--

Step 1: Understanding Your Study Needs
Step 2: Evaluate and Choose Resources
Step 3: Tips for Success

--

Hi! I’m Nikita Kulkarni, a first-year medical student at Florida State University College of Medicine. Over the last few years, I’ve prepared for the MCAT twice. (I’ve taken the MCAT once and was preparing to retake it, but I got accepted before needing to.) This process can be overwhelming, especially in the new age of limitless resources. I’ll be sharing some lessons I’ve learned and some helpful tips to navigate the unlimited options when it comes to MCAT.

The MCAT is a multiple-choice entrance exam for medical school, where you’re tested on your comprehension and application of the following undergraduate subjects: Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, Psychology and Sociology. It’s split into four sections: 

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (59 questions) 
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (53 questions) 
• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (59 questions) 
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (59 questions) 

Each section is scored from 118 to 132, with a total score ranging from 472 to 528. The test is 7.5 hours long, with three optional breaks (ranging from 10-30 mins). Students spend about 3-6 months preparing for the MCAT.

Step 1: Understanding Your Study Needs

Consider Your Timeline

To select the right resources, it’s important to have a clear idea of how long you plan to prepare for the MCAT. Nowadays, many platforms offer MCAT study programs of different durations, which accommodate most study schedules. Typically students opt for 3 months to 6 months, sometimes even out to a year. While not a hard and fast rule, a helpful guideline would be to practice some version of the 1:2 ratio of content to practice questions.

Here's a breakdown of what to think about for both a 3 and 6 month study schedule.

Identify Your Learning Style

Another important aspect would be to identify your learning style, as different resources cater to different learning habits and styles. For example, some paid prep courses offer weekly live lessons on different content topics and test-taking strategies while others offer a pre-recorded lecture-style online course. If you decide to pay for a prep course, it’s crucial to do your research, as these courses can be anywhere from $400 to $5,000 or even more.

Here’s a quick breakdown of recommended resource pairings based on your learning style:

Set Your Budget

The entire pre-med to med process can be costly. To keep costs low, use a balanced mix of AAMC materials, free resources, and optional paid resources if needed. At the very least, AAMC’s material is the one paid resource I would emphasize purchasing because that’s the closest you can get to the actual exam. If cost is a barrier, look into AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program, which you can learn more about here.

Prep courses can be significantly pricey, but they can give you value in convenience, organization, and time. There’s some assurance that you’re reviewing a reasonable amount of high-yield material—granted you stay on track with what they provide. 

When I studied for the MCAT for the first time, I was balancing coursework, so I was looking for a resource with more guidance and structure. Blueprint was easy to stick to the schedule the program designed on the days I had time. It provided the option to restructure the schedule to accommodate for changes. 

On my second MCAT run-through, I had more time to develop and curate resources, so I set forth to study without a prep course. Since I had a general idea of how to divide all the content up, I looked for different ways to revisit the same material. 

For those trying a low-cost method for prep, begin with second-hand prep books. I used a set of older edition Kaplan books for my content review. Similarly, I’ve seen many sets on Facebook Marketplace and ThriftBooks (with each book as low as $4!). When I was engaged in content review, I would reinforce the material with free questions from Jack Westin, and pre-made publicly available Anki cards.

Step 2: Evaluate and Choose Resources

Choosing Your Resources

When organizing your study resources, you want to prioritize these three:

The more time you have, the more resources you can utilize. A good starting point is selecting a source for your content review. Ultimately, my choice of resources depended on the context in which I was studying. The first time I was preparing for the MCAT, I set aside a summer during my undergrad (while also balancing a physics course). With this in mind, I was looking for a prep course that was self-paced, as I was still taking classes.

Active Recall and Spaced Repetition

Along with building a comprehensive foundation on the MCAT, you want to reinforce concepts with active recall. Active recall and spaced repetition have been empirically proven to lead to better results, especially in academics (Xu et al.). This could look like spaced flashcards, self-quizzing, teaching back what you learn, and taking practice tests. You can also use AI as a study buddy, as it can create practice questions, as well as act like a sounding board for teaching concepts back to you. 

With more time, you also have the advantage of using spaced repetition to reinforce your long-term memory. I used Anki, where I used a premade MCAT deck and practiced spaced repetition and active recall with daily flashcards. Sketchy partnered with Anki to make a comprehensive MCAT deck that you can download here for free. 

Pros and Cons of Different Resources

Using Free Trial and Testing Resources

If you’re considering using paid MCAT resources, take advantage of the free trials first. I’ve found that usually a week is enough time to gauge how well I connect with a resource. 

When prepping for the MCAT the first time, I tried a few different resources—developing an independent study plan, and looking into live-lecture prep courses—before deciding on Blueprint. Ultimately, Blueprint’s adaptable schedule and self-paced course felt like a good fit for me. Likewise, the second time around, I tried Sketchy for about two days for the MCAT and realized it was worth it, and I still use it now as an M1.

I built a daily routine that kept me on track with my prep and left room for breaks so that I was able to stay motivated. My advice is this: Before starting MCAT prep—whether it’s your first, second, or nth time—take ample time to reflect on what factors you need to prioritize as you study. Use these insights to help you choose resources that test your weak points and cater to your learning strengths.

Step 3: Tips for Success

Curating Your Resources

At the end of the day, there is no set number for the “right” amount of resources to use. It’s important to remember that you have a balanced mix of practice, content, and assessment in your study plan. Start early, stay consistent, and don’t be afraid to seek guidance from your university advisors or online forums. Above all, make sure to use the AAMC Official Prep materials. 

When I prepared, I used what was the best fit for me. For my first round of studying for the MCAT, I used: Blueprint, AAMC, Anki, and UWorld. For the second time, I used: Khan Academy, AAMC, Kaplan, Anki, and UWorld. Both sets of resources were curated to my circumstances, strengths, weaknesses, and preferences at the time and helped create a solid foundation for test taking.

Reflecting on Your Needs

Before beginning my second round of MCAT prep, I took careful stock of what I needed to focus on. I zeroed in on weak points in consistency and comprehension and realized that much of my weakness stemmed from not following the set schedule and being too lenient in shifting tasks around. Additionally, I spent too much time trying to memorize everything rather than focusing on truly understanding the material. With that in mind, I prioritized comprehension and stuck to my set schedule, even more so as I opted for independent study. 

Similarly, I encourage you to reflect on your own context and select the tools that will help you the most for MCAT prep. Utilize the free trials and free resources available to determine what clicks with you, and don’t be afraid to step outside of the box. If there’s a lesser-used resource out there that works well for you, go with it! 

Staying Disciplined

Lastly, even the best resources won’t make a difference without consistency and discipline. Establish a system of accountability to keep yourself motivated. The key to MCAT success lies at the intersection of self-discipline and using the right resources for you!

Xu J, Wu A, Filip C, Patel Z, Bernstein SR, Tanveer R, Syed H, Kotroczo T. Active recall strategies associated with academic achievement in young adults: A systematic review. J Affect Disord. 2024 Jun 1;354:191-198. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.010. Epub 2024 Mar 8. Erratum in: J Affect Disord. 2024 Sep 15;361:798. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.030. PMID: 38461899.