How to Create a Study Plan

for the MCAT® Exam

Association of
American Medical Colleges
Preface
Preparing for the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) takes time and dedication. While
you are trying to find a balance between your courses at school, work obligations, research and
labs, family and friends, and extracurricular activities, you need to find time to prepare for the
MCAT exam. So it’s no surprise that one of the most frequently asked questions is, “What is the
best way to prepare for the exam?”
There is no conclusive evidence about a right or wrong way to prepare, but the MCAT team at
the AAMC created this guide to help you develop your own study plan using free resources and
low-cost products. We will walk you through the six steps to creating a personalized study plan.
While we can’t tell you how much time to spend preparing for the exam, we have the following
data from the 2016 Post-MCAT Questionnaire (PMQ):
Time spent preparing for the MCAT exam:

Time in weeks Percentage of examinees

0–8 weeks 28.8%
9–12 weeks 30.6%
13–16 weeks 17.7%
More than 16 weeks 22.8%

Time in hours Percentage of examinees

0–10 hours per week 23.0%
11–20 hours per week 26.9%
21–30 hours per week 20.9%
More than 30 hours per week 29.3%

The majority (77%) of examinees studied over 11 hours per week, with 29% studying more than
30 hours per week. Do remember that preparation takes time, and you should start preparing
earlier rather than later.
Taking the MCAT exam is one of the milestones in your path to becoming a physician, and the
AAMC wants to support your journey. To do that, this guide offers helpful information in addition
to the six-step Study Plan. Included in the last section, for example, are links to inspiring stories
from medical students and physicians who’ve overcome significant obstacles to achieve their
dreams. On days when you feel anxious or overwhelmed, stop for a moment and remind
yourself of why you’re on this path. We hope that the inspiring stories will help propel you
forward!

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Table of Contents

This guide walks you through six steps:

1. Find Out Everything You Can About the Exam
2. Figure Out Where You Stand: How Much Do You Know?
3. Use Free and Low-Cost Resources to Help You Prepare
4. Create Your Study Plan
5. Study and Practice
6. Commit to a Final Rehearsal or Practice
Worksheets and blank templates accompany the guide:
1. Sample Test Worksheet
2. Resources and Strategies Worksheet
3. Study Plan Worksheet
4. Study Plan

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Step 1: Find Out Everything You Can About the Exam (2–3 days)
Suppose you have a competition coming up. What would compel someone to choose you, or
what would lead you to win or qualify? How do you size up the event? If you don’t know the
rules, how much time you have, nor what you must do to qualify, chances are pretty good that
you won’t perform well.
You are less likely to have opponents or adversaries when preparing for the MCAT exam, but
there are disqualifiers. You do need to know what’s on the exam, how much time you have, how
the exam is scored, when to register, and what you can/cannot bring to the test center, among
other details. For example, if the ID you bring with you on test day doesn’t match your
registration information, you can’t sit for the exam. And if you’re not completely sure what
concepts are going to be on the exam, all your studying may not have covered what you need to
know.
So the first thing to do is find out as much as you can about the exam and know what to expect.
Use the checklist below to help you take this first step.

Task Time Cost Completed

needed
Find out when the MCAT exam is administered. 15-30 free
minutes
 Check the AAMC’s MCAT testing calendar
and score release dates.
Find out if you qualify for fee assistance. 1 hour free
 The AAMC Fee Assistance Program provides
benefits related to exam registration, prep
products, and application to medical school.
Find out medical school application deadlines. 3 hours varies
 Check the AAMC’s Applying to Medical 1 hour free
School with AMCAS® website for detailed
information.
 Contact your prehealth advisor or academic 1 hour free
advisor for guidance on when to schedule
your exam. If you do not have an advisor,
use the free Find an Advisor service provided
by the National Association of Advisors for
the Health Professions to have an advisor
assigned to you.
 Check the AAMC’s Medical School 1 hour $27+
Admission Requirements™ (MSAR®) for
U.S. and Canadian Medical Schools website
for information on admissions and
acceptance policies, MCAT and GPA ranges,
tuition and education information, research
opportunities, specialty choices, and more.
Subscribe or save on the purchase of a

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 Task Time Cost Completed
needed
subscription bundled with The Official Guide
to Medical School Admissions print book or
ebook.
Find out which disciplines, concepts, skills, and 1-2 days varies
topics are covered in the exam.
 Watch this two-minute introductory video. 2 minutes free
 Go to the What’s on the MCAT Exam? 2–3 hours free
resource to review the four sections, 10
foundational concepts, 31 content categories,
scientific inquiry and reasoning skills, and
critical analysis and reasoning skills that are
tested on the exam.
 Read The Official Guide to the MCAT® 1–2 days $30
Exam. It provides extensive details, including
a timeline of things to do, information on how
to register for the exam, and 120 practice
questions written by the same people who
wrote the MCAT exam.
Learn how your score is calculated. 15–30 free
minutes
 Visit the How Is the MCAT Exam Scored?
website for frequently asked questions.
Learn about MCAT logistics and requirements. 1–3 hours free
 The MCAT® Essentials online document is
required reading before you register for the
MCAT exam. It tells you what type of ID you
need, what happens if you cancel, what you
cannot bring to the test center, what triggers
investigations, how to retake the exam, and
other important information you need to
know.

