The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a pivotal step in any pre-med student’s journey that is required by most medical schools in the United States and Canada.
I took the MCAT twice, writing the MCAT my first time in 2019, scoring in the 82rd percentile, and a second time in 2020, scoring in the 91st percentile. The MCAT was arguably the most difficult exam I wrote during my undergrad, and I hope this guide provides you some valuable information to ensure you achieve your desired score in just one attempt.
What is the MCAT?
The MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice exam which evaluates candidates on their understanding of scientific concepts, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and written communication skills. There are four sections that are each scored between 118 and 132. Your overall score will vary between 472, the lowest score, and 528, a perfect score. You can take the MCAT three times in a single year, four times in a two consecutive-year period, and only seven times in a lifetime. This limit includes voids and no-shows.
Sections of the MCAT
The MCAT is divided into four sections, each testing different areas of knowledge and skills:
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (C/P)
Content: This section emphasizes the physical and chemical principles that describe biological systems. It includes general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry.
Key Topics: Molecular structure and function, chemical reactions, energy, and dynamics, and the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of the human body.
Time: 95 minutes
Breakdown: 59 questions (44 passage-related questions, 15 standalone questions)
- First-semester biochemistry, 25%
- Introductory biology, 5%
- General chemistry, 30%
- Organic chemistry, 15%
- Introductory physics, 25%
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
Content: The CARS does not test specific scientific knowledge. Instead, it assesses analytical and reasoning skills through passages from the humanities and social sciences.
Key Topics: Comprehension, analysis, evaluation, and application of information from various texts.
Time: 90 minutes
Breakdown: 53 questions (9 passages between 500-600 words each, with each passage featuring 5-7 questions)
- Foundations of Comprehension, 30%
- Reasoning Within the Text, 30%
- Reasoning Beyond the Text, 40%
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (B/B)
Content: This section focuses on the processes that are unique to living organisms. It covers biology, biochemistry, and organic chemistry.
Key Topics: Biomolecules, cell structure and function, organ systems, and processes like growth, reproduction, and energy production.
Time: 95 minutes
Breakdown: 59 questions (44 passage-related questions, 15 standalone questions)
- First-semester biochemistry, 25%
- Introductory biology, 65%
- General chemistry, 5%
- Organic chemistry, 5%
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (P/S)
Content: This section assesses knowledge of psychological, social, and biological factors that influence behavior and the human experience.
Key Topics: Perception, cognition, emotion, learning, individual and social behavior, and the influence of societal and cultural factors on well-being.
Time: 95 minutes
Breakdown: 59 questions (44 passage-related questions, 15 standalone questions)
- Introductory psychology: 65%
- Introductory sociology: 30%
- Introductory biology: 5%
Visit the AAMC website and view their “What’s on the MCAT Exam?” document to view an extensive list of testable concepts.
What MCAT Score Do I Need?
The score that you need depends on the medical school. Each Canadian medical school has different requirements in terms of both total score and sections core. Some medical schools use your MCAT score only as a screening tool—if you are past their cut-offs, your MCAT no longer plays a role in the scoring of your application. Some schools use your total MCAT score or specific sections competitively in the evaluation of your application. You should research what is expected for each school you are applying to, and the average statistics of recently accepted classes.
As of 2024 for Ontario Medical Schools:
- McMaster University requires a minimal score of 123 in the CARS section. Students who were recently accepted into the class of 2025 had an average CARS score of 129.
- Queens University and Western University requires applicants to achieve a minimum score set by the Admissions Committee each cycle for each category and total score. These thresholds are determined annually for each application cycle and category, and for the total score. These scores are likely competitive and affect your overall application evaluation.
- University of Toronto requires applicants to achieve a threshold score of 125 in each section, with an allowance of 124 in 1 section to continue in the admission process. Scores are not used competitively in the application process.
How Long Should I Study for the MCAT?
The time it takes for someone to feel fully ready for the MCAT depends on the person. Someone with an extensive science background and excellent study habits may feel prepared in just one month. Someone with a non-science background may require a full year until they feel comfortable. I know people who have studied anywhere between 1 month to a full year to feel prepared, and all of them did excellent on their exam day.
Generally, I recommend allocating at least 3-6 months to MCAT preparation. This means treating preparation like a full-time job, dedicating at least 4-8 hours every day for studying.
When Should I Start Studying for the MCAT?
There are various times during the year in which the MCAT is offered. If you are a student, it is generally NOT recommended to study during the academic year as you should be focusing primarily on excelling in your university courses. While it is not feasible for everyone, it is generally recommended to take the MCAT during the end of summer or early fall and allocating the summer months to dedicated studying.
As a general rule, I recommend to start studying 3-6 months before your examination date. With my examinations being scheduled for mid-late August, I began studying late April-early May,
What MCAT Study Material Should I Use?
