40 on the MCAT

[1AO KTG]

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Anyone know how to go about getting a 40 on the mcat. Does anyone know someone else who was able to get such a high score? Is there a secret number of practice tests you need to take? I know someone who took 60 and got a 38. If you sacrifice the time and energy for any test you can do very well, so it cant be impossible, can it? As someone who is very ambitious, becoming a physician is the ultimate goal, however a 40 on the MCAT would be a pretty big achievement to look back on no matter how what happens. I'm willing to follow whatever that recipe is.

 

[quadomatic]

You're not asking how to bake a cake. There are no tricks. Just study like hell.

If becoming a physician is your ultimate goal, you don't need a 40.

 

[PingPongPro]

Do u honestly think there is a secret number you have to hit in order to get a 40?

If this is true, then based on the example u gave, 60 tests = 38, therefore I need to do 63.16 tests in order to get a 40.

 

[bfarn30]

Troll?

Your buddy should have taken 61 practice exams. The recipe clearly states that 61 practice exams = 40 on the MCAT.

 

[Ismet]

😆 muststoplaughing.
*composes self*

No, there's no magic number or magic steps to take. There's no one way that if you follow it, a 40 is handed to you on a sparkly golden platter. If a 40 is really that important to you, study hard, take practice tests, review those practice tests, etc. Even if you are extremely prepared, you still might have bad luck on test day and be tired, get a hard passage, be distracted, etc.

 

[QofQuimica]

OP, there is no magic formula that will guarantee you a certain score on the MCAT. I took five practice tests and scored a 43, which just goes to show that the number of practice tests taken tells you exactly nothing.

As others have said, you do not need a 40 MCAT in order to get into medical school. If you want to do well, you need to follow a solid study plan, either your own or via a prep course, and you need to practice. (That being said, I think doing 60 practice tests is a bit excessive!)

I would also caution you against looking at the MCAT as an end in itself rather than as a means to an end. In other words, keep in mind that the purpose of taking the MCAT is to get into medical school, not to achieve a certain score. Once you matriculate into med school, no one will care what you got on the MCAT anymore, just like no one cares what your SAT score is once you start college.

Best of luck. 🙂

 

[ModusProbandi]

As someone who is very ambitious, becoming a physician is the ultimate goal

You sure it ain't that yellow F430?

 

[quadomatic]

You sure it ain't that yellow F430?

Bazinga

 

[btc8]

If you're aiming big, why not 45?

I agree: It's not like asking how to bake a cake. More like how to instruct the ingredients of a cake to bake themselves into a cake--without human intervention.

 

[1AO KTG]

Yeah the 430 adds a lot of fuel to the fire.

 

[dbeast]

40+ on the MCAT is really just common sense. Don't overstudy.

 

[crossscreen]

are there even 60 different test out there?

10 aamc, ~10 pr, ~10 kaplan + x gold standard + x br???

 

[GreenRabbit]

I don't think getting a 40+ on the MCAT is about sacrificing time or energy at all. I personally took 2 practice tests. And I'm willing to bet that the number of practice tests you take / the time you dedicate studying the MCAT is poorly correlated to score at 39+.

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

I don't think getting a 40+ on the MCAT is about sacrificing time or energy at all. I personally took 2 practice tests. And I'm willing to bet that the number of practice tests you take / the time you dedicate studying the MCAT is poorly correlated to score at 39+.

it's luck after 35-36 IMO

 

[MDminded]

are there even 60 different test out there?

10 aamc, ~10 pr, ~10 kaplan + x gold standard + x br???

My thoughts EXACTLY.

 

[apumic]

Study. Hard.

Also, be born smart.

Lastly, don't ask stupid questions. It shows us the first two criteria are unlikely to occur.

My prediction for you: 22 (9/4/9).

 

[liveoak]

demanding a 40 makes you a *****, not a doctor.

 

[apumic]

are there even 60 different test out there?

10 aamc, ~10 pr, ~10 kaplan + x gold standard + x br???

9 AAMC (if you get a hold of 6 somehow)
11 TPR (incl. diag)
12 Kap (incl. diag)
10 GS
9 TBR
1 EK (1H)
--------
42 from the major companies. Anything else would be random crap from the internet and about half of those above are crap as it is.

 

[Philosophy]

As for the quest for 40, you're not not harming anyone by giving it a go, provided you keep the proper perspective about the trivial importance of achieving a glamour score. We're all entitled to set personal goals beyond the dictates of practical relevance or need. I aimed for 40 as well. Aiming high kept me from becoming complacent after a good diagnostic and helped motivate me to keep reading and learning and not slack off. But it shouldn't be something to fixate on or give rise to excessive time spent on the MCAT.

