The MCAT

The MCAT is an exam you take to get into medical school. Typically, this exam is taken from January to April of your application year. For instance, if you are seeking to start medical school in August 2025, you’d take the MCAT any time from January to April 2024. This exam is extremely difficult and requires major preparation. It is a 7.5 hour exam including breaks. Without breaks the exam is 6 hours and 15 minutes, which is still an ample amount of time. During the exam you receive two 10-minute breaks and one 30-minute break. Ultimately, it is recommended to get a score of 515 or higher on the exam. To prepare for the MCAT, do not wait until the last minute. Start as soon as possible. Find a study schedule that fits you well and take practice tests often. The ideal time to study for this exam is about 6 months, however this time might be different based on your schedule. The MCAT is mainly composed of biology, general chemistry, physics, and organic chemistry. The high-yield topics of the MCAT can be identified through The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). You can also purchase their practice tests for extra preparation. It’s important to focus on main concepts within each high-yield topic. Understand it first before tackling the more complex and deeper versions. It’s crucial to practice and keep up with a constant study schedule as mentioned before. Overall, the MCAT is an extremely difficult exam, however when you put effort, a great score is definitely achievable.