If you want to get into medical school, one of the biggest barriers you’ll have to overcome is taking the MCAT. January is a great time to start preparing for the MCAT so you can schedule in the late spring and apply during the summer.
If you have any questions over your medical school timeline, be sure to check out my series by clicking on the year below!
In order to apply to medical school, you must take the MCAT. The MCAT is a long exam that tests your scientific knowledge and is required for admissions into medical school. It can be a daunting exam, but is doable with the right approach. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about taking the MCAT so you can go in with a great chance of success.
Table of contents
- What is the MCAT?
- Who needs to take the MCAT?
- When to take the MCAT?
- How to take the MCAT?
- How to study for taking the MCAT?
- What are the best resources for taking the MCAT?
- How do medical schools use your MCAT score?
- What happens if you get a low MCAT score?
- Main Takeaways
- Never miss another post! Subscribe now
What is the MCAT?
The MCAT is the Medical College Admissions Test and is a test of your scientific knowledge. Pre-medical students take this exam if they are hoping to go to medical school. It is an eight-hour exam that has four parts:
Biology/Biochemistry
This section is designed to determine your knowledge of biochemical and biological concepts with scientific inquiry and reasoning skills. These questions will be unique to living organisms, and test concepts such as growth and reproduction, maintaining a consistent internal environment, acquiring materials and energy, and sensing and responding to changes in the environment.
This section tests intro-level biology, organic chemistry, and inorganic chemistry concepts. This section will also test cellular and molecular biology topics, basic research methods and statistics, and require you to show your ability to apply what you’ve learned to the natural sciences. (AAMC)
There are 59 questions and you are given 95 minutes to complete each one of them. This gives you an average of 1.6 minutes per question, so use your time wisely! During the exam, you will be given a periodic table to answer the questions.
Critical Analysis and Reading Section (CARS)
This section is similar to other verbal reasoning tests that you have taken for the SAT or ACT. You will have various passages and questions that determine your ability to comprehend what you’ve read. This section is used to see your ability to reason and understand, skills that will translate to you medical career. These passages will cover a wide range of topics from social sciences and humanities, followed by a series of questions that lead you through the process of comprehending, analyzing, and reasoning about the material that you just read (AAMC).
The passages are anywhere between 500-600 words, but they are often complex and thought-provoking. The vocabulary can be intense, as well as the writing styles which means that these are not straight-forward passages. You will not need any additional coursework in order to do well on this section. But you may find that you have to read these differently than your scientific classes. These questions test your comprehension, analysis and reasoning skills, and will provide you with all of the knowledge you need to answer the questions.
There are 53 questions in this section that are all passage-based, and you will have 90 minutes to complete this. It’s best to divide the time by the number of passages so you know how much time you’ll need to take to both read and answer the questions.
Chemistry/Physics
This section asks you to solve problems by combining your knowledge of chemical and physical foundational concepts with your ability to inquire scientifically and reason. This test will determine your understanding of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical function related to human tissues, organs, and organ systems. This also tests your knowledge of the basic chemical and physical principles that underlie the mechanisms happening in the human body, and your ability to apply them to your basic understanding of the same principals to living systems.
You will be tested in introductory-level biology, organic and inorganic chemistry/physic concepts that are often taught during the first year or two of college. This section also has 59 questions and you are given 95 minutes to complete this block. That is 1.6 minutes per question.
Psychology/Sociology
This block tests you over psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior and asks you to solve problems by combining you knowledge of these foundational concepts with scientific inquiry and your ability to reason. This section tests your understanding of psychological, social, and biological factors, and how they influence perceptions and reactions to the world. You also are tested on behavior and behavior change, what people think about themselves and others, cultural and social differences in the world, and the relationships between social stratification, access to resources and well-being.
This part of the exam emphasizes concepts that are important for physicians to know in order to best serve a diverse patient population. The concepts of this section help physicians understand how behavior impacts health.
There are also 59 questions in this section with 95 minutes to complete the block. Again, that is 1.6 minutes per question!
Who needs to take the MCAT?
Anyone who wants to go to medical school in the United States and Canada needs to plan on taking the MCAT. They are required for all of these schools. There are a few schools that don’t require the MCAT. But, before you get excited, it’s important to know that these are all dual degree, or early reassurance programs.
Dual degree and early reassurance programs provide automatic acceptance into medical school of high schoolers who have a certain ACT/SAT score and maintain a certain GPA in college. They differ in the fact that dual degree programs often have an overlap between undergraduate and medical school so students graduate with two degrees: BS/MD or BA/MD. Early acceptance guarantees students acceptance, but they still do four years of undergrad.
