What is the best way to study for the MCAT?

Question

Always read first...then...

Answer 1

This is one of my favorite questions. Of course, everyone learns differently, but there are several things that I believe can help EVERYONE.

1. Plan for 400+ hours of dedicated, focused study time. Use Pomodoro to keep you on task if you have trouble.
2. Complete at least 2,000 practice questions before taking the exam. The most important material is the official AAMC material - Qpacks, Section Banks, Study Guide, Practice Exams.
3. Complete at least 4 practice full length exams before taking the real thing. The most important material, again, is the official AAMC material. Take these exams under test conditions (timed, start at 8am, no phone, eat/drink only on breaks, etc.)
4. Keep track of what you get wrong and WHY. Study it until you know it.
5. Do NOT take the real thing until your AAMC full length practice exam scores are where you want to actually score. You won't magically go up on the real thing. This is an unbelievably common mistake. Postpone your exam if you aren't scoring where you want to on practice exams.

A few more points for improving on practice questions/practice exams:

1. READ the question. I mean, really read it and determine what it's asking.
2. READ the passage. The whole thing. There are often answers just hidden in the passage.
3. LOOK at the figures! Same thing as reading the passage.
4. READ the answers. If none of the answers seem correct, you're either misreading the question, missing something from the passage, or your reference knowledge is wrong.
5. Stay on TIME. If you're really stuck, guess and move on. The clock is ticking.
6. USE YOUR NOGGIN! The MCAT tests how well you think and your critical reasoning skills more than ANYTHING.

Answer 2

Thanks! I think this is all very true and great to pass along!