Knowing admissions committees don't much care what flavor of 35+ you get can actually help take the pressure off.

it's luck after 35-36 IMO

....but....probably more like after 40 or 41. I would guess that while some people can routinely score 13+ on VR and 14+ on PS and BS, basically none can routinely score 15s in sciences or 14+ in verbal. Thus luck accounts for most of the variance in scores between 41 and 45.
👍

 

[phltz]

Anyone know how to go about getting a 40 on the mcat. Does anyone know someone else who was able to get such a high score? Is there a secret number of practice tests you need to take? I know someone who took 60 and got a 38. If you sacrifice the time and energy for any test you can do very well, so it cant be impossible, can it? As someone who is very ambitious, becoming a physician is the ultimate goal, however a 40 on the MCAT would be a pretty big achievement to look back on no matter how what happens. I'm willing to follow whatever that recipe is.

You may be able to luckily score over 40 by extensively studying and walking into the test confident and prepared. In all likelyhood, no number of practice tests, and no amount of time spent reviewing, will get you to the point where you could consistently and reliably do that, however.

If you really want to be able to do it reliably, spend a few years working as a science teacher first. Most, if not all, of the people I've heard of who consistently had over a 40 on their practice tests and then got over a 40 on the real thing had extensive experience teaching science.

Teaching is a noble profession, and good science teachers are desperately needed in classrooms around the world. So you could be doing a lot of good. That said, it's absolutely not worth spending years teaching just because you feel a compulsion to achieve an arbitrary and unnecessary score on one stupid test.

 

[raltima07]

Im stuck at 30....but not too far off from a 32+. =(

Just throwing that in there

 

[apumic]

Apumic - just out of curiosity, why did you include EK 1H on the list and not EK 1g, 2f, or 3g?

1H was the only one that came to mind with them. I couldn't remember if they had any more, but from what I've heard, their tests aren't exactly worthwhile anyway and the 1x series, IIRC, are basically just different versions of the same test.

 

[bambam02]

I can tell you how to get a 40+:

Go to the great planes, and search wide and far for the magical Fortius Mcatiiae shrub. Then grind it in a mortar with fairy dust. Place this concoction on 2 high sugar meals a day, no more....no less... the spirits will get you, but be sure to battle through. Next, do 3 sets of 45 push ups, and study Gchem in between the sets. If you study O Chem, you will mix up SN1 and SN2 reactions for sure. You must study O Chem while watching South Park season 1. It has its benefits. Next, build a shrine to Issac Newton and James Maxwell. Its the only way they will grant you the power to get all the physics questions right. Biology....enough said. For verbal and essays, you should read every post on the well written website of studentdoctor.net. Do not tell anyone of this formula, or the MCAT makers will surely make the test harder...


All jokes aside-
Bottom line dude, a 30.9 is the average acceptance score across the nation for the MCAT. Getting a 4.0 is much better than getting a 40 on the MCAT. Shoot for 30+ and keep your expectations realistic before you blow a gasket.

 

[Donald Juan]

Most of us taking the mcat are also ambitious, intelligent, good test takers (whatever the hell that means), and have studied for a long time in preparation of the exam.

Still, some of us are going to make 20's. The mcat is a test that smart people do poorly on.

In fact, most people who retake the test with a high score (36-38, there isn't data on people who retake with 40+ since nobody retakes if you have a 40+) lower score. So, in all likelyhood, even people who make 40+ probably can't make a 40+ on the mcat. If anybody with that score wants to prove me wrong, go right ahead and retake the test. I'll admit I'm wrong if you're willing to risk it.

And seriously, you'll never look back and care that you made a 40 on the mcat. It may seem glorious now, but in just a few years you'll be more concerned with your USMLE scores and won't give a crap about it. I mean, how many people here say anything about their SAT scores?

 

[MDminded]

Here is advice from someone who claims to have scored a 43...she also claims to have taken all of her practice tests drunk.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=4017369&postcount=455

That post is great! Don't smoke weed two weeks before and two weeks after? The test is easy when you're sober? Being drunk makes endurance tougher? Oh mannnnnn....I hope that person isn't planning on specializing in surgery of any sort. Last piece of advice: Immodium AD.

Oh geesh. I'd ask what they were smoking, but I think the post makes it evident.