Now is a good time to take a look at your financial resources. Consider how much money you’re
able to spend on preparing for the MCAT exam. To make preparation as accessible as possible,
we have referenced only free or low-cost resources in this Study Plan. If you need financial
support, visit the AAMC Fee Assistance Program page for information on how to apply for
benefits. If you qualify, you will receive some MCAT prep products free of charge.
If you have any questions about these resources, contact the AAMC. You can reach us at:

• 202-828-0600, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday (closed Wednesdays,
3–5 p.m.)
• [email protected] (MCAT exam preparation and products)

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 • aamc.org/contactmcat (MCAT exam registration)
• [email protected] (Fee Assistance Program)
Congratulations on taking the first step! Having completed these tasks, you now have a good
idea of what disciplines are tested, what the logistical requirements are, and how you can get
financial support.
In the next step, you’ll lay the groundwork for your studies.

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Step 2: Figure Out Where You Stand: How Much Do You Know? (1–2 days)
Have you ever tried to give directions over the phone to a friend, relative, or delivery driver who
couldn’t identify their current location? “The GPS says I shouldn’t be any more than 10 minutes
away,” they may say. Despite their best intentions, it’s difficult to determine where they’re going,
what road conditions are like, or how far they really are from their destination if they don’t know
their current location.
This example may sound obvious to you, but in a testing situation, it’s easy to cave in to the
pressure of feeling that you need to start studying as soon as possible and jump right in. Pause
for a moment and consider this: it’s difficult to determine how to prepare if you’re not sure where
you stand or how much you know already. So start by identifying what you do know and what
you don’t know.
We recommend that you take the AAMC’s Official MCAT® Sample Test or a full-length practice
test to get a baseline before you start studying. “But wait,” you may say. “I haven’t studied for it
yet, and I’m not ready. My score is going to be so low that I’m only going to get discouraged.”
Actually, the Sample Test provides a detailed breakdown of your correct and incorrect answers,
not a scaled score. Its purpose is to help you define your starting point—to identify which
disciplines, concepts, or skills are familiar or unfamiliar to you. While blocking out eight hours is
challenging, we recommend that you take the Sample Test in one sitting to experience what
taking the actual exam is like. Complete this task in Step 2 before proceeding any further.

Task Time Cost Completed

needed
1 Purchase and take the Official MCAT® Sample Test. 8 hours $25
 Take it in one sitting (with the same breaks
you get during the actual MCAT exam).

How did you do on the Sample Test?

It is not typical for people taking the Sample Test to have mastered all the content. Keep in mind
that each individual brings a different set of knowledge, skills, and experiences to the table. The
test gives you a baseline so you know what to study.
Maybe you have a strong chemistry background but have never taken a psychology or
sociology class. Or you’ve taken courses in all the disciplines, but you didn’t feel comfortable in
the biochemistry class you took last semester. Or your major is political science, so you have
strong analytical skills but need a stronger biology and physics foundation. Don’t panic. Being
realistic, calm, and aware will help you gather the resources and implement strategies to
acquire the knowledge and skills the exam covers.
You took the Sample Test to identify your strengths and where you have gaps. We’ll show you
how to catalog those gaps so that you can gather resources to cover them in preparation for the
MCAT exam.

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The Sample Test gives you an honest breakdown of your knowledge so that you have a realistic
view of how you need to prepare. You may not feel comfortable or confident with what you know
right now, but remember: this is just a starting point.
Review your Sample Test results in detail, and catalog your correct, incorrect, and incomplete
answers.

Task Time Cost Completed

needed
2 Review your Official MCAT® Sample Test results and 6–9 free
complete the Sample Test Worksheet. hours
 Open the Sample Test Worksheet. Complete 2-3 hours free
the worksheet while reviewing your Sample
Test results on the e-MCAT site. We’ve
provided you with an example.
 After logging in at e-MCAT.com, open the 3-4 hours free
Sample Test you just completed and select
“Item Level Review Table” (third tab). This
shows you all the questions you answered
incorrectly, as well as the questions you left
incomplete. Using the Item Level Review
Table online at e-MCAT.com, document the
Foundational Concept, Content Category,
Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skill, and
Discipline on your Sample Test Worksheet
and record how you did.
 Return to the questions you answered 1 hour free
incorrectly, and use the Why Did I Miss This
Question? feature at the bottom of each
question to mark one of six reasons. This may
help you recognize patterns in your decision
making.
 On your Sample Test Worksheet, write your 15 free
concerns and challenges in the Concerns minutes
and Challenges column. Were you hungry?
Did you run out of energy or lose focus? Were
some sections really difficult or unfamiliar?

