If you have your sights set on getting into medical school, you’ll first have to sit for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). This standardized, multiple-choice exam is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and it’s one all aspiring physicians will have to take prior to applying to Doctor of Medicine (MD) programs.

As a core medical school requirement, your MCAT score can have a sizable impact on your chances of catching an admissions committee’s eye. But with the multitude of MCAT study materials available online, it can be difficult to know how to best prepare for this important exam.

That’s why we rounded up some of the most effective MCAT prep and study materials out there. See if these resources can offer some guidance as you gear up for this medical school exam.

AAMC MCAT prep materials

When it comes to preparing for the MCAT, the AAMC is a strong source of study materials for students. The AAMC’s MCAT prep hub is a platform on which pre-med students can create an account to access free resources, purchase official MCAT practice materials, and more.

Here’s a look at some of the MCAT resources offered by the AAMC:

1. MCAT content reviews

Within these AAMC MCAT materials, there are a few different avenues of content review that pre-med students can use. There is a general MCAT content overview in which you can find everything you’ll need to know to prepare for the content on the exam.

The current MCAT format includes 230 questions divided into four sections:

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

As such, the AAMC MCAT content guide provides a section-by-section overview of what you can expect, including all the foundational concepts and skills highlighted in each one.

Pre-med students can also access AAMC’s MCAT Road Maps, which are pdfs that take a deep dive into the skills you’ll need to master as well as provide some specific guidance regarding how to study for sections of the exam:

• The Road Map to MCAT Content in Biochemistry Textbooks provides detailed information on where to find the biochemistry concepts you’ll need for the MCAT.
• The Road Map to MCAT Content in Sociology and Psychology Textbooks reveals detailed information on where to find the concepts you’ll need for the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section of the MCAT.
• The Road Map to MCAT Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills outlines the skills assessed in the CARS section of the MCAT, including videos, working examples, and practice passage sets from the Khan Academy MCAT Collection.

2. MCAT study materials

Many pre-med students have found the AAMC’s official MCAT study guide to be helpful as they craft their own preparations to study for the MCAT. The six-step guide, “How to Create a Study Plan for the MCAT Exam,” was developed by the MCAT team at the AAMC to help students like you devise a useful study plan.

The guide was created around the philosophy that the most effective study plan is one tailored to a student’s personal learning style and schedule. Preparing for the MCAT is far from one-size-fits-all—assistance in personalizing your study methods could help you make the most effective use of your MCAT prep time.

3. MCAT sample questions and MCAT practice tests

Regardless of how many tests you’ve taken during your undergrad career, you may still want to get an adequate feel for what to expect from the MCAT before you sit for the exam. Becoming well-versed in the format of the exam and the verbiage of the questions can be an advantage.

This is where MCAT sample questions and MCAT practice tests can be useful. Once again, the AAMC has numerous resources in this realm. The MCAT Sample Question Guide, for example, is a free resource that contains 12 MCAT questions—three questions in each of the four sections of the MCAT. This can be helpful, as it will give you a taste of the types of questions you’ll see on the day of your exam.

There is also a free, full-length AAMC MCAT Official Prep Sample Test pre-med students can access through their MCAT Official Prep Hub accounts. This includes video walkthroughs for CARS passages, explanations for all answer choices, and links to additional videos, practice questions, and more.

Finally, those interested in more extensive MCAT practice exam options are able to purchase AAMC Official Prep Practice Exams. These practice materials include previously administered MCAT questions that replicate the exam experience and provide a scaled score and percentile rank.

4. MCAT Fee Assistance

The organization aims to provide widespread access to these AAMC MCAT prep materials, which is why it has the AAMC Fee Assistance Program. This program assists those who, without financial assistance, would be unable to take the MCAT, access high-quality MCAT study materials, or apply to medical schools. Participants can qualify for discounted fees, complimentary access to the MCAT Prep Hub, free MCAT Official Prep products, and more.

You can review the AAMC Fee Assistance Program eligibility requirements here.

5. MCAT advice from students

Study guides, sample questions, and practice exams will all be helpful, but it can be equally impactful to garner some tried-and-true MCAT advice from medical students who have walked this path before you. The AAMC has compiled a number of testimonials in which students who performed well on the MCAT share their top tips and tricks, including specific study schedules and strategies as well as some common missteps to avoid.

You can review these medical student stories on the AAMC’s “How I Prepared for the MCAT Exam” page.

Answers to common questions about the MCAT

While the AAMC offers several strong study tools to prepare for the MCAT, you may benefit from seeking additional resources.

For example, St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine has its own collection of MCAT prep materials and tips. You can check some of them out below:

• How to Study for the MCAT: 6 Tips and Tricks to Try With a thoughtful strategy and a lot of diligence, you can achieve the MCAT score you’re aiming for. Consider these MCAT study tips.

• How Long Is the MCAT? Uncovering the Facts You Need to Know to Be Prepared It’s common to have questions about this important exam. Take a look at what some physicians have to say about the MCAT to uncover the answers you need to feel prepared for success.

• A Closer Look at the MCAT Exam Format As you prepare for the MCAT, it’s helpful to learn a bit more about the experience that awaits. We’ve provided an overview of the MCAT format, including when you should plan to take the exam.

• What Is a Good MCAT Score? Understanding Your Results If you’ve never taken the MCAT before, the scoring system may be difficult to interpret. But knowing how your performance will stack up can better help you understand the strength of your overall application. Consider the answers to these common questions about MCAT scoring.

Prepare for MCAT success

While academic metrics aren’t the only criteria evaluated by the admissions teams for MD programs, a solid MCAT score can go a long way in strengthening your medical school application. And you’re now equipped with some of the top MCAT prep materials to help you gear up for exam day feeling more prepared than ever.

As you tap into these AAMC MCAT materials, be sure to keep close tabs on your timeline—there are numerous important dates and deadlines pre-med students should be aware of. Learn more in our article “The Pre-Med Student’s Guide to Planning Your Medical School Application Timeline.”

 

Are you considering St. George’s University Medical School? If you’d like to know more, you can reach out to some graduates or current students. They’re happy to tell you what their experiences were like.

If you feel like SGU could be the right medical school for you, take the next step. Continue your research by visiting our request information page.