#edmeasurement

[jmlfeed-blog]

Every 20 years the MCAT undergoes a comprehensive review and overhaul. The latest changes in the test, which take effect next April, will include a new section that reflects a growing sense within the medical profession that doctors who are conscious of important issues in the humanities – including the social sciences – may be better physicians than those who are not, especially with a patient population that is ever more diverse.

My take: MCAT is taking advantage of efforts to "teach to the test" (and students' efforts to tailor their own undergrad experience) to try to create more well-rounded doctors.

[jmlfeed-blog]

Traditional measures such as Graduate Records Examinations test scores and undergraduate grade point average are not adequate for predicting success for non-traditional students who are returning to school after spending several years in the workforce, a new study says.

My take: GRE research reports have shown the same result in their full user sample. The predictive relationship of GRE (especially math) is lower for older adults (although this does not account for potential differences int he types of programs older adults choose). Can letters of recommendation be given more weight? Since they are almost universally positive or vague, it's not clear that these are an alternative.