MCAT Study Schedule: Complete 6-Month Prep Plan

The MCAT is the most important test in your medical school application. A strong MCAT score can open doors to top medical schools, while a weak score can limit your options significantly. Here's a comprehensive 6-month study plan designed by tutors who scored in the 99th percentile.

Why 6 Months?

Six months is the optimal MCAT prep timeline for most students. Here's why:

• Enough time to review all content thoroughly
• Not so long that you forget early material
• Allows for 10+ full-length practice exams
• Balances MCAT prep with coursework and other commitments
• Proven timeline for score improvements of 15-20 points

Students who study for less than 3 months often score below their potential. Those who study for more than 9 months experience burnout and diminishing returns.

Before You Start: Prerequisites

Before beginning this 6-month plan, ensure you've completed:

• Biology: General bio, cell bio, molecular bio (2 semesters)
• Chemistry: General chem, organic chem (2 semesters each)
• Physics: Mechanics, electricity, waves (2 semesters)
• Psychology: Intro psych or equivalent
• Sociology: Intro sociology (recommended but not required)
• Biochemistry: At least one semester

If you're missing any prerequisites, either take them first or budget extra time for self-study in those areas.

Overall Study Commitment

Expected study hours: - Months 1-2: 15-20 hours/week - Months 3-4: 20-25 hours/week - Months 5-6: 25-30 hours/week

Total: Approximately 500-600 hours over 6 months

This is aggressive but manageable for dedicated students. Adjust based on your schedule, but don't go below 400 total hours if you want a competitive score.

The 6-Month Plan: Month-by-Month

Month 1: Content Review (Biology & Biochemistry)

Goal: Master foundational biology and biochemistry

Weekly Schedule (15-20 hours): - Monday-Friday: 2-3 hours/day content review - Saturday: 4-5 hours content review + practice problems - Sunday: 2-3 hours review + practice problems

Topics to Cover: - Week 1: Cell biology, molecular biology - Week 2: Genetics, evolution, diversity - Week 3: Anatomy, physiology (all systems) - Week 4: Biochemistry (proteins, enzymes, metabolism)

Study Methods: - Read review books actively (take notes) - Create flashcards for key concepts - Do practice problems after each chapter - Watch supplemental videos for difficult concepts

Milestone: Complete biology and biochemistry content review. You should be able to answer basic content questions without looking up information.

Month 2: Content Review (Chemistry, Physics, & Organic Chemistry)

Goal: Master chemistry and physics fundamentals

Weekly Schedule (15-20 hours): - Same structure as Month 1 - Balance between content review and practice problems

Topics to Cover: - Week 1: General chemistry (atomic structure, bonding, stoichiometry) - Week 2: General chemistry (thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium) - Week 3: Physics (mechanics, electricity, magnetism, waves) - Week 4: Organic chemistry (structure, reactions, spectroscopy)

Study Methods: - Focus on understanding concepts, not memorizing - Practice dimensional analysis (critical for physics) - Draw out organic chemistry mechanisms - Do practice problems immediately after learning concepts

Milestone: Complete all science content review. Take your first diagnostic full-length exam on the final weekend.

Month 3: Content Review (Psychology/Sociology) + Practice

Goal: Master behavioral sciences and begin serious practice

Weekly Schedule (20-25 hours): - Monday-Wednesday: 2-3 hours/day psych/soc content - Thursday-Friday: 2-3 hours/day practice problems (all subjects) - Saturday: Full-length practice exam (7.5 hours) - Sunday: Review practice exam (4-5 hours)

Topics to Cover: - Week 1-2: Psychology (learning, memory, cognition, development, disorders) - Week 3-4: Sociology (social structures, institutions, inequality, culture)

Practice Focus: - Take 2 full-length practice exams this month - Review every single question (right and wrong) - Identify content gaps and review those topics - Start tracking your weak areas

Milestone: Complete all content review. Take 2 full-length exams. Identify your 3 weakest topics for targeted review.

Month 4: Focused Practice + Weak Area Review

Goal: Strengthen weak areas through targeted practice

Weekly Schedule (20-25 hours): - Monday-Friday: 2-3 hours/day targeted review + practice problems - Saturday: Full-length practice exam (7.5 hours) - Sunday: Review practice exam thoroughly (4-5 hours)

Study Approach: - Morning: Review weakest content areas - Afternoon: Practice problems in those areas - Evening: Flashcard review (Anki or Quizlet)

Practice Focus: - Take 4 full-length practice exams this month (one per week) - Focus practice on your 3 weakest sections - Create error log for repeated mistakes - Review high-yield topics daily (amino acids, metabolic pathways, etc.)

