How to Study for the MCAT: Expert Advice for Acing the Test

If you’re daydreaming of the day when you can write ‘Dr.’ in front of your name, you know there’s many hurdles to cross before you can don that white lab coat. One of the biggest is getting the best score possible on the Medical College Admissions Test®.

When it comes time to prep for the MCAT, many students are immediately overwhelmed by the prospect of a seven-hour exam that tests not only their medical knowledge, but their logical and reasoning ability as well. However, our guide on how to study for the MCAT will give you the guidance you need to ace the test, as well as reminding you to take care of your mind and body in the process.

Understanding the MCAT Structure

The MCAT is divided into four sections — three that focus on your foundational medical knowledge, and one that deals with your ability to analyse and use logic. The four sections are as follows:

1. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems. This includes: 
   a. 44 questions based on passages of text
   b. 15 independent/discrete questions
   ‍
2. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems. This includes: 
   a. 44 questions based on passages of text
   b. 15 independent/discrete questions
   ‍
3. Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behaviour. This includes: 
   a. 44 questions based on passages of text
   b. 15 independent/discrete questions
   ‍
4. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. This includes:
   a. 53 questions based on 9 passages of text.

Note that while the test is multiple choice and all completed on a computer, the majority of the test is passage based, not discrete questions. The MCAT is not a typical multiple choice test that you can zip through, quickly scanning the question and selecting the answer. The long passages are designed to test your attention to detail, and so there are a few ‘trick’ questions that can trip up test-takers who rush through their reading. 

To get the highest score on the MCAT, focus on analysing passages carefully. In many cases, the answer to the question is directly from the passage, not something you need to have memorised already. Don’t miss out on collecting these free points!

The Scoring System

It’s a myth that the MCAT is graded on a curve. Test scores for the MCAT are scaled and equated. Put simply, the four sections are all graded separately, like a normal test. There are no penalties for wrong answers (so make sure you answer every question, even if it’s just a guess!). 

Second, your scores from each of the four sections are converted to a scaled score that ranges from 118 at the lowest to 132 at the highest. Then, the four scores are added together for your total score, ranging from 472 (lowest) to 528 (highest).

The purpose of the scaled score is to keep the average for MCAT scores at 500. Like an IQ test where the average score is always designed to be 100, the MCAT allows medical schools to judge who the outliers are by standard deviations away from this average, based on exceptionally poor or excellent performance. 

Creating a Study Plan

You’re probably wondering exactly how much time you should dedicate to studying for the MCAT. Popular estimates range from 200-500 hours, but most sources agree that 300 hours is adequate for the average student. Remember that the best way to understand how to study for the MCAT is not just to focus on cramming facts to spit back out, but instead to focus on calmly and carefully digesting information and evaluating it. 

To begin your study plan, consider your current study habits. Be realistic about the hours and the kind of studying you do during an average week, not the ideal amount of studying you’d like to do if your life was perfect! How much time can you reasonably devote to studying, considering your other school, work, social, family and volunteering commitments? Are you the type who can focus for long periods of time for marathon weekend study sessions, or will you do better with shorter bursts of studying each day? 

Determining Your Study Schedule

Think about whether you’re a procrastinator and would be motivated by deadlines, or if you’re the Upholder type who will diligently peck away at your work because you’ve committed to doing it. Make your schedule realistic for who you are, and you’ll be more likely to stick to it. A good baseline is three hours a day for three months before the exam, plus at least 3 days built into that timeline for taking practice tests. Consider how this feels to you and whether you’d benefit more from a longer study period, or a shorter and more intensive prep.

No matter what your study style, or how many hours you can commit to, don’t fall into the trap of guilt or shame. You wouldn't shame a patient! Trying to change who you are and your essential tendencies won’t set you up for success in medical school. If however, you put time into self-reflection and optimising your current habits, you’ll find that you can develop powerful study skills that work for you, rather than against you. 

Choosing Study Materials and a Plan of Action 

One of the best ways to understand how to study for the MCAT is to begin by taking an online practice test. The Princeton Review offers a free practice test that you can use to understand your strengths and weaknesses, and guide your studying. Without beginning with a practice exam, it can be difficult to know where your own weaknesses truly lie. It can also be tempting to study the subjects you enjoy the most first, and spend too much time on material you already know well, neglecting your weaker points. With the results of the practice exam in hand, you can build out a schedule that puts the focus on unfamiliar subjects and the sections, topics, or question types you find tricky. 

Be sure to invest in an MCAT prep book, and get a copy of the AAMC outline of topics that will be on the exam. There are so many excellent study guides and exam preparation books out there — don’t shortchange yourself by guessing at or assuming what the test will cover. You should feel confident that you’ll know what to expect on exam day.