Now review your completed Sample Test Worksheet. You have an outline of specific
foundational concepts, content categories, and skills you need to study. You also have
information identifying why you missed the questions and what personal concerns you need to
address before the exam.
In the next step, you’ll gather resources and develop strategies to help you fill in the gaps and
bolster the knowledge and skills you identified.

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Step 3: Gather Free and Low-Cost Resources That Can Help You Prepare
(4-6 hours)
At this point, you may be asking yourself, “Why so much planning?”
Planning helps you grasp the big picture. If you have a good plan, you know what to expect.
You’ve accounted for gaps, concerns, and risks up front so that you have a plan or strategy to
address them and avoid being blindsided. A lot of planning goes into every important event or
project, and preparing for the MCAT exam is no exception. As the old adage goes, “Failing to
plan is planning to fail.” Taking the MCAT exam is a milestone in your future career, and
preparation for it should be done with great effort and attention to detail. The better prepared
you are, the more likely you will perform well.
Without a plan, it’s difficult to know where you stand or how much progress you’ve made.
Without a plan, it’s easy to fall prey to feelings of uncertainty and anxiety and make impulsive
decisions that undermine your confidence.
So in this step, you will pull together an inventory of all the MCAT exam prep resources
available to you. Important note: Your resources for studying will be somewhat different from
your resources for practicing. Your first set of resources will be for studying content, and your
second set of resources will be for practicing and applying what you’ve studied.
As you select your resources and strategies, remember that they should be part of an active
study plan. This means that your plan shouldn’t consist only of passive activities (such as
watching videos); your plan should have active strategies to reinforce learning: summarizing
what you read, explaining the concepts in your own words, and applying ideas to real-life
scenarios.
Once you’ve covered content, make sure to practice applying the content. One way of doing this
is to take official practice questions to gauge your understanding and application of the concepts
you studied. For practice questions on the various disciplines covered in the MCAT exam, the
AAMC offers the AAMC MCAT® Section Bank, the Official MCAT® Question Packs, and the
Official MCAT® Flashcards, all of which are authored by the same people who write the MCAT
exam. Use these to help gauge whether you’re learning how to integrate and apply concepts in
preparation for the exam.

Task Time Cost Completed

needed
1 Open the Resources and Strategies Worksheet, and 1 hour free
brainstorm resources and strategies. List everything
you can think of in the two columns. (A list of
examples are provided for your reference.)
2 Use the Sample Test Worksheet and Resources 3-5 hours free
and Strategies Worksheet to complete your Study
Plan Worksheet. (We recommend that you print
them.)

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 Task Time Cost Completed
needed
 On your Study Plan Worksheet, list the exam 1-2 hours
section, foundational concept, content
category, scientific inquiry and reasoning skill
and/or critical analysis and reasoning skill,
and discipline you want to study.
 Consult your Resources and Strategies 30
Worksheet to list all the resources and minutes
strategies that target these areas of study.
 List the strategies that you can use with the 30
resources you have. minutes
 Review the SIRS (Scientific Inquiry and 1-2 hours
Reasoning Skills) or CARS (Critical Analysis
and Reasoning Skills) section in your Study
Plan Worksheet. Revisit the What’s on the
MCAT Exam? resource to review each skill
in detail and list the resources and strategies
that will help you build those skills.
SUGGESTED OFFICIAL STUDY RESOURCES Varies
(free)
 Khan Academy’s MCAT® Collection tutorials free
relate directly to the MCAT exam content
categories.
o Revisit the What’s on the MCAT
Exam? resource. At the bottom of
each of the 31 content categories is a
list of Khan Academy video tutorials
related to that category. Khan
Academy’s MCAT® Collection is a
free, open-access collection that
includes more than 1,100 videos and
3,000 review questions covering all
content areas on the exam.
 A Roadmap to MCAT® Content in Sociology free
and Psychology Textbooks is a free,
printable online resource that lists free or
low-cost psychology and sociology
textbooks, as well as the specific textbook
chapters that cover the foundational
concepts relating to psychology and
sociology.

