Which MCAT prep book is best?

The best MCAT prep books generally come from Kaplan, The Princeton Review (TPR), and Examkrackers (EK), with Kaplan often praised for comprehensiveness, EK for conciseness in sciences, and TBR for challenging passages. UWorld also offers strong digital resources with engaging visuals, while the consensus emphasizes using one core set (Kaplan or EK) for foundational knowledge and supplementing heavily with official AAMC materials and practice.

Which MCAT prep book is the best?

What is the most effective MCAT prep book in 2026? Kaplan's MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review remains a top choice for its combination of thorough content coverage, realistic practice questions and online resources.

Which MCAT prep is most effective?

The best MCAT prep depends on your learning style, but Kaplan is often rated #1 overall for comprehensive support and live classes, Blueprint excels in video lessons for visual learners, and UWorld is top-tier for practice questions and realistic AAMC-style Qbanks, with Magoosh offering great value. The essential tool is the official AAMC Question Bank and practice exams, supplemented by these popular providers, with Princeton Review also strong for books and content review. 

What is the best resource for MCAT prep?

The best MCAT study resources combine AAMC official materials (essential practice) with high-quality third-party books (Kaplan, Blueprint, Princeton Review) for content, and platforms like UWorld, Anki, and Khan Academy for practice questions, detailed explanations, and spaced repetition, with Jack Westin offering daily CARS practice. Top choices often include AAMC question packs/full-lengths, UWorld Qbank, Kaplan/Blueprint books for content, and Anki decks (like MilesDown or Aidan) for efficient review, tailored to your learning style. 

How to get a 520+ on the MCAT?

To get a 520 on the MCAT, you need a strategic, high-volume approach focusing on intensive content mastery, massive practice question volume (UWorld, AAMC), rigorous review of mistakes, and dedicated AAMC material usage in the final weeks, combined with a disciplined schedule, strong self-awareness to target weak areas, and efficient use of tools like Anki. Success hinges on understanding why you miss questions and diligently fixing those gaps, not just taking tests. 

Spine Surgeon Takes the MCAT. Here's how it went.....

Is 512 MCAT too low?

No, a 512 MCAT score is not bad; it's a strong, competitive score, generally around the 84th percentile, meaning you scored better than most test-takers and are competitive for many MD programs, with averages often around 511-512 for admitted students, though higher scores (515+) boost chances for top-tier schools. It's a solid score that allows for broad applications, but consider your overall profile (GPA, experiences) and target schools, as very selective programs may prefer scores above 515. 

Is 1 month enough to study for MCAT?

12 weeks, or about 3 months, is a good standard to keep in mind when developing your MCAT study schedule. Studying 25 hours per week over the course of 12 weeks will get you to 300 hours of study time. This is the minimum amount of time that we recommend, assuming, of course, that you study wisely.

Is Kaplan or Khan Academy better for MCAT?

Khan Academy is the gold standard because the AAMC paid Khan Academy to make the only official prep videos. Khan Academy, therefore, had insider access to all the AAMC material.

What score is 75% on MCAT?

A 75th percentile MCAT score means you scored better than 75% of test-takers, which generally translates to a total score around 508-509, placing you in a competitive range for many medical schools, with specific scores varying slightly by year and data source. While not elite, it's a strong indicator of preparedness, often requiring section scores in the 127-129 range, and makes you a solid candidate for many programs, especially when combined with a strong GPA and other application elements. 

What is the hardest topic on the MCAT?

Hardest MCAT Questions and How to Tackle Them

• Biology & Biochemistry: Mechanisms of Enzyme Action.
• Physics: Forces and Motion.
• Psychology/Sociology: Social Theories and Behavior.
• Chemistry: Equilibrium and Le Chatelier's Principle.
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

What is 90% correct on MCAT?

Getting 90% correct on the MCAT isn't a fixed score but roughly translates to a high 120s to low 130s per section, placing you in the 90th percentile (around 515 total score), making you a very strong candidate, though scores vary by section difficulty and question weighting, with 5-10 wrong often being a 128-130 range in practice tests. A 90% accuracy means around 5-10 wrong answers out of ~53 questions in a section, but precise conversions depend on the test's equating. 

What is Kaplan known for?

Kaplan is globally known for providing a wide range of educational services, primarily test preparation (SAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, etc.), professional licensing exam prep, language training, and degree programs, helping students and professionals achieve academic and career goals through online, on-site, and self-study options for over 80 years.
 

