Should I take a full length MCAT before I start studying?

We've hammered this point home a few times now, but it's worth repeating one last time in closing: you absolutely must take a full length MCAT diagnostic test before starting your exam preparation. And not just any practice exam!

When should I take my last full length before MCAT?

Two Weeks Before the MCAT

Plan on taking at least one, and no more than three, full-length practice MCAT exams during this time period. You should not take a full-length test in the three days leading up to your real MCAT. (That would be like running a practice marathon three days before running the real race.)

How long should you start studying before the MCAT?

Believe it or not, most students who do well on the MCAT spend between 200 and 300 hours preparing for the exam. When you start your prep will be determined by your test date and by what other work and academic commitments you have—usually 3 to 6 months before your exam.

When should you take your first MCAT practice exam?

Don't make the mistake of waiting too long to take your first test. As your test gets closer—about six weeks out—begin taking a full-length practice test every week. Start with third-party tests and save the AAMC practice tests for closest to your test date.

Should you take a practice MCAT before studying reddit?

AAMC recommends taking one of their practice full-length exams before even starting to study to see where you are at.

Watch this BEFORE you start studying for the MCAT.

Should I take the MCAT if I'm not ready?

I've had several discussions with students and we've pushed back their application year because they're not ready to take the MCAT. So don't rush your application just because you need to take the MCAT by this certain time. Again, take the MCAT when you're ready.

What is a good MCAT score before studying?

The average MCAT score is approximately 500 and most students in North America are hoping to score 510 or better to be competitive for most medical schools.

How many full length Mcats should I take?

The AAMC currently has four full-lengths available for purchase. Virtually all sources recommend taking more, but exactly how many can vary substantially. In general, it's best to take somewhere between 5 and 10 full-length exams, including the official AAMC exams and then additional representative MCAT full-lengths.

Can I take the MCAT for fun?

MCAT Eligibility

Interested test takers that have no desire to apply for a health professions schools or current medical students are not eligible to take the MCAT. However, they may request what is called “special permission” from the AAMC to take the test.

How many times can you take the MCAT before it looks bad?

First, assess your situation to determine if you actually need a higher score. Next, consider the energy you have and whether or not you have sufficient time to dedicate to studying all over again. Lastly, consider how many times you've already taken the MCAT. We recommend not taking the test more than three times.

Is studying 4 hours a day enough for MCAT?

You should aim to study for at least 300 hours for the exam. In other words, if you study for 3 months (~90 days), you should average a little over 3 hours each day. Be sure to select your test date carefully.

Is 200 hours enough to study for MCAT?

In total, you should aim for at least 200 to 300 hours of MCAT study time. You should plan to spend even more time studying if you last covered the material a while ago, or if you have a particular area of weakness.

Is 2 months full time enough to study for MCAT?

For most students, two months is not enough time to spend studying for the MCAT. As the official MCAT prep of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), Kaplan recommends that you spend 300-350 hours studying so you can earn a good MCAT score.

Should you drink caffeine before MCAT?

If you're used to 1-2 cups of coffee during the day or worse, sipping throughout the day, consider something like this: Non-sugary coffee to go. (It'll survive in your locker for a few hours.) Drink a half or full cup before your exam.

Is 9 months too long to study for MCAT?

We recommend having no more than 6 months to prepare for the test, because any longer may result in you forgetting everything you learn at the onset of your preparations. Plus, remember that MCAT prep is very challenging and time-consuming.

Does taking the MCAT more than once look bad?

Retaking the MCAT isn't a red flag, and even three attempts may not impact your admissions decision, although we recommend performing your best on the first two tests.

Is MCAT harder than practice?

There is a lot of debate on this topic and it largely depends on who you ask. Some students find the AAMC practice exams to be more difficult than the actual MCAT, while others find them to be a good predictor of what they will see on the test day.

What is the hardest subject in MCAT?

The two sections that students typically have the most difficulty with on the exam is either Chem/Phys or CARS. This, of course, depends on the student.

Is MCAT all memorization?

Yes, the MCAT involves a lot of memorization. Subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology require memorizing important details and principles.

How common is a 528 MCAT?

According to the AAMC, out of the approximately two hundred thousand students who take the exam each year, between 30 and 70 achieve the highest score of 528 on the MCAT.

Is 120 days enough for MCAT?

There are so many factors that go into deciding how long to spend studying for the MCAT. You want to give yourself enough time that you're well prepared, but you don't want to spend so long in the depths of MCAT world that you burn out. Studying for anywhere from 3 to 6 months is fairly typical.

Should I take MCAT full length every week?

A Good Number

Remember, these tests will take the full day to complete, so it's advised you only complete one or two a week to prevent burnout. For students studying for two to three months, taking one full-length test a week will allow them to meet this target.

Is a 480 bad on the MCAT?

Attaining a score of 480 on the MCAT means you performed in the 3% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 120 (C/P) 118 (CARS) 121 (B/B) 121 (P/S).

Has anyone gotten a 528 on the MCAT?

Since this method is not perfect, we'll leave you with a range; between 30 and 70 students every year achieve a perfect 528 MCAT. This is out of the nearly three hundred thousand students who take the exam. Thus, achieving a perfect MCAT score is quite difficult, but it is not impossible.