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MCAT happens to be one of the most feared exams for college students. It is, they say, the stuff horror movies are made of. Unsurprisingly, these dark statements are very different from the reality. No advanced classes or special MCAT prep courses will help you get a decent score, unless you approach the exam correctly. All that is necessary is to get into the mode of the exam and understand the philosophy of the exam while preparing for it. This is what we can help you out with.
The exam has a Physical Sciences section (comprising physics and general chemistry); a Biological Sciences section (which consists of general biology and organic chemistry) and a Verbal section (which contains reading comprehensions and two essay questions). Yes, you have to write two essays in one hour. Each of the sections is 15 points each. Though there is no rigid rule, scores below 30 weaken your candidacy to medical colleges.
MCAT Format
This is the general setup of the exam:
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Section
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Time
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# of Questions
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 |
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Physical Sciences
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100 minutes
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77
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78 seconds
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Break
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10 minutes
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-
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-
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Verbal Reasoning
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85 minutes
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60
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unknown
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Lunch
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60 minutes
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-
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-
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Writing Sample
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60 minutes
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2 essays
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30 minutes/essay
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Break
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10 minutes
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-
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-
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Biological Sciences
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100 minutes
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77
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78 seconds
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This exam is not a test of how much you know; it tests your abilities to reason. In a way, this exam is designed to evaluate your aptitude for medical reasoning. Indeed, knowing the pKa of myriad acids, the number of species in class Gastropoda, and the exact speed of light to 14 decimals will not get you too far. True, a few direct questions are placed on the test to gauge your knowledge. However, these form a very tiny part of your MCAT score. Most of the questions are designed to test your ability to reason things out in the exam room. You really have to logic your way out of that test. In fact, formulae are handed to you. All you have to do is to build the bridge using those formulae, and cross it.
Think of it this way; Physics, Biology, and Chemistry (organic and general) are the languages in which you are asked to reason. Look, it is basically a sophisticated brain teaser; a scientific person’s version of Sudoku and crossword puzzles. The level of knowledge required is no more than what you have picked up in the freshman/introductory courses. Advanced courses are quite unnecessary. The rumors say that two months of preparation are adequate to get a decent score on the MCATs. Do not do yourself a disservice. Take more time.
A good doctor is supposed to have excellent communication skills. This is why medical colleges wish to see a decent verbal MCAT score. Many biology students manage to score impressive grades in the science sections, but meet their Waterloo in the verbal section. A few hours of cramming are no substitute for years of reading. If you have not been reading, begin now! It is a good idea to keep abreast of international affairs, philosophical issues, and medical ethics. Reading periodicals such as The New York Times, The Economist, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, or Scientific American may help you get more comfortable with words, sharpen your retentive skills, increase your reading speed (helpful in and out of the exam), and supply you with content to use in the two essays on the exam.
MCAT Writing Sample
The MCAT Writing Sample consists of two 30-minute essays. Both essays test your ability to put forth your point of view in a coherent manner. You are expected to voice your opinion (whatever that may be) and provide evidence supporting it.
Intrigued? Go explore the Web. It is full of incredible resources for the MCAT.
MCAT Online Sources
- Test Prep Review
Free preview questions that help get an idea of the complexity level of the MCATs.
- MCAT Practice Online
Free MCAT test and other online MCAT study aids. Recommended by the AAMC.
- Prometric Online Sample Test
A tutorial for taking online tests in general.
- MCAT Prep
Mnemonics guides, three practices MCAT tests, grammar concept, study notes, and more. Prepared by Dr. Ken Evans, M.Sc., M.D.
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