Hi everyone! In this post, I'm sharing my MCAT study guide and calendar. I believe this schedule was perfect for fitting everything I have going on, and it definitely helped me prioritize the sections I needed to focus on and stay organized. I went through a lot of trial and error, and so far, this is one of my favorite schedules that I've made. I did a lot of research on TikTok to figure out the best sources and study methods.
My MCAT Study Journey
I recommend splitting your MCAT study journey into three phases:
Content Review
3rd Party Practice
Official AAMC Practice
You might wonder how long to spend on each phase. I recommend trying to spend at least a month to a month and a half on each, but it really depends on your availability and knowledge of the MCAT topics. Some people might manage each phase in a month, like I did, but if you need more time, adjust it to fit your needs. If you're struggling with practice questions, you may want to invest more time. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time and don’t rush or wait until the last minute. Personally, I split each phase over five months because I had recently graduated and had some prior knowledge from my classes.
Study Phases Overview
Phase 1: Content Review
Take a diagnostic test.
Read through review books or watch Khan Academy videos. I preferred Kaplan books.
Do CARS practice every day
Complete practice passages daily for the subject you’re studying.
Phase 2: 3rd Party Practice
Do practice passages regularly.
Continue daily CARS practice.
Take weekly practice tests.
Phase 3: Official AAMC Practice
Complete official AAMC material.
Do AAMC CARS practice daily.
Take weekly practice tests.
Creating Your Study Schedule
Before diving in, create a study schedule that fits you. Look at the guidelines I used, but determine how much time you can commit to studying. Once you know this, divide the total weeks by three (for the three phases) to estimate how many weeks to dedicate to each phase. Feel free to add an extra week or two to each phase in case your studies get interrupted.
Here’s an example adjusted for a 6-month study plan:
For example, if you plan to study for 24 weeks (6 months), dedicate around 8-10 weeks to the Content Review phase.
Next, determine how many days a week you are able to study. To avoid burnout, try to have at least 0.5 to 1 day of rest where you don’t do anything MCAT-related. Go out and have fun!! Go to the gym.
For example, if you plan to have 1 rest day per week, that would give you an estimated total of (8 to 10 weeks x 6 study days) 48 to 60 days of Content Review.
I used the Kaplan books for Biochemistry, Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics. Instead of reading the CARS and Psychology books, I used third-party CARS practice websites and watched all the Khan Academy Psychology/Sociology videos.
Each day, I focused on 2 subjects, reading one chapter from each (2 chapters total per day). For Psychology/Sociology, I read through the Khan Academy docs/videos across on my psych study days. Additionally, I practiced CARS daily. If you find a particular topic challenging, you can always supplement your review books with Khan Academy videos on those sections.
This calendar is only for Phase 1 (Content Review). Download the calendar to edit and adjust it to your own study schedule! I’ll be sharing my calendars for Phases 2 & 3 very soon!
Good luck with your MCAT prep! Remember, it’s all about finding what works best for you.♥️
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