Try Skimming Though Questions Before You Read the Passage – This method won’t work for everyone; however, as you start your MCAT prep, you may have time to try out different strategies. Some students have noted that skimming through questions (not the responses!) before reading the passages helps them highlight the words that correspond with the keywords in the question.
How much biology do you need to know for MCAT?
Biology Subjects on the MCAT Introductory General Chemistry (5%) Introductory Organic Chemistry (5%) Additional biology classes such as Cell Biology, Genetics, Anatomy, and Physiology, or Microbiology can be helpful but aren’t required.
What is the breakdown of the MCAT biology?
Overview of the MCAT Sections –
59 multiple-choice questions 95-minute section Tests basic biology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and biochemistry
59 multiple-choice questions 95-minute section Tests basic biochemistry, biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics
59 multiple-choice questions 95-minute section Tests introductory psychology, sociology, and biology
53 multiple-choice questions 90-minute section Similar to reading comprehension sections on other standardized tests Passages come from a variety of humanities and social sciences disciplines
Can you study for the MCAT in 2 months?
As the official MCAT prep of the AMSA, Kaplan recommends that you spend 300-350 hours studying so you can be above average. If you’re planning on taking the MCAT in two months, you’ll need to put aside a significant amount of study time each week for in order to be able to score competitively.
Is it possible to study for MCAT in one month?
Studying for the MCAT in one month is a challenging task, but if you already have a very strong science and critical reading foundation and are able to devote a significant amount of study time per week, then you may still be able to earn the score you need by following this week-by-week plan.
How common is a 528 MCAT?
How to Get a Perfect MCAT Score: Strategies From a 528 Scorer / 
Achieving a perfect MCAT score requires diligent preparation The MCAT is the longest and most stressful exam that premeds must take in order to, The exam plays a huge role in what medical schools’ admissions committees look at when they evaluate applicants.
To make things even harder, premeds are scoring higher on the exam than ever before. For each of the past three medical school application cycles, the for applicants has increased. In the 2022–2023 application cycle, the average MCAT score for applicants was 506.5, which was up from the 2021–2022 average of 505.9 and the 2020–2021 average of 506.4.
But what about the students that score the highest on the exam? Many premeds have asked us: Is it possible to achieve a perfect score on the MCAT? Every year, there are stories of a friend of a friend who achieved the elusive perfect score on the MCAT.
What a perfect MCAT score is How hard it is to get a perfect MCAT score Tips you can use in your own studying to work your way closer to a perfect MCAT performance
A perfect MCAT score is a 528. The MCAT is made up of four sections:
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (CPBS) Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (BBLS) Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (PSBB)
A 528 is the highest MCAT score that you can achieve by scoring a perfect 132 in each of the four MCAT sections. Each of the four MCAT sections is scored from a 118 to a 132, and when you add these four sections up, you can score anywhere between a 472 and a 528.
If you score a 132 on each section, you will achieve the perfect 528 MCAT score. A 528 MCAT score corresponds to the 99.9th percentile of all test takers, along with scores of 524 and above. (Suggested reading: ) It is very difficult to get a perfect MCAT score, but achieving a 528 on the MCAT does not mean you have to be perfect.
Let us explain. The MCAT is a scaled exam, meaning each exam is graded slightly differently to account for small variations in how well students perform on different test days. If Mae receives a slightly harder exam than Joshua, Mae could miss a couple more questions than Joshua and still receive the same score.
- In other words, you can miss a question on a section of the MCAT and still achieve a perfect section score of 132,
- Many students who achieve perfect section scores and perfect overall MCAT scores likely do miss a question or two.
- That being said, it is still very difficult to achieve the perfect 528 on the MCAT.
Many people have asked: How many folks get a perfect score every year? The AAMC does not report specific numbers, but we can make a rough estimation using the AAMC’s release of the most recent testing cycle’s, Let’s dive into some calculations. (If you are not interested in our math, feel free to skip the next few paragraphs!) The bar graph plots total score versus the percentage of applicants who achieved this score.
- The 528 bar is on the far-right side and nearly invisible.
- However, we can see a small bar and can count pixels to estimate the number of students who achieve this score.
- There are 550 pixels between the 0 and 0.5 percent ticks on the y-axis, and the 528 bar contains 23 pixels.
- Using a simple proportion, we can estimate that perfect 528 scorers account for 0.021% of all test takers.
At the top of the chart, we see that the sample size is 276,779 students.0.021% of 273,860 students brings us to our final answer: 58 students. Since this method is not perfect, we’ll leave you with a range; between 30 and 70 students every year achieve a perfect 528 MCAT,
- This is out of the nearly three hundred thousand students who take the exam.
- Thus, achieving a perfect MCAT score is quite difficult, but it is not impossible.
- Now that you know it is possible to achieve a perfect score on the MCAT, how can you study so that you maximize your chances of scoring a 528? After speaking with two of those students who achieved a perfect 528, here’s what we found out.
