which is the best mcat test prep course

What college courses should I take to pass the MCAT?

[9 Essential Courses]

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems. This section shakes out to be 65% introductory biology, 25% biochemistry, 5% general chemistry, and 5% organic chemistry.
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems. ...
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior. ...

What courses are required/recommended for the MCAT?

What Classes Do I Need to Take for the MCAT?

• Biology. Those planning to take the MCAT will need at least two years of biology -- the study of the physiological processes of living things.
• General and Organic Chemistry. Students preparing for the MCAT will need one year of general chemistry with lab, along with one year of organic chemistry and lab.
• Physics. ...
• Math. ...
• Verbal Reasoning. ...

Do MCAT preparation courses really help?

The fact is that you can probably prepare for MCAT quite well on your own, with the help of some free materials and books. But taking a structured course has its own advantages as it helps with consistency and gives you access to more advanced study materials. The courses are also known to improve your score by 5 to 10 points.

What books do you need to study for the MCAT?

MCAT Study Essentials. Before you get started, you’ll need to identify and gather your study materials. Here are some we recommend: AAMC’s MCAT Essentials Guide: Before you register for the MCAT, you’ll be required to review information about test logistics, content, and timing found in the Essentials Guide.This is a great place to get started on your MCAT prep.

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Is an MCAT prep course worth it?

So, are MCAT prep courses actually worth it? MCAT Prep courses are probably only worth it if you need structure, support and don't feel confident self-studying for the MCAT. Many students score well on the exam without ever having taken (or paid a lot of money for) a course. It's definitely not a necessity.

Is Kaplan or blueprint MCAT better?

Although you would think this would give the edge to Kaplan, our team found Blueprint's practice tests were slightly more representative of the actual AAMC exam, its' testing interface more functionally identical to AAMC's, and their test scoring analytics more detailed and helpful.

Which is better for MCAT Kaplan or Princeton Review?

The primary difference between the Kaplan and Princeton Review MCAT offerings revolves around instruction. Kaplan provides better quality on demand, video-based instruction, while we tend to like the quantity and approach of Princeton's live classes better.

Is Princeton or blueprint better?

Blueprint offers 15 full-length practice exams, while Princeton offers 16. Both do a great job of replicating the real MCAT questions in content, length and difficulty. For our team, however, Blueprint stood out with its advanced test scoring analytics. Slight edge – Blueprint.

Is Kaplan MCAT course worth it?

Conclusion. Kaplan MCAT prep is a great choice to get you ready for the MCAT. Many have gone through the course and had great success and you do have the higher score guarantee, which means Kaplan stands behind their work. Kaplan is a great choice if you learn mainly by lecture/video and practice questions.

What MCAT book should I start with?

Here are some we recommend: AAMC's MCAT Essentials Guide: Before you register for the MCAT, you'll be required to review information about test logistics, content, and timing found in the Essentials Guide. This is a great place to get started on your MCAT prep.

Is the Princeton MCAT course worth it?

Is the Princeton Review worth it? Yes! Princeton Review has a great course that has helped students raise their score through effective content and an easy-to-use platform. Their 510+ score guarantee is especially valuable for students who need to hit a specific score for admissions.

Is Princeton Review harder than Kaplan?

As you can see from the above, the Kaplan and Princeton Review SAT and ACT prep courses are very, very similar in terms of features, content and delivery. This can make choosing between the two extremely difficult.

What is the best MCAT prep course?

After reviewing numerous courses , we found that Princeton Review and Blueprint were the best MCAT prep courses. Both courses offer some grea...

Are MCAT prep courses worth it?

MCAT prep courses are a great way to learn new material and refresh yourself on old material. Some factors to consider might be your budget, learni...

How far in advance should you study for the MCAT?

The amount of time it takes to study for the MCAT will vary from person to person. It is recommended that students give themselves adequate time to...

Is Kaplan or Princeton Review better for MCAT?

