support@accepted.com
Get Your Free Consultation!

Which program are you applying to?

  • - Select a program -
  • MBA/EMBA
  • Law School
  • Grad School, PhD
  • MD/DO, Residency
  • Other Healthcare Programs
  • College
  • About Accepted
    • About us
      • The Accepted Advantage
      • Clients Accepted At
      • In The News
    • Client Feedback
    • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
    • MBA Admissions Consultants
    • Med School Admissions Consultants
    • Grad School Admissions Consultants
    • Law School Admissions Consultants
    • College Admissions Consultants
  • Free Resources
    • MBA
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Essay Tips
    • Med School
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Essay Tips
    • Healthcare Programs
      • Free Guides
    • Grad School
      • Free Guides
      • Sample Essays
    • Law School
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
    • College
      • Free Guides
      • Sample Essays
  • Services
    • MBA
      • Complete Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Resume Services
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • Med School
      • Premed Packages
      • Primary App Packages
      • Secondary App Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • Healthcare
      • Postbac Packages
      • MPH Packages
      • NursingCAS Packages
      • PharmD Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • MORE
    • Grad School
      • Complete Packages
      • PhD Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • CV/Resume Assistance
      • MORE
    • Law School
      • Complete Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • College
      • Complete Packages
      • Common App Package
      • Essay Editing
      • MORE
  • Blog
    • MBA Blog Posts
    • Medical School Blog Posts
    • Other Healthcare Blog Posts
    • Grad School Blog Posts
    • Law School Blog Posts
    • College Blog Posts
    • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast
Accepted

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

November 6, 2016

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Making Your MCAT Study Plan

Did you register for our upcoming webinar: The MCAT: What you Actually Need to Study?

It’s official – you’ve registered for an MCAT exam date, acquired prep materials, and figured out exactly how many months you can set aside to study. You’re ready to get started! While this can be an exciting time, for the majority of students, it’s when paralysis sets in. How much time should you spend on content review versus strategy practice? How many chapters should you read per day? When should you schedule full-length practice exams? These questions, and many more, lead students to wonder – how on earth can I set up an MCAT study plan that works for me?

As a tutor, I tell all of my students the same thing: it’s virtually impossible to focus on planning and studying at the same time. This makes it essential to set up a structured study plan at the beginning of your prep, leaving the rest of your time for the important task of actually reviewing the material. If you decide to take a prep course or work with a tutor, it’s likely that some form of plan will be provided to you. However, if you’re studying largely on your own, you can still create a great plan if you keep a few tips in mind.

1. Plan practice exams and days off first.

In the 4-6 weeks immediately before your exam date, you’ll want to take a full-length practice test approximately once per week, if possible. It’s best to set aside as much time for review as you do to actually take the exam, which means a full day (or more if necessary – full-length review is enormously important!). Plan these days first, since you’ll want to schedule time with no interruptions to mimic test-day conditions. As for days off, unless you’re limited to less than 2 months of prep time, give yourself one per week! You’ll earn it, and it will help you maintain an MCAT-life balance.

2. Next, plan your content review.

I’ve found that the “average” MCAT student needs about 1.5 months of content-focused preparation, but this amount can vary wildly depending on your memory of premed course material. For the first few days, gauge how many chapters you can comfortably cover in a day, being sure to take notes on the most important points of each chapter. Then, plan the remaining chapters accordingly. It can help to set aside at least one day per week where you cover no new material, and instead return to your old notes for a refresher.

3. Finally, plan strategy and passage practice.

You’ll want to work through MCAT passages (especially CARS, or verbal) consistently throughout your entire prep schedule, but once you’ve completed your content review, this strategy practice can really begin in earnest. The specifics of this practice don’t need to be planned out now – allow yourself to find out your strengths and weaknesses through content review first. However, do get an idea of the resources you’ll be using. If in doubt, AAMC resources (which include the Question Packs and Section Banks) are great sources for practice passages from the test-makers themselves. I typically advise my students to break down these resources and cover a small chunk of passages every day, while constantly returning to your notes if you struggle with a particular topic.

Hopefully you now have an idea where to go from here regarding your MCAT plans! However, if you’re still lost, don’t fret. Ask other premeds how they made their own plans, consult online resources (where countless study plans are available), or reach out to a tutor or MCAT professional for advice. With a little bit of guidance, you’ll be able to ace the exam and move forward to reach your medical school goals!

Register for the webinar: The MCAT: What You Actually Need to Study

Check out Next Test Step Prep's site! Clara Gillan is the MCAT Content Director at Next Step Test Prep and has been teaching and tutoring for five years. She scored a 526 on her own MCAT, with perfect scores in the CARS and bio/biochem sections. Her favorite part of test prep is finding alternative ways to explain tricky concepts. Clara also plays an important role in the development of Next Step’s practice tests and other resources, where her top priority is making content as representative of the official exam as possible. In her free time, she runs a Girl Scout troop in Los Angeles and loves watching movies.

Related Resources:

• A Cure for MCAT Anxiety and Lots More MCAT Advice 
• How Long do You Need to Study for the MCAT?
• Deciding When to Take the MCAT

Article by Accepted / Medical School Admissions / MCAT, Next Step Test Prep

Get Accepted!

Sign up for a free consultation today!

Which program are you applying to?

Most Popular Blog Posts

1. 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

2. 4 Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future

3. How to Write About Your Research Interests

4. Tips for Answering the Yale University Supplemental Essays and Short Answer Questions [2022-2023]

5. When Will Medical Schools Give You an Answer?

6. Sample Essays from Admitted HBS Students

7. Tips for Answering the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022-2023]

8. Top STEM MBA Programs: A Comprehensive List and Overview of STEM-OPT Eligible B-Schools

Sample Essays

MBA Personal Statement Examples

Medical School Personal Statement Examples

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Law School Personal Statement Examples

College Application Essay Examples

 

This Site is Featured on GMATClub

Home Page Services and Prices MBA Med School Law School Grad School College

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog
Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553
© 2022 Accepted

BBB A+ RatingStamp of AIGAC Excellence

Copyright © 2023 · Education Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in