Congratulations on getting started on your MCAT preparation. Planning out the next six months to best maximize your time and not fall into the trap of procrastination is going to be key in your success on the MCAT. Even with six months to prepare, you will need to put aside a good chunk of study each week to attain a competitive score on the MCAT. Let’s take a look at how the next six months should shape up for you.
First thing to consider is that this is a long term plan. Since you are just starting out, now is not the time to jump into taking Full Length exams – don’t worry, that will come soon enough. As we think about the next six months, we should think about the big picture first. In the early months you are going to want to spend more time reviewing content (with a little practice) and slowly, and consistently, ramp up to spending more time practicing (with a little content review). The MCAT does not solely reward you for your content knowledge – it rewards your ability to apply the content, and that is what differentiates test takers from each other.
Before you get started, you’ll need to gather together your study materials. Here is our recommended list:
Before you register for the MCAT, you’ll be required to review the official information in the Essentials Guide. You’ll learn about test logistics, content, and timing. If you’re just beginning your MCAT prep, this is a great place to start.
The MCAT offers four full-length practice tests for purchase online.
The AAMC website offers two different packages of practice questions. The first is the Official MCAT Section Bank, which includes 300 practice questions in section packs of natural sciences, behavioral sciences, and social sciences. The second is the Official MCAT Question Pack, which has passages and questions from old MCAT tests covering Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS).
With Kaplan’s MCAT books, you not only get the printed resources that cover the subject matter from all the test sections but also access to three full-length practice tests online and additional science videos. The book set is worthwhile for these tests alone, since they provide realistic practice that includes scaled scores and percentiles for each section as well as detailed explanations for every question.
- Online calendar
Online calendars are helpful for keeping track of and being able to access your personal MCAT study plan from anywhere. And, you can stay accountable by sharing your calendar with others so they know your schedule and can help you stay on track .
If the idea of studying for the MCAT on your own is stressful, consider taking an MCAT prep class. Both our Online Course and DIY prep are offered, and both teach you the strategies and skills you’ll need to score well on the MCAT. The course’s study plan will help you decide what to study, when to take practice tests, and how to perform your best on Test Day.
MONTH 1:
Now that you have your materials, it’s time to assess your strengths and weaknesses. The best way to do this is to take a diagnostic MCAT. This way you can build out a strategic attack for the next six month. After taking your diagnostic, you will want to build out a “Why I Missed It” sheet, that tracks your performance on that first exam, and one that you will want to continue to add to over the course of your studies. Here is a sample with instructions.
Sample “Why I Missed It” Sheet
As you review your practice, it helps to track the questions you have missed so you can quickly identify content gaps or patterned behavior for remediation. The more practice you complete, the more apparent your areas of opportunity will become, so you can target your ongoing content review and skills development on the activities that will boost your score the most.
| Exam | Section | Question # | Passage Based? | Content/Type | Why I missed it? |
| EXAMPLE: Kaplan Full-Length #1 | Chem/Phys | 5 | Yes | Carbohydrates | Didn’t know the content |
If you are already feeling overwhelmed, now might be the time to check our comprehensive MCAT program, as it is designed to give you the most personalized study experience for your MCAT preparation.
In the first month, you will also want to start building out your MCAT study schedule. Ideally, you will want to map out each week, with a variety of topics covered, this way you are spreading out your content review and practice.
Here is a recommended schedule:
| SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY | SATURDAY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, Biochemistry, and CARS | General Chemistry and CARS | Organic Chemistry and CARS | Physics and CARS | Psychology and Sociology and CARS | Revisit problem areas and modify Study Plan | Day off |
MONTH 2:
In your second month, you will want to continue your content review, but begin to incorporate a little more practice – remember, the more you practice, the better you will retain the content and the more second nature it will become for you.
EXPERT TEST TIP
Tyler Fara, Manager of Content and Instructional Design, MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT
“Think of the MCAT as an opportunity. We’ve all struggled with certain topics in chemistry, physics, biology and so on. But you’re older now, you’ve seen other sciences and more advanced classes, and you’re a better student today than you were before. As you study for this test, there are going to be so many moments where you think, “I finally understand this topic! It finally makes sense!” Seek those moments out. Don’t shy away from a topic just because it challenged you previously. This test is your opportunity to overcome those prior obstacles.”
MONTH 3:
Your primary goal for this month is to complete your initial content review. Of course you’ll review content as you progress, but you want the bulk to be completed now, so you are only revisiting topics as necessary in the future as opposed to trying to cram content review in at the last minute. You will want to incorporate even more practice, pivoting to longer quizzes that target some of your weaker areas. If there is science content that is still weak, be sure to brush up on it now, so you have plenty of time to practice with it as you move towards test day. At the end of this month, you will want to take your first Full-length exam, but even more importantly, you will want to schedule at three days to review your full-length (and track it on your Why I Missed It Sheet). In reviewing the first full-length, you will uncover your areas of opportunity, and that is where you are going to want to pivot to next.
MONTH 4:
At the beginning of this month, you will want to start to take section length exams, followed by another full-length in the middle of the month to continue building your critical thinking and test taking skills. You will want to review this new full-length exam to further identify where you should place your focus. All the while practicing in your areas of opportunity will continue to build your overall MCAT test taking skills.
MONTH 5:
This month is going to look a lot like month 4, but now you are going to be getting into a rhythm. You are going to want to start taking one full-length exam at least every 10 days (or take one per week if you want to get more in before test day), and continuing reviewing the full-lengths to hone in on your areas of opportunity, and follow that up with practice.
MONTH 6:
The MCAT is right around the corner – this is the home stretch. You will want to take one full-length exam per week (or so) but no more than that so you have plenty of time to review them. This is also when you will want to adjust your sleeping patterns, so you are ready to wake up on time on test day! Continue to focus on your areas of opportunity, but don’t get bogged down in every single topic. Focus on the higher yield topics.
The last week is critical – ideally, your last full length exam will be on the same day of the week you are taking the actual MCAT, just a week earlier. Once again, start the week by taking and reviewing your practice test, looking over every question and using the results to modify your study plan if needed.
- Early in the week, take an AAMC Practice Test available from aamc.org. Set aside time to review the test.
- For your remaining few days, spend time reviewing the content areas that were your biggest opportunities on your last full-length test. If you’ve never truly mastered a topic, though, now is not the time to attempt to learn it. Instead, focus on the material that you struggled with the first time through but that you think you can master given just a little more time.
- If you have time, travel to the testing center first to ensure you know how to get to the correct building, where to park, and which room your test will be in. Having all these logistics out of the way will help reduce your stress on Test Day—and ensure you aren’t late!
- Take the day before the test completely off; your brain needs to rest before the marathon of test-taking to come! Eat healthy, balanced meals and get a full night of rest so you are mentally and physically prepared for Test Day. On the day of the MCAT, wake up with plenty of time to spare, and be sure to eat breakfast before leaving to give your brain the fuel it needs.
Sample last week calendar:
| SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY | SATURDAY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAMC Practice Test | Test Review and Study Planning for Final Week | Final Content Review | Final Content Review, Visit Test Center | Final Content Review | Day off | Test Day |
With this plan, you should be well on your way to Test Day success. While you’re preparing for the MCAT, it might seem like the end of your studying will never come. But it will, and thanks to your diligent preparation, you can feel confident walking into the test.