Follow 3 Study Tips to Improve Your MCAT Score
Deciding to retake the MCAT can be a very difficult decision. After putting in months of preparation and making major sacrifices to take the exam a first time, it's understandable that many premed students dread this scenario.
However, if you scored significantly below your goal and feel you can do better, there are key strategies to help you narrow down what went wrong on your initial attempt so you can ensure significant improvement on your second try. The following tips can help prospective medical school students drastically improve your MCAT score when preparing for a retake.
[Avoid making these four common MCAT preparation mistakes.]
1. Revamp your study schedule: Take a look back at your study schedule and get a general idea for how many hours you put into your initial MCAT prep. Given the large volume of material covered, most people need around 300 hours of dedicated preparation time to be ready for test day. Usually, this time is spread over three to four months during the school year, or one to two months during the summer.
If you didn't study nearly this much, create a regimented study schedule that will help you accomplish this and keep you on task. You may even want to partner with a fellow student to stay on track during your second study period to ensure you cover all the material effectively.
[Read about three ways to build MCAT skills in everyday life.]
2. Focus on studying the right material: During MCAT study, students tend to devote time and focus more intensely on subjects they enjoy, which also tend to be subjects they find easy.
Assess your preparation habits and try to determine if you fell into this trap the first time around. When I was studying for the MCAT, I found electricity and magnetism difficult to understand, and I dreaded going over that material.
As a result, I would skim over these sections and focus on moving onto other subjects as quickly as I could. My lack of dedication came through on my practice exams, as most of my incorrect answers were on these topics.
Look back and identify which topics you really had trouble with, spent less time on or avoided studying altogether when initially preparing for the exam. When preparing for your retake, prioritize these topics and really focus your attention when reviewing them.
If you continue to have trouble understanding this material, consider periodically working with a tutor to clear things up and build a better foundation.
[ Research the top medical schools to find the best fit.]
3. Make sure your practice correctly: The old adage "Practice makes perfect" actually doesn't hold up for the MCAT. For success on the MCAT, perfect practice makes perfect. For instance, be sure to complete all practice questions and exams under time constraints, as you may develop bad habits that will be difficult to reverse if you don't use the pressure of time from the outset.
Furthermore, look back on your initial study period and think about whether or not you used practice questions and sets as more than just an evaluative tool, but also as a means of learning.
For your retake, make it a point to look over every practice question and understand the facts and problem-solving skills you needed in order to answer a question correctly. It also helps to keep a running list of facts that you didn't know during your practice to review in the few days before your exam.
If you address all of these issues and consider getting additional help, you will likely see a drastic rise in your MCAT score and successfully continue on your path to medical school.
Anubodh "Sunny" Varshney is a professional MCAT tutor with Varsity Tutors. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Washington University in St. Louis and is a medical student at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He has accepted a residency in internal medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
