How long needed to study for mcat

Even your present level of obligation to your job and schoolwork can impact your preparation timeframe. On average, prospective medical students say that they spent around 3 to 6 months preparing for the test in earnest.

This included reviewing content, taking practice tests, engaging in prep courses, and the like. Some have even managed to do all of that in a single month, though those test takers are not typically students with present academic obligations. Now that you have a general idea of how long it may take for you to prepare for the MCAT, you should begin turning your attention to your MCAT prep on a smaller scale.

Here again, your choices may vary depending on several extenuating factors. First, you may not end up spending an equal number of hours studying for every subject on the MCAT. If you feel proficient in one subject over another based on practice exams , you may choose to prioritize your less strong subjects when it comes to allotting study hours. Second, your life and your obligations leading up to test day may dictate how many hours you can a lot to studying on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis.

While these obligations may constrain your studying schedule, it is crucial that you set aside at least some time each day for studying. The answer to this question is enormously important — the MCAT is a content-intensive and difficult test, so you need to give yourself plenty of time.

But how much is enough? Most of the students I tutor set aside months to study for the exam, with an average of around 3 months. Some premed students set aside a summer, often after their junior year, when they fully dedicate themselves to MCAT preparation.

This should be followed by passage practice and full length review. Now before you set your calendar in stone, keep in mind that life happens. Sometimes you can postpone by a month or so, sometimes you may need to postpone for an entire year. Because trust me, it will have been worth it in the long run.

Have you already taken the MCAT? Are you considering retaking it? Consider this article for guidance. I notice that the princeton is more detailed than the Krackers which I like and Krackers is more straightforward. Which one do you recommend? I also have magoosh but I use the videos mainly since I am a visual person and sometimes need to watch videos to help me fully understand.

Thank you. MY study method was to go over the Kaplan books which I did, all of them. Going through all the 15 questions at the end of every chapter and making sure I understand the content. Usually had a one-day break or two half-day breaks and once I started doing passage-based questions two weeks ago testing in 12 days I realized how bad my studying method was as I was not used to tackling passages.

I think I am good with the content material, but timing, understanding the main points of a passage and not being tricked is my main issue. My other AAMC FL went downhill even more … knowing that Kaplan tests are deflated, this downtrend in scores few days before the test is amazing lol. I think my main problem is stamina now and not being used to the Passage based questions, idk if content material is my main issue. And add Uworld question banks to the equation too for more practice?

Thanks for this amazing content, I did watch a lot of your videos while studying the content and you are great at doing it!!! Our advice: aim for the best score that you can achieve — don't settle for a "good" score when you can strive for a great score. Maximize your medical school options by maximizing your score. After taking the MCAT, set aside some time to research medical schools and determine the median MCAT scores for previous admissions cycles at your programs of interest.

When designing your school list, include several programs where your MCAT score gives you a reasonable chance of acceptance. How can you gauge if you are ready? Aim to consistently score in the 90th percentile or above on each section type during your last several MCAT practice tests, for a total MCAT score of at least Another metric is to continue to study as long as your scores continue to improve.

If your MCAT score stabilizes, it is a good idea to take the exam, as long as that score range is acceptable to you. Do plan ahead and leave time within your university career to re-take the MCAT if needed. However, avoid letting the option of re-taking the MCAT distract you from making your best effort to prepare. The most successful applicants are those who set out to take the MCAT only once, whenever that may be.

As you study, take note of how you are scoring on full-length practice tests. When you consistently score in the 90th percentile or above, at least 3 times in a row, you can feel confident that you are ready for the real thing!

Head over to our MCAT test dates and release dates blog to find out when you can register for the test. If a passage is not scored, you should aim to get as many questions correct as possible. If you are within this range, then you can be confident that you are doing well. If you are missing a lot of questions, do not panic — ensure that you figure out not only why the correct answer is correct, but also why the wrong answers are wrong.

Think about why you picked the answer you did, and why it and each wrong answer are wrong. If you can do this, it will ensure that you really understand how to apply the concepts and that you are set up for success. The best plan is to take several months to devote specifically to MCAT preparation; however, a six-month study schedule may not be possible in your situation. In that case, use our six-month MCAT study schedule as a guide to effectively prepare for the exam in a shorter timeframe.

