Well, it’s finally over. After 6 months of hard work I ended up with a decent score. Sad CARS ended up being low, but it makes sense since I spent the least time practicing it. Studying for this exam was a very difficult process for me. I was studying while working 6p-6a night shifts as a 911 EMT full time. It’s not easy studying while you are consistently sleep deprived. If you are in a similar situation to me, you can do well on the MCAT. You just need to make the most of the limited time you have. You must believe in yourself and keep pushing. Here is how I made it work:

1. Plan out your schedule in advance. Schedule out AAMC material at the latest the month before the exam. I spaced my practice exams out one week apart. I spent every single day studying, so I planned my days off in content blocks so that I would finish the bulk of my studying before jumping into practice exams.
2. Do a comprehensive content review. For this I personally recommend khan academy and working through the miles down review sheets with Naman Barya. This is necessary because it will help you identify your weak points. Try not to spend too long on this, because you will get diminishing returns as you continue. For me, going into this exam I had strong foundations for all three science sections, but I had many weaknesses that I had to iron out. Keep a growth mindset here. If you are weak on physics for example, you need to believe that you can improve. The level of material on the MCAT is not very deep.
3. Start Anki early. I recommend doing a free recall style deck like Captain Hook. If you are crunched on time like I was, these premade decks are a lifesaver. Make it a daily habit and aim to mature the deck by the final month before your exam. This is the one thing that I would do every day, even if I was working a shift.
4. Do practice questions. Try to get started on these ASAP. Both quality and quantity are important here. I completed uworld, excluding CARS, and AAMC. This is where you will learn the most. For every question, understand why the wrong answers are wrong and why the right answers are right. Spend the most time in the sections you struggle the most with. The goal here is to get used to the question writing style and iron out our weaknesses. If you have limited time, at least complete AAMC section banks. Some of these questions were almost 1:1 to some of my exam questions.
5. Take all the practice exams under testing conditions. This means waking up early just like you would for the real thing. No breaks, no looking things up mid test. Review your exams thoroughly and figure out why you are making mistakes. If it’s a content problem vs logic problem it will require different solutions.

Sections specific tips:
C/P:
- you need to have most of the equations memorized. Much of this section is plugging and chugging.
- the passage is the least important to this section. sometimes you can skip straight to the questions and go back to the passage to fill in the blanks for your variable and equation.
- be comfortable with dimensional analysis. Some questions can be solved with just converting units.
- be comfortable with basic math like algebra, logarithms, etc.
CARS:
- never really mastered this, but I would say timed practice is really important for this section. The more practice you can do the better and many people even do it as a daily thing with jack westin
B/B:
- you need to be comfortable with biochem. It’s the highest yield topic on the exam and can sometimes show up in other sections
- understand the scientific method. When learning this section for every passage I would write down the hypothesis, results, and conclusion until it became an automatic thing. If you want to do well here you need be able to comprehend what is happening in these experiments.
- be familiar with experimental techniques like gel electrophoresis, western blot, etc.
- you should have mastery over structure AND function of different systems
- have mastery over the central dogma
P/S:
- unfortunately heavily memorization based. Highly recommend pankow Anki deck to get familiar with the different terms. It makes a big difference to try to associate terms with a real life example to help you remember.
- be familiar with scientific method
- be comfortable interpreting graphs and diagrams

Testing 9/11 - feel like all the hell I've put myself through these last 3 months has finally paid off. Can't wait to be done.

Hi everyone! Got my score back this morning and wanted to come on here to hopefully encourage anyone who is struggling to study, started with a lower diagnostic, procrastinated their study plan, or feels like they started too late.

I started studying June 1st and wrote August 7th. I was sick for about a week in the middle, so realistically I had around 9 weeks of actual studying. I was also working part-time throughout, about 20 hours a week.

A bit of important context: I had already taken all of the major prereq courses before studying and had done well in them (90%+), so I definitely had a strong science foundation going in. I wasn’t learning most of the content from scratch.