Tip #1: Build a well-thought out MCAT study schedule early on in your test prep. Students who don’t create a study schedule often end up creating one later on in their prep, but it is too late by that point as they have already missed out on weeks or even months of rigorous and planned studying.
Don’t underestimate the benefit of spending a few diligent hours up front to build your perfect study schedule. Plan to create a study schedule as soon as you decide, This will do the work of holding you accountable during the study process and ensuring that you have a detailed roadmap for the test prep that lies ahead.
A well-thought out MCAT study schedule should incorporate “flex days”—either one free day per week or one to two open weeks at the end of the schedule—for a couple of reasons. Building in flex days will allow you to handle the inevitable curveballs that life will throw at you and give you a chance to catch up.
- Plus, they’ll provide the crucial opportunity to relax and avoid burnout, allowing you to come back to the MCAT materials refreshed, and recharged.
- Suggested reading: ) Yes! Since the MCAT is a scaled exam, it is possible to miss a question on a section and still score a 132.
- Tip #2: Change up your strategy if it isn’t working.
Many of you have heard the phrase: “Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.” That holds true for the MCAT, and so does the reverse statement that we just made up for you: “Do fix it when it is broke.” Many students stick with the same strategy exam after exam even though their score is not improving.
- However, not every strategy works for every person,
- An effective strategy takes advantage of the way that you think, and different people understandably have different ways of thinking and problem-solving.
- That’s why you shouldn’t be afraid to mix up your strategy.
- One of the 528 scorers we interviewed even told us: “I switched up my CARS strategy up on my second to last AAMC full-length exam because I was stuck in a score plateau.
On the real exam, I scored a 132 in CARS!” That said, your actual test day isn’t the day to suddenly change strategies. By doing this, you risk being thrown off your game with potentially disastrous results. Tip #3: Make practice problem review a cornerstone of your MCAT study plan.
- Taking practice problems is not enough to score well on the MCAT,
- Our 528 scorers said that they spent just as much time reviewing the practice problems as they did taking the problems in the first place.
- Many students will face the following situation at some point in their test prep: Should I take another full-length exam or finish reviewing and studying the last two exams that I took? You should always finish reviewing and studying the last two exams that you took.
In review, you should also make sure to emphasize questions and content areas that you previously missed. If you don’t put 110 percent of your effort into reviewing and studying the exams that you have already taken, you will not approach the next exam with a new body of knowledge and an understanding of what you missed before.
As a result, you might not see the score increase that you want. Tip #4: Prepare for test day by simulating test day when you practice. It’s not uncommon for students to score highly on their practice tests and then score several points lower on the real test. That’s why, whenever possible, you should take any practice problem as if you were taking it on a real exam.
Here’s how to simulate test day conditions:
Try to find a quiet environment where you won’t be disturbed. Start full-lengths at 8:00am. Take all of the breaks you’d take during the real exam. Don’t rush through the questions just because you are interested to see the correct answers (students commonly do this during the final Psychology and Sociology section, but remember that this makes up one-quarter of your score). Rather than simply guess the answers to questions you don’t know the answer to, reason through them to the best of your ability, the way you would if you were actually taking the test.
By simulating test day as accurately as possible, you’ll be well prepared come the day of your actual exam. Tip #5: Get a little bit lucky. Scoring a 528 on the MCAT does require some luck. Both of the 528 scorers we interviewed said that a small portion of their score was getting the “fifty-fifty” questions right.
One 528 scorer even said that he “completely guessed” on a question in the chemistry/physics section of his exam. Achieving a perfect 528 on the MCAT is an impressive feat, but it is not the only great MCAT score that you can achieve. In fact, the majority of students who are accepted into medical school do not score a 528.
There are other factors in your application, including your,, clinical experience,, and much more. A student with a perfect 528 and no extracurricular activities is not as likely to get into medical school as a 520 student with hundreds of research hours, leadership experiences, and clinical volunteering.
Is 3 months enough for MCAT study?
What this MCAT study schedule guide covers – To help you sit down and write out your own MCAT study schedule, we’ve developed a comprehensive guide that will help you achieve a 520+ score and get into medical school. This guide will cover the following:
- A step-by-step guide to building your own study schedule, which includes choosing a test date and mapping out each week until your exam
- Answers to frequently asked questions about the MCAT study schedule
- Example study schedules (1-month, 2-month, and 3-month MCAT study plans)
- Actionable advice for staying on task
After reading through this guide, you’ll have all of the information needed to build yourself an effective study schedule that helps you achieve a high score on the MCAT. Let’s get started! In order to build your MCAT study schedule, you’ll want to select a, This is often not an easy decision to make, so there are a few questions you should ask yourself before selecting a test date.
