On top of everything this year… AAMC shortened the MCAT to 5 hours and 45 minutes.
At this point, your MCAT has probably been canceled one or two or even three times… and now you have to figure out how to take a different version of the test and quickly.
So what do you change and what do you keep the same?
In this article, I cover how to adjust your study methods to the new shortened MCAT format and increase your score in less than a month.
Here is an Overview of What I will Cover in this Comprehensive Article:
How to Prepare for the Summer 2020 MCAT
Whether you’re taking the full length or shortened MCAT, the best way to increase your score on the MCAT is by using the Testing Method.
What is the Testing Method?
It’s pretty much taking as many practice tests and doing as many practice problems as you can. This will allow you to recognize the type of questions the MCAT asks as well as identify your weak points.
Seriously, half the battle of taking the MCAT is figuring out HOW to take the test.
That being said… practice problems won’t help you if you don’t review them.
You can use this shortened version of the MCAT to your advantage. The option to take the shortened MCAT can really help people who have struggled with fatigue when taking longer tests.
However, it’s still important to work on your endurance. 5 hours and 45 minutes is still a long time to take a test.
How do you do this?
At that point, you should have a majority of MCAT subject content mastered and it’s time to learn how to take the test.
I recommend that you take your practice tests at the same time as your scheduled exam. This will allow you to learn how to be an efficient test taker at that time. Especially with the weird times offered for the 2020 MCAT.
As you take more and more tests (and review them) you will notice as your endurance grows so will your score.
Where Can I Find FREE 2020 MCAT Practice Tests?
Unfortunately, AAMC didn’t put out a shortened practice test. This means that the best way to simulate test day is not an option. However, there are free shortened MCAT practice tests online that will allow you to practice as if it’s test day.
FREE SHORTENED PRACTICE TESTS
- MCAT-PREP.COM: Great for identifying content gaps and working on your timing.
- Magoosh: Their question explanations go in greater depth than most other test prep sites which is super important when trying to learn how to take the test.
- Kaplan: The most difficult of three. If you do well on this test, you’ll probably do well on test day! (Also, their answer explanations are really good.)
Make Your Own MCAT Practice Tests in 4 Easy Steps
Step One: Take Note of the New MCAT Format
It is extremely important to practice using this AAMC format to be successful when taking the 2020 MCAT. Unfortunately, this makes many of the full-length tests provided by test prep companies before April 2020….less useful.
Instead, you can use your MCAT question banks to build your own test!
This will allow you to practice with the correct amount of questions and timing so that you can effectively prepare yourself for test day.
Step Two: List out the practice materials you have purchased.
I personally used the AAMC Question Banks because they are extremely representative of MCAT and relatively inexpensive compared to other test prep materials.
However, you can use question banks from almost any testing company. (Exam Krackers or UWorld have great questions banks.)
Step Three: Create a Plan.
Here’s an example of the plan I made to make my practice tests with the AAMC Materials.
Practice Test 1: AAMC shortened 1-48 Chemistry Question Bank 1-48 Chemistry Question Bank 1-48 Biology Question Bank 1-48 Psychology Question Bank
Practice Test 2: 49-97 Chemistry Question Bank 49-97 Chemistry Question Bank 1-48 Biochemistry Question Bank 49-97 Psychology Question Bank
Note: You may end a section with a passage that doesn’t exactly end on the problem number you’re supposed to stop at. Just stop at the question you’re supposed to and go back after your practice exam to finish the passage for extra practice later.
Step Four: Take Your Shortened MCAT
All you are going to need are question sets representing all four sections of the MCAT (you can switch chem for physics as needed) and a timer.
The reason making these shortened MCAT tests is super important is so you can ensure that you practice the way you’re going to test. This includes time answering problems and breaks.
You now only have ten-minute breaks and have to learn how to keep your mind sharp with less time to recover between sections.
Tips for Reviewing your MCAT Practice Tests
- Study both the questions you got wrong AND the questions you got right. As you do this, you will see that the MCAT test makers have answer patterns you will see come up again and again. I recommend taking the time to go through every answer choice and figuring out the logic why that answer is wrong or right. This is especially important for CARS.
- If you are struggling on why you got a question wrong… copy and paste it into Google. Usually there’s an explanation on reddit or student doctor network (SDN). AAMC questions are the best way to prepare for test day… but they tend to have vague answer explanations.
- As you review, create a document with problems you got wrong, topics you missed, and definitions of answer choices you do not recognize. This will help you identify the information that you struggle with the most and what topics to focus on in your studying.
- Eventually, consolidate this document into a study guide with all of your weakest topics that you can review once or twice a week. This will help you increase your score by turning your weakest topics into your strongest.
How to Use Your Full-Length MCAT Practice Tests
If you bought full length practices before everything changed because of Covid-19 like I did… you can use them to your advantage.
Use them as practice problems!
I recommend doing a “practice section” a day. Do 48 questions in one sitting with the same time you would have for the section on test day. For example, for your chem/phys section do 48 questions in 76 minutes. Then pause your test, take a ten minute break, then finish the section.
By the end of the week you’ll have 173 practice problems finished and a score to see if you’re on track with the content.
Tips to Replicate Test Day
- Test with a mask. I know that you probably don’t want to wear a mask any more than you have to. I know I don’t, but wearing a mask for 5 hours and 45 minutes on your MCAT test date is going to be distracting. Try to do at least do one practice test with your mask on so that you’re used to it before test day.
- Practice wearing headphones. They offer noise cancelling headphones on test day. It may be helpful to do your practice tests while wearing your own headphones. Just to have the same feeling you’ll have on test day.
- Use a white board and a whiteboard marker. On test day you will be given a thin white board marker and a booklet for all of your notes. I personally practiced with a white board maker to practice how it will be on test day. If you don’t want to buy a white board, just put a piece of paper in a sheet protector and it works great.
- Shorten your breaks. You’re probably thinking that I’m crazy for saying that because the breaks have already been shortened to ten minutes. However, on test day you lose at least 2-4 minutes entering and exiting the testing room. Every time you enter the room you get your hand scanned and your pockets checked. And sometimes there is even a line of people who have to get checked before you.
- Bring water and snacks. Now that there isn’t a lunch break, snacking between sections is especially important. Each of the sections are mentally and physically exhausting and it’s even more important to keep yourself fueled all the way to the end.
I hope this was helpful! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. I want you to be successful and want to support you in any way I can.
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How does one stay up to date with the rules changing (break and test time, etc)? Also, what do I do about learning the content? I haven’t been in school in 10 years and am having a difficult time learning the material that I will need to know. Is there a list somewhere of everything I need to know or is it just info I was supposed to retain over time? Thank you in advance!
Hi Justine! Thank you for your comment.
Answer to Question 1: You can find all changes to the MCAT on the AAMC website. Since 2015, the MCAT has had pretty much the same break down and timing. However, because of COVID-19 and social distancing they shortened the test to 5 hours instead of 7. You can find the current timing on the AAMC Website here
Answer to Question 2: You can find a list of all of the content that could be included on the MCAT exam here. I personally used the kaplan books to study the information on this content list, but you can use any MCAT Test prep company.There so many great ones that have options just to buy books or even take a course.
Another great resources is the AAMC test banks. They allow you to practice using problems put out by AAMC, are very representative of the test, and are cheap. You can find them here in the AAMC prep hub.
Khan academy videos are also super helpful for learning content and free!
Let me know if you have any other questions!