have to rely on your instinct and quick wits. In the math portion, do not waste your time computing - or let's say there's no time to compute for the items. Might as well do the computations on your mind while reading the problem. The exam is not right minus wrong, so might as well make sure to answer everything for possible correct points. Do not miss an item without answer. The entire exam should be finished in 90 minutes which is really a short period for the number questions.
 

I honestly didn't review for MCAT since it an anything under the sun type of test, very random and anything can pop in the exam however, I read on the Philippines Presidents (I made sure I got these right), practiced on some math problems - like how I reviewed for the NMAT word problems, and I read and familiarized some famous authors/books/artworks etc. From what I heard, our batch and the batch before us have the same MCAT but they say it changes from time to time. It really depends on the PLM CM admins.

Part 2:

As I've mentioned above, it is the psychological exam which is not time pressured however, there are more than 300 items in this portion. All you have to do is answer each item honestly and you're good to go. The MCAT will be finished before lunch time.

After the exam, make sure to drop by to the booths of the medical scholars/medical fraternities and sororities outside PLM as they will give you useful tips that will really come in handy for the next step of the application, the interview which will I discuss on my next blog post.

For me, MCAT is harder than NMAT since it's anything under the sun and you cannot actually study for it and it is more time pressured but you can prepare for it based on my hints and tips above. Do not focus on the NMAT coverage but instead read everything you can about famous general knowledge available.

I hope this post helps and feel free to comment any questions you have and I'll try my best to answer your queries. Thank you and good luck!

Disclaimer: The author is not in any way related/connected to the admissions office of PLM CM. This post is only based on personal experience of the author.