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 Task Time Cost Completed
needed
 A Roadmap to MCAT® Content in free
Biochemistry Textbooks is a free, printable
online resource that lists specific chapters in
low-cost textbooks that cover the
foundational concepts relating to
biochemistry.
SUGGESTED OFFICIAL PRACTICE RESOURCES Varies Varies
(low cost)
 A packet of Official MCAT® Flashcards $10
provides you with 150 discrete questions
written by the developers of the MCAT®
exam. You get 25 questions in each of these
disciplines: biochemistry, biology, chemistry,
physics, psychology, and sociology.
 Official MCAT® Question Packs, which can $15
be purchased individually (120 questions) or each
as a bundle (720 questions), cover biology $72
(vols. 1 and 2), chemistry, physics, and bundle
critical analysis and reasoning (vols. 1 and of six
2).
 The AAMC MCAT® Section Bank consists of $45
300 practice questions emphasizing
biochemistry, psychology, and sociology.
 Just like the Official MCAT® Sample Test free
you took earlier, all the online official AAMC
practice products come with the Why Did I
Miss This Question? feature. Use this
feature to identify patterns in your test taking.

You’ve now created a Study Plan framework! Your next step is to organize the weeks or months
you’ve allocated to prepare for the MCAT exam.

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Step 4: Create Your Study Plan (3–5 hours)
The worksheet you created in Step 3 will help you create a personalized weekly or monthly
Study Plan.

Task Time Cost Completed

needed
1 Working backwards from your exam date, figure out 1–2 free
how much time you have to study. hours
 You’ve reviewed the MCAT testing calendar
and application deadlines. Think about
whether you can perform well on your first
take or need two or more takes. If you think
you may need two or more takes, consider
scheduling the first take early enough to leave
time for additional takes during the same
AMCAS application cycle.
 Register for the exam if the registration varies
window is open and you feel comfortable
registering now.
2 Create your Study Plan. 2–3 free
hours
 Open the Study Plan.
 Write down all your academic, professional,
and extracurricular obligations in the row
labeled “Schedule” and how many hours each
activity requires.
 Write down how many hours you have
available to study each day, subtracting 10
hours for sleep and basic care and the
number of hours needed for the obligations
you listed in the task above.
 Identify the areas you want to study, and write
them down.
 Figure out how to sequence your study and
practice. Do you want to start with your
strongest area, or do you want to alternate
between a section you are comfortable with
and a section you’re not as comfortable with?
Also, remember that studying content
typically comes before practicing the
application of that content.
 Using your Study Plan Worksheet from the
previous step, write down the resources and
strategies you’ll use to study content. Also

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 write down the resources and strategies you’ll
use to practice applying that content.

Your personalized Study Plan is a living document. If, after a few weeks of studying, you find
that you need to adjust your timeline or the number of hours you’ve allocated for specific
disciplines, concepts, or skills, you should do so. If you find that the material you’ve listed is too
much or too little for the number of days or weeks, adjust your plan accordingly.

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Step 5: Study and Practice (timeframe varies)
Your Study Plan should have a good mix of strategies to help you learn, integrate, and apply
new concepts. After studying new concepts, make sure to give yourself opportunities to practice
and apply them. Here are some strategies you can use:

• Prepare a set of questions to ask yourself after watching a video or reading a textbook
chapter. For example: Can I explain this to a classmate? Can I think of a real-life
example of this concept relevant to me or someone else? Does this differ from what I
previously understood and if so, why? What additional information can I seek out to
enhance my understanding of this topic?
• Start each day with a review of what you studied or practiced during the previous day.
Reviewing small chunks of information regularly will help you retain the content.
• Study with a partner. Assign topics to teach each other, use each other as sounding
boards to think out loud, and share notes. Create questions and quiz each other.
• Summarize what you learned. You can use lecture notes, textbooks, and Khan Academy
tutorials to write summaries, compile lists, or draw compare-and-contrast charts and
concept maps.
• Reproduce your summaries and notes from memory to practice recalling information.
• Create your own flashcards and vocabulary lists.
• If you have questions or don’t fully understand a topic or concept, keep track of all your
questions and check in with your professor or advisor during office hours.
• Join online forums to ask and answer questions about the topics and concepts.

The AAMC interviewed a diverse group of examinees about how they prepared for the MCAT
exam. The strategies used by some of the examinees are featured in How I Prepared for the
MCAT® Exam. Consider the resources these individuals used, the obstacles they overcame,
and the advice they’d like to offer others preparing for the exam.