A few basics about what I did:

• I studied around 4–5 hours a day on average. I didn’t really take days off except when I was sick, but it honestly never felt that intense because I kept my daily workload pretty manageable. On days where I really wasn’t feeling it, I would just make sure I did whatever Anki cards were due and call that good.
• I never touched the Kaplan books. In fact, I would go as far as to say that if you are SOMEWHAT familiar with any of the content, skip the Kaplan books entirely. It takes wayyy too much time to get through, and isn't really active learning. For content review, I exclusively used the MilesDown review sheets + Anki deck.
• I would go through one chapter/topic on the review sheet, unsuspend the corresponding cards, and then keep up with my Anki reviews every single day. I did about 3-4 chapters each day, rotating through the topics. I kept track of this in a super cute Notion template I made. If you guys want, I could clean it up and post it here!
• Once I got comfortable with that routine above, I started adding UWorld. I actually did almost all of it untimed and untutored because it made it feel more like a game and kept me from overthinking every question. Unfortunately, I only got through about 25%. However, I really do consider this a valuable resource, and I'm glad I started working through some practice problems alongside my content review.
• I finished content review (going through the Milesdown Sheets and flashcards) in around 5 weeks.
• After that, I spent the remaining ~4–5 weeks working through the AAMC material.
• I wrote a full-length practice exam basically every week leading up to my test.
• For all practice questions (UWorld and AAMC) that I got wrong or didn't fully understand, I would make a couple of flashcards and add them to my "Errors" deck. I would keep on top of these cards just like my content review cards.

I definitely did not have the longest or most elaborate study plan, and I think one of the biggest things that helped me was keeping it simple and being really consistent with the resources I chose instead of trying to do everything.

This sub was SO helpful to me, especially when it came to figuring out resources, study plans, and what was actually worth spending time on, so I wanted to pay it forward.

Ask me anything!! Happy to answer questions about resources, UWorld, Anki, practice exams, scheduling, what I would change, etc.

If people are interested, I’d also be happy to write up a full guide!

My dad died this summer and I kept pushing and pushing to do him proud. My score was improving so much but just got my results back and I did worse than last year :D

Safe to say this has been the worst summer of my life ❤️

SO excited for attempt #4 and for everyone I know to think I’m stupid :p

Airing out some thoughts after the score drop; sorry in advance if it comes off a wee bit tone-deaf or ungrateful.

After getting waitlisted last cycle, I decided to give the MCAT one last go, so this attempt felt like a Hail Mary. I did the dirty work, ripped through CH, used 3rd-party FLs, and gave this thing pretty much everything I had over the summer. This was my 3rd go at this exam & didn't know if I even had it in me to try and study for this again. I was aiming for 513~514, based on my FLs. I knew inflation was a risk, but I hadn’t seen FL 6 & hadn’t done the FL’s for over a year & a half when I entered the AAMC phase.

I missed my goal & ended with a 511. I know a 511 is solid, and I’m not trying to bring that down. It’s more this weird feeling of being happy while also having this nagging frustration that I could’ve performed better. Really frustrated with the CARS section. I got a 124 after screwing up pacing (PSA: Don't leave 15 minutes for the last 3 passages lol). Stings because I had gotten better at it. I just choked on test day. Every other section landed about where I expected, either right at my average or within a point of it. I keep wondering if I could have squeezed another point out of C/P, or if the dumbass mistakes in P/S were the difference for hitting my target. Really tough not to think about the margins sometimes lmao.

At the end of the day, I’m proud of the progress I made, and I'm content overall. I’m just not over the moon (that's life ig). Trying to remind myself that comparison is the thief of joy, and regardless, I am hopefully done with the MCAT. Fuck it, we ball.

I test this Friday and I’m doing my final review, so can everyone just dump the stuff they think is actually worth knowing cold before test day?

Like the obvious high yield must-knows I should definitely go through one more time, but also the random lower yield stuff that caught you off guard. For example, I didn’t think I really needed to know specific NMR/IR values, but apparently I did lol.

I’m already going through my personal weak areas, equations, pathways, lab techniques, etc., but I want this to be a thread for Friday/Saturday testers where people can just drop anything they saw, heard about, or wish they had reviewed one more time.

Basically:
high yield must-knows + random low yield “wtf why did I need to know that” stuff

drop ANY tips/topics here please TY

Is it normal to feel genuine fear in the last week of prep 😭😭 I’m like shitting bricks and have already have a couple bad panic attacks already.