Both prep courses are great options when studying for the MCAT. Princeton Review is a little cheaper and has a couple of different features versu...

How difficult is MCAT?

The MCAT is a very difficult exam. Many students spend months preparing for the MCAT exam. MCAT prep courses are an efficient way to study and ta...

Do I need a MCAT prep course?

Given the high stakes nature of the MCAT, it is strongly advised that you purchase and take a MCAT prep course. The vast majority of students will...

How much does a MCAT prep course cost?

MCAT prep courses range widely in price, from $30/month for budget subscription courses, up to $5,000+ for comprehensive packages with tutoring. Th...

Will a MCAT prep course raise my score?

The short answer – very likely yes. Compared to self-studying with free resources, or not studying at all, a MCAT prep course is very likely to imp...

How many MCAT prep courses are there?

We evaluated 13 different MCAT prep courses for this review and considered factors such as cost, delivery options, the breadth of study materials, course length, student support, and the quality of instructors. We also considered if the MCAT prep course offered a score increase guarantee and a free trial so students can test out the program before committing.

What to consider when selecting the MCAT prep course?

When selecting the MCAT prep course that is right for you, consider your learning style, your timeline for study, the amount of support you want, and your budget. If you want a course that offers a breadth of study materials, and online support from 99th percentile instructors all on an easy-to-use platform, we recommend Blueprint.

Why is blueprint the best MCAT prep?

Why We Chose It: Blueprint is our choice for the best MCAT prep course because of its strong student support, impressive instructors, breadth of study materials, and access to full-length practice exams.

How much does MCAT 515 cost?

The course regularly costs $6,999 but was on sale for $6,699 as of March 2021.

What is the MCAT 2021?

The MCAT is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and consists of multiple-choice questions on problem-solving; critical thinking; and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science required for students who want to study medicine. The best MCAT prep courses are those that are engaging, ...

What is Princeton Review?

The Princeton Review was founded in 1981 and has since become a top name in the prep course industry. Today it offers a wide selection of test prep courses including four MCAT prep options and a bootcamp. The MCAT 515+ Immersion Course is designed for students who want to apply to the nation's top medical schools.

How much is Kaplan on demand?

Kaplan also offers a six-month-long On-Demand Course for $1,799 that includes pre-recorded, teacher-led lessons, access to live lessons six days per week, and over 90 hours of recorded lessons. Additionally, you can upgrade to the On-Demand Course Plus for $2,299 which includes everything in the On-Demand Course plus three hours of one-on-one tutoring, additional MCAT resources, and medical school admissions help.

What is the best MCAT prep course?

The Magoosh MCAT prep course stands out in our list of best MCAT prep courses as one of the most cost-effective. Their entry level package is a twelve-month premium account that offers 380 video lessons that span all the sections available on the MCAT exam.

What is self prep for MCAT?

MCAT Self Prep is known as one of the most affordable MCAT prep courses available today. Their on-demand courses give students structure to plan out their MCAT study schedule.

How long is Magoosh MCAT?

Magoosh MCAT sets itself apart as one of the only budget MCAT prep courses on the market today. This MCAT course includes 1-12 months of access to 380+ video lessons, 3 practice tests of over 700 practice questions, detailed text explanations, email assistance, and a 7-day money back guarantee.

How many hours does the Blueprint MCAT take?

Blueprint MCAT is a personalized online MCAT prep course that utilizes diagnostic test results to create a custom study plan. This MCAT course includes 240+ hours of live instruction over a 6-month period. In addition to the course, students can join 2-hour Live Online Office Hours with your instructor up to 5 times per week.

How many AAMC practice tests are there?

Study curriculum is customized for each student based on diagnostic test results and all courses come with 15 AAMC practice tests. Instructors are required to have taken the MCAT and scored in the 99th+ percentile.

What is the gold standard for MCAT?

Gold Standard is one of the best resources for MCAT review materials that an aspiring medical student can utilize. They provide various prep courses and packages that are tailored to the needs of prospective test takers.

