The MCAT is one of the biggest obstacles standing between premed students and medical school acceptance. As the popularity of medicine rises, the MCAT is becoming increasingly competitive. Every year, the average MCAT score for accepted applicants trends upwards, raising the bar for incoming students. If your dream is to become a doctor, performing well on the MCAT is more critical now than ever before.
1. Build a Strong Knowledge Foundation Starting Early
Many premeds wrongly believe MCAT prep begins in the months leading up to the exam. In reality, preparation starts from your very first premedical course. When taking biology, chemistry, physics, psychology and sociology, focus on deeply learning and retaining the material – not just passing the class.
The best way to build strong knowledge is through the spacing effect – studying a little bit each day over weeks or months rather than cramming. Neuroscience shows that with repeated exposures to information spaced apart over time, stronger neuronal connections form in the hippocampus where long-term memories are stored.
I realized this early in college and developed my science base before the MCAT. By the time I started studying, I scored in the 67th percentile on my diagnostic. Had I only crammed, I may have scored in the 20th percentile – leaving a huge gap before my target score.
Aim to spend 2 study hours per class hour each week. Consistently put in the time, but also use it efficiently with active learning.
2. Prioritize Active Learning Techniques for the MCAT
It’s tempting to rely on passive studying like reading and highlighting. But passive learning is far less efficient for the MCAT than active techniques like practice questions and flashcards.
When passively reading, it’s easy to overestimate your knowledge. But when the book is gone, it often tells a different story. Through medical school, I realized the power of practice questions and spaced repetition for durable learning.
Many students wait until the end to start practice questions. But questions can teach material as well as strategies. I did questions from the beginning, reviewing every right and wrong answer thoroughly. Starting early was hugely beneficial for my 99.9th percentile score.
Flashcards with active recall and spaced repetition also optimize learning. Most students don’t create good flashcards or use them enough. To make effective flashcards, you need mastery of concepts, related ideas, yield level, and testing patterns. Check out Memm for next-level MCAT flashcards.
No matter how strong your study techniques, you’ll eventually forget information. This underscores the need for an organized schedule.
3. Create an Effective 3-6 Month MCAT Study Schedule
Many plateau with added study time because they forget earlier material. A few months of intense, high-quality prep often beats a year of low-intensity work.
Aim for 40-50 hours a week for around 3 months. For most, this is summer after sophomore or junior year. Spring studying with applications is also popular but adds stress.
Once you choose your timeframe, build a schedule for each topic. For science topics, rotate between them daily. This prevents boredom, burnout, and reviewing topics too early or late.
CARS is different – improve it through 30 minutes of daily practice for 2 months, gradually boosting your score. Stick tight to your schedule and consider a tutor for accountability.
4. Focus Your Time on the Highest Yield Topics
Studying, I wrongly tried learning every detail – even obscure, low-yield information. But most minutiae is beyond the MCAT’s scope, contributing little to your score. Master high- and medium-yield topics first.
With the MCAT’s vast content, it’s hard to judge what’s most important. Using top resources from experts who aced the MCAT and teach others to do the same is invaluable. They identify core topics to know versus lower priority or unnecessary information.
After years in the making, the comprehensive MedSchoolInsiders MCAT Course is now live. It prioritizes the most high-yield details and cuts out the fluff so you don’t have to. Check it out at MedSchoolInsiders.com/MCAT.
5. Refine and Review Weak Areas in the Final Months
In your final 1-2 months, take regular full-length practice exams. Thoroughly review right and wrong answers, focusing on weak areas. Keep taking tests until scores plateau, cementing strategies.
Many students lack stamina for the nearly 8 hour exam. Take your exams under timed, test-like conditions for mental endurance. Simulate breaks too.
In your last month, it’s easy to burn out studying non-stop. Schedule relaxing activities as rewards for progress. Refine only high-yield weak points. Retain your sharpness through exercise, sleep, and healthy eating.
Conclusion
With increasing competition, the MCAT is more important than ever for aspiring doctors. Follow these research-backed tips to optimize your score:
- Build a strong base early through foundational courses
- Use active studying like practice questions and flashcards
- Create a 3-6 month study schedule
- Prioritize the highest yield topics
- Refine weak areas in the final months
Follow this advice to stand out and get into the medical school of your dreams!