- Have you taken the classes absolutely needed for the MCAT? These classes include general chemistry, one semester of organic chemistry and physics, and introductory biology. (Note: There are also,)
- What other time commitments will you have during the period in which you plan on studying for the MCAT? MCAT preparation is time consuming. You should be honest and realistic with yourself when determining your time commitments.
To assess your time, try this simple exercise.
- Select your test date.
- Write out every other time commitment you will have between now and your test date. These should include:
- School and school studying time
- Work
- Volunteering
- Class
- Personal time
- Holidays
- Write out the average amount of time you will be able to study for the MCAT each week.
You should aim to study for at least 300 hours for the exam. In other words, if you study for 3 months (~90 days), you should average a little over 3 hours each day. Be sure to select your test date carefully. Your study schedule will be constructed around this date.
(Suggested reading: ) In general, you should spend at least 300–350 total hours studying for the MCAT, and up to 500 hours. This includes content review, taking practice tests, reviewing the practice tests, and studying what you miss. The number of hours may slightly vary based on how long it has been since you completed the courses, your major, and/or your comfort with certain topics.
Let’s now look at the anatomy of an MCAT study schedule. You can think of an MCAT study schedule as two distinct phases. The first phase is content heavy with a little bit of practice. This means 70% of your time should be spent studying content while 30% should be practice-based.
The second phase of studying is practice-heavy with a little bit of content. During this phase, the numbers flip and you should focus on 70% practice and 30% content. To split your study schedule into these phases, count the number of weeks you will spend studying for the exam. Are you studying for 4 weeks? 8 weeks? 12 weeks? 16 weeks? If you are planning on spending 12 weeks studying for the exam, you should use 6 weeks for the mostly-content phase and 6 weeks for the mostly-practice phase.12 weeks, or 3 months, is generally sufficient time to spend studying for the MCAT at about 20 hours per week.
This can be compressed or extended based on your schedule. To begin building the content phase, write down the name of each chapter from your content review books in an Excel or Google Sheets page. Next, count the total number of chapters that you will need to complete.
In general, most content books will have about 9–12 chapters per subject, which includes biochemistry, biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and psychology and sociology. If you have 12 weeks to study, aim to finish your content review in 6–8 weeks, which breaks down to between 7 and 10 chapters per week, or at least 1 chapter per day.
Many students are surprised when they complete this exercise—there is a lot of content to go through! Don’t fear, though. Not all of the content is important or high yield. For example, you are much better off spending time on biochemistry instead of physics, so you can put one biochemistry chapter on a Monday and take a deep dive into it while going more quickly through three physics chapters on Tuesday. 
mcat study schedule Template (3 months): Content phase (WITHOUT CARS) This study schedule can be adapted for any set of, Each book is shown by the color code at the top of the study schedule. Let’s notice a few important features of this study schedule:
- The study schedule goes through the books in parallel instead of one book at a time (i.e. first week biochemistry, second week physics, etc.). The benefit of working in parallel is that you won’t forget the subject that you studied at the very beginning.
- This study schedule is based on a student studying part-time with 2–3 hours free per day, and some additional time on a Friday available to take a full-length exam. In other words, this is a manageable schedule if you have other time commitments.
- The student finishes all of the content AND takes two full-length practice exams during this content-heavy phase. We cannot overstate the importance of these early practice exams, which make up the 30% practice in this phase. Taking practice exams early on is extremely important in showing you what content you should focus on and the depth to which you need to know it. Instead of memorizing very small details, you will find that the full-lengths tend to test your ability to reason through experiments or look at figures and graphs.
- There are checkboxes at the end of each slot so that you can hold yourself accountable. Try to work an accountability tool into your own schedule.
- Sunday is built in as a flexibility day here, but it can be whatever day works best for you. Take this day to recharge or catch up on small amounts of content that you were not able to get to during the week.
This content phase of the study schedule looks great! Something is missing, though. Can you guess what it is? CARS is missing from this study schedule, and CARS will make up 1/4th of your final score. For, CARS is one of the main scores that admissions committees will look at. So, let’s adapt our study schedule to include CARS: 
mcat study schedule Template (3 months): Content phase (WITH CARS) Now, notice that you will be completing 1–2 CARS passages per day. Make these passages count as taking passages followed by careful analysis is one of the best ways to improve your CARS score.
This is an example of a solid mostly-content phase that will set you up nicely to begin your mostly-practice phase. Let’s take a deeper look at our next phase. You are now mapping out the second phase of your MCAT studying journey. The mostly-practice phase will be 70% practice and 30% content, and the content that you review will be chosen based on what you find yourself missing in practice.
For example, if you find yourself missing optics questions, go back and review the optics books chapter or watch the optics Khan Academy videos. To build the practice phase of our test schedule, we want to work back from test day. Remember: at a bare minimum, you should work through all of the AAMC resources at least once.
- When you take MCAT practice questions during this phase, it is not enough to simply take the practice passage, skim over the answer choice explanations, and move on.
