A study plan for the MCAT covering all four sections, from content review and practice strategy to test-day logistics, designed for pre-med students targeting competitive scores.
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Assess and Set Your Target Score
Take an official MCAT diagnostic practice test to establish your baseline
The MCAT is scored 472-528, with 500 as the 50th percentile and each section scored 118-132. Use a full-length official practice test and simulate actual conditions: 7.5 hours with breaks. Your baseline determines whether you need 3 months or 6 months of preparation.
Research the MCAT score averages for your target medical schools
The average MCAT score for matriculants at US medical schools is approximately 511-512. Top-20 schools average 517-521. State medical schools may accept 508-512. A 510+ puts you in the 80th percentile nationally. Check each school's entering class profile for specific data.
Identify which of the 4 sections needs the most improvement
The four sections are Chemical and Physical Foundations, Critical Analysis and Reasoning, Biological and Biochemical Foundations, and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations. An unbalanced score (e.g., 130/124/130/130) raises red flags even if the total is high. Aim for no section below 125.
Plan a 3-6 month study timeline based on your point gap
Most students study 300-400 hours total for the MCAT. Full-time summer studying at 40 hours per week takes 8-10 weeks. Part-time study during the school year at 15-20 hours per week takes 4-6 months. Front-load content review and save the final 6-8 weeks for practice tests.
Content Review Phase
Review all prerequisite sciences: biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics
Content review should cover 2 semesters of biology, 2 of general chemistry, 2 of organic chemistry, 1 of biochemistry, and 2 of physics. Spend 4-6 weeks on content review before shifting to passage practice. Make summary sheets for each subject as you review.
Study psychology and sociology foundations from a dedicated MCAT resource
The Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations section is the newest and covers introductory psychology and sociology. Many pre-med students have not taken sociology. This section is the most improvable in a short time since the content is less technical. Study 10-15 hours per week on this section alone.
Build a flashcard deck of 1,000-2,000 high-yield facts and equations
Use spaced repetition software and review 50-100 cards daily. Focus on amino acid structures, metabolic pathways, physics formulas, and psychology terminology. After 6 weeks of daily review, these facts will be automatic. Do not spend time making cards for concepts you already know well.
Study the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section strategy separately
CARS tests reading and reasoning, not science knowledge. It uses passages from humanities, social sciences, and ethics. Read one challenging non-science article per day and summarize the author's argument in 2-3 sentences. CARS is the hardest section to improve quickly, so start practicing it early.
Create summary sheets of high-yield topics for each science section
Condense each subject to 5-10 pages of essential facts, formulas, and pathways. Review these summary sheets weekly. High-yield MCAT topics include amino acids, enzyme kinetics, gas laws, optics, acid-base chemistry, and the nervous system. These topics appear on nearly every exam.
Practice and Testing Phase
Complete 1,000+ practice passage-based questions organized by subject
The MCAT is 95% passage-based, not discrete recall questions. Practice reading a passage and extracting relevant data before answering questions. Aim for 50-100 practice questions per day during your peak study phase. Track your accuracy by subject to identify remaining weak areas.
Take one full-length practice test every 1-2 weeks in the final 2 months
Full-length tests are 7.5 hours including breaks. Take them on the same day and time as your actual exam to train your stamina and circadian rhythm. Review every wrong answer within 24 hours. Students who take 7-10 full-length practice tests score an average of 4-5 points higher on the real exam.
Analyze your practice test scores to redirect remaining study time
After each practice test, calculate your accuracy by topic within each section. If you consistently miss genetics questions but ace cell biology, shift your biology review to genetics exclusively. Targeted review of weak topics in the final 4 weeks produces the biggest score jumps.
Practice time management: 10 minutes per passage with 5-7 questions
Each MCAT section gives you roughly 95 minutes for 59 questions across 9-10 passages. That is about 10 minutes per passage. If a passage takes more than 12 minutes, make your best guesses and move on. Unanswered questions due to running out of time are the biggest preventable score loss.
