10 Pre-Med Tips to Help You Score 525+ on the MCAT
One pre-med student we came across aced the MCAT with a score of 525 out of 528. This equates to a 99.9% score! He shares some tips with us on how to study for the MCAT. Our goal is to help you score 525+ on your exam.
What is the lowest MCAT score accepted into med school? Well, that depends on the institution. Each school sets its own standards. There are some easy medical schools to get into with median MCAT scores as low as 490.
However, if you want to get into one of the best medical schools in the US, you need a good score. So, we’re sharing these 10 best practices with you, to help you get an almost perfect MCAT score:
1. Give Yourself 3 Months to Study for the MCAT
The pre-med student says he set aside three straight months for studying. And for those three months, that’s pretty much all he did. He chose the summer because school was out, so he could give it his all.
Other than the time he spent hanging out with friends and working out, all he did was study. He also spent 4-hours per day, once per week, shadowing a doctor all summer long. Other than that, it was study, study and study some more.
2. Make Your MCAT Prep Your New Job
When you work a job, a typical shift is eight hours per day, minus 1 hour for lunch. And you do this five days per week. You need to do the same with your MCAT prep. This is your job for the next three months… preparing for the MCAT.
Give yourself a set schedule to keep you on track. Use your smartphone to put yourself on the clock, like a job. Every time you take a break, stop the clock, even if you only spend 20 minutes on Instagram. Don’t quit for the day until you’ve put in your seven hours.
Some pre-meds live very busy lives. So, this may not be the best schedule for your lifestyle. That’s understandable. You can set your own schedule to meet your needs. Just be sure to put in about 35 hours of studying for the MCAT every week.
And make sure to study the AAMC book (see below for more information about AAMC).
3. Make Test Questions Your Life
When preparing for the MCAT, make taking tests your prime study method. Some people easily retain what they learn in classrooms. Others don’t. Either way, tests help you determine where your shortcomings are, so you know which areas to study most.
According to the pre-med student, this tip will help you score 525+ on your MCAT exam. You can learn everything you need to know for this exam by taking practice tests. Just make sure the core of your studying is the eight AAMC tests. Knowing the standards set by the Association of American Medical Colleges is key to passing this exam.
VIDEO: My 100 Percentile MCAT Study Schedule | Get 7 Official Full Length AAMC Practice Tests
In the video below, Shaman shows you how to use the AAMC resources to your advantage. This med student shares the following in this video:
- Brief overview of the AAMC resources
- How to use the AAMC resources to create custom tests
- General schedule to help you know when to use those custom tests
Search the web for online review courses. Determine where your weak points lie. Then, use books or MCAT prep courses for more in-depth information regarding those concepts.
Most good MCAT prep schools also offer mock exams as well as one-on-one MCAT tutoring to help you score 525+ on the test. The more practice tests you take, the better you’ll score on the real exam.
4. Track Your Weak Points
As you study for the MCAT, keep a digital study diary of all the material you don’t understand initially. If there’s anything that’s a bit shaky in your mind, add that to the list too.
The pre-med student also advises marking down where to locate the test question that prompted the diary entry. That way, you can go back and review the related section before moving on to the next practice test.
Create four main categories as follows:
- Biology
- General Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Physics
Then, create sub-categories as you go, based on the areas you need to review.
5. Start Off Slowly
If you’re a person who freaks out during timed exams, even when you’re prepared, the pre-med has a tip for this. Take the first three or four AAMC tests off the clock. Leave your notes open and take a guess at every single question before you look up the answers.
Mark the ones you have issues with inside your digital study diary. Now, study those areas specifically before moving on to the next test.
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6. Review Each Question You Get Wrong
Eventually, you’ll start getting 125 on each section of the MCAT. At that point, start taking the AAMC tests on the clock, with no notes. Take the tests one section at a time. This makes it easier to track your pain points in your digital study diary.
At the end of each section test, review every single question, one by one. Why? Sometimes, you may guess at a question and get it correct. There’s no guarantee you’ll guess correctly when taking the real MCAT.
So, use this opportunity to be sure of what you do and do not know. Anything you stumble with, add it to the diary.
7. Start Taking AAMC Tests in Real-World Conditions
At some point, you’ll start scoring over 127 on each section. Once this becomes consistent, start taking all three sections of each AAMC exam in one sitting. And use the timer, so you’re now taking the tests under real-world conditions.
8. Use Every MCAT Test Prep Resource Possible
Eventually, you’ll run out of AAMC exams to take. Start going through the AAMC diagnostic exams.
You can also use the Princeton Review online tests to help you prep for the MCAT. The pre-med warns that these tests are much harder than those provided by AAMC. So, your scores may plummet initially.
But don’t let that shake your confidence. Just keep putting notes in your digital study diary. And review, review, review. Eventually, your scores will jump back up.
9. Get Plenty of Rest the Day Before the MCAT
The average MCAT scores by school vary from state to state. But if you want to get an almost perfect MCAT score, you need to do more than study. You need to make sure your mind is in the right place as well.
Don’t stay up all night studying for the MCAT. As a matter of fact, plan to take the entire day before the test off. Spend the day resting. Or pamper yourself with a relaxing massage. And most importantly, make sure you get a good night’s sleep.
10. Take an MCAT Prep Course
If you’re unable to dedicate 35 hours per week to studying for the MCAT, that’s understandable. Not all pre-meds have this type of free time to put into MCAT exam prep.
In your case, a test prep course would work wonders. This allows you to review biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics with licensed professionals who know how to pass the MCAT. MedSmarter offers one of the best MCAT exam prep courses in Atlanta, Georgia.
MedSmarter Can Help You Score 525+ on Your MCAT Exam
Do you know someone who’s currently studying to take the MCAT? Then, share these test prep tips with them. Share it in your pre-med Facebook groups and other related social media networks as well. They will really appreciate it!
If you’re looking for ways to study for the MCAT in the Atlanta area, MedSmarter is here to help. Our courses have a proven track record of helping students get high scores on their US medical exams.
Don’t let this one exam deter you from your dreams of becoming a doctor someday. Get the help you need to score high on the MCAT so you can get into a good medical school.
Click the button below to learn more about MedSmarter Atlanta MCAT Exam Prep Courses.