Preparing With Others

If you’re the social type, consider finding a study group to help you prepare for the exam. Many heads are better than one, and in addition to giving you motivation to stick to your study schedule, a peer group can also give you hints and tips that you might not work out on your own. You might also choose to sign up for an MCAT prep course, whether online or in person. Do your research and find a class that fits both your schedule and your studying goals.

Finally, you might also choose to study with a tutor. A tutor who has completed the MCAT themselves can use their expertise and helpful tips to guide you, but also help calm your nerves about the exam by sharing their experiences. A good MCAT tutor can also help you reflect on where your weak points are, and challenge you to level up your understanding of your weaker subjects.

Practice and Testing

Practice makes perfect, or at least as close to a 528 score as possible. As you study for the MCAT, remember that you’re not only trying to learn the material, but understand how to take this particular kind of test. Practising the question formats, looking for patterns in the style of questioning, and familiarising yourself with working within the time limits for each section will help minimise stress on exam day. 

The MCAT is also an endurance test — can you retain your focus for long periods of time? Doing as many practice tests as your schedule will allow can help you prepare for this medical marathon.

When you take your practice tests, simulate the conditions of exam day at home as closely as you can, including removing all distractions. Knowing how to study for the MCAT is a test of being physically as well as mentally prepared for a seven-hour exam. The test prep should ideally teach you something about the self-care and self-management skills required to be a doctor in a hospital setting, where long and demanding shifts are the norm.

Finally, there can be such a thing as too much prep for the MCAT. As many medical students have noted, the MCAT is a mile wide and an inch deep. Therefore, you can spend too much time focusing on the details while you study for the chemistry or psychology sections, for example, and miss out on more time to cover a range of topics. The purpose is to assess that you have studied broadly in your pre-medical program, and also, in the CARS section, that you have good judgement and reasoning ability. Don’t forget that you’re just studying for one exam — you’re not trying to cram for your entire four years of medical school right now!

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

You should know that the MCAT is scored slightly differently in Canada in comparison to the United States. In Canada, the CARS, or Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section, often carries a higher weighting relative to the other sections. In the US, the four sections are all scored equally. Be sure to check the admissions requirements to your schools of choice to understand how they will judge your exam score, and help guide your study preparation.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to prepping for the CARS portion of your MCAT exam. Some people swear by the practice materials available (Kaplan and the AAMC offer good ones), but others insist that the way to ace CARS is to broaden your mind and general thinking skills. Read books, the news, scientific papers, and other forms of analysis, focusing on reflecting on the content you’ve read. Form your judgements and opinions based on the facts presented, challenging any biases in your thinking. If you feel that your analysis and critical thinking skills are weak, don’t forget that you can rely on your tutor to help you strengthen those skills. 

Also consider checking out the course offerings at your university in the philosophy, English or political science departments. Most philosophy programs offer courses in logic, and this can give you a serious edge over other students in preparing for the CARS portion of your MCAT exam. Even if you don’t have the time to add an extra course to your workload, consider emailing the professors of courses that look relevant to your CARS prep. They may be delighted to send you some materials to review, or connect you with one of their students who can tutor you in logic, critical analysis and reasoning skills. 

Managing Health and Well-Being

The paradox of being a medical professional is that you often neglect your own health in the pursuit of your career. While you’re preparing to embark on this journey by taking the MCAT, use the time to form good health and wellness habits that you can take forward with you into medical school. You can check out our blog 7 Practical Tips for How to Deal with Exam Stress to find some great starting points. Consider your eating habits, sleep schedule, and don’t forget to make time for exercise and socialising. Having fun while you’re not studying will make it easy to buckle down and concentrate when you do! You can also find more study tips and info on how to balance your workload on our Student Success Toolkits page. 

Also keep in mind that the MCAT test you’re prepping for isn’t your single change at medical school. While the test has an incredibly important impact on admittance rates, you are allowed to retake the exam up to three times in one year, and seven times in your life. If you do poorly on the exam, you can always take time to study more, retake the test, and reapply to your top schools. Failing the test or not getting accepted to medical school might make you feel like you’re wasting time — but you have years ahead of you. Many people enter medical school later in life, and delaying by a few months or a year after your undergrad will not mean you’re “behind” your peers. 

Remember that the new MCAT (released in 2015) is meant to assess a wider scope of knowledge than previous generations. “The new exam requires multidisciplinary problem-solving and tests more subjects and greater scientific reasoning than the old exam did.” For this reason, you may need more time to prepare and mature in your thinking than others. Dealing with the setback of needing to retake the MCAT can help you build the grit and determination a successful doctor needs to succeed in their career. 

Be sure to consult the AAMC site for more information on the Canadian MCAT® Calendar, Scheduling Deadlines, and Score Release Dates.