How I studied and aced the MCAT from Toronto
This is a guest post from Jessica! Jess is currently in med school at Western U in SoCal after getting at 526 on the MCAT. Here is her study guide:
How I studed for and aced my MCAT exam:
I will try and keep this post brief as I know many other posts are extremely long and somewhat boring to read. Here are my tips + links to tools I used.
1. Start Early and Establish a Timeline: I began my MCAT preparation during the summer of 2021, a time when my academic schedule was relatively light. I dedicated 3ish months to studying, as I learned that longer periods might not enhance my memory retention. I started with a diagnostic test to gauge where I stood and set a realistic goal score for myself. I committed to studying at least 10 hours a week, as I had read that this could lead to an average score increase of 1.5 points.
Tools:
- MCAT Self Prep: A free program for creating a personalized study plan.
- AAMC Guide to MCAT: For understanding the structure and content of the test.
2. Utilize Effective Resources: I took full advantage of Khan Academy's extensive, AAMC-approved content, which was freely available. For areas where I needed further clarification, I supplemented my studies with Princeton Review books, which provided a more in-depth look at complex topics. I realized that the most expensive resources were not necessarily the most effective, so I chose a mix that suited my learning style and my budget.
Tools:
- Khan Academy MCAT: Free comprehensive video lessons on all MCAT topics (endorsed by the AAMC).
- Princeton books: Detailed content review books. I bought mine used.
- ExamKrackers: Condensed material with a focus on the main concepts. I only put this here because a friend used this and it came in handy once in a while. I wouldn't buy it.
3. Prep Course vs Tutor vs Self Study: I weighed the pros and cons of each but ultimately I trusted myself and knew I could learn the material. I also had friends who passed the MCAT and they never had tutors or prep courses. Using a structured program like MCAT Self Prep, I was able to tailor my study schedule while complementing it with free or affordable resources.
Practice tests became the cornerstone of my study regimen. I found that third-party practice exams, often more challenging than the AAMC material, were excellent for training under pressure. However, I reserved the AAMC practice tests for the final phase of my study to get the most accurate prediction of my test-day performance. Basically I did the AAMC test early on just to get a sense of the questions, and then did it in its entirety at the end.
Tools:
AAMC Practice Resources: Full-length practice tests, question banks, and section banks.
Blueprint MCAT: Easy
Kaplan MCAT: Medium
Magoosh MCAT: Medium
Princeton Free Practice MCAT: Hard
Generate Sample Questions from videos: Plugging Slay School here. It's a resource I wish I had!
Heard good things about Uworld but didn't really give it a proper shot.
4. Content Mastery: For content mastery, I relied heavily on active recall and spaced repetition. I used Anki Flashcards. I made it a game to do it with every meal and probably got through thousands every week. It was enjoyable!
My Fave Anki Decks:
Others I heard good things about
5. Test-Taking Strategies: I also honed my test-taking strategies, focusing on time management and pacing. I practiced reading passages efficiently and developed strategies for tackling challenging questions. If I found myself short on time, I would adjust my pace, and if I had extra time, I used it to revisit flagged questions. I have some performance anxiety so at least once a week I dressed in what I would wear to the exam and did a practice test. I am also weirdly superstitious so I tend to keep a little bracelet with me for good luck. Don't judge me!
I analyzed every question I got wrong or felt unsure about, ensuring I understood my mistakes to prevent them in the future. I kept a detailed log of these errors and regularly revisited them.
Tools:
MCAT-Review.org: Free tool for studying
Reddit Survival guide to CARS: Super grateful for this community and posts like this!
6. Health is wealth:I also fully believe in staying mentally, emotionally and physically healthy. I made sure I studied early in the morning followed by a quick work out or run. I didn't stay out too late at night and would meditate before bed (but after anki!)
Thanks for reading this. If you have any questions feel free to email me at jessica@slayschool.com.
I'd also love it if you checked out what Ali and the team are building at SlaySchool. It's a really easy way to generate questions, study flashcards, and learn the material! Good luck!