Skip to main content
AUC Med Logo

Mobile Main Nav

  • About AUC
    • Why AUC
      • Residency Outcomes
      • Accreditations & Approvals
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Facts & Figures
    • Our Locations
      • St. Maarten Campus
      • UK Track
    • About
      • Request Information
      • Blog
      • Viewbook & Factsheets
      • Meet Our Faculty & Staff
      • Medical School Guides and Resources
  • MD Program
    • MD Program
      • Medical Sciences Curriculum
      • Clinical Sciences
      • Hospital Teaching Sites
      • USMLE Preparation
      • Academic Calendar
    • Student Support Services
      • OFFICE OF CAREER ADVISEMENT
      • Class Profiles
    • UK Track
    • Medical Education Readiness Program
  • Admissions
    • Admissions
      • Admissions Requirements
      • MCAT Information
      • Admissions Assessment
    • Information For...
      • Transfer Students
      • Career Changers
      • International Applicants
      • Canadian Student Applicants
      • Premed Advisors
    • Tuition & Aid
      • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Scholarships
    • How to Apply
      • Start Your Application
      • Continue Your Application
      • Submit Your AMCAS Application
      • Submit Your AACOMAS Application
      • Submit Your TMDSAS Application
  • Student Life
    • About St. Maarten
      • Safety & Security
      • Health & Wellness
      • Virtual Tour
      • Clubs and Organizations
      • Housing
      • Spouses Organization and Families
    • COVID-19 Response
  • News & Events
    • Alumni News
    • Events
    • On-demand Webinars
    • News & Publications
    • Blog
  • Alumni
  • Faculty
  • Students
  • Parents
  • Careers

Secondary Mobile Menu

  • Request Info
  • Apply Now

Social Media Navigation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Call
  • Request Info
  • Apply Now
  • Alumni
  • Faculty
  • Students
  • Parents
  • Careers

Utility Navigation

  • REQUEST INFO
AUC Med Logo
  • About AUC
    • ABOUT AUC

      Our medical school offers a collaborative learning environment that features a multitude of student organizations, small class sizes, international training opportunities, and a team-based learning culture.

      VIEWBOOK & FACTSHEETS

      • Why AUC
      • Residency Outcomes
      • Accreditations & Approvals
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Facts & Figures
      • Our Locations
      • St. Maarten Campus
      • UK Track
      • About
      • Request Information
      • Blog
      • Viewbook & Factsheets
      • Meet Our Faculty & Staff
      • Medical School Guides and Resources
  • MD Program
    • MD PROGRAM

      A US-modeled curriculum designed to prepare you for practice in the US, Canada, and beyond.

      Learn More

      • MD Program
      • Medical Sciences Curriculum
      • Clinical Sciences
      • Hospital Teaching Sites
      • USMLE Preparation
      • Academic Calendar
      • Student Support Services
      • OFFICE OF CAREER ADVISEMENT
      • Class Profiles
      • UK Track
      • Medical Education Readiness Program
  • Admissions
    • ADMISSIONS

      Our medical school admissions team is eager to assist you as you embark on your journey to become a physician. Our goal is to provide you with all of the information and guidance you need to explore AUC as a medical school option.

      Take the Admissions Assessment

      • Admissions
      • Admissions Requirements
      • MCAT Information
      • Admissions Assessment
      • Information For...
      • Transfer Students
      • Career Changers
      • International Applicants
      • Canadian Student Applicants
      • Premed Advisors
      • Tuition & Aid
      • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Scholarships
      • How to Apply
      • Start Your Application
      • Continue Your Application
      • Submit Your AMCAS Application
      • Submit Your AACOMAS Application
      • Submit Your TMDSAS Application
  • Student Life
    • STUDENT LIFE

      Learn what it's like to be a student at AUC, including living in St. Maarten, opportunities for community involvement, and clubs and organizations.

      TAKE THE VIRTUAL TOUR

      • About St. Maarten
      • Safety & Security
      • Health & Wellness
      • Virtual Tour
      • Clubs and Organizations
      • Housing
      • Spouses Organization and Families
      • COVID-19 Response
  • News & Events
    • DISCOVER AUC

      From our alumni news, to informative blogs, and virtual tour, discover all that AUC offers.

      Learn More
      • Alumni News
      • Events
      • On-demand Webinars
      • News & Publications
      • Blog

Main Navigation Apply Now

  • Apply Now
    • Start Your Application
    • Submit Your AMCAS Application
    • Submit Your AACOMAS Application
    • Submit your TMDSAS Application
    • Continue Your Application
Pattern Two
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Medical School Tips & Resources

Share

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • email

Breadcrumb

  1. About Us
  2. Blog
  3. MCAT Test Prep: 5 Tips on How to Study for the MCAT

MCAT PREP: 5 Tips on Preparing for the MCAT

You’ve known you want to be a doctor for a long time and have been studying for years with an eye on practicing medicine. Your decision is made and now it’s time to prepare for your Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Like most pre-medical students, you have heard about the difficulty and significance of the MCAT test, and you may be wondering how to prepare for the MCAT.

