The Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, is a standardized test that is required by all medical schools in the United States. The reason the MCAT is administered is because medical school admissions committees believe that simply evaluating students’ previous grades is not sufficient for determining the best candidates for attending medical school.

Along with a student’s MCAT scores, admissions committees also evaluate previous transcripts, letters of recommendation, volunteer or civic activities, and overall grade point average.

In order to be successful with the MCAT, students need to take the time to adequately prepare well in advance of exam day. Even the smartest students are not likely to fare very well on this particular exam if they do not take the time to study and learn what it is really about.

Why MCAT Scores are Important

The MCAT essentially provides some valuable insight regarding whether a student is likely to be successful in medical school by asking questions that evaluate a student’s scientific knowledge, problem solving ability, and critical thinking skills.

The MCAT evaluates students in four different academic areas:

• Writing – in this section, students must write two essays in a 60-minute time period. This part of the test challenges students to construct essays that are coherent, organized, and logical.

• Verbal reasoning – in this section, students have to answer 65 multiple choice questions in an 85-minute time period. This part of the exam tests students’ critical reading skills.

• Physical sciences – there are 77 questions about inorganic chemistry and physics, and students have approximately 100 minutes to complete this part of the exam. There are also some questions in this section about data interpretation.

• Biological sciences – in this section of the test, students have to answer 77 questions about biology and organic chemistry in no more than 100 minutes.

Resources

As you prepare to take the MCAT, you will need to access a variety of different resources to help you be as prepared as possible on exam day. One of the best places to look for information is the Princeton Review. This website offers information about tutoring, classroom courses, links to books, and free practice tools that will all help aspiring medical students to prepare for the MCAT.

Another site that offers a wide variety of information is Wikipremed. This site offers test prep courses, flash cards, and some helpful advice about getting into medical school. Of particular interest to aspiring medical students are the links to blogs of medical school students. Obtaining advice from people who have been through the process, or who are currently in medical school, is an excellent way to gain valuable insight about what it takes to be successful on the MCAT.

The American Medical Association has some very helpful web pages dedicated to aiding aspiring medical students. From preparing for medical school to choosing a specialty, the AMA site offers valuable guidance for anyone who is interested in becoming a doctor.

Most education professionals recommend that students begin preparing for the MCAT at least three months in advance. Students who are very busy and who don’t have a lot of extra time for studying might want to allow for a longer period of time so they can learn everything they need to know without trying to cram at the last minute.