You should not take a full-length test in the three days leading up to your real MCAT. (That would be like running a practice marathon three days before running the real race.)
Your test-and-review schedule during the two weeks prior to the MCAT might look like three repetitions of this: Day 2: Review the test in detail, filling out your CARS Test Assessment Logs and Science Question Review Worksheets.
It is easy to get overwhelmed—especially if you have work, school, or family commitments. Having a solid schedule will ensure that you accomplish your goals. Plan on taking at least one, and no more than three, full-length practice MCAT exams during this time period.
This means you need about 20 weeks. You can count back from your May test day, add a little buffer, and start studying Christmas break. This allows you to build some momentum before you have to deal with your classes. And if you want to make it even smoother, you can set it an 8 credit course load during the winter/spring semester.
There are 4 different “windows” to take the MCAT: the Winter (late January), the Spring (March through May), the summer (June and July), and the Fall (August and September). The “ideal” time to take it, is when you feel fully prepared. It isn't worth it to rush your MCAT if you don't feel ready.
How long should I study for the MCAT? Believe it or not, most students who do well on the MCAT spend between 200 and 300 hours preparing for the exam. When you start your prep will be determined by your test date and by what other work and academic commitments you have—usually 3 to 6 months before your exam.
12 weeks, or 3 months, is generally sufficient time to spend studying for the MCAT at about 20 hours per week.
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.
Even with six months to prepare, you will need to put aside a good chunk of study each week to attain a competitive score on the MCAT. Let's take a look at how the next six months should shape up for you. First thing to consider is that this is a long term plan.
Plenty of students can work full-time during their prep and still excel on the MCAT – but if this applies to you as well, consider setting aside 4-5 months instead of 2-3. It's best to take at least 5 full-length exams. The MCAT has a run time of 6 hours and 15 minutes, and that doesn't include breaks.
The MCAT comes first. The medical schools are not going to look at it negatively if you quit your job to study full-time for the MCAT. One month is not enough time to study for the MCAT for most people.
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.
3 months is more than enough if you have solid preparation. If you don't have solid preparation, you're going to need more time to get that solid foundation.
Top tips for preparation If possible, take some time to dedicate to only studying for the MCAT® exam. Multitasking while studying for the exam is really hard. Give yourself enough time to study, at least 4-5 weeks full time.
The rule of thumb is to study for the MCAT for at least 8 weeks: Take the MCAT prereqs first. Students need fewer prereqs than they're led to believe. No need for calculus, statistics, or the second semester of organic chemistry.
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.
That said, a prep course is a… course. To get the most out of your MCAT prep course, you’ll spend time attending class, watching science tutorials, and practicing. One of the benefits of a prep course, beyond having all your study resources in one place, is that you won’t waste time learning anything that won’t be on the MCAT.
You’ll need at least one year with labs of biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics.
And remember, your baseline score is just that. It’s your starting-off point, not a determinant of where you’ll be in 3-6 months.
In response to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the AAMC has cancelled all administrations of the MCAT through at least May 21. They will be waiving all rescheduling fees for people who signed up for MCAT exams that were cancelled.
MCAT stands for Medical College Admission Test. Most medical schools require students to take this standardized exam as part of the application process. By getting a good score, you will increase your chances of acceptance.
Students who perform well on the MCAT dedicate around 200-300 hours to studying. This number serves as a good starting point for creating your plan. However, realize that you don’t need to follow it exactly. Also, if you’re wondering How Many Times Can You Take The MCAT, then see our post here.
Everyone will have different study requirements. For instance, if you excel in a specific subject, you may not need to commit as much time. Conversely, if you find yourself struggling with a topic, you may need to put in more hours.
Now that you know about how many hours you need to put in and the subjects you need to focus on, it’s time to create a study plan.
Most students start studying 3-6 months before their test date. This period gives them plenty of time to review content, take practice exams, and participate in prep courses.
If you are a pre-med student, you have taken all of the pre-requisite courses, and you generally have a strong understanding of the content that is on the MCAT, then you will likely be able to spend less time covering content and more time going over test-taking strategies and doing practice.
A pre-med student who works a part-time job, volunteers on the weekends, and plays club sports 4 nights a week probably has less time in her schedule than a pre-med student who is only enrolled in a few classes and goes out with her friends once a week.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty to figure out an individualized plan for you, let’s talk about what the general recommendations are for how long you should study for the MCAT: Typically students need 3-6 months to study. This is a hard test. On average, students who do well will put in between 250-400 hours of MCAT studying.
A good bet for MCAT studying is to set aside 20-40 hours a week depending on how much time you need for content. But you MUST always be practicing MCAT thinking, so at least 20 hours will mostly be test and question review. And then, if you need content work on top, you can add additional hours to your schedule.
Many worry especially about their Physics. But at the end of the day, the focus of the MCAT is primarily on reasoning and reading. If you haven’t taken a practice test, this really won’t be clear until you take one (we will get to that soon).
If you start at 500, and you want a 515, a fair guess is that it will take you about 15 weeks (just under 4 months). If you start at 485, it will take twice as long. However, please note this formula is NOT Linear. You will have periods of big jumps, and periods of no movement.
However, depending on where you start, it could take you half as much time (or twice as long). So generally, students are best off starting to study the summer before their Junior year if they have already taken biochem and physio.
Do something enjoyable that will relax your mind and body. Try to get outdoors; you’re going to be cooped up all day taking the MCAT tomorrow. If not studying at all will freak you out, then work for only an hour or so, in the morning if possible. Do basic science content review, and take a CARS and/or science passage you have already done—and walk yourself through it, step by step, as a final solidification of the strategies you want to use on test day.#N#Have everything you plan to bring to the test center laid out the night before, including your ID, keys, snacks, lunch, something to drink, and a jacket or sweater in case you get cold. The test center will provide you with a storage key, noteboard and marker, and wireless foam earplugs.
Have everything you plan to bring to the test center laid out the night before, including your ID, keys, snacks, lunch, something to drink, and a jacket or sweater in case you get cold. The test center will provide you with a storage key, noteboard and marker, and wireless foam earplugs.