- Rather, you need to understand why you missed the question, write it down, and study it later on.
- You should approach each new full-length with new information, or you won’t see an improvement in your score.
Here’s an example of what the practice phase of the study schedule we designed earlier might look like: 
mcat study schedule Template (3 months): PRACTICE phase) As you read through this, you might wonder what MQL stands for. MQL stands for “Missed Questions Log,” and this is the personal document or excel sheet you use to track every single question you’ve missed throughout the course of your MCAT studying.
- For example, let’s say you miss the following question:
- What type of enzyme is a kinase?
- a) Ligaseb) Oxidoreductasec) Transferase
- d) Lyase
The answer is transferase, but let’s say you selected lyase. You should write down the definition of each answer choice that you don’t know in your MQL. Then, when it says to study the Bio/Biochem (B/B) MQL on your study guide, you will come back and memorize the definitions of these different enzyme classes.
- You are better off being extremely prepared to take the exam the first time around instead of relying on,
- As a safety valve, however, you can book a second exam to make sure that you will still have a testing seat and can always cancel it if necessary (the, though).
- Admissions committees will also expect to see a strong score increase on your second exam, not a small score increase that might just be the result of you taking the test a second time.
Let’s look at the important features of the practice-phase study schedule:
- A flexibility day is built in every Sunday after the student takes a full-length exam. This is a great time to destress after taking a 7-hour exam.
- A lot of time is built in for reviewing the practice you take and studying what you miss. It is not worth your time to take a lot of practice if you are not learning from your mistakes!
- This schedule can be completed by spending an average of around 2–3 hours per day studying.
- The week leading up to your exam, you should review your strong content areas since you likely haven’t looked at them in a while. For example, remember to review amino acids so that they are fresh on your mind.
- You will bump up your CARS practice to 3–4 passages per day, and these can come from the AAMC CARS Question Packs 1 and 2, which contain 120 questions each.
At an absolute minimum, you should take the five AAMC full-length practice exams in addition to all of the, In most cases, a diagnostic exam plus two to three more full-lengths from a test prep company is sufficient, in addition to the AAMC materials.
- If you are studying over a prolonged period of time, it is not uncommon for students to take over ten full-length exams.
- However, taking additional exams will not help you significantly if you are not spending a lot of time reviewing these exams and studying the information that you miss.
- Many students are fearful of changing their schedule after they have made it.
The point of a study schedule is to guide you through the studying process—it is not law. Refining your study schedule as you work through studying for a test like the MCAT is not only common, but it is often necessary and highly encouraged. Unexpected time commitments will inevitably arise, and you will have to shift some of your MCAT studying pieces around.
Don’t be scared to do this! It is a lot easier to shift your pieces around if you build in flexibility from the start, so don’t discount the importance of a flexibility day or a couple of flexibility weeks (instead of the days) before your test date. Flexibility days can be filled with work you didn’t get to during the week, but you should also try to use them as a time to relax, destress, and recharge for another week of MCAT studying.
Studying for the MCAT while working full time can seem like a difficult challenge. However, many students with full-time jobs manage to achieve high scores on the exam. To build a successful study schedule, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind.
- One reason that studying for the MCAT while working full-time might seem daunting is the sheer amount of time it takes to read and learn all the content you will be tested on.
- Although you may not have the luxury of dedicating eight or ten hours a day to MCAT prep, you can achieve a significant amount of studying with smaller daily chunks of time spread out over the course of a longer study period.
For instance, covering one or two hours of content every evening would allow you to prep for the MCAT on a six-month study schedule. Completing smaller tasks throughout the day, such as using flashcards to review and memorize vocabulary or listening to MCAT content while commuting, is also extremely valuable study time.
- The key to making this approach to studying work is building consistency in your schedule.
- Studying for an hour or two every day for a few months will begin to add up.
- However, studying an hour or two sporadically for a few months will lead to little to no progress.
- In addition to studying consistently for smaller periods of time to cover content knowledge, regularly taking full-length exams is critical.
Practice exams will allow you to synthesize the content you’ve reviewed, assess your progress at points in time, and develop the stamina for an eight-hour exam. When planning your study schedule, be sure to account for at least five full-length exams: one at the beginning of your studying and at least four in the weeks leading up to your exam.
- These may be best scheduled during weekends, holidays, or strategically scheduled vacation days.
- Despite your best planning, emergencies and unexpected situations may arise.
- When we assist students with developing a custom MCAT study schedule and selecting a test date, we consider their personal and professional obligations that may end up consuming more time than expected.
These might include professional review periods, family holidays and gatherings, or periods of sickness. Building an extra month or two into your study schedule would allow you to catch up on material that you may be weak in at a much less frantic pace, without neglecting your non-MCAT life.