 

[mido1765]

well since there are only about 40 legit tests outthere. (kaplan, berkley, etc). i wouldnt say 60 is a magic number. prob try doing these 40 over when ur done.

 

[1AO KTG]

There's a huge difference between a SAT score and MCAT. The MCAT is a test that math and science nerds spend years to study for. I'm not a nerd, and to achieve a 40+ means and will always mean a lot. Yeah its not that important when you have the USMLE to worry about, however I take it seriously because it's my goal. And I WILL achieve it. Maybe I have ego problems, oh well. It's taken me further than a lot others and will continue to do so for the rest of my strong and intelligent male life.

 

[Le Boudin]

I've gotten that on the more recent AAMC practice tests, haven't taken the real thing yet. I know someone who got a 40.

TBH I don't even think more practice will help you once you're in the >36 range. Then there's luck involved (as mentioned previously) and how focused you are, is the question wording really unclear, etc. 'cuz 1 question then becomes 1 point.

60 practice tests is ridic, I did ~10, and with limited studying time since I had full time classes (Bachelor's + Master's together) and lab research simultaneously. Even if I had twice as much time to study, I don't know if I would do significantly better.

With that said, anything above 36 doesn't mean much to med schools anyway. Then it just becomes some kinda nerdy c***-swinging competition.

 

[Ismet]

There's a huge difference between a SAT score and MCAT. The MCAT is a test that math and science nerds spend years to study for. I'm not a nerd, and to achieve a 40+ means and will always mean a lot. Yeah its not that important when you have the USMLE to worry about, however I take it seriously because it's my goal. And I WILL achieve it. Maybe I have ego problems, oh well. It's taken me further than a lot others and will continue to do so for the rest of my strong and intelligent male life.

I really hope you're not going to be one of those people who gets a 45 and has a 4.0 GPA and then gets rejected from medical schools because you don't have people skills...

 

[MDminded]

I can tell you how to get a 40+:

Go to the great planes, and search wide and far for the magical Fortius Mcatiiae shrub. Then grind it in a mortar with fairy dust. Place this concoction on 2 high sugar meals a day, no more....no less... the spirits will get you, but be sure to battle through. Next, do 3 sets of 45 push ups, and study Gchem in between the sets. If you study O Chem, you will mix up SN1 and SN2 reactions for sure. You must study O Chem while watching South Park season 1. It has its benefits. Next, build a shrine to Issac Newton and James Maxwell. Its the only way they will grant you the power to get all the physics questions right. Biology....enough said. For verbal and essays, you should read every post on the well written website of studentdoctor.net. Do not tell anyone of this formula, or the MCAT makers will surely make the test harder...

 

[1AO KTG]

I really hope you're not going to be one of those people who gets a 45 and has a 4.0 GPA and then gets rejected from medical schools because you don't have people skills...

Of course not. I have the word PERFECT tattooed on my arm. I know I'm not perfect but the secret to success is simply to strive for perfection in all areas weather it's in your genes or not. And ,well.... I know it takes people skills to be successful. Thats why I will try to make my interviews as perfect as possible to reveal them. As long as I know what I need to do to succeed I will master EVERY ASPECT that is required. Something everyone can learn a thing or two from.

 

[Ismet]

Of course not. I have the word PERFECT tattooed on my arm. I know I'm not perfect but the secret to success is simply to strive for perfection in all areas weather it's in your genes or not. And ,well.... I know it takes people skills to be successful. Thats why I will try to make my interviews as perfect as possible to reveal them. As long as I know what I need to do to succeed I will master EVERY ASPECT that is required. Something everyone can learn a thing or two from.

You talk a big game for someone who hasn't been through the MCAT process yet. Good luck with that. I just hope you genuinely care and want to help people get better, and that's the reason why you want to be a doctor. Not for the ego boost or the pride or the status. Adcoms can see right through BS and can tell if you're being genuine. If the ultimate goal is being a great doctor, you don't need a number. A person who gets a 30 on the MCAT may be a better doctor than someone who gets a 45. A doctor with humility and empathy is better than an egotistical, arrogant doctor who thinks he's the be-all end-all. I've worked with doctors who think they're the s***, and patients and co-workers absolutely despise them. It's great to strive to be the best you can be, but I suggest you perfect the quality of humility. It will serve you well, dear.