If you are preparing for the MCAT in less than six months, you will need to dedicate more time each day for preparation. Content review may need to be reduced in favor of getting ample practice with sample questions and full-length practice tests. Please note that a last-minute crash course is not helpful, as you will still need adequate time to do practice passages and full-length tests. Use your practice to pinpoint weakness in specific content areas, then focus your content review in these areas so you are ensuring maximum improvement.

Be honest with yourself in how much time each day you can set aside for MCAT preparation. Select an MCAT test date that will allow you to set yourself up for success. It is essential to take a diagnostic full-length practice test in the first week of your MCAT preparation to determine an accurate baseline prior to studying.

From there, after completing several weeks of content-heavy studying, take several full-length practice tests and review the questions and content you missed or found challenging.

If you apply this strategy, completing full-length practice test should provide sufficient MCAT practice. You can definitely repeat practice passages or sample MCAT questions more than once as you study.

Simply wait several weeks after doing them the first time, as this will give you enough time to come back to each practice section with fresh eyes. Active learning reinforces information while engaging several of your senses at once, rather than simply reading words in a textbook or staring at the same deck of flashcards over and over again; these are examples of passive study strategies — you may be able to convince yourself that you get it, but do you truly understand it and can you apply your knowledge?

Active learning ensures that your brain stays engaged in learning, which allows you to study effectively.

Here are a few examples of active learning techniques: drawing multi-subject diagrams that incorporate many different colors, explaining concepts out loud as your draw or write, creating audio summaries at the end of a study session then listening to them later as you work out or commute to school.

When you review the practice sections you completed using active learning, it should take you at least twice as long to complete the review of the questions as it took to actually do them.

Be sure to consider which active learning techniques will be suited to your particular learning style. Does this mean you should abandon more traditional study methods? Absolutely not; use active learning to break up your study schedule and engage with the content you are studying. If used correctly, active learning strategies can help you determine your level of understanding for recently reviewed concepts and highlight gaps in knowledge.

We all have our favorite subjects, as well as certain topics that we find particularly challenging. Maybe you struggled with physics early in your academic career and now you are feeling nervous about facing this section of the MCAT.

Look at your MCAT preparation as an opportunity to demonstrate how far you have come since first encountering this subject. It is likely that several years have passed since you took your introductory courses.

You are a different and more advanced student now. You have a better understanding of your learning style and what study techniques are effective for you — use this to your advantage! Rather than shying away from a subject area that you may have had trouble with in the past, use your MCAT preparation to look at those subjects with a fresh eye and conquer the challenges these subjects presented. Medical schools can interpret your score however they like. Some may put an emphasis on one section over the others, for example, CARS.

However, generally, a balanced score is better than an imbalanced score. Therefore, aim to do equally well in every section rather than performing well in two or three sections and poorly on the other sections. Consistency across every section shows your ability to critically think and reason in many different areas and with different types of information, which is a valuable consideration for medical schools.

Qualifying students may take the MCAT with adjustments to standard testing conditions, such as modifications to testing environment or testing time. An application to secure the necessary testing accommodations, as well as the required medical documentation, must be submitted to the AAMC with ample time for review and approval of your accommodations. Application review can take up to two months, so be sure to submit your application early.

Once approved for testing accommodations, you will submit an MCAT scheduling request online, your preferences will be reviewed, and you will be provided with potential test dates that can meet your accommodations. This depends on your individual circumstances and timing of the current application cycle. With about a month to go until your scheduled MCAT, it is important to evaluate your progress. Are you improving in content knowledge and in your scores on full-length practice tests?

If you continue to improve at your current rate, will you hit your target score in time? Remember, it is normal to feel nervous as test day approaches. That being said, it is important that you feel confident going into the MCAT and that you only take it if you feel ready. If you have major concerns, take one additional week to study, then complete another full-length practice test. Now that you have one more score to consider, you should have enough information to make a sound decision.