My Formula for MCAT Success

I think the MCAT is one of the most daunting tasks that faces any pre-med. On the day of my actual exam I met many people who had taken it more than once and even one girl who planned to write the test and immediately register for another testing session one month later. But it doesn't have to be an overwhelming test. It's just like any other standardized test (like the SATs etc) and with the proper preparation it is (fairly) easy to get above 10 and even 12 in every category. My strategy will not work for everyone though. It entirely depends on how you study best. I am also extremely cheap and could not stomach the idea of paying over $1000 for someone to teach me stuff I was already supposed to know.

For those of you unfamiliar with the MCAT it is made up of four sections. Three sections are marked out of 15 each: chemistry and physics, biology and organic chemistry, and verbal reasoning. The last section is two essays which are marked and you are given a mark from L to T, which doesn't make any sense...Anyway, you get a total score of 30M or whatever. Schools tend to either have a combined score you must meet or minimum scores for each sections. A good rule of thumb is that higher than 30 is good but 35 or above and you shouldn't have any problems. For the essays, a lot of schools have cut offs of O or P.

My first piece of advice would be to take the test as soon as you can after you learn the material. In most cases this would be after second year of university. That way all the information is fresh in your head and you stand a better chance of remembering everything. I waited way too long and took it in my fourth year, which made it very difficult/frustrating to study.

What worked for me was buying a relatively cheap study manual ($60) from Kaplan/Princeton whatever that covered all the material and included a lot of practice tests. I was lucky and had a friend who took the expensive course so I got all of her practice tests as well. I was also lucky in that I took the electronic test which is only 4-5 hours instead of 8. I found the books that give you a good overview contain way more than enough information than you need to be successful in the test. Buying $500 worth of specific subject books may seem like a good idea but you will never have enough time to go through it all.

My study schedule started about 6 months before I wrote the actual test. I only studied about 1 hour a day if that for the first fews months and then gradually built it up as the test came nearer. In the last few weeks I was doing several hours a day and about 8 hours on the weekend of practice tests. But it was not a strenuous schedule and I suggest that anyone who is taking classes and trying to study at the same time try this method because you do not want to try and cram everything into your head two weeks before the test. The best advice I have is practice, practice, practice! Then when test day comes you will be really comfortable with the format of everything and be able to go through the questions quickly and without hesitation.

But like I said, this method will not work for everyone, but it worked really well for me and I surpassed all my expectations when I actually took the test.