Dual Degree Programs
- Adelphi University
- Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
- Case Western Reserve University
- CUNY School of Medicine
- Drexel University College of Medicine
- George Washington University
- Hampton University
- Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
- Montclair State University
- Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine
- Purchase College
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Spelman University
- University of Florida College of Medicine
- University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Yeshiva University
Early Admissions Programs
- Brody School of Medicine Early Assurance Program
- Albany Medical College Early Assurance Program
- Dartmouth University Geisel School of Medicine Early Assurance Program
- Georgetown University School of Medicine Early Assurance Program
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, FlexMed Program
- Syracuse University Early Assurance Program
- University of Pittsburgh Guaranteed Admission Program
- Tufts University School of Medicine Early Assurance Program
- University of Rochester School of Medicine Early Assurance Program
- University of Toledo College of Medicine MedStart Program
When to take the MCAT?
When you are planning on taking the MCAT, it depends on when you want to apply to medical school. If you want to apply for matriculation right after college, then the best time to take it is at the end of your junior year/beginning of senior year. If you are taking a gap year, then take the MCAT the spring before applying. Scores take 30 days to return. It’s best if you submit your application early – June of the application year. This means you’ll have to take your MCAT in the late spring/early summer.
Seats fill up fast because over 85,000 people sit for this exam each year. Register for your exam early. See instruction below for how to register.
How to take the MCAT?
Taking the MCAT requires you to sign up online. As I said, seats fill up fast. So, I recommend that you sign up to take the MCAT in 3-4 months before you’re going to take it. If you live in an area with many testing sites, you may not have to register so early. The exam will be at a testing center like Prometric or Pearson. It is a computerized, multiple choice exam. You can get accommodations if necessary for more time or a quieter room if you have a disability.
The first thing you’ll need to do is visit the AAMC website. Then, you’ll click “Register for the MCAT Exam”. If you don’t have an account, then you’ll have to create one before signing up. After logging in, just follow the instructions on the website.
Before signing up, there are some prices that you need to know. Standard MCAT registration fee is $330. You cannot register within 10 days of an exam. If you need to make changes to your MCAT, how far out from the test you are will determine the fees. Standard change fees are more than 60 days from test date. There is a $50 change fee and $165 cancellation refund. If you cancel 30-59 days before the exam, the fee is $100 and the refund is $165. If you change 10-29 days before the exam, the fee is $200 and you do not get a refund.
Fee Assistance Program
There is a program that lessens the burden if you qualify. It’s called the Fee Assistance Program. It can help those who, without assistance, would not be able to sit for the MCAT. Not only does this help with MCAT, but also with medical school application fees. There is an application that you fill out to determine your eligibility. All U.S. test takers are eligible to apply for the Fee Assistance Program. If you are under 26 years old, they will require your parents tax information regardless of your filing status. The only exception are deceased family members. See the table below for family size and maximum income for eligibility.
| Family Size | Max Income |
| 1 | $51,520 |
| 2 | $69,680 |
| 3 | $87,840 |
| 4 | $106,000 |
| 5 | $124,160 |
| 6 | $142,320 |
| 7 | $160,480 |
| 8 | $178,640 |
Taking the MCAT is a bit cheaper for those who quality for the FAP. Signing up for the MCAT exam costs $135. Change fees more than 60 days out are $20 and the cancellation refund is $70. Changing the exam 30-59 days before costs $40 and the refund is $70. Cancelling 10-29 days before the exam is $80 and there is no refund.
No changes are allowed 10 days before the exam.
How to study for taking the MCAT?
As you think about taking the MCAT exam, you may be overwhelmed at how to study. It’s a long exam, and very easy to overestimate. The main secret to taking the MCAT is learning how to answer the questions. The MCAT can be a hard exam. However, it’s mostly a strategic exam. Once you learn the strategy and question-writing pattern, you will master the test.
I, personally, didn’t figure out the trick until AFTER I began medical school. So, now I help others prepare for the MCAT with MCAT tutoring sessions. If you are interested in a virtual MCAT tutoring session with me, then please message me using the box below to discuss timing and pricing.
Preparing for taking the MCAT requires you to start early. Depending on how busy you are, you may need anywhere from a couple of months to a year to study. Plan to study 3-5 hours a day at least 5 days a week. The closer you get to your exam, the longer you’ll need to study. The MCAT is a marathon so you have to build up your stamina. This means taking practice exams and sitting the full 7-8 hours.
Create a study schedule that paces you to cover the material and answer a ton of practice questions. Practice questions are the BEST way to study for the MCAT. If you need help planning your study schedule, then please check out this MCAT planning excel sheet!
What are the best resources for taking the MCAT?
If you are interested in self-studying, there are many different resources. There are both free and paid resources. It’s important that you don’t overwhelm yourself with resources. Choose one and stick to it consistently.
