MCAT Test Preparation

Students are advised to get adequate sleep before the MCAT exam and avoid last minute cramming. Since the scores are calculated on the number of questions answered correctly, it is advantages to answer all the questions on the MCAT test. Taking educated guess on the questions that the student is not sure of the answer is encourages as there is no negative marking for wrong answers. Instead of wasting more time on the questions that the student finds difficult, the student can answer the questions that he finds easy first and then get back to the difficult questions on the remaining time. Some of the questions faced by the students are intended to confuse the student deliberately. Students should practice the elimination tactics while dealing with such questions.

While dealing with the passage questions students can read through the questions before going through the passage to understand what is expected out of the passage and then get back to the question part. It is very crucial that the student is careful while reading the questions and the answer choices provided to understand their exact meaning. Students are often advised to write down any relevant equation onto their paper, even if the question is of a theoretical nature, so that it will be helpful in determining the correct answer better than the answer given by the student. Since the most problem may require the student to do algebraic manipulation of equations and/or numerical calculations, students should tae care to keep in mind all variables in the equation and what they stand for and that equation is being used at the appropriate circumstance.

How much time to prepare:

Students should start practicing for the MCAT exam at least 3 months before the original test date. Spending about 20 to 40 hours should be adequate to train well for the MCAT. If the student is applying for the MCAT a few years after completing the medical school prerequisites they should spend extra three months in preparation to brush up on their fundamentals. Take several practice tests, in the original MCAT test version with adherence to the test timings is the best way to prepare for the MCAT. Students who feel that taking prep courses on basic science courses or enrolling into one of the many MCAT preparation courses available can do so to help themselves in the preparation process.