How to Study for the MCAT — A Checklist
- 1. Take a practice/baseline/diagnostic exam
- 2. Review your practice exam
- Review each question in each section regardless of whether you got it right or wrong
- Review the question by understanding why the right answer is correct, as well as why the wrong answers are wrong — use the books that you have to cross-check your information and understand the concept
- Use a separate record to keep track of the concepts that you see yourself missing over and over
- The first time you take an exam, it may take you two days or so to really go through every question — this is worth the time & effort! That way, you can pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses from the very beginning of your prep, and it will proceed in the right direction
- 3. Make a schedule for the rest of your prep until your exam!
- Use Google Calendar to block out rough study times. Different schedules work for different people, and you don’t need to study 12 hours every day, 7 days a week, in order to do well on the MCAT.
- Make sure to schedule out time to take care of yourself during this strenuous studying period!
- Try to get in at least 5 or 6 practice exams before your exam date, placing priority on the AAMC exams. There are currently 3, and I would recommend taking these towards the tail end of your prep, closer to your exam date, since they are the most similar materials you will have to the actual exam.
- Split your prep into parts — content review, practice questions, and practice exams
- Keep changing and adjusting your schedule — it’s okay if you fall behind, it happens. Don’t let it keep you from plowing onwards!
- 4. Content review
- Skimming prep books for information you’re struggling with
- Watching video lectures
- Attending online course classes or in-person course classes
- 5. Practice questions
- From third party courses that you purchase within prep books or online course materials
- From AAMC materials like section banks or question packs
- 6. Practice exams
- Take these as if you are actually taking the MCAT — without interruptions, with breaks and in a quiet area
- You can split them up and take them in sections if there’s specific sections that you know you score well in every time vs. those that you struggle with everytime — I recommend timing it the same way, though!
- Review them the same way you reviewed your diagnostic — go through every question and keep track of the weak concepts
- 7. Exam day
- Be confident! You know everything you need to know
- Check out the testing center beforehand
- Take a deep breath and ace that thing!
