When should I take my first practice MCAT?

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.

When should you take your first MCAT practice exam?

Don't make the mistake of waiting too long to take your first test. As your test gets closer—about six weeks out—begin taking a full-length practice test every week. Start with third-party tests and save the AAMC practice tests for closest to your test date.

How early should I start preparing for MCAT?

Believe it or not, most students who do well on the MCAT spend between 200 and 300 hours preparing for the exam. When you start your prep will be determined by your test date and by what other work and academic commitments you have—usually 3 to 6 months before your exam.

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

We've hammered this point home a few times now, but it's worth repeating one last time in closing: you absolutely must take a full length MCAT diagnostic test before starting your exam preparation. And not just any practice exam!

What year of college should I take the MCAT?

We sometimes get this variant of the "What is the earliest/latest I should take the MCAT?" question. While you can technically take the MCAT any time, you should take it during the summer after sophomore year at the earliest, and April of your application year at the latest.

TAKING MY FIRST MCAT FULL LENGTH PRACTICE EXAM! | Becoming Dr. Brelynn

Do I take MCAT junior or senior year?

The MCAT is something that requires planning and should not be taken on a whim. The ideal time to take the MCAT is the spring of your junior year of college, if you plan to attend medical school immediately following graduation.

Is freshman year too early to study for MCAT?

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. However, remember that your MCAT scores are valid at most institutions for three years after you take the test.

Is studying 4 hours a day enough for MCAT?

You should aim to study for at least 300 hours for the exam. In other words, if you study for 3 months (~90 days), you should average a little over 3 hours each day. Be sure to select your test date carefully.

Is 1000 hours enough for MCAT?

Based on our analysis of top MCAT scorers, there is no set amount of time that will guarantee you a high MCAT score. Some high scorers only studied a couple hundred hours or less while others needed to study more than one thousand hours.

Is 200 hours enough to study for MCAT?

In total, you should aim for at least 200 to 300 hours of MCAT study time. You should plan to spend even more time studying if you last covered the material a while ago, or if you have a particular area of weakness.

What month is too late for MCAT?

May 24, 2024 is the the latest date of the 2024/25 cycle to take the test to give yourself a shot at an acceptance. The latest date you can technically take the MCAT in 2024 is September 14, but this is only useful for students planning on taking a gap year or who know they'll retake the test the following spring.

How long before applying to med school should you take the MCAT?

In order to apply to medical school with one year in between, you would need to take the MCAT by early May of your senior year to get your score before submitting your application in June.

When should I take the MCAT if I'm taking a gap year?

There is no "correct" time to take the MCAT, although many pre medical students choose to take them toward the end of their junior year or just prior to their senior year of college. However, if a pre medical student is taking a gap year, they can take the MCAT during that time.

How many practice Mcats should I take?

Some students do well after taking a diagnostic test and spending a few days studying individual questions and topics before taking another mock exam, while others may find success from taking practice tests over and over again. Most experts suggest you take a minimum of three MCAT practice tests before the exam.

Can I take the MCAT for fun?

MCAT Eligibility

Interested test takers that have no desire to apply for a health professions schools or current medical students are not eligible to take the MCAT. However, they may request what is called “special permission” from the AAMC to take the test.

What is a good starting MCAT score?

A good MCAT score is generally considered to be 511 or higher, with no section score below 127. The MCAT, also known as the Medical College Admission Test, is a computer-based standardized exam designed to assess your potential as a medical student and doctor.

Is the MCAT a lot of memorization?

The sheer volume of rules, equations, and concepts that we need to memorize for the MCAT still blows our minds. Not only do you have to memorize it all, but also apply it all to unfamiliar situations. Which means drilling it all into your mind and knowing everything like the back of your hand come exam day.

Does the MCAT actually take 7 hours?

For almost every student, the MCAT exam will be the longest test they have ever taken. The actual MCAT is over 6 hours long. But allowing times for breaks, check-in, and arriving early at the exam center, expect it to take at least 8 hours on your test day.

Is a 500 MCAT good?

The MCAT scale is centered so that a 500 represents the mean score. AAMC recommends that med school admission committees consider applicants near the center of the range, rather than placing the most emphasis on the higher end of the scale.

Is Khan Academy enough for MCAT content review?

Although this Khan Academy material is sufficient as a stand-alone MCAT preparation, it should still be combined with lots of additional practice. Additionally, do not expect Khan Academy to provide the knowledge required to bring you entirely up to speed if you are bridging any knowledge gaps for the MCAT.

Is Khan Academy good for MCAT?

Overall, Khan Academy is a great free resource to use when preparing for the MCAT, especially when coupled with active reviewing through either flashcards or note-taking/outlining.

Do medical schools care how many times you take the MCAT?

Medical schools are unlikely to care about up to 3 attempts if your score improves with each test. But decreasing or consistently low scores may indicate that you don't have an appropriate grasp of the necessary materials to successfully complete medical school.

Has anyone taken the MCAT without studying?

This may sound shocking to you but every year we meet students who took the MCAT without studying.

Why is pre-med so hard?

Pre-Med Is Very Challenging

Having an exceptional GPA that will distinguish you from other medical school applicants, taking difficult classes such as Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry, and beginning to prepare to earn a good MCAT score are all reasons why pre-med is hard work.

Do med schools look at previous MCAT?

Medical schools generally accept scores dating back two or three years. If you have taken the exam previously, we recommend that you consult the Medical School Admission Requirements to check the application policies of each school to which you intend to apply.