MCAT is an entry test that all the aspiring medical students are required to take in order to get qualified for securing admission in a medical school. The medical schools evaluate applicants on the basis of their MCAT test score. This nationally standardized test is used to test the science knowledge, critical thinking, problem solving, writing skills, and analytical ability of the students who want to study the medical programs. Most medical school weigh the MCAT score as much as they weigh the GPA. That is why it is important to prepare well for the test. It better to plan well for your MCAT preparation and here are some tips on how to prepare for your MCAT exam.
Start Your Preparation Early:
The importance of starting your MCAT preparation earlier can’t be emphasized enough. It is recommended to start your MCAT preparation three to six months before the test. Take a practice test before you start your preparation to plan your studying for the test. The test will help you determine how much time you are likely to need for preparation and what you should focus on. Make sure you take enough time required to absorb the course material fully. The actual time you require to prepare for the test depends on your schedule and needs. Don’t just procrastinate and start your preparation early.
Take Practice Tests to Learn Time Management:
You must get familiar with the paper format in order to succeed in MCAT, as learning just the course material will not help. Take practice tests often to get your hands on the test structure and format. Incorporate practice tests into your MCAT preparation regime is a good idea as it will also enable you to master the exam timing. Taking practice tests will teach you how to manage your time while attempting the exam and allow you to identify your strengths and weaknesses. You also get to measure your progress and identify improvement areas.
Strengthen Your Weak Spots:
The right test preparation strategy for the MCAT test is to focus on your strengths and weaknesses equally. Identify your weak spots and work to strengthen them so that you won’t fall behind. Take practice tests weekly and use them to identify your weaknesses. Use this information to plan your preparation further. Keep on improving your weaknesses until they become your strengths. In doing so, you may also develop your strengths further. Even if you are taking the MCAT test preparation course, work separately on your weaknesses.
Use Good Study Materials:
If you are taking the MCAT test preparation course, you will get good study resources and materials from your institution. The best study materials for MCAT preparation are published by AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). That is because they are the creators of MCAT. Therefore, it is highly recommended to get your hands on every practice question and test from AAMC. The practice tests they provide are close to the actual MCAT exam and the practice questions they publish are usually taken from the old MCAT exams. Hence, use the AAMC published study material to ace your MCAT.