I feel like I'm with this, so I'm done. Enjoy your journey to 40+. I commend you on your dedication and strive for perfection, but I also hope you're prepared for no one but you to give a s*** about your score. Hope you're a good test taker, or else 40 may be a reach.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Of course not. I have the word PERFECT tattooed on my arm. I know I'm not perfect but the secret to success is simply to strive for perfection in all areas weather it's in your genes or not. And ,well.... I know it takes people skills to be successful. Thats why I will try to make my interviews as perfect as possible to reveal them. As long as I know what I need to do to succeed I will master EVERY ASPECT that is required. Something everyone can learn a thing or two from.

*whether.
*That's

perfection is tough. you are living in fantasy land.

 

[1AO KTG]

You talk a big game for someone who hasn't been through the MCAT process yet. Good luck with that. I just hope you genuinely care and want to help people get better, and that's the reason why you want to be a doctor. Not for the ego boost or the pride or the status. Adcoms can see right through BS and can tell if you're being genuine. If the ultimate goal is being a great doctor, you don't need a number. A person who gets a 30 on the MCAT may be a better doctor than someone who gets a 45. A doctor with humility and empathy is better than an egotistical, arrogant doctor who thinks he's the be-all end-all. I've worked with doctors who think they're the s***, and patients and co-workers absolutely despise them. It's great to strive to be the best you can be, but I suggest you perfect the quality of humility. It will serve you well, dear.

I feel like I'm with this, so I'm done. Enjoy your journey to 40+. I commend you on your dedication and strive for perfection, but I also hope you're prepared for no one but you to give a s*** about your score. Hope you're a good test taker, or else 40 may be a reach.

Yeah, good points Ismet. I'm not going to go and on either. Just remember that just because someone may seem like they think they are the **** doesn't mean they dont care. People jump to too many conclusions. I dont care if anyone doesn't care about my score. The process of achieving this is something I want for ME. People need to realize that some of the the most cocky doctors want to HELP OTHERS more than anyone else. -Kobe Bryant is a very good guy

 

[GreenRabbit]

Haha I don't think it's all luck. But people who score 40+ don't usually make these kinds of posts, if you're the perfectionist you claim to be you already know what you have to do to get there.

 

[apumic]

By his posts, I kind of doubt this kid will even make it to the MCAT, much less get a 35. Err.... I mean, almost 40.

 

[Sitagliptin]

This guy is either a troll or a silly person.

But, to echo everyone else, yes, the MCAT is a means to an end.

 

[ridethecliche]

This guy is either a troll or a silly person.

But, to echo everyone else, yes, the MCAT is a means to an end.

What if they're a silly troll person?

 

[blackandgold1]

All I have to say is that you're underestimating this test, or overestimating your intelligence etc. This test is not ALL hard work; alot is sheer luck, test taking skill, common sense and confidence.

I also went into this test with the mindset "omg it's gonna be so easy to get a 35+". Ummm currently being in the middle of the process, I'm pretty sure that if I just get somewhere in the low-mid 30's around my AAMC average I would probably die of happiness, and I test this Thursday.

 

[bearintraining]

That post is great! Don't smoke weed two weeks before and two weeks after? The test is easy when you're sober? Being drunk makes endurance tougher? Oh mannnnnn....I hope that person isn't planning on specializing in surgery of any sort. Last piece of advice: Immodium AD.

Oh geesh. I'd ask what they were smoking, but I think the post makes it evident.

You know, as funny as it sounds.. I do think she has a point about the alcohol thing.. I didn't try this for my test (this past May 20th)... but I think it makes sense -- being more relaxed will help you think more clearly, which improves confidence, and will help you feel more relaxed come test day.. I have an analogy actually -- I had a cold about a week prior to the exam, and I took a practice exam..and actually scored the best..

In addition, if you're somewhat intoxicated when you do the practice and you still get stuff right, I guess it would mean you really have learned it well.

I might try this strategy if I need to rewrite this thing! hehehe 🙂

 

[bearintraining]

According to the theory of state-dependent learning, unless you plan to take your test drunk, taking practice tests drunk is not likely to help you during the real test. I suppose that if the point of drinking during practice tests is solely to build endurance, with no science learning, then perhaps the theory of state-dependent learning might not be applicable. Still, I think going for a long run before a practice test would be a better way to get into a relaxed state than drinking alcohol.

I'm not familiar with that theory..and really I wouldn't recommend anyone to do this, but I think there's some method to the madness at least.. anyway, i'm playing the waiting game now.. come on june 21st!!

