It is essential to familiarize yourself with books from outside the scope of the core MCAT subjects to ace this section. MCAT CARS is perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of the test and your prep for this section of the exam should start long before you schedule your test date. Ideally, you should complement this guide with additional material. AAMC’s Official Guide is an amazing first read to start getting an idea of what to expect from the MCAT and how it works, but it most definitely should not be your only purchase. The AAMC offers an official guide that contains all the general information you need to know about the test.
The first three sections of the test are based on fundamental scientific knowledge, while the last one analyses your reading comprehension through a series of passages and questions. This test was developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) as a way of assessing your problem solving and critical thinking skills, and your knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine.
Looking for tips on how to get a good MCAT score? This infographic might help: MCAT prep books offer the benefit of organizing the information in such a way that you can easily get a realistic sense of what the exam consists of, highlighting what’s important, and providing expert tips and information you wouldn’t typically find in other sources. Of course, you can always resort to an MCAT tutor, or take an MCAT prep course, but you will also need to review a lot of material on your own. It is essential to learn tactics to answer and tackle MCAT passages. Good prep books don’t only provide you with the information you should know about the topics included in the test, but they should also provide study strategies and practice tests/questions.
Embarking on such a journey all by yourself won’t be a good idea if you don’t have quality resources. There is no right or wrong way to prepare for this exam, although one thing is for sure: to figure out when to start studying for the MCAT you will need to check out the MCAT test dates and come up with the ideal MCAT study schedule and dedicate several hours per week during at least a few months to reach a score that will impress a medical school admissions committee. Even though it is not impossible to get into medical school with a low MCAT score, you need to make sure to do everything in your power to obtain the highest score possible.
The MCAT is a 7.5-hour exam that represents an important milestone in your medical school application journey.