If you’re gearing up to tackle the MCAT exam in 2025, there’s exciting news to share about some fresh updates to the exam’s interface that can make your testing experience more personalized. These updates focus primarily on accessibility. However, every tool the AAMC gives you can be valuable. We’ll explore these changes and share handy strategies you can use to make the most of them!
2025 MCAT Interface Updates
1. Zoom in on Success: The New Zoom Function
The first new MCAT interface feature is a basic zoom function. Imagine delving into dense passages with complex graphs and tables—unclear visuals should never stand in your way! With the new zoom feature, you can zoom in and out on the content, ensuring nothing escapes your eagle-eyed scrutiny.
How to Use It
Use the zoom feature to break down challenging graphics and data tables. Zooming in allows you to focus on one part at a time, especially in passages with multiple variables. While the zoom feature can make it easier to deep-dive into a graphic, don’t miss valuable information at the bottom of the content or in the label. Be sure to look at the graphic in full BEFORE zooming in. Additionally, be mindful of your timing. Practice using this feature as you complete the AAMC Practice Exams to ensure it enhances your understanding without slowing you down!
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2. Change Your View: New Background Color Options
Say goodbye to being blinded by endless screens of white! Now, you can switch the background color of your MCAT exam interface. Choose from a calming black background with white text or a fresh salmon background with black text. Of course, the classic white background with black text is always available for those who prefer it.
How to Use It
Try out the different color schemes as you complete AAMC practice exams to find which one reduces eye strain and keeps you focused for longer periods. The black background might be ideal for minimizing glare in bright exam settings, while the salmon background can offer a softer reading experience. Regardless of the background color you choose, remember to take breaks for your eyes throughout the test. Every 10 minutes or so, look away briefly from the screen to give your eyes a little rest. Visual comfort can drive your concentration, so test them out and pick your best match!
3. Highlight Your Path to Success: Now in Blue
Highlighting is an essential tool for identifying main ideas within MCAT passages. In addition to the traditional yellow highlighter, you now have a blue option that might be helpful to differentiate and organize your notes.
How to Use It
As always, be sure you are using the highlighter strategically. If you highlight too much or too little, you may not be able to reference those highlights for effective use during the questions.
A simple approach could be to use one color for main ideas and central concepts while deploying the other for details, examples, or contrasting points. During your AAMC practice exams, you can experiment with different color-coding systems to see what helps you retain information most effectively.
Final Thoughts
If you’re testing in January, now is NOT the time to change things up too drastically. You’ve been prepping for months and you do not need to use any of these new MCAT interface functions! Test them out and get comfortable enough that the new look won’t throw you on MCAT test day. However, you should be refining and improving your strategies at this point.
If you’re testing later in the year, you may have time to make some real changes to your strategy. So, test out those new highlighter colors in particular, trying to use the two colors for highlighting two different categories of information. If that is intuitive and helpful for you, you have the time to lean in and ensure you keep effective timing with these new tools.
Embrace these MCAT interface changes as tools for enhancing your comprehension and potentially improving performance! However, remember that the key to boosting your confidence on test day is to ensure you are properly prepared for the MCAT.
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