A test-publishing error tainted an otherwise smooth inaugural administration for the computerized Medical College Admission Test on Jan. 27. Fortunately, the AAMC will be able to provide scores for each of the 787 examinees who were affected, based on their performance on the other items. Nearly 2,500 examinees took the test that day. The AAMC is investigating the source of the error, which was a failure in the test review process and is not specific to the computerized administration. In fact, in this instance, the new technology helped to instantly inform supervisors at the 341 test sites nationwide of the problem. Supervisors were then able to provide guidance to the examinees within minutes, which would not have been possible with the paper exam. The MCAT was subsequently administered two days later, on Jan. 29, to nearly 1,500 examinees without incident. 

Beginning this year, the MCAT will be administered solely by computer, which allows for more testing dates, a shorter overall test day, more controlled and standardized testing environments, quicker score reporting, and increased security. For more information, please visit http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/pressrel/2007/070130.htm.