There’s no right or wrong way to approach MCAT prep. If you spend ample time on MCAT prep, getting a competitive score is within your reach, says Julio Sierra III, Associate Director of Admissions, Eastern U.S. and Puerto Rico for American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC). Sierra, who reviews applications and extends admission offers to hundreds of students annually, recently shared several tips on preparing for the MCAT.

HOW TO STUDY FOR THE MCAT

1.  Understand the MCAT
The first step is to understand what the MCAT is, says Sierra. The MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice, computer-based test that has been a part of the medical school admissions process for more than 90 years, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). Nearly all medical schools in the United States and several in Canada require MCAT scores, and many schools and graduate programs now accept MCAT scores in lieu of other standardized tests. The MCAT exam tests you on the skills and knowledge that medical educators, physicians, medical students and residents have identified as key prerequisites for success in medical school and practicing medicine.

2. Be thoughtful about your undergraduate course selection
Many pre-med students think they should cram in science classes, and take multiple science classes in one semester. It’s good to major in a field that relates to the kind of doctor you want to become, but it’s also important not to overload yourself on one subject. Preparing for the MCAT includes having a well-rounded undergraduate education. You should have a broad education and include the humanities, accounting, psychology, and literature, which will help you with MCAT prep in the four core test sections. They include:

  • 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

As you take these science courses, practice applying the concepts you’re learning—you can start by using the challenge questions often included at the end of your textbook chapters.

3. Start your MCAT test prep early
When should you start preparing for the MCAT? The answer depends on the strength of your MCAT study skills, but the AAMC recommends that the average pre-med student spend between 300 and 350 hours over several months on MCAT prep. Remember the rule of three (months) - the general rule of thumb is that you’ll need to dedicate about three months studying for the MCAT. 

It is important to start your MCAT prep well in advance, which will give you plenty of time to master the core concepts. While you may have scored favorably on standardized tests for undergraduate admission—the American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)—the MCAT is a totally different challenge.

4. Find a study schedule and routine that works for you
As you wonder how to start studying for the MCAT, remember to keep your learning style at the forefront. Everyone has a different study routine for MCAT test prep—from flashcards to concept maps to study groups—but the most important thing is to gain a deep understanding of concepts you may be tested on so that you can apply that knowledge. Memorization won’t work. Comprehension is truly the name of the MCAT prep game. Make sure to also schedule time to review content you’ve already studied to continue to reinforce these topics over time. Creating a study plan schedule can help you maximize your time, and stay on track for your test date.

When preparing for the MCAT, make sure you also get the support you need—from a study partner or group, an online forum, or a trusted professor or advisor, all of whom might be able to help you better understand a concept that’s just not sticking.

5.  Take MCAT practice tests often
Once you’ve got a firm grasp on the concepts, start to look at MCAT practice exams and questions. Practice problems are a great way to determine if you are ready to sit for the test. You should also take full-length practice exams to ensure you have the stamina for the actual test day. When you take your practice tests, try to mimic the testing environment as much as possible. For example, if you plan on taking the MCAT at 8 am on test day, take your practice exam at 8 am, too.

The AAMC offers a number of planning and MCAT study guides, including a free official MCAT prep sample test.

Beyond these MCAT prep tips, the normal rules of a big exam apply: eliminate distractions, don’t cram the night before, get a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, and consider doing a practice run to the test site so you’re comfortable with the route and not surprised by the parking situation. Remember that there is no one best way to study for the MCAT. Try out various methods and see which ones work for you. You’ve got this!

ADDITIONAL MCAT TEST PREP RESOURCES:

  • MCAT FAQs
    MCAT Test Sections
    Four MCAT Tips from AUC Admissions

Related Blogs

Blog
AUC student studying in library
How to write a personal statement for medical school
What is a personal statement for medical school? Write a Medical School Personal Statement with Real Impact
Blog
AUC students sitting together at table
Tips for Parents of Med School Applicants

You always receive an amusing answer when you ask a child, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” 

Blog
students studying
10 Tips on How to Study for Medical School
Becoming a doctor definitely has its challenges, but there are ways to overcome them. Read on to discover the tips on how to study for medical school.
Top
AUC Med Logo

Footer Social Media Navigation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Careers
  • Student Email
  • Colleague Email
  • Contact
  • Sitemap

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

10315 USA TODAY WAY,
MIRAMAR, FLORIDA, 33025.
PHONE: 305-446-0600

TOLL-FREE: 866-DR2B-AUC
(866-372-2282)
FAX: 305-444-6791

ST. MAARTEN CAMPUS

1 UNIVERSITY DRIVE AT JORDAN ROAD, CUPECOY, ST. MAARTEN

PHONE: +1 721-545-2298

FAX: +1 721-545-2440

PRESTON, UK PROGRAM SITE

VERNON BUILDING ROOM 64, SIZER STREET PRESTON, LANCASHIRE PR1 1JQ

PHONE: +1 721-545-2298

FAX: +305-444-2440

American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM, www.accredmed.org), which is the accreditor used by the country of St. Maarten.

 

© 2023 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.   
Privacy Policy | Student Consumer Information | Online Cookie Policy | Accessibility | Catalog and Student Handbook | Office of Equity and Access

 

  • Call
  • Chat
  • Request Info
  • Apply Now
  • Alumni
  • Faculty
  • Students
  • Parents
  • Careers
  • "Chat Now"