Test Registration and Logistics
Register for the MCAT as soon as registration opens for your target date
The MCAT costs $335 and registration opens about 5 months before each test date. Popular dates in May-July fill up within days of opening. Register at 12:00 PM ET on the day registration opens because seats go fast. Late registration is not available for the MCAT.
Apply for fee assistance if eligible before registering
The fee assistance program reduces the MCAT cost to $135 and includes free official practice materials worth $300+. Eligibility is based on family income and household size. Applications take 2-3 weeks to process, so apply before registration opens for your target date.
Confirm your test center location and plan an overnight stay if needed
MCAT test centers are less common than SAT or GRE centers. Your nearest center may be 1-3 hours away. If your center requires a long drive, book a hotel room nearby for the night before. The MCAT starts at 8:00 AM and you must arrive by 7:30 AM. Being well-rested matters more than any last-minute review.
Pack your test day supplies the night before
Bring your government-issued photo ID, a snack and lunch for breaks, and a light jacket since test rooms are often cold. No phones, watches, or notes are allowed in the testing room. Lockers are provided for personal items. Bring earplugs if you are sensitive to noise.
Score Review and Application Planning
Review your score report when released approximately 30 days after the test
The MCAT score report shows your total score, section scores, and confidence bands. A 1-2 point difference between your actual score and practice test average is normal. Scores are released on a published schedule, usually on Tuesdays at 5:00 PM ET.
Decide whether to retake or proceed with your current score
If your score is more than 3 points below your target, a retake may be worthwhile. However, medical schools see all MCAT attempts, and a pattern of low-then-high scores is viewed better than multiple similar scores. The average improvement on a retake is 2-3 points with targeted studying.
Submit your MCAT score to AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TMDSAS as part of your application
MCAT scores are automatically included in your AMCAS application. For osteopathic schools (AACOMAS) and Texas schools (TMDSAS), scores transfer through the respective portals. MCAT scores are valid for 2-3 years depending on the school. Check each school's policy on score expiration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good MCAT score for medical school?
The MCAT scores range from 472-528, with the average around 501. A 510+ (80th percentile) makes you competitive for most MD programs. Top-20 schools typically see admitted students with 517-523. DO programs accept scores in the 500-510 range. The four sections (Chemical/Physical, CARS, Bio/Biochem, Psych/Soc) are each scored 118-132. Admissions committees look at both total score and section balance, so a 510 with evenly distributed section scores is viewed more favorably than a 512 with one section below 125.
How long should I study for the MCAT?
Most successful test-takers study for 3-6 months at 20-30 hours per week (300-500 total hours). Students who have completed all prerequisite courses recently may manage with 10-12 weeks of intensive study. Students with content gaps in organic chemistry or physics should plan for 5-6 months. The content-heavy nature of the MCAT means that 300 hours is the floor for meaningful preparation. Full-time study during a gap year or summer produces the highest average scores.
How many times can I take the MCAT?
You can take the MCAT up to 3 times in a single calendar year, 4 times across 2 consecutive years, and 7 times total in your lifetime. Voided scores count toward the attempt limit. Most medical schools see all your scores, though some focus on the most recent or highest. The average score improvement from the first to second attempt is 3-4 points, but about 30% of retakers score the same or lower. Only retake if you can identify specific areas for improvement and dedicate another 6-8 weeks of focused study.
What are the prerequisites for taking the MCAT?
There are no formal prerequisites to register for the MCAT, but the exam covers content from 8 college-level courses: general biology (2 semesters), general chemistry (2 semesters), organic chemistry (2 semesters), physics (2 semesters), biochemistry (1 semester), psychology (1 semester), and sociology (1 semester). Most students take the MCAT after completing junior year coursework. Taking the exam before finishing these courses puts you at a significant disadvantage on the content-heavy sections.
Is the CARS section really the hardest part of the MCAT?
CARS (Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills) is widely considered the most difficult section to improve because it tests reading comprehension and analytical reasoning skills built over years, not memorizable content. It uses dense passages from humanities and social sciences with no scientific content. Students with strong science backgrounds but limited reading habits often struggle here. Improvement typically requires 3-4 months of daily practice reading challenging non-fiction and answering passage-based questions. Unlike the science sections, CARS does not reward last-minute content review.