Review Textbooks vs Courses
Budget, discipline, and academic background are factors that will dictate your need for either 3rd party MCAT textbooks or a 3rd party MCAT course. If you are constrained in terms of budget, are very disciplined, or have a science background, all you will likely need is a set of MCAT review textbooks. If you have the means to afford a course, learn best in a classroom setting, or come from a non-traditional background, you may benefit from an MCAT course that provides structured lesson plans. Most of you should buy and will only require a set of MCAT review textbooks.
Buy either Princeton Review or Kaplan textbooks, which tend to be the most popular brand among applicants. Princeton textbooks are great for being comprehensive and detail-oriented, as they include a surplus of information that is tested. Kaplan goes into less detail than Princeton, but enough to explain things if you have not reviewed the material in a while and is a very popular choice.
If you are constrained by budget, the edition of your textbooks does not matter as they are largely the same across editions. If you find a used set of textbooks being sold online or by one of your peers, feel free to buy the set as this will be more than enough to help you during your preparation.
I bought a set of “The Princeton Review MCAT Textbooks” and found this to be enough to help me feel prepared for the MCAT. Opting for Princeton Review, I wanted to have a resource that was more comprehensive, and I did not want to feel like I missed any study material. I have colleagues that enjoyed Princeton and other colleagues that enjoyed Kaplan—you can’t go wrong with either of these two options.
AAMC Study Material
As part of preparation, I highly recommend buying the AAMC MCAT Official Prep Online-Only Bundle, which features four official AAMC practice exams, as well as biology question packs, chemistry question packs, CARS question packs, physics question packs, among other resources. This material closely resembles the real test more than anything else that is available, as it is created by the actual MCAT test-makers. This is easily the best and most representative practice material you will be able to find.
Additional Resources
- UWorld
- Examkrackers
- Kaplan Full Length Tests
- Princeton Review Full Length Tests
- Blueprint Full Length Tests
Should I Have a Study Schedule?
There are countless guides for 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, or even 12-month study schedules. These can be beneficial for many students and can readily be found online. However, while I do recommend setting goals and having a general schedule, I do not believe that there is a REQUIREMENT for a strict MCAT schedule which involves daily plans. Students come from varying academic backgrounds and have different degrees of mastery of material. For instance, if you spent 4 years studying organic chemistry in rigorous university-level courses, why allocate an equal amount of time studying organic chemistry with other subjects such as physics, psychology, or biology?
A general schedule should involve days allocated for full-length tests and practice questions, as well as days dedicated for content review on weaker or uncovered material.
There are general guidelines for effective studying:
- Start with a full-length diagnostic test to assess your baseline score and identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Assuming a 3-month period for dedicated studying, review content regularly and consistently, focusing particularly on weaker areas for 4-8 weeks.
- Utilize AAMC and 3rd party question banks and full-length tests at regular intervals while studying to review, actively recall, and consolidate information.
- In the final 1-2 months, focus primarily on practice questions and tests while reviewing weaker material.
The Best MCAT Study Strategy: Test, Revise, Recall, Review
The MCAT is not an exam which values memorizing, but rather comprehension of broad concepts. Content review crudely helps fill gaps in knowledge or concepts, but most of your MCAT study progress will come through question banks or practice full-length examinations.
The following is a study strategy that is highly effective:
- Test: Complete practice questions from question banks or full-length tests with any third-party or AAMC resources.
- Revise: For each question you answered, understand the rationale for why the correct answer was correct and understand the rationale as to why every other answer is wrong. For incorrect answers or answers in which you guessed correctly, determine the reason why you were unable to answer question, whether it was due to:
- A knowledge gap, this is easy to fix and involves content review.
- A careless mistake, this is generally a one-time occurrence. Fixing consistent careless mistakes involves understanding the reasoning behind your cognitive errors, whether due to misreading the question, not reading all answer choices, etc. This can be easy to fix.
- An interpretation error, meaning you did not understand what the content of the question or passage, despite having mastery of the content needed to answer the question correctly. Fixing interpretation errors may involve content review, better understanding the rationale or behind AAMC questions, or working on personal comprehension strategies for difficult passages. This can be difficult to fix.
- Recall: Re-read the passage and questions once again, and actively recall why each answer is correct or incorrect with the correct logic/rationale.
- Review: For knowledge gaps, review pertinent content so you will be able to answer similar questions in the future.
Need some additional tips? Check out our tips for acing the Chemistry/Physics, CARS, Biology/Biochemistry, and Psychology/Sociology sections.
Final Thoughts
The MCAT is a challenging but essential step in the journey to becoming a medical professional. By understanding the test format, using high-quality study materials, and having an effective study strategy, you can maximize your chances of success. Stay focused, stay positive, and remember that thorough preparation is the key to achieving your best possible score. I have faith in you, good luck!