How long does it take to study for the MCAT?

This equates to about 2-3 months (or longer) depending on other outside commitments like work and school. You can check out some MCAT study schedules here that break down what to study based on how long you have.

What is the MCAT test?

Nearly every medical school in the country uses the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to measure prospective students’ scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills. Your score has a significant impact on your chances of acceptance, so doing well is key. But knowing how to prepare effectively can be as difficult as taking the exam itself. ...

How many questions are asked in the MCAT?

The MCAT is a multiple-choice computer exam containing 230 questions. The test is broken into four sections: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Critical Analysis and Reasoning (CARS); Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; and Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior. Each part is designed to test a different aspect of your scientific knowledge as well as your ability to think critically and analyze information. All sections are 95 minutes and contain 59 questions, with the exception of CARS, which is only 90 minutes and contains 53 questions.

How long is the MCAT good for?

Scores are usually good for two to three years, but this depends on the school you’re applying to. If you took the exam a few years ago and aren’t sure if your scores still count, reach out to the admissions department and ask. Unlike most standardized tests, the MCAT doesn’t give you the option to cancel your scores.

How many practice tests does Kaplan have?

Courses include 16 full-length practice tests , though unlike most other Kaplan courses, you don’t take any proctored practice tests in class. There’s also a question bank of over 8,500 practice problems, which is great if you want to target a particular section. Kaplan ’s most unique resource is The MCAT Channel.

What does 95th percentile mean on MCAT?

The number you get indicates what percentage of test takers you scored higher than, so a 95th percentile rank means you did better than 95 percent of others who have taken the exam. These percentile ranks are updated periodically by the Association of American Medical Colleges, the creator of the MCAT, to reflect more recent data. So a given score may translate to a slightly different percentile rank next year, but overall, the rankings are pretty consistent.

Why is the MCAT important?

The MCAT is an important component of your medical school application that measures your knowledge and ability to cope with graduate-level coursework. It’s used by nearly every medical college in the nation to assess and compare applicants, so it’s important to do your best.

Does Gold Standard MCAT have live classes?

Gold Standard MCAT Prep doesn’t offer any live classes, but its self-study programs are comprehensive, affordable and rival the best in terms of practice materials. Its Platinum Package Plus includes a bank of over 10,000 practice questions and 20 full-length practice tests — the most of any of our top picks. The course also includes a suggested study schedule, so there’s no need to invent one on your own. Unfortunately, there’s no trained instructors standing by to assist you if you run into trouble. This isn’t unusual for self-study programs, but it could be an issue for some students. Before signing up, make sure you’re prepared to tackle the course materials on your own.

What is the MCAT test?

The Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, is the standardized exam utilized by almost every major school in the U.S. and Canada in its medical school admission process. The MCAT is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges, or AAMC, and is designed to assess skills that are crucial to success in medical school, including problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts and principles. As a note, when applying to med school, your MCAT must be recent – most schools will not accept MCAT exam scores that are more than three years old.

What is the Gold Standard MCAT Prep Package?

The other major highlight of the Gold Standard MCAT Prep package is their bundle of high-quality eBooks. These digital prep books have been around for over 20 years and are extremely well-vetted by this point. Each chapter within the eBooks covers a MCAT subtopic in great detail, breaking down otherwise complex subject matter into understandable bites. They are well-articulated and content-rich. I would be shocked to see an official MCAT question where the underlying topic wasn’t covered somewhere in these eBooks. The books also contain some helpful illustrations and graphics that improve understanding and material retention. For students who prefer a prep book as their main source of instruction, you will find these eBooks and the course as a whole well suited to your needs.

What is Altius prep?