Finally, burnout is more common among MCAT students who have layered MCAT studying onto an already full plate; prepping for the MCAT with a full-time job fits the bill. Therefore, though it may seem counterintuitive, you should take at least one day completely off from studying each week. It may seem like you’re missing an hour or two of studying in the short term, but the long-term benefits include having the time to recharge and attack the next week with newfound energy.
If you have one month to study for the MCAT, you know that you have no time to waste. It is possible to study on this short timeline if you have 7–8 hours every day to devote exclusively to MCAT studying. As you look through this study schedule, you will notice that some content is sacrificed in favor of practice. 
mcat study schedule Template (1 month) To successfully prep for the MCAT in one month, you’ll need to quickly identify your opportunities for greatest improvement and master the strategies to target your weaknesses. Our Select Plan (10 hours of live tutoring) for 1:1 MCAT tutoring can help you do just that. During this 4-week period, we will:
- Administer our proprietary diagnostic exam to identify your specific strengths and weaknesses and create a customized day-to-day schedule based on your current time commitments, previous MCAT experience, and available resources to maximize every hour between now and your exam date.
- Analyze your current strategy and identify the most high-yield areas for improvement.
- Emphasize “need-to-know” content in anticipation of your test date.
- Help you eliminate your bad habits —especially the ones you don’t know you have—while doubling down on what’s working for you in the short time remaining.
Some students mistakenly believe that there is too little time remaining to take a new approach to their MCAT prep. And while the best time to get good help was yesterday, today is the next best.
| 1:1 Private Tutoring | |
|---|---|
| Individualized Study Schedule | |
| Content Tutoring | |
| Strategy Tutoring |
Remember: the fewer days you have before the MCAT, the more study time you will need to spend per day. If you have two months to study for the MCAT, we recommend studying 5–6 hours per day. With two months of prep time, you can devote much more study time to test content, though you’ll still want to prioritize test strategy, as strategy will likely have a greater influence on your score. 
mcat study schedule Template (2 monthS) If you have two months to study for the MCAT, we recommend signing up for our Superior Plan, which includes 25 hours of customized, 1:1 MCAT tutoring, as well as all of the prep materials you will need (e.g., content materials, full-length AAMC exams) to be successful. During this 8-week period, we will:
- Study your diagnostic exam results to create an individualized day-to-day schedule that works around your schedule—school, work, extracurriculars—while building in sufficient MCAT prep for you to succeed on the exam.
- Help you master the high-yield content that you’ll need to know for the exam, splitting lessons into targeted content coaching and strategy refinement. That way, you’ll focus on the areas that come up most, rather than those that barely move the needle.
- Develop (or refine) a strategy that works for you when it comes to understanding passages, combining passage knowledge with your outside knowledge, and eliminating trap answer choices that the AAMC loves to throw at you.
While you have more breathing room with 2 months of prep time vs. say, 1 month, it’s still time to get serious because your exam date will be here before you know it. By consistently studying the right material several hours a day, you can avoid last-minute, minimally effective cramming.
| 1:1 Private Tutoring | |
|---|---|
| Individualized Study Schedule | |
| Content Tutoring | |
| Strategy Tutoring | |
| Score Increase Guarantee | |
| Study Materials | |
| AAMC Practice Exams | |
| Tablet for Video Sessions |
If you have 3 months to study for the MCAT, you’re in a highly favorable position because you can thoroughly address content and strategy deficiencies without needing to devote full days to MCAT prep to receive maximum benefit. With this timeframe, we recommend studying for about 3 hours per day. 
mcat study schedule Template (3 monthS) With 3 months of prep time, you will benefit most from our Superior+ Plan (40 hours of live tutoring) for individualized, 1:1 MCAT tutoring. The Superior+ Plan is most popular among our students and includes all the materials you will need (e.g., content materials, full-length AAMC exams) for successful prep. During your 12-week study period, we will:
- Administer and review the results of your diagnostic exam to create a customized day-to-day schedule that will systematize your prep over the next three months. That way, you don’t have to think about what to focus on each day.
- Review content that you most struggle with, especially the high-yield content areas that the MCAT question writers love to test you on.
- Develop a strategy from scratch to help you answer more questions right while building your confidence to succeed on the exam.
A 3- or 4-month study schedule is great because it allows you to comprehensively prepare for the MCAT, with respect to test content and strategy. Moreover, you’re less likely to burn out because you can effectively space out your work. That said, 3 months is not that much time, so consistency and accountability will be hugely important to maximize your prep.
| 1:1 Private Tutoring | |
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| Individualized Study Schedule | |
| Content Tutoring | |
| Strategy Tutoring | |
| Score Increase Guarantee | |
| Study Materials | |
| AAMC Practice Exams | |
| Tablet for Video Sessions |
With 6 months to study, you can comfortably prepare for the MCAT while balancing your academic, extracurricular, and personal commitments.6 months of prep time would be ideal for you if you want to build up your content knowledge base before diving into practice tests and develop a high-yield strategy from the ground up. 
mcat study schedule Template (6 monthS) If you have six months to study for the MCAT, our Top Scorer Plan (60 hours of live tutoring) for 1:1 MCAT tutoring will help ensure that you leave no stone unturned. During these 6 months, we will help you:
- Create a customized day-to-day schedule based on results from our proprietary diagnostic exam that incorporates work, school, volunteer, life, holiday, and relaxation, so you know exactly what to focus on each time you sit down to study.
