What resources should I use to study for the MCAT?

[Premedandpanicking]

I'm looking to aim for a 515+ score on the MCAT and I was wondering what effective resources are out there. I heard that the kaplan set is good. What are your thoughts on this and what other sources should I look into to? I'm graduating this semester but taking a gap year.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

I personally liked Examkrackers the most, but I also believe that there is almost no difference between the books in terms of how well they prepare you. Some books make the important concepts more clear, but the differences are marginal. If something is confusing, I'd recommend using a Khan Academy video to supplement your studying.

Kevin W, MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[JimKimSlim]

I'm looking to aim for a 515+ score on the MCAT and I was wondering what effective resources are out there. I heard that the kaplan set is good. What are your thoughts on this and what other sources should I look into to? I'm graduating this semester but taking a gap year.

It really depends on the timing. You said you’re taking a gap year. Does that mean you’ll be applying this coming cycle, or next cycle? If you’re applying this cycle, then you won’t have much time. In that case, I would suggest the following in order: start watching and taking notes from KA, download relevant Anki decks floating somewhere on reddit, start doing AAMC questions banks and section banks, and go right into AAMC FL’s until test day. If that’s not the case, you can buy Kaplan 7-book review and go through the contents. Do some practice problems and practice tests both AAMC and third party, and take the test.

 

[Premedandpanicking]

It really depends on the timing. You said you’re taking a gap year. Does that mean you’ll be applying this coming cycle, or next cycle? If you’re applying this cycle, then you won’t have much time. In that case, I would suggest the following in order: start watching and taking notes from KA, download relevant Anki decks floating somewhere on reddit, start doing AAMC questions banks and section banks, and go right into AAMC FL’s until test day. If that’s not the case, you can buy Kaplan 7-book review and go through the contents. Do some practice problems and practice tests both AAMC and third party, and take the test.

I plan on taking it sometime next year! I wanted to start studying late aug/sept

 

[deleted936470]

My favorite was The Berkeley Review for B/B, C/P, but I seem to be in there minority here... but I attribute my high science scores to these books. A bit overkill perhaps.
For P/S, I had a lot of success with Khan Academy and Anki.
For CARS, I used The Princeton Review Hyperlearning or whatever.

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

I don't think I'm in a minority because the SDN official guide and nearly every study plan says to use TBR for C/P and B/B. Like camoixu, I attribute my scores in those sections completely to learning to think about things the right way after literally thousands of TBR questions. By far they are the best for chemistry, biology, and physics and getting 132 on C/P both times is nearly all on them and their way of looking at things. For CARS nothing is great, but I liked TPR and went up 5 points from my first CARS to my latest one. My first time doing P/S I did mostly TPR and EK and got a 130. This last time I did TBR, KA, and UWorld and got a 130. Go figure 🙄.

 

[skeptastic]

I don't think I'm in a minority because the SDN official guide and nearly every study plan says to use TBR for C/P and B/B. Like camoixu, I attribute my scores in those sections completely to learning to think about things the right way after literally thousands of TBR questions. By far they are the best for chemistry, biology, and physics and getting 132 on C/P both times is nearly all on them and their way of looking at things. For CARS nothing is great, but I liked TPR and went up 5 points from my first CARS to my latest one. My first time doing P/S I did mostly TPR and EK and got a 130. This last time I did TBR, KA, and UWorld and got a 130. Go figure 🙄.

What do you think caused the increase in your CARS score between the first and second MCAT exams?

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

What do you think caused the increase in your CARS score between the first and second MCAT exams?

LOL, the MCAT Gods being kinder. I seriously think the test is inconsistent and I got a more generous curve the second time. I was calmer my second sitting and that helped I'm sure. I was more thorough going through AAMC CARS materials my second time, and that definitely helped. Besides that, I'm not sure what to say.

 

[skeptastic]

LOL, the MCAT Gods being kinder. I seriously think the test is inconsistent and I got a more generous curve the second time. I was calmer my second sitting and that helped I'm sure. I was more thorough going through AAMC CARS materials my second time, and that definitely helped. Besides that, I'm not sure what to say.

I hear you. CARS seems to be tough in general. I'm glad you handled it! Both of your MCAT scores were stellar. I want to be in that neighborhood so badly!

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

I'm glad I'm done with this exam forever.

 

[skeptastic]

I'm glad I'm done with this exam forever.

Haha! I have definitely heard that before!

 

[NoCoastHero]

I took the MCAT twice, with a 30 percentile increase between exams.

First time: Kaplan books, 3 Kaplan practice exams, Khan academy videos.
Second time:

• Draw it to know it for biology/biochem/anatomy
• Old kaplan books for others sections
• Anki cards
• 10 full-length prep company and AAMC practice tests.

I think the biggest difference was increasing my number of full-length exams and being better prepared for my full-length exams. Adding draw it to know it and Anki cards really seriously helped increase my material retention. Before ditki and Anki, I was reading the material and forgetting it the next day. Would highly suggest those two add-ons.

As for a study plan, the second time around I studied a different section (Bio, Chem, Biochem, CARS, Psych/Soc) every day for about 3 months. 12 weeks before my exam date, I began taking a practice exam every Saturday. I would then spend every Sunday (and some times into Mondays) reviewing every question on the exam, missed or correct. This was TOUGH but it really improved my score.

The MCAT is tough but you can do it!!

 

[FuturedocladyS]

I plan on taking it sometime next year! I wanted to start studying late aug/sept

Same as me. Where are you located? I live in Saskatoon.