The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a critical step for anyone pursuing a career in medicine. Required by most U.S. and Canadian medical schools, the MCAT evaluates your readiness for medical education by testing your knowledge of foundational concepts in biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology, as well as your ability to think critically and analyze complex information.

The exam is divided into four sections:

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

Each section is scored individually, with a total score range of 472 to 528. Understanding this structure is vital for developing an effective study plan.

This platform is designed to simplify your preparation by focusing on what is and isn’t included in the MCAT, based on the framework provided in the AAMC’s What's on the MCAT Exam document. While the Scrubs Collaborative is not endorsed by or affiliated with the AAMC, it aligns with their outlined structure to ensure accurate and reliable content review.

Whenever you use any source not responsible for writing the exam, including this one, be sure to judge if the material is really aligned with the offical guide and practice. If you are just getting started, I encourage you to visit the AAMC’s official description of the exam here. 

1. Application Timeline:

• When do you plan to apply to medical school? Medical school applications typically open in late May/early June. It's advantageous to submit your application as early as possible in the cycle.

• When are application deadlines? While many schools have rolling admissions, knowing deadlines helps you work backward to determine the latest acceptable MCAT date.

• Score Release Time: It takes approximately 30-35 days to receive your MCAT scores. Factor this into your timeline to ensure you have your scores before submitting applications.

2. Study Time:

• How much time do you need to prepare? This depends on your background, study habits, and target score. Most students benefit from 3-6 months of dedicated study.

• Balance with other commitments: Consider your coursework, extracurriculars, work, and personal life. Choose a test date that allows for consistent and focused study without burnout.

3. Coursework Completion:

• Have you completed prerequisite courses? It's ideal to finish relevant coursework (biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology) before taking the MCAT.

• Concurrent coursework: If taking courses concurrently with MCAT prep, ensure you can manage the workload effectively.

4. Test Date Availability:

• Check the AAMC website for available test dates: The MCAT is offered multiple times a year, but dates and locations can fill up quickly.

• Consider less popular dates: If your schedule is flexible, consider less popular dates (e.g., early in the testing window) for potentially less crowded testing centers.

5. Personal Preferences:

• Time of year: Consider your personal preferences for studying and test-taking. Some prefer to study during the summer, while others prefer the academic year.

• Retake possibility: If you plan to retake the MCAT, choose an earlier date to allow time for a retake and score reporting before application deadlines.

General Recommendations:

• Aim for spring/early summer: This allows you to submit your application early in the cycle.

• Avoid taking the MCAT too close to application deadlines: This can lead to rushed applications and unnecessary stress.

• Register early: Secure your preferred test date and location as soon as possible.

Tools and Resources:

• AAMC Website: The official source for MCAT information, including test dates, registration, and resources.

• MCAT Prep Companies: Many companies offer resources and guidance on choosing a test date.

MCAT weaknesses can manifest in various ways, including content knowledge gaps, difficulty applying concepts, timing issues, and test-taking anxiety.

Content

• Do a full practice exam and take notes on each question you missed: 

  • Why did you miss it ? Be honest, clear, and descriptive.

  • What type of question was it? 

  • What content was being tested? Identify the exact topic as described by the AAMC.

  • Next, identify the sections and find practice questions targeted on that topic.

Applying and Reasoning

• After doing practice problems, total up the number of questions for which you feel you knew the understanding concepts but were unable to apply them. Exclude problems you missed because of misreading or guessing. 

• Practice reading through research articles and asking yourself about experimental setup, as these thought processes are essential to applying concepts.

Timing

• Diagnosing - A great way to diagnose how far off you are is to do a full practice section with timing at a pace that is as quick as you can go without guessing on the content you should be familiar with. If you run out of time, stop, note how far you got, and then set a stopwatch to figure out how much extra time you need. 

• Overcoming -  If you struggle with time - and most of us do - plan to try different strategies in your practice. You will also get faster as you continue working through the material. I found that forcing myself to do overly challenging practice from a test bank at speed made the official practice seem easier.

MOST IMPORTANT: Any official practice test will tell you what content areas you missed questions in. You can prioritize those when making your calendar below if you what a condensed content review schedule.

1. Assessment and Planning:

• Diagnostic Test: Start with a full-length diagnostic test to establish a baseline score and identify strengths and weaknesses.

• Target Score: Determine your target score based on the average MCAT scores of the medical schools you're interested in.

• Study Timeline: Allocate sufficient study time (3-6 months is typical), considering your schedule and target score.

• Resource Selection: Choose your study materials (books, online resources, practice tests, etc.).

2. Content Review Phase:

• Structured Approach: Use the outline provided by the AAMC, which is how the Scrubs Collaborative is organized. The Scrubs Collaborative is not affiliated with or endorsed by the AAMC.

• Active Learning: Take notes, create flashcards, teach concepts to others, and do practice questions. A great way to challenge yourself is to try to find some way to improve the Scrubs Collaborative with each topic!

• Focus on Understanding: Prioritize understanding concepts over memorization. The MCAT is a Recognition test, not a Recall test.

• Regular Review: Regularly review previously covered material to reinforce learning.

3. Practice Phase:

• Passage-Based Practice: Incorporate passage-based questions and practice tests early in your prep to develop critical thinking and analysis skills.

• Timed Practice: Practice under timed conditions to simulate the actual test environment and improve pacing.

• Full-Length Practice Exams: Take full-length practice exams regularly (ideally AAMC exams) to track progress and identify areas for improvement.

• Review and Analysis: Thoroughly review your performance on practice tests and questions. Analyze your mistakes and understand the reasoning behind correct answers.

4. CARS Practice:

• Daily Practice: Dedicate time to CARS practice every day. Make sure to share any resources you find helpful.

• Variety of Passages: Practice with a variety of passage topics and styles.

• Active Reading: Focus on understanding the main idea, arguments, and tone of each passage.

• Review and Analysis: Review your answers and understand the reasoning behind correct and incorrect choices.

5. Review and Refinement:

• Weak Area Focus: Dedicate extra time to reviewing and practicing your weaker areas.

• Regular Review: Continue to review previously covered material to prevent forgetting.

• Practice Test Review: Thoroughly review all practice tests and identify patterns in your mistakes.

• Adjust Your Plan: Be flexible and adjust your study plan as needed based on your progress and performance. Keep in mind that the Scrubs Collaborative Calendar allows you to refine your plan whenever you like. 

6. Maintaining Balance:

• Rest and Breaks: Schedule regular breaks and rest days to avoid burnout.

• Healthy Lifestyle: Maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep.

• Support System: Connect with other MCAT test-takers and seek support from friends and family.

Key Takeaways:

• Personalization: Tailor your study plan to your individual needs, strengths, and weaknesses.

• Consistency: Consistent effort over time is crucial for success.

• Active Learning: Engage actively with the material and focus on understanding.

• Practice and Review: Regular practice and thorough review are essential for improvement.

• Flexibility: Be prepared to adjust your plan as needed based on your progress.

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