Has anyone ever gotten a 528 on the MCAT?

Yes, people have achieved a perfect score of 528 on the MCAT, the highest possible score, though it is extremely rare and represents the 100th percentile, making the test-taker a highly competitive applicant for any medical school. Many individuals who have scored a 528 share their strategies online, emphasizing rigorous study schedules, extensive practice with AAMC materials, building strong content knowledge, and developing critical thinking skills through tutoring or teaching. 

Which MCAT prep is the best?

The best MCAT prep depends on your learning style, but Kaplan is often rated #1 overall for comprehensive support and live classes, Blueprint excels in video lessons for visual learners, and UWorld is top-tier for practice questions and realistic AAMC-style Qbanks, with Magoosh offering great value. The essential tool is the official AAMC Question Bank and practice exams, supplemented by these popular providers, with Princeton Review also strong for books and content review. 

What is a 78% on the MCAT?

A 78% on the MCAT generally translates to a total score of 510, placing you in the 78th percentile, meaning you scored better than 78% of test-takers, which is a strong, competitive score for many medical schools, often above average for MD programs. While not in the highest tiers (like 90th percentile+), it's a very solid score that makes you competitive, especially when combined with a strong GPA and experiences. 

How many hours should one study for MCAT?

Depending on your baseline score on a diagnostic test, you should plan on studying for 300-500 hours to be prepared for the MCAT. These study hours can occur over a small number of long days or spread over the course of a 6-month MCAT study schedule.

What is a good MCAT score in Canada?

There are 2 answers to this question. Answer #1: in most recent medical school application cycles, a score of 510-511 and above would be considered a good MCAT score. A good MCAT score would not have any section scores below 127. Anything above 520 is exceptional.

Can I get into med school with a 507 MCAT?

Whilst it's certainly possible to get into a medical school with a 507 or below (and there have been cases of students accepted with sub-500 scores), it's unlikely – especially if you're applying for a more competitive college. In general, it's difficult to get accepted with an MCAT score below 500.

How many questions can you miss on MCAT to get 520?

To get a 520 on the MCAT, you generally need to miss very few questions, often only a handful in total, aiming for around 128-130 per section (out of 132), which means getting maybe 1-3 wrong in some sections and a few more in others, as scoring is percentile-based and depends on test difficulty, but you must be in the top few percentiles overall. While a perfect score (528) might allow for a few missed questions, a 520 requires near perfection, potentially missing only 5-10 questions across the entire exam, or even just a couple per section on easier tests, say Reddit users. 

Is Kaplan harder than actual MCAT?

Yes, Kaplan practice tests are generally considered harder than the real MCAT, often focusing more on detailed content knowledge and lower-yield facts, leading to deflated scores that are typically 5-10 points below actual AAMC performance, making them great for identifying content gaps but poor predictors of your real score. The official AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) materials, in contrast, better reflect the real exam's emphasis on critical thinking and reasoning, so your score usually jumps significantly on official tests. 

Is Khan Academy removing MCAT?

We are happy to announce that Khan Academy will continue the MCAT course until 2026 with the support of the Association of American Medical Colleges!

What is the best book for MCAT prep?

The best MCAT prep books often come from Kaplan, Princeton Review (TPR), and Examkrackers (EK), with Kaplan and TPR offering comprehensive sets, while EK is known for conciseness; The Berkeley Review (TBR) is praised for detailed passages but might be too in-depth for some. AAMC Official Prep materials are essential for practice tests, and free resources like Khan Academy are great for foundational science review. 

What month is the easiest MCAT?

Our average examinee score is highest in January (515.5) and lowest in May (511.4). January has been our most popular month (28% of examinees) and August testers achieve the largest ratio of very high scores (28% achieved a 520+). Trying to manage MCAT during the semester is definitely challenging.

How much does MCAT prep cost?

Estimated prep costs:

Self-paced prep materials (books, videos, question banks): $100–$500. Live or online MCAT prep courses: $1,000–$5,000+ Private MCAT tutoring: $50–$200/hour. Full-length practice tests (AAMC): $35/test or $350 bundle.

Is 491 a bad MCAT score?

Yes, a 491 is generally considered a low MCAT score, placing you in the lower percentiles (around the 20th percentile) and significantly below the average (around 500-501) and competitive scores (511+) for most MD programs, making admission difficult but not impossible, especially for DO or Caribbean schools with lower averages, or if balanced with a stellar GPA/experiences, though a retake is often recommended for better MD chances.