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Step 6: Commit to a Final Rehearsal or Practice (2 days)
It has been weeks since you first took the Sample Test, and you’ve spent a lot of time preparing
for the MCAT exam. Now it’s time for your final practice, or rehearsal, before the real exam.
Take another full-length practice test, this time a scored one, to see where you now stand. As
before, take it under the same conditions as the actual test: with the same timing and breaks, at
a location outside your own home, in one sitting.
After you take the practice test, think about what you want to do. Are you happy with the
results? Do you need more time to study and practice, or are you ready to take the exam?
Remember, you have the option of revisiting your Study Plan and adjusting or extending it
based on your practice test results. You also have the option to retake the exam.

Task Time Cost Complete

needed
1 Set aside a whole day, and take a full-length practice 8 hours $35
exam. We recommend taking the AAMC MCAT®
Practice Exam 1, AAMC MCAT® Practice Exam 2, or
AAMC MCAT® Practice Exam 3, all of which are official,
full-length practice tests that provide scaled scores.
 Select the “Simulate Actual Test” setting to test
under the same timed conditions as the actual
exam.
2 Review your scaled score report, and reflect on your 1–3 free
performance. days
 Revisit your results from the Sample Test, taken
in Step 2, and assess your current performance.
 Write down how you feel.
3 Determine your next course of action. Varies free
 “I’m happy with the results.”
o You can go ahead and take the actual
exam.
Or
o You can take another full-length practice
test to be absolutely sure you can
perform the same. You can also ask your
advisor to hold a Mock Exam Day for you
and your peers or hold one for yourself.

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 Task Time Cost Complete
needed
 “I think I can do better.”
o You can revisit the previous steps to
create a Study Plan based on your full-
length practice test results. Consider
modifying your areas of focus or adding
time and resources.
o If your obstacles were physical, such as
being tired, hungry, or unfocused, figure
out a plan to address those challenges.
o If you have already registered for the
exam, don’t think you’ll be ready, and are
within the registration deadline, consider
rescheduling your exam. (Rescheduling
fees may apply.)

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Inspirational Stories
It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed or anxious about a big exam. When you feel
overwhelmed or discouraged, remember that there are many students out there who are feeling
the same. Also remember that there are just as many individuals and institutions wanting to
support you, and there are many resources out there to help you succeed.
Many students have overcome incredible challenges—poverty, serious illness or injury,
violence, disabilities, and learning English as a third or fourth language—to become physicians.
Some were the first in their families to go to college, some prepared for the MCAT exam while
raising children and working full-time jobs, and some took the exam four or more times.
The AAMC has interviewed and chronicled the stories of some amazing individuals who
successfully prepared for the MCAT, navigated the application process, and were accepted to
medical school. For inspiration, check out the firsthand accounts of these individuals here:

• How I Prepared for the MCAT® Exam

o Premed students talk about how they prepared for the MCAT exam. They
discuss their scores, the resources they used, the obstacles they overcame, and
the advice they’d like to offer to others preparing for the exam.
• Aspiring Docs Diaries: Premed blogs
o Premed students, medical students, and residents blog about topics such as
resilience and motivation.
• Ask a Med Student video series
o Medical students answer questions about their paths to medical school, what
med school courses are like, experiences with patients, and more.
• Aspiring Docs: Inspiring Stories
o Medical students and physicians talk about the journeys they’ve made.
• Anatomy of an Applicant
o Interviews with medical students, their prehealth advisors, and the admissions
officers who accepted them highlight how applicants can demonstrate the core
competencies for entering medical students in many ways.
Someday, these outstanding individuals may be your colleagues or mentors at a hospital, clinic,
research facility, or other setting. If any of these individuals are within your geographic region,
reach out to them and ask if they could sit down with you over lunch or a coffee break to talk
about their experiences and how they got to their current positions. Perhaps, in a few years, you
too will be looking back at this point in time and talking to students about your experiences on
your path to becoming a physician!
The AAMC wishes you the best of luck in this endeavor!

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Supplemental Worksheets for the Study Plan
1. Sample Test Worksheet
2. Resources and Strategies Worksheet
3. Study Plan Worksheet
4. Study Plan
Each of the items above include: 1) a completed sample; and 2) a blank template.