- Learn all of the MCAT content that you need to know, including the most frequently tested content areas that will yield the largest score increases.
- Develop an empirically-based and highly-refined strategy over the course of your content review phase so that you hit the practice phase ready to dominate your exam.
The highest-achieving students understand the importance of planning ahead. With 6 months of time to prepare for the MCAT, you can avoid much of the stress associated with cramming and maximize your results. By incorporating consistent practice into your routine, you can achieve true mastery and go into the MCAT with confidence.
| 1:1 Private Tutoring | |
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| Individualized Study Schedule | |
| Content Tutoring | |
| Strategy Tutoring | |
| Score Increase Guarantee | |
| Study Materials | |
| AAMC Practice Exams | |
| Tablet for Video Sessions |
We sometimes hear from students who are using one of our study plans but still have trouble fitting in each review section or practice passage during their allotted time. For example, perhaps you’re following the 3-month study schedule and putting in 3 hours every day only to complete 2 of the three tasks on your plate or only parts of each task.
- This feeling of a lack of progress can develop into frustration and possibly even doubt at your ability to handle medical school.
- However, we’ve found that students likely just need to change their approach to fit their personal learning styles.
- While our study schedules are thoroughly planned out guidelines, we can’t know your exact strengths and weaknesses without individualized support.
For instance, you might struggle with CARS passages and find that they take up the majority of your study time. On the other hand, it could be physics. Whatever it is, you need to make sure you’re granting your full, focused attention to each passage as you work so that even if you don’t get through an entire passage in the allotted time, you’ve still gained valuable practice and insight into where you need to improve.
- Consider where you are studying. Are you attempting to learn in a dorm room or a house with roommates where the things they’re doing are breaking your concentration? Maybe you’re studying in the section of the university library where speaking is allowed and overhearing other people’s conversations causes your thoughts to wander. Are you studying in a public space such as a coffee shop? You might need to find a quiet corner where nothing will bother you.
- Make sure you minimize distractions. Distractions are everywhere and not just from other people. Where is your phone while you’re studying? Do you find yourself checking social media when you should be engrossed in a topic? Apps such as can help you maintain your concentration in the face of a world encroaching on your time and space via technology.
- Utilize study techniques. If the first two are not an issue for you and you’re still having trouble, try using the, This simple technique has you set a timer and remain wholly focused on a specific task until the timer runs out. Afterwards, you get a short break. The timer can be set for any increment you wish. We recommend 20 or 30 minutes with a 5 or 10 minute rest. This way, you get a large dose of extreme concentration paired with a mental rest to give your brain a chance to absorb the new information. The efficacy of this approach lies in the breaking up of a large task into smaller intervals. You’ve probably experienced the difficulty of retaining information that you’ve crammed the night before an exam.
What is 90% on MCAT?
MCAT Percentiles for the PSBB Section – The average MCAT score for the psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior (PSBB) section has gone up the most.
To score in the 50th percentile for the PSBB section, you must have scored 126.0 in 2021-2022, up from 125.1 in 2015. This is a 0.9 point increase. The PSBB section has the highest average score, meaning that test takers tend to score the highest in this section. To score in the 90th percentile, you must have scored higher than 129.
| Section Score | Percentile Rank |
|---|---|
| 132 | 100 |
| 131 | 97 |
| 130 | 93 |
| 129 | 84 |
| 128 | 75 |
| 127 | 64 |
| 126 | 52 |
| 125 | 41 |
| 124 | 31 |
| 123 | 22 |
| 122 | 15 |
| 121 | 9 |
| 120 | 5 |
| 119 | 2 |
| 118 | 1 |
Source: AAMC Note Reference
Can I get a 520 on the MCAT?
An MCAT score of 520 is very strong and puts you in the 97th percentile of all MCAT test takers. However, whether or not a score of 520 on the MCAT is enough to get you into medical school depends on which schools you are applying to and your other qualifications.
Is 7 months too long for MCAT?
The Average Student – The “average” student is, well, average. But that’s not a bad thing! “Average” refers to the student who has to work for their good grades; the student who may not get it right away. This student works really hard to pull off an A.
- Now before you start feeling bad for these students I’ve come to realize that the average students tend to outperform the above 2 categories.
- Why? Because they KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK REALLY, REALLY HARD! If you’re a proud average student, be sure to give yourself ample time for MCAT Phase 1.