 

[apumic]

According to the theory of state-dependent learning, unless you plan to take your test drunk, taking practice tests drunk is not likely to help you during the real test. I suppose that if the point of drinking during practice tests is solely to build endurance, with no science learning, then perhaps the theory of state-dependent learning might not be applicable. Still, I think going for a long run before a practice test would be a better way to get into a relaxed state than drinking alcohol.

Haha, yes... 'though I would suggest staying sober for the entire process (college coursework, MCAT review, practice tests, real MCAT). This is also why it is a BAD idea to drink caffeinated beverages as a part of your studying process. While on caffeine, your brain processes differently. This can come back and bite you later.

I'm not familiar with that theory..and really I wouldn't recommend anyone to do this, but I think there's some method to the madness at least.. anyway, i'm playing the waiting game now.. come on june 21st!!

It's well-supported. The researchers went as far as to test it out in terms of being high on marijuana. The results clearly indicated that if you have been stoned throughout the learning process you SHOULD take the test stoned.

 

[kehlsh]

One guy I know in my college did every single problem in Online Kaplan program and got a 39.

Note: every single one

 

[shadyicekid]

You talk a big game for someone who hasn't been through the MCAT process yet. Good luck with that. I just hope you genuinely care and want to help people get better, and that's the reason why you want to be a doctor. Not for the ego boost or the pride or the status. Adcoms can see right through BS and can tell if you're being genuine. If the ultimate goal is being a great doctor, you don't need a number. A person who gets a 30 on the MCAT may be a better doctor than someone who gets a 45. A doctor with humility and empathy is better than an egotistical, arrogant doctor who thinks he's the be-all end-all. I've worked with doctors who think they're the s***, and patients and co-workers absolutely despise them. It's great to strive to be the best you can be, but I suggest you perfect the quality of humility. It will serve you well, dear.

I feel like I'm with this, so I'm done. Enjoy your journey to 40+. I commend you on your dedication and strive for perfection, but I also hope you're prepared for no one but you to give a s*** about your score. Hope you're a good test taker, or else 40 may be a reach.

I understand your point, but you seem almost upset at his attempt to go above and beyond. I think your attitude is very discouraging. It's unrealistic to expect 40+, but I say shoot for a 40 and land at mid 30s. Good luck, but don't beat yourself over if you don't get that magic number.

 

[Temperature101]

40 is like missing 5-6 questions in the entire test. If I am correct, you must be very smart and lucky at the same time to have such score.

 

[ridethecliche]

Of course not. I have the word PERFECT tattooed on my arm. I know I'm not perfect but the secret to success is simply to strive for perfection in all areas weather it's in your genes or not. And ,well.... I know it takes people skills to be successful. Thats why I will try to make my interviews as perfect as possible to reveal them. As long as I know what I need to do to succeed I will master EVERY ASPECT that is required. Something everyone can learn a thing or two from.

As you get some life experience you'll realize that imperfection is perfection.

 

[PanRoasted]

As you get some life experience you'll realize that imperfection is perfection.

name makes the post

 

[ridethecliche]

I understand your point, but you seem almost upset at his attempt to go above and beyond. I think your attitude is very discouraging. It's unrealistic to expect 40+, but I say shoot for a 40 and land at mid 30s. Good luck, but don't beat yourself over if you don't get that magic number.

No one is upset.

The issue comes in when people are like, oh we've been great at everything so far so we should totally get a 40 because that's like a 90% so no big deal.

They know it's graded on a curve, but that doesn't quite make sense till you start taking practice exams.

In the end you should push yourself to improve test to test and figure out your weaknesses. Having a huge numerical goal before you even understand what the process is like is a little silly. Take AAMC 3 after you're done your first run through of content/practice and take it from there.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

i guess this post isn't THAT old but yeah 😛

 

[swilms]

This thread is ridiculous hahahah. OP is an idiot. Come back to this thread halfway through your MCAT studying and tell us your FL scores. I've been studying for a few months and I can vouche for the people saying that above 35-36 a) nobody cares what your composite score is and b) luck becomes a significant factor.

If you realize that the adcoms dont care what type of 35+ you get, then the only reason that you are so arrogantly determined to get a 40+ is because you fantasize about telling people you got a 40+ and you think it makes girls wet.

Theres nothing wrong with wanting to shoot high, but there is something wrong with not being happy with a mid-30s, and then posting on SDN that you FOR SURE will get a 40 in a forum where many people are struggling to break 30.

The fact that you think there is a special formula to a 40 shows us how unprepared you are for the MCAT