As mentioned, the basis of every Altius prep package is a series of meetings with a dedicated mentor. Altius specifically labels this person a “mentor” and not a “tutor,” as they train their mentors to offer much more than simply answering questions. The Altius mentors set a roadmap for your studies, help you assess your weak spots, answer content questions, review practice exams with you, and much more. Think of them more as a Sherpa on your journey up the mountain to a solid MCAT score, guiding the way.

How does Altius prep work?

The other half of the Altius prep system is built around small, group-based learning sessions. These study halls will generally serve as the basis of your content review and strategy building, with your 1-on-1 mentor meetings serving to reinforce these group meetings with a more personal touch. These group sessions are led by one to two Altius experts (depending on the day) and generally integrate content reviews, working problems as a group, and reviewing practice problem sets. These sessions dive deep into the details, and you consistently find yourself learning something new each session with how deep the meetings go. You meet via Zoom, and these sessions are capped at just 6-8 students.

How many hours of online learning for MCAT?

In total, you’ll get somewhere between 120 and 200 hours of these live online group learning sessions, again depending on which package you sign up for. Our team found these review classes to be highly effective (just as much so as the mentoring sessions) and one of the key highlights of the Altius MCAT course.

How many hours does Princeton Review have?

As mentioned, Princeton Review boasts an extremely impressive 123 live class hours. For reference, that is more than 3x their next nearest competitor (Kaplan at 36). Additionally, we loved the structure of Princeton’s live classes. Rather than being led by a generalist MCAT expert, your lessons are guided by a rotating team of subject matter experts. In total, you will get 4 to 6 expert instructors teaching your class sessions, depending on their area of expertise.

How many practice problems are there in Princeton Review?

In addition, you get access to 500+ detailed video lessons which cover and reinforce the same material. When combined with 16 full-length tests, 2,500+ practice problems and a set of content-rich prep books, there will never be a shortage of prep work. And it’s not just the quantity of Princeton Review’s coursework that impresses, the quality is also very good.

How much does Kaplan cost for MCAT?

Pricing: Kaplan offers a top notch MCAT prep course, but it comes at a price. They have the most expensive on-demand option in our list, starting at $1,799. Their live online and in-person options are even more. If prices is a consideration you can get a better deal with Blueprint.

How long is the MCAT?

Especially when considering you may be balancing work, school and a host of other responsibilities. The MCAT testing period of 7.5 hours can be brutal without the best MCAT prep course.

What is self paced MCAT?

A self-paced course provides the most versatile learning options. Flexibility is key here and it often gives you the ability to study around your schedule as opposed to making your schedule around your classes. Having this option gives you ultimate control of your MCAT exam prep. However, with this comes the responsibility of sitting down and sticking to a schedule on your own. You also won’t have open access to instructors, although many of the self-paced options do provide forums, email and phone support.

What is the MCAT channel?

MCAT Channel: Kaplan’s MCAT Channel gives students access to live lectures from 1st-rate, experienced MCAT teachers 6 days a week in addition to on demand, pre-recorded content that is available 24/7. Best of all recorded episodes can searched by interests, study needs, or even your favorite professor!

What happens if my MCAT score doesn't go up?

If your score doesn’t go up, you can do the same program again at no extra charge, or (the best part) you can ask for your money back. You can study up until the very day of your exam with Kaplan’s course materials, which do not expire until you take the MCAT.

How long does Magoosh study plan take?

These range from 1 month to 6 months. The study plans give you daily exercises and even have built in rest days. This is a great way to stay organized and make sure you’re maximizing your study time.

Is the Blueprint MCAT affordable?

However, Blueprint MCAT Review manages to offer an affordable package with quality and quality.

Who is teaching MCAT prep?

This prep course is taught by both instructors and medical students. This means that you are getting an inside look based on what other medical students found helpful to pass or improve their MCAT scores.

What is the benefit of taking a MCAT prep course?

Benefits of an MCAT Prep Course. A gold standard MCAT prep course is not only designed just to help you pass. It is also designed to help you get the best score. If you use your prep course appropriately, you might find yourself scoring much higher than if you opted for no course to guide you.