This can range from 2 months of full-time MCAT study to 4 months of part-time MCAT study just for content review. You’ll then have to focus on passages/practice questions (phase 2) and, of course, full lengths (phase 3). I recommend 6-8 months TOTAL prep for the average student studying 20+ hours per week.
How long do most students study for the MCAT?
How to Juggle MCAT Prep and Work 
Here’s a math problem for you: How many hours are left in the week if one pre-med adds a full-time MCAT study schedule to a full-time job or course load? How many hours are left if you account for family commitments and “free time”? The correct answer is.not many.
But with a little strategy, you might find more than you’d think!, Here are five ways to plan the juggling act of MCAT prep and work so that you never drop the ball: 1. Give yourself enough time to study and practice. If you compare yourself to peers who can study full-time for the MCAT with no distractions, you may feel like you’re at a disadvantage.
After all, someone who can devote 40+ hours per week to MCAT prep can be ready in less time than someone with an already-packed schedule. Take heart—you’re not at a disadvantage. In fact, the kind of long-term planning you’ll need to do now will serve you well in medical school and beyond.
You’ll have to juggle prep with medical school and residency commitments, for example.) Plus, have you ever heard the expression, “If you want something done, ask a busy person?” As you ably manage your concurrent commitments, you’ll become more efficient and productive than ever. So, where should you start? Most people need 10–15 hours per week to study for the MCAT over a period of at least four to six months,
In total, you should aim for at least 200 to 300 hours of MCAT study time. You should plan to spend even more time studying if you last covered the material a while ago, or if you have a particular area of weakness. Since it is always easier to work toward a definitive goal, consult the section of AAMC’s website devoted to, and decide on a test date about six months away.
- If the current test calendar does not extend that far out, then look at similar dates in the current year (the testing schedule remains relatively consistent).
- Pro tip : While you’re there, take note of when registration is available for your desired test date, and be sure to register as early as possible.
Dates and test centers fill up quickly!
How many hours a day should I study for the MCAT?
How Many Hours to Study For the MCAT: Words From Jack Westin – Written by Jack Westin on Feb 3, 2023 
Many people wonder “How many hours to study for MCAT.” Everyone learns differently and at a different pace. So, what you accomplish in two hours might take someone else one, four, or even six hours to accomplish. I know it is hard to not compare yourself with others regarding how “hard” your friends are working, but you have to try to tune out all that noise.
Someone can walk into the library and say, “I studied 12 hours yesterday and woke up at 5 am again this morning to continue studying”. I am not saying that they may be lying intentionally (although that is possible too), but your brain cannot physically function that long and be productive. Your mind will take mental breaks, whether you want it to or not.
A tapering in productivity where it no longer becomes worth your time to stay focused anymore. So, although they may think they studied 12 hours, they may have only really studied for 8. Your job is to figure out when your productivity tapers off and to cut all studying after that.
- It is not worth it to force yourself to keep studying at your desk when you could just start fresh the next day and get the same amount of work done because you are recharged.
- Relaxation is necessary! You will be a lot more productive if you know you get to do something fun afterward.
- You need to parent your self, and any successful parent knows that you need to give out lots of rewards! So, treat yourself to ice cream, a walk, or whatever is fun for you after you have gotten your studying done for the day.
It is incredible how much you can do when you are completely focused and energetic. For most people, they can productively study for 6-8 hours a day. Some may be able to do slightly more, and some slightly less. It may take even very person to person and day to day.
Some days you may feel extraordinarily productive and study for 8, and some days you may be feeling less into it and only get in 5 hours. However, don’t get caught up in counting the ” How many hours to study for MCAT.” It is essential to know how much time you have per day so you can budget your to-do list with reasonable goals for the day, but beyond that, the number does not mean anything at all.
I can assure you; it is not going to make much of a difference in your score whether you study for 6 hours a day vs.8 hours a day. However, what makes a difference is if you are focused and making those 6 hours highly productivity powered hours. That is where you will see a difference in two student’s scores.
Is 4 weeks enough to study for MCAT?
Planning a One-Month MCAT Study Schedule – Most MCAT test takers try to average at least 10 to 15 hours of studying per week over their four to six months of test prep. To get the same amount of study time in a month, you’ll need to review MCAT study materials for 30–40 hours a week. In other words, you’d have to study 5 to 8 hours a day for six days a week.
Is 493 a bad MCAT score?
Attaining a score of 493 on the MCAT means you performed in the 29% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.
Is 490 a good MCAT score?
490 MCAT Score – Should you retake an MCAT score of 490? Is 490 a good MCAT score? Is 490 a bad MCAT score? The answer depends on several factors including what type of medical school (MD vs DO vs Canadian) you’re interested in, and most importantly, your individual section scores.
Is 499 a bad MCAT score?
Attaining a score of 499 on the MCAT means you performed in the 49% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 129 (C/P) 124 (CARS) 119 (B/B) 127 (P/S).
Can you self study for MCAT?
