When should I start studying for the MCAT?

For someone who is still in school or someone working full time, I may recommend they start studying 4-5 months before they take the MCAT. For someone who can study 8-10 hours a day, 2-3 months may be enough time.

What year should you start studying for the MCAT?

Students who are strong academically may choose to take the MCAT this early and begin studying for the test in the spring of their sophomore year if they wish to apply to medical school as soon as possible. However, most students will want to study for and take the MCAT during a break period from their studies.

What grade should I start studying for the MCAT?

So, how early should you start studying for the MCAT? The answer depends on your test date and how much preparation you feel you need. The absolute earliest you should take the MCAT is in the summer of your sophomore year. If that sounds like something you want to do, we'd recommend you start studying in the spring.

How long should you study for the MCAT before taking it?

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.

When should you start taking the MCAT?

Aim to take the MCAT as early in the year as possible, preferably no later than mid-May before AMCAS application submissions begin in early June. Completing the exam earlier will allow you to complete your AMCAS application early, and the earlier you submit your application, the better.

SIMPLE MCAT Study Plan | How I scored a 520 (97th percentile) in less than 7 minutes

What time of year is the MCAT the easiest?

You want to make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare and study everything you've learned throughout your undergrad so you have a strong foundation for medical school. There's no magical time period where the MCAT is easier. It's a challenging exam no matter the month you choose.

Is 3 months of MCAT studying enough?

3-Month MCAT Study Plans

A 3-month MCAT study plan is a popular option for many students. It offers a balance between intensive study and sufficient preparation time. A 3-month plan allows for a more in-depth review of the material, as well as ample time to practice and take practice tests.

Is studying 4 hours a day enough for MCAT?

If you have two months to study for the MCAT, we recommend studying 5–6 hours per day. With two months of prep time, you can devote more study time to test content, though you'll still want to prioritize test strategy, as strategy will likely have a greater influence on your score.

Can you do well on the MCAT without studying?

A 511 on the MCAT currently corresponds to the 81st percentile, meaning that fewer than 20% of testers achieve a 511 or higher. Clearly, scoring well on the MCAT is hard if you do not study properly.

Is 6 months too long to study for MCAT?

Yes, for most students six months is enough time to study for the MCAT. Kaplan recommends studying for the MCAT over a period of four to six months for a total of 300 to 350 hours. Getting started on your MCAT studies early means you'll have more time to focus on each subject area and overall MCAT test strategy.

What is a bad first MCAT score?

So, technically speaking, a bad MCAT score would be anything below 500. However, in order to be a competitive applicant, you should aim to score much higher than 500. A good MCAT score largely depends on the schools you are applying to.

Does a bad first MCAT affect chances?

No matter what, admissions committees will see all of your MCAT scores. While taking the test twice is unlikely to impact your admissions decision, if you end up taking the MCAT three or more times could make them question if you're prepared for the challenges of medical school.

At what age do most people take the MCAT?

Most people take the MCAT during or right after their junior year of college. For example, if you want to start medical school in fall 2025 (after your senior year), you may want to take your exam during spring 2024.

Should I take a full length MCAT before I start studying?

Two Weeks Before the MCAT

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. You should not take a full-length test in the three days leading up to your real MCAT.

Can I start studying for the MCAT my freshman year?

As a freshman or sophomore student, you have over a year to prepare for the MCAT, but you do not want to be clueless about the test. So go on and check out the test, see how many sections there are, and learn about the general format.

When should I take the MCAT if I want to start med school in 2025?

When is the latest I should take the MCAT? You should plan to take the MCAT for the final time between January and April of your application year. For instance, if you'd like to enroll in medical school in August 2025, you'll want to take your MCAT during the first four months of 2024—that is, no later than April 2024.

Is the MCAT harder than the SAT?

The MCAT is way more complex and considered a very challenging standardized test for med school. Also, the contents and structure of the MCAT are more advanced than the SAT. In contrast, the SAT is used as a standardized college and university admission exam.

Is the MCAT harder than med school?

Some folks even go as far as saying that the MCAT provides a glimpse into medical school so you could expect the same difficulty levels in the test. However, it's not an accurate comparison. The difficulty level of MCAT will not come close to a fraction of how hard medical school is.

Is it OK to fail the MCAT?

Retaking the MCAT isn't a red flag, and even three attempts may not impact your admissions decision, although we recommend performing your best on the first two tests.

How many hours a day should I study for MCAT?

For most people, they can productively study for 6-8 hours a day. Some may be able to do slightly more, and some slightly less. It may take even very person to person and day to day. Some days you may feel extraordinarily productive and study for 8, and some days you may be feeling less into it and only get in 5 hours.

Is the MCAT a lot of memorization?

Yes, the MCAT involves a lot of memorization. Subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology require memorizing important details and principles.

Is Khan Academy good for MCAT?

The Khan Academy MCAT prep course is a good resource for students who not only have a tight budget but want an MCAT prep course that is AAMC-approved. With thousands of practice questions to help you study for the MCAT, you might not need to look for other supplemental MCAT resources.

What is a perfect MCAT score?

A 528 is the highest MCAT score that you can achieve by scoring a perfect 132 in each of the four MCAT sections. Each of the four MCAT sections is scored from a 118 to a 132, and when you add these four sections up, you can score anywhere between a 472 and a 528.

How many practice tests before MCAT?

A good number of practice tests for a well-prepared MCAT student to take would be five or six.

Which book is best for MCAT preparation?