| Almost all American medical schools require that you | | | | Set up simulated practice test sessions. Use practice |
| to take the MCAT exam before applying to medical | | | | tests from books or online. Go back to the areas |
| school. Some schools place an even weight on your | | | | that you still need to work on and review, practice |
| MCAT score and your GPA, so it is important that | | | | and study until you have mastered those areas as |
| you do well on the MCAT as well as having a high | | | | well. |
| GPA. In order to best prepare for the MCAT material | | | | So now you know the format of the test, what is |
| you will need to have completed introductory biology, | | | | going to be on the test, and how to study for the |
| chemistry, physics, and organic chemistry courses. | | | | test. Now you need to know what to do while you |
| You will be tested on your ability to interpret and | | | | are actually taking the test to totally conquer it. |
| apply what you know rather than to just know facts. | | | | #1 Read the questions carefully. Do not rush through |
| First of all, it is important for you to know what will | | | | the exam because you think that you know it like |
| be on the test, so that you know what to expect | | | | the back of your hand. |
| and can properly prepare for the exam. The MCAT is | | | | #2 Do not leave answers blank. On the MCAT you |
| composed of 4 main sections. The first section of | | | | are graded on the number of correct answers you |
| the MCAT is the physical science. This section is | | | | give. If you do not know the answer to a question, |
| made up of 77 multiple-choice questions that you will | | | | then use the process of elimination to narrow down |
| have 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete. These | | | | the choices given as much as possible. |
| questions are designed to test your science | | | | If you do not know the answer and cannot make an |
| knowledge and problem solving ability in the areas of | | | | educated guess then randomly fill it in. The odds are |
| physics and general chemistry. | | | | better for you to answer those questions that you |
| The second section is the verbal reasoning section, | | | | cannot figure out at random than it is to leave them |
| which is designed to measure performance | | | | completely blank. |
| comprehension, evaluation, application, and | | | | #3 Manage your time. Since each section of the test |
| incorporation. You will have 1 hour and 25 minutes to | | | | is timed, you will need to be able to manage your |
| complete 60 questions. | | | | time effectively so that you have enough time to |
| The third section is the writing sample. You will have | | | | complete each question on the exam. Don't spend |
| 1 hour to complete 2 essays. The experimental | | | | too much time on any one question that will cause |
| section of the MCAT must be completed in 35 | | | | you to not have enough time to answer the |
| minutes and the number of questions depends on the | | | | remaining questions. |
| test that you are given. | | | | #4 Check your work. When you have completed a |
| The final section of the MCAT is the biological | | | | section and you have time left before the end of |
| sciences, which you will have 1 hour and 40 minutes | | | | that portion of the exam, go back and check your |
| to complete 77 multiple-choice questions. This section | | | | answers. First, make sure that you have answered all |
| covers questions on the concepts of biology and | | | | of the questions. Revisit the questions that you were |
| organic chemistry. | | | | having trouble with and recheck your answer choice |
| Now that you have an idea of what is included on | | | | now that you have a few more minutes to spend on |
| the exam, you will need to take the necessary steps | | | | it. |
| to prepare for the exam. Since everyone prepares | | | | Relax, take a deep breath, and prepare for your |
| for major tests and exams differently, you will need | | | | MCAT exam. The MCAT is not really a test of |
| to follow a course of action that will allow you to | | | | academic knowledge where you memorize facts. The |
| best prepare for the exam. | | | | MCAT tests your ability to take what you learned in |
| #1 Make a plan. Whether you need to take a MCAT | | | | biology, physics, chemistry and organic chemistry, |
| preparation course or you can study on your own | | | | interpret it and apply it to different scenarios. When |
| with a MCAT practice exam book, choose the way | | | | you are studying, you are not really studying to learn |
| that you are going to go about studying for the | | | | new material. You are really making sure that you |
| exam. | | | | understand concepts so that you can then take |
| #2 Create a schedule. You will need to start studying | | | | these concepts and apply them to different |
| for the MCAT 3 to 12 months before you take it, so | | | | situations. By taking the necessary steps to prepare |
| create a schedule based on this timeframe. | | | | for the exam, you will have everything you need to |
| #3 Practice, practice, and then practice some more. | | | | conquer the MCAT. |