For additional study tips and approaches employed by students who performed well on the MCAT® exam, check out the How I Prepared for the MCAT® Exam webpage.
 1- Sample Test Worksheet
Answered correctly Answered incorrectly or left incomplete
Question FC1 CC2 SIRS3 Discipline FC CC SIRS Discipline Why did I miss this Concerns and
Exam section number question? challenges
Biological and
Biochemical
Foundations (BB)
Chemical and
Physical
Foundations (CP)
Critical Analysis
and Reasoning
Skills (CARS)
Psychological, 1 6 6B 4 Psychology Thought I knew the I haven’t taken
Social, and answer but got it wrong any psychology
Biological 2 6 6B 2 Psychology or sociology
Foundations of classes in
Behavior (PSBB) 3 6 6B 4 Psychology Didn’t know the answer general, so I’m
and guessed incorrectly basically
guessing my way
4 6 6B 4 Psychology
through this
section. I also
5 6 6B 4 Psychology Didn’t know the answer feel tired in the
and guessed incorrectly late afternoon
6 10 10A 1 Sociology Didn’t know the answer after working
and guessed incorrectly hard on the other
sections, so it’s
7 8 8C 3 Sociology Didn’t know the answer
hard to focus.
and guessed incorrectly
8 9 9B 3 Sociology Didn’t know the answer
and guessed incorrectly
9 8 8A 2 Psychology Didn’t know the answer
and guessed incorrectly
1. FC = Foundational concept; 2. CC = Content category; 3. SIRS = Scientific inquiry and reasoning skill

For additional study tips and approaches employed by students who performed well on the MCAT® exam, check out the How I Prepared for the MCAT® Exam webpage.
Sample Test Worksheet (blank)
Answered correctly Answered incorrectly or left incomplete
Question FC1 CC2 SIRS3 Discipline FC CC SIRS Discipline Why did I miss this Concerns and
Exam section number question? challenges
Biological and
Biochemical
Foundations (BB)

Chemical and
Physical
Foundations (CP)

Critical Analysis
and Reasoning
Skills (CARS)

Psychological,
Social, and
Biological
Foundations of
Behavior (PSBB)

1. FC = Foundational concept; 2. CC = Content category; 3. SIRS = Scientific inquiry and reasoning skill

For additional study tips and approaches employed by students who performed well on the MCAT® exam, check out the How I Prepared for the MCAT® Exam webpage.
 2- Resources and Strategies Worksheet
Resources available Strategies available
• Class notes • Read
• Friends’ class notes • Watch videos
• Friends • Create summaries
• Textbooks • Do practice questions
• Journals • Create compare-and-contrast charts
• Professors (if I don’t understand something) • Create concept maps
• Academic advisor • Make my own flashcards
• Free online textbooks • Form/participate in study group
• Free online courses • Teach-backs with friends
• Test prep books in library or bookstore • Write down real-life examples of the concepts
• Online premed discussion forums • Join online forums to ask questions
• Khan Academy • Create vocabulary lists
• YouTube
• MCAT® question-a-day online
• AAMC’s psychology/sociology textbook tool
• AAMC’s biochemistry textbook tool
• Full-length practice tests
• AAMC practice materials: Section Bank; Question Packs;
Flashcards; Practice Exams 1, 2, and 3; Sample Test; Online
Questions from The Official Guide to the MCAT® Exam, etc.
• National Science Digital Library

For additional study tips and approaches employed by students who performed well on the MCAT® exam, check out the How I Prepared for the MCAT® Exam webpage.
Resources and Strategies Worksheet (blank)
Resources available Strategies available

For additional study tips and approaches employed by students who performed well on the MCAT® exam, check out the How I Prepared for the MCAT® Exam webpage.
 3- Study Plan Worksheet
Exam FC CC SIRS/ Discipline Resources Strategies
Section CARS
PSBB 6 6B SIRS Psych • Khan Academy videos on sleep • Watch videos
4 and consciousness, drug • Read textbooks
dependence, attention, memory, • Create summaries
and cognition • Make flashcards
• Psychological Science, chapters • Take Section Bank
3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 • Teach-back with psych major friend
• AAMC Section Bank and • Ask questions on online forums if I don’t understand something
Flashcards • Practice interpreting figures, graphs, data, etc., while reading
textbooks

8 8A SIRS Psych • Khan Academy video on self- • Watch videos

2 identity • Read textbooks
• Introduction to Biosocial • Create summaries
Medicine, chapters 4, 5, and 7 • Make flashcards
• AAMC Section Bank and • Take Section Bank
Flashcards • Teach-back with psych major friend
• Ask questions on online forums if I don’t understand something

8 8C SIRS Soc • Khan Academy videos on social • Watch videos

3 behavior, social interactions, self- • Read textbooks
presentation and interacting with • Create summaries
others, biological explanations of • Make flashcards
social behavior in animals, and • Take Section Bank
discrimination • Ask questions on online forums if I don’t understand something
• AAMC Section Bank and • Practice identifying hypotheses, relationships, validity of tools,
Flashcards etc., while reading textbooks

9 9B SIRS Soc • Khan Academy videos on • Watch videos

3 demographics, culture • Read textbooks
• AAMC Section Bank and • Create summaries
Flashcards • Make flashcards

