Advice to MCAT takers

[AllisonAsh]

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A friend of mine in med school gave me this advice when I was studying for the MCAT and it really helped me --> when taking practice exams, ALWAYS finish the exam!

This means that you should practice completely finishing each section within the allowed amount of time - its way more important to answer every question than to stress over accuracy - its a timed exam and its crucial that you keep moving!

Once you get in the habit of answering all the questions, you will feel more confident on MCAT day because you won't be worried about running out of time.

 

[tBw]

This is great advice for the exams leading up to the actual event but if it's several months before (and really you shouldn't be doing *all* your practice exams that early) there is also a lot to be said for forcing yourself to take time and think through every question - its a better learning technique.

Just as importantly is to go back over and re-work the questions you got wrong once you have looked at the answers. I usually kept a file of ones I got wrong and returned to them a week or two later to see if I had now learnt the concept they were based on.

 

[usmaple]

Timing is key. I actually found some verbal practice tests that still had 65 questions (old MCAT-style) and practiced on them, within the same 85 minutes, to help my timing. It's sort of like the complete dork version of those athletes who train at high altitudes.

 

[loomis]

i think that is great advice; at the start of my prepping...i would just do half the section then blow off the rest...but when i actually had to sit for an entire section on a diag, i realized how burned out i got....had to build up the stamina. good luck!

 

[uclamendoza]

This is definitely great advice for the MCAT. Timing is key to completing most of the exam and you need to practice this. As the exam date nears, start doing more of your practice exams, especially the AAMC MCAT exams. Those are the most representative of the exam since they are actual MCATS from previous examinations. Good luck and stay focused. It goes by so quick and before you know it, you're done with the MCAT. 😉 🙂