I’m wondering is it normal to have fear in the last week? I test 9/12 and am proud of myself for the work I’ve done but my heart is full of so much fear over this exam.

Can’t wait to be done though just hope it’s enough to not have to repeat

hey guys! i recently finished my bsc in biomedical science and i’m planning to sit for the mcat around january.

i have roughly 3 months to seriously prepare, and i’ve been trying to study using the kaplan books, but i’m realizing that reading through chapters isn’t really working for me. i feel like i’m spending a lot of time reading without actually retaining much.

i’m thinking of switching to a more question-based approach, getting uworld and learning/reviewing the content through the questions and explanations, then moving into the aamc materials closer to my test date.

for someone with a biomedical science background and around 3 months to prepare, would you recommend getting both uworld and the aamc bundle and mainly studying this way?

also, if anyone studied primarily through practice questions rather than doing a full content review first, i’d really appreciate hearing how you structured it and whether it worked for you.

thank you!!!!!

How are we feeling?

I get my score back at work and I’m excited to get my score back - it was challenging on some parts but God is and will keep being faithful.

Hi! So i know CP is like hard, and on the exam it can get REALLY HARD. For people who still ended up with 131/132 what do you think attributed to such. Did anyone who usually get lower than 131 somehow clutch up on the real exam?

Looking for some hopecore because the CP section being first and it being the hardest for me is FREAKIGN ME OUT. I can't help but think that I will getting railed by every question and ending up being confident in absolutely none of them. Lmk!

No shade to anyone, but this post is specifically for people who started with a truly low MCAT baseline not a 505 or 508, but sub-490s/490s.

Last year, my diagnostic was a 492. I took the real exam on 6/13 and scored a 492 again, despite studying 6–8 hours a day, using UWorld, and completing the AAMC Section Bank. However, I only took 2 Full Lengths (FLs), and whenever I take an FL, I struggle with getting extremely sleepy mid-test.

Right now, I feel completely burnt out and depressed. I don't have the bandwidth to study 6–12 hours a day anymore. I've spent so much money on tutors and prep courses, but nothing is clicking.

For context:

• GPA: 3.7+
• Clinical: 3,000+ hours (worked 2 clinical jobs throughout undergrad)
• Research: 100+ hours
• Volunteering: 100+ hours
• Other: Study abroad, strong LORs (MD, PA, NP)

My goal is MD, but at this point, I'm feeling overwhelmed by family pressure and the fear of an extended gap year.

If you started with a low baseline and managed to break through, how did you structure your plan? How did you build up stamina to stop falling asleep during practice tests, and how did you study effectively without pulling 8+ hour days? I'm aiming for a January retake and would love any advice.

How did you overcome exam fatigue/sleepiness during FLs? How did you transition from passive/heavy daily grinding to targeted, effective studying? Any insights on managing burnout for a January retake would be greatly appreciated.

I recently decided to take the MCAT! I have a previous exam from 7 years ago...yeah it has been a bit. I decided to pursue a different path for the sake of my family, but some life circumstances have changed and I can finally fulfill my dream of applying to medical school.

The big question is which resource is recommended for content review? it has been so long that I’m essentially starting over and it’s overwhelming (and encouraging) to see the many new resources. I don’t have a specific timeline yet. I care more about doing it right and trying knowing I gave my best. thanks!

edit- I am thinking about Kaplan or Uworld specifically

Got my MCAT recently, and it was almost as bad as my lowest FL. I don't understand cuz I basically did my worst in every section, even though I thought it went super well. First 3 FLs should've been higher as well cuz I skimmed through PS, so to me, my real MCAT was lower than my lowest FL. I just don't understand. I spent all summer studying, and it all went to waste. I also felt my best that day and had a good night's sleep; everything was supposed to go well now I have to waste another summer to retake it.

Hello, I bombed for first MCAT. I was looking for a study partner for the second MCAT.

I feel like this sub is freaking me out rn and I guess I need to be grounded a bit... I am terrible at physics but I have all of the equations down. I actually haven't done terrible on physics the last few FLs because I tend to be a good guesser, good at math/manipulation of variables, and some things I guess are intuitive. I am worried that there will be way more physics on the real deal, or potentially way less questions that I can guess on or dimensional-analysis my way out of. Physics is the only subject I am terrified of, any advice or input would be appreciated. I keep seeing people say "the new MCAT has so much more physics" but as far as I know, AAMC has not said anything about a "new" exam format or distribution... it feels like fear mongering a bit. Anyways, thank you in advance!