For additional study tips and approaches employed by students who performed well on the MCAT® exam, check out the How I Prepared for the MCAT® Exam webpage.
 Exam FC CC SIRS/ Discipline Resources Strategies
Section CARS
• Take Section Bank
• Ask questions on online forums if I don’t understand something
• Practice identifying hypotheses, relationships, validity of tools,
etc., while reading textbooks
10 10A SIRS Soc • Khan Academy video on social • Watch videos
1 inequality • Read textbooks
• Introduction to Sociology, • Create summaries
chapters on human ecology and • Make flashcards
environment, stratification, and • Take Section Bank
health and medicine • Ask questions on online forums if I don’t understand something
• AAMC Section Bank and • Practice recognizing principles, relationships, etc., while reading
Flashcards or doing practice questions

For additional study tips and approaches employed by students who performed well on the MCAT® exam, check out the How I Prepared for the MCAT® Exam webpage.
Study Plan Worksheet (blank)
Exam FC CC SIRS/ Discipline Resources Strategies
Section CARS
Biological and
Biochemical
Foundations
(BB)

Chemical and
Physical
Foundations
(CP)

Critical
Analysis and
Reasoning
Skills (CARS)

Psychological,
Social, and
Biological
Foundations
of Behavior
(PSBB)

For additional study tips and approaches employed by students who performed well on the MCAT® exam, check out the How I Prepared for the MCAT® Exam webpage.
Study Plan
Week 1
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Gym 6 hours available Class 9-11 am Gym/run 9-11 am Class 2-4 pm Class 9-11 am Visit grandma
1-3 pm Class 2-4 pm Research 4-7 pm Work 5-9 pm Work 5-9 pm (5 hours)
Homework Research 4-7 pm Write report
3-8 pm Homework 4 hours available 4 hours available 4 hours available (3 hours)
Schedule 7-9 pm
My day 5 hours available
off 2 hours
available

Areas of My day PSBB 6B, SIRS4 PSBB 6B, PSBB 8A, SIRS2 PSBB 8C, SIRS3 PSBB 8C, SIRS3 PSBB 9B, SIRS 3
study off SIRS4

My day STUDY Finish up the STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY

off • Read Psych. study/practice • Read Intro to • Watch the Khan • Watch the Khan • Watch the Khan
Science and from yesterday Biosocial Medicine Academy videos Academy videos Academy videos
Intro to Biosocial textbook • Make flashcards • Make flashcards • Make flashcards
Med. textbooks • Watch the Khan of new vocab of new vocab of new vocab
• Watch the Khan Academy videos • Create • Create • Create
Academy videos • Make flashcards of summaries of all summaries of all summaries of all
• Make flashcards new vocab concepts concepts concepts
Resources of new vocab • Create summaries
and • Create of all concepts PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
strategies summaries of all • Test myself with • Test myself with • Test myself with
concepts PRACTICE flashcards flashcards flashcards
• Test myself with • Create • Create • Create
PRACTICE flashcards summaries from summaries from summaries from
• Test myself with • Create summaries memory memory memory
flashcards from memory
• Create
summaries from
memory

For additional study tips and approaches employed by students who performed well on the MCAT® exam, check out the How I Prepared for the MCAT® Exam webpage.
Week 2
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Gym Study for finals Final 9-11 am Gym/run 9-11 am Final exam Final exams 6 hours available
1-3 pm 10 am-4 pm Final exam 2-4 pm Research 4-7 pm 2-4 pm 9-11 am
Study for Research 4-7 pm Study for finals Work 5-9 pm Work 5-9 pm
finals 3-8 3 hours available Study for finals 7-10 pm Study for finals
Schedule pm 7-9 pm 9-11 pm 4 hours available
1 hour available
My day no time today no time today
off

My day PSBB 10A, SIRS1 none Review of PSBB none Review of PSBB Review of PSBB
Areas of off 6B, 8A, 8C, 9B, 6B, 8A, 8C, 9B, 6B, 8A, 8C, 9B,
study 10A and SIRS 1, 10A and SIRS 1, 10A and SIRS 1,
2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4

My day STUDY none STUDY none STUDY PRACTICE

off • Read the Intro to • Review all the • Review all the • Take PSBB
Sociology textbook flashcards and flashcards and section of AAMC
• Watch the Khan concept concept Section Bank
Academy videos summaries I summaries I • Review results of
• Make flashcards of created created Section Bank.
new vocab Add areas of
Resources • Create summaries of PRACTICE study, create
and all concepts • Do the Psych flashcards, and/or
and Soc portions create
strategies summaries.
PRACTICE of the AAMC
• Test myself with Flashcards Adjust next
flashcards • Create week’s schedule if
• Create concept flashcards or I need to add
summaries from summaries of more content.
memory those flashcards

