The MCAT test is a multiple-choice exam to apply for the medical colleges in the USA and Canada. The exam is a standardized one taken by the Association of American Medical Colleges to test a student’s capability before entering into medical schools and colleges.
To be very practical, MCAT exam is comparatively hard and competitive in comparison to other public exams. As a result, to get admitted into medical schools in the USA and Canada, you need to score high in the MCAT exam, no doubt. And, to help you out, we have the 5 most important tips for you before you start your MCAT preparation. Let’s jump right in!
1. Know the Structure of the Very Exam
It’s very important to have the preliminary ideas regarding the exam and question pattern to prepare for the exam, right? FYI, the exam has 230 multiple choice questions and the questions are divided into 4 sections.
The questions tend to test your knowledge of basic science, biochemistry, biology, organic chemistry, physics, sociology, and psychology. These subjects cover 3 sections and the last section covers the CARS section which is the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.
2. Create Your Own Study Schedule
After getting your scheduled exam date, it’s time to make your own study plan so that you can prepare yourself completely before the MCAT prep exam. Make a routine depending the time left for the test. Check how many hours a week you can study to get fully prepared. The study plan should be realistic.
If you are an average student, you can make the routine that covers 8-10 hours a day but if you are a working person, your study plan should be different and it will cover 4-5 hours a day. But make sure that you study for a least 300-350 hours to get a complete preparation for the MCAT exam.
3. Take More Practice Exams
To get the best result, you need to get familiar with the exam format. To do this, you need to take at least 5 full-length practice exams. This will help you get acquainted with the timing of the exam. Plus, you will be able to understand the structure of MCAT more when you incorporate practice tests regularly. The more you take practice exams, the more you are able to find out your strengths and weaknesses along with tracking your progress.
4. Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses
When you come across 2-3 practice tests, you will be able to identify your strong and weak points by yourself which is very important. Practice exams will develop your understanding and provide you with an opportunity to evaluate yourself.
After knowing all these, it’s time to devote yourself completely in your study. Try to cover the areas you are weak in and study every subject with a good understanding. Remember that the MCAT exam tests your understanding on every topic.
5. Try to Crack at the First Time
Don’t worry if you cannot pass the MCAT exam at the first time as you can take the exam more than once but it’s true that when you fail, it drops your confidence. For this reason, prepare yourself in a way that you can crack it at the very first time. MCAT is a pretty expensive as well as time-consuming exam. So, make sure to render the best of you so that you can pass at the first time.
