Best study books

[The REAL Doc McStuffins]

Hey guys. I’m planning on taking the MCAT next summer and I wanted to know which books were the best to use for studying. I don’t have money for a prep course. I also would really like to only take it once. My goal is at least a 510. I’d appreciate any advice. Thanks!

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[ArteryStudyPainting]

Check my posting history. I used a 3-day cycle method (credited to others that I don't remember).

 

[The REAL Doc McStuffins]

Check my posting history. I used a 3-day cycle method (credited to others that I don't remember).

It won’t let me view your profile

 

[GreenDuck12]

I liked The Berkeley Review for the quality of their practice passages/end of chapter phase practice sections. I found that spaced repetition was really instrumental in hammering home concepts.

 

[ArteryStudyPainting]

Should be good now(?)

 

[Blueprint Med School]

Honestly, use any book you like. Supplement your content review with Khan Academy videos and the KA notes compilation.

Kevin W, MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[ArteryStudyPainting]

I'll say, I hated Kaplan with a passion. Too cutesy, wordy, pedantic (and not in a helpful way).

Literally, the beginning of their first MCAT book I read starts with a story that is way too long for their own good, and took too much time.

This, however, is coming from a guy that would prefer pure outlines for everything; take that book and make it 50 pages of bulletpoints.

I loved EK. Apparently it worked!

 

[Dr. Anonymouss]

I used TPR and TBR and would recommend TBR

 

[The REAL Doc McStuffins]

I liked The Berkeley Review for the quality of their practice passages/end of chapter phase practice sections. I found that spaced repetition was really instrumental in hammering home concepts.

Ok thanks I’ll check it out!

 

[The REAL Doc McStuffins]

I'll say, I hated Kaplan with a passion. Too cutesy, wordy, pedantic (and not in a helpful way).

Literally, the beginning of their first MCAT book I read starts with a story that is way too long for their own good, and took too much time.

This, however, is coming from a guy that would prefer pure outlines for everything; take that book and make it 50 pages of bulletpoints.

I loved EK. Apparently it worked!

Ok Thanks!

 

[The REAL Doc McStuffins]

I used TPR and TBR and would recommend TBR

I was thinking about using TPR. Do you know how much it is to get the TBR bundle since everyone says it’s better?

 

[The REAL Doc McStuffins]

Honestly, use any book you like. Supplement your content review with Khan Academy videos and the KA notes compilation.

Kevin W, MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

Thank you!

 

[Dr. Anonymouss]

I was thinking about using TPR. Do you know how much it is to get the TBR bundle since everyone says it’s better?

I think for everything it’s around 350

 

[hippo166]

In my experience Kaplan and (to a slightly lesser extent) TBR are both very popular. I will always endorse EK personally though because it cuts thru more of the BS and skims the lower-yield content. It'll be hard to get a 528 with them but getting through content review and into practice/FLs faster is super valuable, and it throws plenty of practice passages (not just discretes) both in and after the chapters.

For reference I got a 522 (131/129/130/132) using EK and the KA 300 page doc for P/S.

Either way, good luck!

 

[The REAL Doc McStuffins]

In my experience Kaplan and (to a slightly lesser extent) TBR are both very popular. I will always endorse EK personally though because it cuts thru more of the BS and skims the lower-yield content. It'll be hard to get a 528 with them but getting through content review and into practice/FLs faster is super valuable, and it throws plenty of practice passages (not just discretes) both in and after the chapters.

For reference I got a 522 (131/129/130/132) using EK and the KA 300 page doc for P/S.

Either way, good luck!

Okay thank you so much! I’ll probably go with EK

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

No one company is good for everything. I highly recommend the book sets in the SDN official study guide.

EK and NS for CARS (some TPR helps too), KA notes and TPR for P/S, and TBR for C/P and B/B!