MCAT Retake/Application Advice

Question

So I took the exam 1/24 and was disappointed in my score although not surprised. I got a 506 126/126/128/126. I studied over summer of 2018 and was scoring around 509 on my FLEs and my goal was a 515, so I was kind of freaking out. I took it in September as I couldn't reschedule and voided my score. I signed up for the January test date and told myself I would study over the Fall semester. That did not happen as I was taking 21 hours of pretty tough classes. Winter break was spent out of the country despite my insistence I shouldn't go my family forced me to go. I knew I wasn't ready in January but being from an Asian background my mom insisted I take it so I took it anyway. So, I need to retake it and I want to apply this cycle so my question is two fold. ​ 1. What should my study plan be for the next 6 to 8 weeks depending on when I take it. I am already halfway through content review as I knew I didn't do well so, since Jan 24 I have been going over content again. 2. Should I take it April 13 to get my score earlier to apply, or should I take it May 11,18, or 24. I am afraid of taking it late May and submitting my application late June and interview spots being taken up. To be honest I am not too familiar with TMDSAS or AMCAs timeline for applications. But I don't know if I will be ready by April 13 as it's pretty much 6 weeks away.

Answer 1

Hey Angelique,

Sounds like a tough spot, but at the same time at least you're not starting from nothing as far as content review and practice goes since you have already been studying (for a while now). I think you will be in a great spot to take the MCAT, particularly if you can give yourself three to four weeks of dedicated time to study. That means no studying for other classes, no hanging out with friends, and no more vacations. Tell the family I said so! To answer your specific questions:

1) For the next 6-8 weeks it really depends on how confident you currently feel with content and how much time you have available to study each day. I say you are probably good with 4-6 weeks of PRIMARILY (not only) content review if you already feel confident with the material and can manage to get at least 2 hours of study in each day. I suggest practicing with questions at least a few times each week (including doing daily CARS passages, of course). After that, start doing PRIMARILY test taking. Do Qbanks (Kaplan, Uworld, AAMC). Take full-lengths more frequently (once per week) and review the entire test--this should take about 14 hours to review. In the 3-4 weeks before your test you should be hammering yourself with practice questions and reviewing all of your incorrect/guessed answers.

2) As far as time of testing, taking the MCAT in April versus one month later is not a huge deal. I took the test June 1, received my scores in early July, was misfortunate enough to have an apathetic pre-med advisor who did not send out my committee letter until August and I am still going to be a med student in the Fall. The point is, if you feel like you need an extra month or even two, take the time. I would rather apply a month later with a 518 than a month earlier with a 508. Just make sure you do a lot of practice questions and review every question with the intent of learning/memorizing the material you missed.

If you want to talk more about the MCAT and your study schedule, just let me know--I am happy to help. Best wishes!

Jean-Marc