Milestone: Take 4 full-length exams. See measurable improvement in weak areas (3-5 points per section). Your total score should improve by 8-15 points from baseline.

Month 5: Intensive Practice + Score Refinement

Goal: Push score to target range through intensive practice

Weekly Schedule (25-30 hours): - Monday-Wednesday: 3-4 hours/day mixed practice - Thursday: Light review + strategy refinement - Friday: Rest day (maintain energy) - Saturday: Full-length practice exam (7.5 hours) - Sunday: Thorough review (5-6 hours)

Practice Focus: - Take 4 more full-length practice exams - Focus on timing and test-taking strategy - Practice skipping and returning to hard questions - Simulate real testing conditions (breaks, snacks)

Strategy Refinement: - Perfect your section-specific strategies - Optimize break times (what to eat, how to stay alert) - Practice stress management techniques - Build physical endurance for 7.5-hour exam

Milestone: Take 4 more full-length exams (8 total so far). Your score should be within 3-5 points of your target. Identify any remaining weak spots.

Month 6: Final Push + Peak Performance

Goal: Peak on test day at your highest score

Weekly Schedule (Variable, 20-30 hours): - Week 1-2: 2 more full-length exams + thorough review - Week 3: Light review, rest, confidence building - Week 4: Final prep, mostly rest, test day

Practice Focus: - Take 2 final full-length exams (10 total) - Review only high-yield topics and weak areas - Maintain confidence and reduce anxiety - Simulate test day morning routine

Final Week: - Monday-Wednesday: Light review (2 hours/day max) - Thursday-Friday: Review flashcards only - Saturday: Complete rest day - Sunday: Light review, early to bed - Monday: Test day (or whenever your exam is)

Milestone: Peak performance. Your final practice exams should be at or above your target score. Walk into test day confident and well-rested.

Daily Study Schedule Example

Here's what a typical study day looks like during months 3-5:

Morning Session (8:00 AM - 11:00 AM): - 8:00-8:30: Review flashcards (Anki) - 8:30-10:30: Content review or practice problems - 10:30-11:00: Review mistakes from yesterday

Afternoon Session (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM): - 1:00-3:00: Practice problems (timed sets) - 3:00-4:00: Review and create new flashcards

Evening Session (7:00 PM - 9:00 PM): - 7:00-8:30: Mixed practice or review weak topics - 8:30-9:00: Flashcard review before bed

Total: 7-8 hours/day (on heavy study days)

Practice Exam Strategy

How many practice exams: 10-12 full-length exams minimum

When to take them: - Exam 1: End of month 2 (diagnostic) - Exams 2-3: Month 3 (bi-weekly) - Exams 4-7: Month 4 (weekly) - Exams 8-11: Month 5 (weekly) - Exams 12-13: Month 6 first half (bi-weekly)

How to review: - Spend 4-6 hours reviewing each exam - Review EVERY question (including ones you got right) - Understand why wrong answers are wrong - Identify patterns in your mistakes - Make flashcards for gaps in knowledge

Which exams to use: - Priority: AAMC official practice exams (most accurate) - Supplement: Third-party exams for extra practice - Save: AAMC exams for last 2 months (most representative)

Section-Specific Strategies

Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

What it tests: - General chemistry (30%) - Physics (25%) - Organic chemistry (15%) - Biochemistry (25%) - Biology (5%)

Strategy: - Master dimensional analysis - Memorize key equations and constants - Practice passage-based reasoning - Focus on experimental analysis

Common traps: - Unit conversion errors - Calculation mistakes under time pressure - Missing information in passage - Overthinking simple questions

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

What it tests: - Reading comprehension - Critical thinking - Argument analysis - No outside knowledge needed

Strategy: - Read the passage once, carefully - Identify main idea and author's tone - Answer questions from memory first - Refer back to passage for details - Practice daily (even 1-2 passages helps)

Common traps: - Bringing in outside knowledge - Choosing answers that "sound smart" - Spending too long on one passage - Not reading carefully enough

CARS is the hardest section to improve. Start practicing early and do at least 2-3 passages daily starting in month 3.