Paid resources
AAMC – The AAMC provides MCAT prep resources that will best reflect what the exam will actually look like. this is because they use old exams as practice questions. They are going to be the most reliable, but may not be the most comprehensive. This is a great resource closer to the exam to get used to the style of question. They have free exams and prep products to choose from.
Kaplan – Kaplan has a variety of options to choose from depending on how long you want to prep. They have 6-12 month options with teacher-led lessons, question blanks, realistic practice tests, book review set, and a study app. They also have live online, in-person and bootcamp options. Kaplan can be a bit more expensive with some of their courses costing more than $2000. However, they have a reputation for being the best.
Altius – Altius is a test-prep company that provides a bundle of access to practice tests, questions, mentoring, videos, etc. for $999. They claim their curriculum to be the most accurate of all MCAT practice materials, giving you the best gauge for your prep.
Magoosh – Magoosh is another MCAT test-prep platforms that gives you comprehensive prep, full-length tests, more than 700 practice questions, and email support. They will give you a 7-day free trial with 60 content review videos and 16 practice questions. After that, you can sign up for a month, which is $379, or 12-months, which is $399.
Blueprint – If self-studying is not for you, then you can use Blueprint’s live online course. Here, you will receive 16 2.5 hour lessons that align with prework. This gives a mix of structure and flexibility. ALong with the in-person instruction, you will receive flashcard, videos, learning modules, and full-length practice exams. Six month access is $2,699 making it a pricier option.
The Princeton Review – This test prep has been around. fora long time. They offer live online courses for $3000-$5000 depending on which score you would like to achieve. They also have a self-paced program and private tutoring options that may be a bit more affordable.
Free resources
MCAT Self Prep – This app is an ecourse that gives you all of the support of a prep course without the price. You will begin your work with a free intro session, high value power topics, and also have access to one-on-one assistance with an email that is returned within 24 hours.
Khan Academy – This is an online platform with videos around various topics taught by Dr. Khan and his team. Not only is this platform great for the MCAT, but for any subject you may need at the high school or collegiate level.
Free Practice Tests – Some of the above mentioned resources are not completely free, but do off free exams. Kaplan, AAMC, and Princeton Review all have free exams or free sections that you can use.
How do medical schools use your MCAT score?
MCAT scores range from 472-528, with a midpoint of 500. When submitting your medical school application, you will also be submitting your MCAT score. The MCAT score is important for you application, however, it’s not all or nothing. Most medical schools want to see you get at least a 500.
The higher your score is, the better your chance is of getting into whatever program you want. Some of the more competitive medical schools want to see a score of at least 510. It’s important to remember that with each score, you outscore thousands of other applicants. This means that each point matters so much.
The MCAT shows your ability to acclimate to medical school rigor and complexity of information. Therefore, the better you do on this test, the better you convince admissions that you are thoroughly able to handle the challenges of medical school.
What happens if you get a low MCAT score?
Scoring below 500 or below your goal on the MCAT can be so frustrating. It also can feel like your dreams of becoming a doctor end right in that moment. I scored a 501 the very first time I took the MCAT. The next time I took it, I had a goal of 510 and only scored a 504. I was definitely disappointed because I didn’t think I was applying with the strongest application.
If you get a low MCAT score, you’ve got some options. One of them is to retake the test. Getting a low score means that you may have to begin studying again to get a more competitive score. If you have a low exam score and the rest of your application is not stellar, then it may be a good idea to retake the test. You can retake the exam 3 times in a year and 7 times in a lifetime.
If you get a low MCAT score, but your application is great, then you may get away without retaking it. When applying, someone may ask you about the MCAT, and you just have to be honest. Did you have an extenuating circumstance that didn’t allow for your best performance? Do you have a learning disorder that you’ve learned to manage? Whatever your answer is, make it sounds like you’ve learned from the experience, and not that you just blew off the test.
If you apply to medical school, but don’t get in because of your MCAT, you may have some other options. One of these includes a postbac master’s or transitional program. These may sound un-enticing because they involve more school. However, they are great for getting research, improving your score, and even boosting your GPA.
Main Takeaways
The MCAT can be a hard exam, but it’s not impossible. It takes great preparation, dedication, and consistency. With those three qualities, and the right tools, you can score well on the MCAT. It’s intimidating, but if you really want to be a doctor, don’t let that be your barrier. It’s such a small part of your medical school career. Most of the topics that are covered on that exam are not even touched again medical school. So, you just have to survive it, get accepted, and then you can start learning the fun stuff.
If you’ve taken the MCAT and have some additional advice, please leave them in the comments below. If you ahve any additional questions about the MCAT or would like to explore tutoring options, then please don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected].
2 thoughts on “Taking the MCAT: Everything You Need to Know”