For additional study tips and approaches employed by students who performed well on the MCAT® exam, check out the How I Prepared for the MCAT® Exam webpage.
Study Plan (blank)
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Schedule

Areas of
study

Resources
and
strategies

For additional study tips and approaches employed by students who performed well on the MCAT® exam, check out the How I Prepared for the MCAT® Exam webpage.
 | Medical College Admission Test

How to Create a Study Plan

for the MCAT® Exam

MCAT® is a program of the

Association of American Medical Colleges
 Preparing for the MCAT exam takes time. While you are trying to find a balance
between your coursework, extracurricular activities, and social life, you also need to
find time to prepare. It’s no surprise that one of the most frequently asked questions
is, “What is the best way to prepare for the exam?”
There is no right or wrong way to study and prepare for the exam, but knowing
where to start can be challenging. To help you, the MCAT team has developed this
five-step guide to creating your own study plan. The best study plan is one that is
tailored to your personal learning style and schedule. Following the steps in this guide
can help you make the most effective use of your MCAT study time.

1 2 3 4 5
Understand
Establish
a Baseline
Study
Targeted Areas
Practice
Simulate
Actual Exam

© 2015 Association of American Medical Colleges. May not be reproduced or distributed without prior permission.
1 Understand
Learn about the MCAT exam: what it is testing, how it is
scored, and more.

• Start by watching this two-minute video for a brief

overview about the exam and what it tests.

• Explore the content outline of the exam and the

necessary skills you will be tested on by using the
interactive tool What’s on the MCAT Exam?

• Get a complete introduction to the exam, including

important information on registration, scoring, exam
content, and holistic admissions, in The Official Guide
to the MCAT Exam. This guide also provides 120 MCAT
practice questions and answers and an option to get
online access to the practice questions.

• Read the MCAT Essentials, required reading for all

examinees, to get registration instructions, test-day
policies, scoring details, suggestions to help you prepare
for the exam, a list of contacts and online services, and
other helpful information.
2 Establish
Establish a baseline of knowledge by taking a pretest to
help you begin your studying.

• Watch the Sample Test Video to learn more about how

to use the Official MCAT Sample Test and the feedback it
provides.

• Take the Official MCAT Sample Test to help you identify

the sections that you need to focus on the most. This is a
full-length practice test with the same type and number
of questions as the actual MCAT exam. Plus, the Sample
Test allows up to 20 “starts,” which gives you multiple
times to retake the test.
3 Study
Focus your studies according to your pretest results.

• Use the Khan Academy MCAT Collection to brush up

on familiar topics or expose you to new material not
yet covered in your courses. This free and open-access
collection includes more than 1,100 videos and 3,000
review questions on all the content areas the exam covers.
You can customize how you study by digging deeper into
the content categories on which you want to focus.

• Use the resources already available to you: textbooks and

class notes from completed courses, your campus library,
academic support, and study groups.

• If you need additional resources in psychology or

sociology, the Roadmap to MCAT Content in Sociology
and Psychology Textbooks lists introductory psychology
and sociology textbooks (many of which are open access)
that contain MCAT concepts and content. The publishers
of these textbooks have identified where in their
publications the MCAT content is located.
4 Practice
Practice your skills by taking MCAT test questions in
different ways.

• Test your knowledge with the AAMC MCAT Section Bank

and the Official MCAT Question Packs. You’ll have access to
more than 1,000 questions with these test prep products.

• Take advantage of enhanced practice features, including

“Why did I miss this question?” and detailed solutions
to help you focus your studies. Plus, all MCAT practice
question products allow up to 20 “starts,” which gives
you multiple chances to retake the questions.

• Refresh your knowledge as needed by going back to

the Khan Academy MCAT Collection and the resources
already available to you, such as your textbooks and class
notes from previous coursework.
5 Simulate
Simulate the exam-day experience as a final step and to
gain confidence.

• Take the AAMC MCAT Practice Exam (Scored) One, by

selecting the “Simulate Actual Test” setting, to get an
idea of how you might perform on test day. This option
lets you take the practice exam with the same timer as
the actual timed exam.

• Review your scaled score report and use your 20 “starts”

to repeat the test using other options. For example,
you can choose to see the solutions as you answer the
questions.

• Ask your advisor to hold a Mock Exam Day for you and
your peers (or hold one yourself). This will simulate the
experience of taking the real exam, including preparing
for the logistics of test day, effectively using the test
features, and testing your endurance during the exam.

 
One Final Note
Don’t forget to take care of yourself! This means eating right, exercising, and getting
enough sleep, especially right before test day. You might be tempted to cram the
night before, staying up late to get that last chance to study and practice. But you
will perform better on test day if you get at least seven to eight hours of sleep.
We wish you the best on your path to a career in medicine!