Jul 19, 2024
You are likely familiar with the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) if you are a premed student aspiring to attend medical school. This standardized, multiple-choice exam required by medical schools assesses problem-solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social sciences concepts and principles. Before embarking on your MCAT journey, you should keep in mind some best practices for how to study for the MCAT.
The MCAT comprises 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).
A high score on the MCAT is a significant factor in medical school admissions, so it’s imperative that you focus on effective study strategies. Furthermore, the duration of the test clocks in at a whopping six and a half hours! It’s a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to build up the skills and stamina to work through each section in a timely manner.
This article will explore how to study for the MCAT, including study tips and techniques and advice on available online resources to implement in your study routine.
Creating a Study Plan
A personalized study schedule is key to effective MCAT preparation. This will look different depending on whether you’re balancing studying with school or other commitments. Here are some tips to create a realistic and manageable study plan:
MCAT Study Schedule:
Use a Diagnostic Test to Determine Your Study Structure
Many students find it helpful to take a full-length practice test first to inform their study plan. Take the test without time constraints to focus on the content before getting into timed practice. Your results will help you determine which areas you should prioritize and devote more time to.
Set Realistic Goals and Timelines
After evaluating your diagnostic test results, break down your study material into manageable chunks and set specific goals for each study session.
When determining how to study for the MCAT, create a timeline that allows ample time for each topic while accounting for review and practice tests. Study sessions can last one to four hours depending on your schedule, but typically shouldn’t go longer than seven hours.
Incorporate Breaks and Rest Days
Schedule regular breaks and rest days to avoid burnout and maintain performance. Short, frequent breaks during study sessions can improve focus and retention.
The Pomodoro Technique is a great way to systematically include breaks while you study. This classic technique involves studying for 25 minutes followed by a five-minute break. After repeating this three times, study for another 25 minutes, then take a longer break. You can repeat the entire process as long as you need to.
This study technique is a helpful way to break up larger tasks and maximize efficiency during study blocks. Maintaining structure while having a break to look forward to is a great way to be productive in a sustainable way.
Make Changes to the Study Schedule as Needed
While it provides clear direction to plan when you will cover specific content, you may find that your schedule needs altering as you move along with the plan. Some topics may prove to be more challenging or time-consuming than expected and will require more practice.
Or, life may take you by surprise. You might get sick or have a life event that prevents you from studying for a week or two. Taking off a couple of weeks of studying shouldn’t derail your progress. As long as you adapt your plan to pick up where you left off and return to a consistent routine, you can still be successful.
As the influential Dwight D. Eisenhower once said: “Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” By this, Eisenhower meant planning is an active process of adapting to circumstances as they come. If we see plans as set in stone, there is a lower likelihood of following through with them when difficulties arise.
Life is unpredictable, but by cultivating the skill of being flexible, it gets easier to both achieve your goals and become more resilient in dealing with challenges.
Effective Study Techniques
Be sure to prioritize active learning while you prepare for the MCAT. The following techniques promote active recall to boost your memory:
Memorization Techniques for the MCAT:
Practice Questions
Consistently working on practice questions helps reinforce your knowledge and improves your test-taking skills. Use practice tests available through resources like Kaplan, Princeton Review, and UWorld to drill specific exam sections. Once you build a strong knowledge base, begin timing yourself on practice questions to improve efficiency.
Even if you performed well on a set of practice questions, it’s beneficial to repeat them until you can answer confidently without any hesitation.
Flashcards
Create flashcards for key concepts and terms. Use apps like Anki for spaced repetition, which promotes long-term retention. Pre-made flashcard decks are available to download online, saving you prep time and jump-starting your study plan.
Mnemonics
Mnemonics are powerful tools for memorizing complex information. Given the vast amount of material you will need to commit to memory, it’s a good idea to regularly utilize mnemonics while preparing for the MCAT.
Learvo's mnemonic generator can help you create personalized acronyms and expressions to remember key concepts. Learvo’s mnemonic library offers hundreds of pre-made medical mnemonics all in one place to save you the hassle of manually creating them for pages of material. No matter how complex your anatomy or physiology notes are, try out Learvo’s AI-powered mnemonic generator to create personalized acronyms and expressions to boost memorization.
Other Study Tips:
Focus On All Topics
While it’s true that there are “higher-yield” topics–those that are more likely to be tested on the MCAT– it’s still a good idea to focus on all possible topics during your preparation. Many students find that questions from “lower-yield” topics pop up on their exam, or information from more challenging, uncommon topics is indirectly tested through other questions.
Focus on topics that have a higher volume of associated questions on the test, but don’t leave points on the table by neglecting uncommon topics during your test preparation.
Take as many practice tests as possible
Practice tests are the best way to simulate the test-taking environment and succeed on the MCAT. You will become more accustomed to the exam format and timing, improving your efficiency over time. Furthermore, you will be able to determine your strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which topics need more studying. The key element of this process is understanding why you missed certain questions to pinpoint weak areas that need work.
If your scores are below your expected results on practice tests, don’t give up! Consistent practice and careful revision of your mistakes will help you improve your scores over time.
Utilizing Online Resources
When deciding how to study for the MCAT, you may find it helpful to enroll in a paid MCAT prep course. However, there are plenty of free resources available online to assist you if you decide to self-study for the exam. Take advantage of the following resources to enhance your study routine.
MCAT Online Study Resources
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash
Khan Academy: Offers free video tutorials and practice questions covering all MCAT topics.
AAMC: The official MCAT prep resources, including practice tests and question banks.
Learvo's Online Mnemonic Library and Generator: A valuable resource for memorization techniques. Our library includes a collection of common medical mnemonics and the ability to create custom mnemonics tailored to your study needs.
YouTube: Essential for increasing your comprehension and knowledge. Check out the following channels for MCAT-specific material:
Reddit: Students may find the MCAT subreddit helpful to ask others questions about the test. In addition, many students post helpful resources, including study guides, test-taking strategies, links, and tools.
Conclusion
Preparing for the MCAT is hard work and requires the right study techniques combined with consistent practice. By using the tips, resources, and advice mentioned in this article, you can be assured you’re on the right track to be successful in your MCAT journey. Learvo's AI-powered mnemonic generator and library can be a valuable resource in your MCAT preparation. Our tool helps simplify complex information, making it easier to remember during the exam. Visit Learvo's website for more information and resources to support your MCAT journey. Good luck!