Not Everyone Needs an MCAT Prep Course – Some people will be able to self-study for the MCAT just fine. In that case, no, you don’t need a full MCAT prep course. But you can’t know until you get started. To figure out whether or not a course makes sense to you, the first thing to do is to take a diagnostic MCAT test.
Should I study for the MCAT for 1 year?
When should you start studying for the MCAT? More studying is better, right? Well not always, and certainly not in the case of the MCAT. It might seem logical to spend as much time as possible studying for the MCAT — one year, even two. However, spending too much time studying won’t do much to improve your score and will probably even lead to burnout.
Is 5 months of MCAT studying enough?
How to Juggle MCAT Prep and Work Here’s a math problem for you: How many hours are left in the week if one pre-med adds a full-time MCAT study schedule to a full-time job or course load? How many hours are left if you account for family commitments and “free time”? The correct answer is.not many.
- But with a little strategy, you might find more than you’d think!, Here are five ways to plan the juggling act of MCAT prep and work so that you never drop the ball: 1.
- Give yourself enough time to study and practice.
- If you compare yourself to peers who can study full-time for the MCAT with no distractions, you may feel like you’re at a disadvantage.
After all, someone who can devote 40+ hours per week to MCAT prep can be ready in less time than someone with an already-packed schedule. Take heart—you’re not at a disadvantage. In fact, the kind of long-term planning you’ll need to do now will serve you well in medical school and beyond.
- You’ll have to juggle prep with medical school and residency commitments, for example.) Plus, have you ever heard the expression, “If you want something done, ask a busy person?” As you ably manage your concurrent commitments, you’ll become more efficient and productive than ever.
- So, where should you start? Most people need 10–15 hours per week to study for the MCAT over a period of at least four to six months,
In total, you should aim for at least 200 to 300 hours of MCAT study time. You should plan to spend even more time studying if you last covered the material a while ago, or if you have a particular area of weakness. Since it is always easier to work toward a definitive goal, consult the section of AAMC’s website devoted to, and decide on a test date about six months away.
- If the current test calendar does not extend that far out, then look at similar dates in the current year (the testing schedule remains relatively consistent).
- Pro tip : While you’re there, take note of when registration is available for your desired test date, and be sure to register as early as possible.
Dates and test centers fill up quickly!
Is there more bio or chem on MCAT?
4. How Much Biology Is on the MCAT? – Biology makes up 65% of the Bio section and 5% of the Chem/Phys section.
How many questions are wrong for 128 on the MCAT?
Your Questions Answered: The MCAT® Scoring Process When you receive your score report, you will receive five scores—four scores for each of the multiple-choice sections of the exam and one total score. To help dispel any myths, we’ve answered three of your frequently asked questions about how the MCAT exam is scored.
First, we count the number of questions you answered correctly for each of the four sections. This means your score for each section is based on the number of questions you answer correctly. It’s a good idea to answer all the questions on the exam, as there is no penalty for wrong or unanswered questions. Second, we take the number of correct answers and convert them to an MCAT scaled score. Scores from each of these four sections are converted to a scaled score ranging from 118 (lowest) to 132 (highest). For example, if the number of correct answers on one of the sections is between 35 and 37, your scaled score might be 123. Number of correct answers ranging from 46 to 48 might have a scaled score of 128, and so on. The scaled score indicates how much examinees know or understand based on the body of knowledge and reasoning skills that the MCAT exam covers. Third, we add your scaled scores for each of the four sections together to calculate a scaled total score ranging from 472 (lowest) to 528 (highest).
Why don’t I see raw scores on my score report? In a given testing year, there are various test forms that are produced for that year’s examinees, any of which you could see on your test day. The forms of the exam are designed to measure the same basic concepts and skills, but each form contains different sets of questions.
The conversion of raw scores to scaled scores compensates for small variations in difficulty between sets of questions, and the exact conversion of raw to scaled scores is not constant as different sets of questions are used on individual forms. This means that two students of equal ability who take different test forms, would be expected to get the same scaled score, even though there might be a slight variation between the raw scores each student obtained on their individual test.
This also ensures that scores have the same meaning across test days and testing years. Why does it take a month to receive my scores? We understand that waiting 30-35 days after taking your exam is a long time. However, the process to scale and equate every form after test day takes about a month.
During this period, we allow time for students to submit any concerns they have about exam questions or testing conditions, and the AAMC then reviews and investigates each concern. Due to this careful analysis and review of feedback from each exam date, we aren’t able to provide a score immediately after exams are completed.
Once your scores are posted on the, you will be able to access your score report through the on the AAMC website. Scores are released by 5 p.m. ET on release days. Be sure to follow us on Twitter for announcements on when scores are posted and available.
What subject is most tested on MCAT?
Generally speaking, some disciplines have a larger number of questions devoted to them in the MCAT than others. For instance, Biology has the highest number of questions (45), followed by Psychology (38), and Biochemistry (30).