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Mitchell, K. J. & Molidor, J. B. (1986). Factor Structure of the MCAT and Pilot Essay. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 46, 1019-1027.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the factor structure of the MCAT and the pilot essay and compare these factor structures to the ones that were observed previously.

METHOD: A sample of 2,876 examinees who were tested in the Spring of 1985 was selected. The essays were scored by 20 experienced readers.

RESULTS and CONCLUSION: Factor analyses focused on gender and racial/ethnic background. The factor analysis results produced two factors: A quantitative factor and a communication factor. The addition of essay helped the non-science factors in the MCAT to be better defined. Lastly, it was found that these factors were constant across different subgroups of examinees.