MCAT Study Hints
MAKING THE MOST OF MCAT TEST PREP TOOLS
There are two extremely important things to keep in mind when choosing which MCAT preparation (either commercial or non-commercial) you will use:
“If I use this preparation method, will I have access to lots of real MCAT type passages and questions?”
Contrary to popular belief, the MCAT is not a test of science facts and formulas. It is a test of how you can think and reason within scientific (and non-scientific) constructs. For that reason it is of critical importance that your MCAT prep contain lots of work with actual MCAT type passages and questions.
The second important thing to keep in mind when choosing your MCAT preparation is: “If I use this preparation method, will I have access to explanations of the passages and questions I am working on?”
Explanations of how to think and reason through the passages and questions you practice are the best kind of MCAT preparation you can get. A few organic chemistry and physics refresher lessons won’t hurt, but the most important thing for achieving a high score is thoughtful work with, and getting explanations of, real MCAT type questions.
One word of caution: Do not rely on AAMC test preparation material created in 1990 and 1991. The MCAT has significantly increased in difficulty since that time, and the easy nature of the ’90 and ’91 AAMC material can give you a very false sense of security. Use material developed more recently than 1991.
In the years I spent in professional MCAT test preparation, I found that the students who increased their MCAT scores most dramatically included these five principles in their test preparation:
Allow months to prepare yourself for the MCAT, and during that time establish and stick to a planned study schedule. I suggest that you decide how many hours per week you will study (if you are taking a commercial MCAT preparation class this means outside of class), and then enter particular MCAT study times into your calendar. (“I will study on February 5th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.” Having planned specific study times greatly enhances the possibility that you will do the greatest amount of high quality test preparation.
During your study times, work on as many real MCAT passages and questions as you can. Hone a system that will allow you to complete one MCAT passage and its questions in no more than nine minutes. (If you are struggling with this, I can coach you on it, not matter where in the world you live. Click on GET HELP NOW.)
When working on real MCAT questions, understand that you have to get questions wrong. Don’t berate yourself over what you miss—getting questions wrong is an important part of your growth process because it identifies for you precisely where you are weak! When you get questions wrong, I’d like you to say to yourself: “This is great! I got this wrong! Now right here is my opportunity to grow.” This kind of attitude will keep you from the discouragement you can feel if you view every practice test as a comment on your intelligence, your abilities, or your fitness for medical school. Do all you can to maintain a positive, interested attitude.
When you get questions wrong, work carefully with well-informed explanations of the questions. This will help you to determine precisely where your thinking was right and wrong. The highest quality explanations of science passages will tell you, for instance: “If you knew the science fact, here was the fastest, cleverest way to answer this question. If you didn’t know the science fact, however, here’s a very clever way you could have gotten very near the right answer without even really understanding the subject matter!” (It’s very possible to do this. Top MCAT test takers excel at making excellent educated guesses when they are unsure of the exact scientific fact or formula.)
As you work with explanations and find yourself saying “A-ha! That is an excellent tip, or trick, or strategy!” or “Wow.. I think I want to memorize that science concept!” make a note of what you are learning. I suggest that you keep a special section of a notebook for each section on the test, and write down every tip or trick or strategy you learn into the appropriate section. If you wish to learn a science fact, make a flashcard about it.
Having a record of all the best things you are learning will help you immensely to retain what you learn in these study sessions.
Finally, to really increase your MCAT score, you must discipline yourself to actually DO the recommended tips, and tricks and strategies you’ve noted. It won’t help you to have a detailed written note that says: “Take 40 seconds to read a paragraph, extract the “gist” of it, and make a note of that “gist” in the margin of the test booklet.” You need to make yourself practice this strategy until it comes second nature to you – a real challenge if you are naturally a detail-oriented, thorough person!! Make yourself do the strategies you are learning until they become second nature to you. It’s at this point that your score will really ascend to the levels you are truly capable of.
If you could use some one-on-one help with any of the things mentioned above (lots of people find they want one-on-one help with this), or if you need specific help with the MCAT writing sample, I can be available to you either in person or over the phone. You can get my help for as little as one hour, or for as many as 30 hours of one-on-one counseling. Simply click on GET HELP NOW.
Good luck with your high quality MCAT preparation!
Note: Because application advisors cannot control your grades, your MCAT scores, your amount and quality of volunteer experience, or how thoroughly you follow the advice offered on these pages, please understand that we cannot guarantee any individual’s acceptance to medical school.
