Millions of American households do not have access to broadband internet." In addition, concerns have arisen regarding test "harvesters" who attempt to steal MCAT exam questions nearly every year to sell them to applicants. The association listed several reasons for its decision, including that online-proctored testing "would undoubtedly disadvantage many examinees with inadequate technology resources or insufficient internet speed, as the complexity of the graphics might result in lower-quality images, slow refresh rate, and other burdensome technology interruptions. In response to the congress members' questions about whether the association had considered online rather than in-person testing, AAMC said that although the organization had considered it, "Ultimately, given the length of the exam, the technical and graphical complexity of its questions, and its particular susceptibility to cheating (unfortunately, a real problem), remote testing is not suitable for an exam like the MCAT exam at this time." Several medical organizations, including the American College of Physicians, have issued statements in support of the #WaiveTheMCAT campaign. Another 11 schools are accepting a January 2021 MCAT. SEA has been advocating for medical schools to waive the MCAT requirement during the pandemic so far, four medical schools, including Stanford University in California and Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, have agreed to do so, while four others say they'll consider it on a case-by-case basis. In addition, 27% said masks were not enforced in their test center, and 29% said social distancing was not physically possible in their center. ![]() The SEA also conducted an informal survey of test-takers and found that of 199 test-takers, 64% said they weren't screened at all when they arrived for their exam, only 7% said they underwent temperature checks, and 50% said they did not witness their personal spaces being cleaned before, during, or after their exam. The AAMC's results contrast with those of SEA, which reported in July that it had received reports of eight students and four of their family members testing positive for COVID-19. Cleaning high-touch areas frequently and cleaning work spaces between testing sessions.Permitting gloves and making hand sanitizer available during testing.Limiting the number of students testing per room, spacing all testing workstations at least 6 feet apart, and separating them by partitions.Maintaining at least 6 feet of distance at all times, including at check-in and in waiting rooms.Requiring masks for all staff and test-takers while in the test center.Reducing the number of allowed test-takers for each site by 50% and providing 50% more testing appointments than a typical year by adding testing dates, reducing the exam length, and scheduling morning, afternoon, and evening exams.Requiring examinees to provide a digital signature acknowledging they have not tested positive for COVID-19, haven't recently experienced symptoms, aren't under quarantine, and agree to follow guidelines while testing. ![]() ![]() Khanna that the accommodations it developed with its testing center contractor, Pearson VUE, included: While it is difficult to determine the timing or location of a given instance of transmission of COVID-19, the small number of reports of infections and the fact that we have not been contacted by any health department alerting us to a possible transmission gives us confidence that the MCAT health and safety protocols are effective," the AAMC said. "Our investigation into the testing centers on the dates these students tested did not uncover any lapses in health or safety protocols, nor did we receive any reports of illness from other students who tested with them. The AAMC responded to the letter, noting that it had "suspended administration of the test between mid-March and the end of May and resumed it only when we had developed and implemented a safety protocol that adhered to public health guidelines." Out of 75,000 in-person test-takers, the organization said it had received five reports of applicants testing positive for COVID-19 after taking the exam, including two examinees who reported developing symptoms within a week after their exams and tested positive one who reported experiencing symptoms on the day of their exam with a subsequent positive test result one who, after the exam, reported testing positive 12 days prior to taking the test and one who "reported experiencing symptoms after the exam but did not disclose a positive test result or otherwise respond to our follow-up request for information."
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