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

What it tests: - Biochemistry (25%) - Biology (65%) - Organic chemistry (5%) - General chemistry (5%)

Strategy: - Know metabolic pathways cold - Understand big-picture biology concepts - Connect topics (e.g., protein synthesis to gene expression) - Focus on experimental interpretation

Common traps: - Getting lost in passage details - Confusing similar processes (e.g., mitosis vs. meiosis) - Forgetting basic content under pressure - Not using process of elimination

Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

What it tests: - Psychology (65%) - Sociology (30%) - Biology (5%)

Strategy: - Memorize key terms and theories - Understand experimental design - Connect concepts across disciplines - Focus on big-picture social factors

Common traps: - Confusing similar psychology terms - Overthinking straightforward questions - Not reading graphs/data carefully - Bringing in personal biases

High-Yield Topics to Master

These topics appear most frequently on the MCAT:

Biochemistry: - Amino acids (structures, properties) - Metabolic pathways (glycolysis, Krebs, ETC) - Enzymes (kinetics, regulation) - Protein structure

Biology: - DNA replication, transcription, translation - Cell cycle and mitosis/meiosis - Nervous system (neuron function, neurotransmitters) - Endocrine system (hormone functions)

Chemistry: - Acid/base chemistry - Electrochemistry - Thermodynamics - Equilibrium

Physics: - Kinematics and forces - Electricity and circuits - Optics (lenses, mirrors) - Fluids and thermodynamics

Psychology: - Learning theories (classical, operant, observational) - Memory (encoding, storage, retrieval) - Psychological disorders - Social psychology concepts

Sociology: - Social inequality - Institutions (family, education, healthcare) - Demographic changes - Cultural concepts

Study Resources

Required: - AAMC Official Practice Materials (all of them) - Content review books (Kaplan, Princeton Review, or Berkeley Review) - Flashcard app (Anki recommended)

Highly Recommended: - 300-500 page test review book for quick reference - Practice question banks (UWorld or similar) - CARS practice passages (daily practice)

Optional but Helpful: - Khan Academy MCAT videos (free) - Study group or study partner - MCAT tutor (if stuck or need personalization)

When to Get Help

Consider working with an MCAT tutor if:

• You're stuck at a score plateau (4+ weeks)
• Your CARS score is significantly lower than other sections
• You're struggling with specific content areas
• You need accountability and structure
• You're retaking after an unsuccessful attempt
• Your test date is approaching and you need intensive help

Professional tutors can provide personalized strategies, identify blind spots, and keep you accountable through the long preparation process.

Learn more about our MCAT tutoring programs →

Test Day Tips

One week before: - Taper your studying (no more than 2 hours/day) - Review only high-yield topics and flashcards - Get 8+ hours of sleep every night - Exercise and eat well

Day before: - Do light review only (1-2 hours max) - Prepare everything for test day (ID, snacks, water) - Visit test center location if possible - Go to bed early (8-9 hours before wake-up)

Test day morning: - Eat a substantial breakfast (protein + complex carbs) - Arrive 30 minutes early - Bring approved snacks for breaks (nuts, granola bars, fruit) - Stay calm and confident—you've prepared well

During test: - Use every break (even if you don't feel you need it) - Eat small snacks during breaks - Stay hydrated - Don't dwell on previous sections - If you feel a section went poorly, push through (you might be wrong!)

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I take the MCAT? Take it after completing all prerequisite courses, ideally in spring/early summer of your application year. Most students take it in April-May.

Should I retake if I don't get my target score? Only if you're confident you can improve by 3+ points. Most students improve 2-4 points on retakes with proper preparation.

How long should I study? 6 months is optimal. Minimum 3 months, maximum 9 months. Beyond that, you risk burnout.

Can I study while taking courses? Yes, but it's challenging. Budget 15-20 hours/week for MCAT while taking 12-15 credit hours. Summer study is easier.

What's a good MCAT score? - 510+: Competitive for most MD schools - 515+: Competitive for top 20 MD schools - 520+: Competitive for top 10 MD schools - 472: National average

How important is the MCAT? Very important, but not everything. A strong MCAT (515+) can compensate for a moderate GPA (3.5-3.7). But a perfect MCAT won't overcome a very low GPA.

Your Action Plan

Ready to start your MCAT preparation? Here's what to do today:

1. Choose your test date - 6-7 months from now
2. Register for the MCAT - Do this early (dates fill up)
3. Get your study materials - Books, flashcards, AAMC practice materials
4. Create your study calendar - Block out study hours for the next 6 months
5. Take a diagnostic exam - Know your starting point
6. Start studying - Begin with Month 1 content review

Final Thoughts

The MCAT is a marathon, not a sprint. Six months of consistent, focused preparation will yield better results than 12 months of sporadic studying.

Remember: - Consistency beats intensity - Study daily, even if just 2-3 hours - Quality beats quantity - 4 well-reviewed practice exams beat 10 rushed ones - Strategy matters - How you study is as important as how much you study - Rest is crucial - Burnout kills performance; take breaks

Most importantly: The MCAT is learnable. With the right plan and dedication, you can achieve your target score.

Need personalized guidance through your MCAT journey? Our tutors have all scored in the 99th percentile and specialize in helping students achieve their target scores.

Explore our MCAT tutoring programs →

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