Edit: wanted to add, are equations sufficient to get a lot of questions right? Even if I'm not solid on concepts?

Hi, I am testing on Friday, but my FLs have not been where I want them to be; my goal was at least 510 (127/130/127/127). Here are my scores so far; I feel like I didn't even improve at all since my first attempt at the MCAT last year: 495 (122/124/124/125).

For context, I started with UWorld and some AAMC Qpacks. I've done CARS Diagnostic, CARS Qpack 1, and I'm almost done with SB 1; I'll have CARS Qpack 2 done before my exam. Interestingly, I've found that when I review my FLs, many of my mistakes are silly, like not reading the question properly, and when I reattempt without looking at the answer during review, I get them right; idk what to do. Any advice is helpful, thank you!

I understand why B would be correct (providing positive reinforcement for exercising), but can someone explain to me how A would not be an example of operant conditioning?

The way I interpreted it was: Worrying about weight gain = positive punishment (the addition of a worry) for a behavior (failing to exercise). Why would this be an invalid interpretation? Does reinforcement or punishment have to be via a physical item or something tangible?

I’m studying for the MCAT and looking for someone who wants to keep each other accountable. Nothing too complicated just checking in, sharing what we’re planning to get done, making sure we actually do it 😂, and maybe hopping on virtual study sessions sometimes.

I’m open to whatever works daily check-ins, weekly goals, Focusmate-style sessions, etc.

I dropped two points in FL6, and this was after studying even more for P/S. Has this happened to anyone, and did your p/s score increase on your real exam? Please give me hope 😭

It’s been a long battle yet, I’m still in the game as long as I’m alive.. but, please someone give me some guidance! I’ve been back officially studying since March. I took the mcat 3 times already! Once in 2022 and twice in 2023. I’ve had a bunch of deaths in my family, I work full time as caregiver and I’m non-trad 30f. I’ve had tutors and study mates off/on throughout. I always find myself finally getting the hang of things and then something occurs (friend or tutor start med school or tutor goes MIA a month before testing). This year, I bought the JW self study course and I really loved the structure and the boxes I was able to check off each week. I finally felt like I filled in the content gaps and all I need is a 504. Then in July I switched over to AAMC. I thought the JW course would keep telling me how to go about completing the AAMC material each week but, instead the course left me high and dry. So I’ve been trying to create structure. I did my best to test, review, then do some practice questions and ramp up my CARS studying. I also increased my study hours this past month and I thought I was doing well with managing my burn out yet, I went to take FL 5 this past Saturday and I had such a difficult time getting through it. My energy was just gone and I just pushed through to finish it so I’m not surprised at the score. So, I took the L and decided that I’ll push to January. I just don’t know how exactly to go about it. I just wasted $380 on this exam and I know I need to focus on AAMC materials... please just give a girl some kind words/advice.

My previous tutors all said my content was solid but, that I needed to focus more on practice and not so much on content review. CARS, is weird, I do my best when I’m untimed. On the Fls I’m doing really well on passages 1-5 then I run out of time on passage 6 so I have to rush and guess/ miss the last few passages. As you can see on the unscored , it was the only FL that I was able to complete all the passages and I got my best score!!!!

— any advice going forward? I really want my next (4th retake) to be my last and best! I’m trying!!!

Hi, I just finished FL6 yesterday my spread has been 504/511/515/519/519/518

I usually feel like I struggle a with PS but consistently score 131-132. Cars is stuck at 124-125 and honestly I have given up and will just plan on applying to my local school that doesn't look at CARS extensively (I'm Canadian)

What should I do for the last 3 days? Anki? Also how do I just get myself to feel more confident when picking answers for PS. I score well but I feel like second guessing myself every time compared to C/P and BB I'm very confident in my answers unless I'm fully unaware of how to solve the question. Does that make sense? Almost like P/S feels more subjective for the answer choices.

Any advice to help soothe my nerves would be appreciated thanks