What is gold standard prep?

A gold standard prep course might be able to provide you the next step test prep that you need. You can look at any number of MCAT Prep course options but how can you really choose which are the best MCAT prep courses?

What is Examkrackers MCAT?

Well-designed study books that are a big hit. The Examkrackers MCAT prep course is quite unique. It’s taught by both instructors and medical students . This means that you are getting an inside look based on what other medical students found helpful to pass or improve their MCAT scores.

How many practice tests are there in Magoosh?

With the Magoosh MCAT courses, you also get 3 practice tests. This is perhaps where the cost pulls the program down. Many other programs offer far more practice questions and more practice materials to work with. It’s up to you to determine whether these practice questions and practice tests will be sufficient for you.

How good is Princeton Review MCAT?

So, you have to check how comfortable a course is for you. However, the Princeton Review MCAT Course is rated 4.7 out of 5 in the editor's rating. You can give that course a try.

Which is better, Princeton Review or Kaplan?

Answer: This is a really tricky question to answer about this MCAT prep course. You see, Princeton Review and Kaplan both of them offers you access to computer-based full-length MCAT tests. However, when it comes to Kaplan, most of the reviewers agreed that their practice materials are better than Princeton Review. So, in that sense, you might find Kaplan more useful for you.

How long is the Uworld trial?

Luckily there is a 7-day free trial for anyone who wants to sample the UWorld platform. This trial period comes with 100 questions and does not require credit card information.

How many points does Magoosh increase?

People who have used Magoosh say they easily increased their test scores by 10 points with serious studying, clearly learned concepts that were confusing before, and felt that the explanations of topics built confidence in their ability to successfully take the MCAT. We recommend trying out Magoosh to study for the MCAT over any other test prep service.

What is the guarantee score for MCAT?

The MCAT 510+ guarantees a score of 510+ and the MCAT 515+ guarantees a score of 515+ for students who fully take the course. The MCAT 515+ Summer Immersion program is a total of 6 weeks from start to finish, so this is a good option for anyone with the time, money, and flexibility to devote to doing an in-depth study leading up to the MCAT. The one caveat with this course is that to be eligible for the guarantee, the student must have scored a 505+ on a previous MCAT test. Other fine print should be read before banking on the guarantee program.

What is the MCAT test?

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a test that determines a student's eligibility for acceptance into medical schools in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and Caribbean Islands. Students are assessed in their problem solving, written analysis, critical thinking, and knowledge of scientific concepts. The MCAT is a 7 hour and 30 minute test, so ...

What is crack MCAT?

The Crack MCAT website is vague about what they offer. An explanation video of the platform is one of the first things that comes up when you visit the site. It simply tells prospective members that Crack MCAT helps medical students study for the MCAT and have access to practice tests, watch tutorial videos and explanations, and identify areas of weakness. In short, the video is unhelpful and doesn't give us specifics about the quantity, quality, or cost of using their service.

How to get a good score on the MCAT?

The best way to ensure a good MCAT score is simply to practice, practice, practice. There are great online resources designed specifically for helping medical students prep to succeed on the MCAT. Investing the time and money to use a reputable online program will help you succeed when you take a test as critical as the MCAT. You'll be able to go into your test with confidence, peace of mind, and of course, a lot of knowledge.

How much does Princeton Review cost for MCAT?

The Princeton Review is among the most expensive MCAT test prep sites. With $1,499 being the least expensive option here, this will still be out of the question for many students needing review material.

What is the MCAT?

The MCAT, short for Medical College Admission Test, is a standardized test that students must take if they’re hoping to be admitted into medical school.

The 5 Best MCAT Prep Courses

The Princeton Review has been offering standardized test prep for many years, and it’s good at what it does. Currently, it offers four different MCAT prep courses.

Conclusion- Best MCAT Prep Courses

We sincerely hope this information gave you some good insight on choosing from the best MCAT prep courses to be found online.