The MCAT — Medical College Admission Test — is developed and administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Official AAMC preparation materials are the most valuable MCAT study resources available because they are created by the same organization that writes the actual test, ensuring the content, question style, difficulty, and format are accurate representations of the real exam.
AAMC provides a suite of official MCAT preparation materials available for purchase at aamc.org/mcat. Key resources include: the AAMC Official Prep Hub — a digital platform offering access to official practice tests, section bank questions, and other AAMC preparation content; Official MCAT Practice Full-Length Exams — full-length 230-question practice tests (AAMC provides multiple official full-length practice tests; at least one is free) that use the actual test format and scoring, providing the most accurate score estimates available; the AAMC Section Bank — a set of passage-based questions organized by section and content category, used for targeted practice in specific areas; and the AAMC Question Pack — additional multiple-choice questions for each section. For many test-takers, completing all available official AAMC practice tests under timed conditions is the single most important preparation activity.
AAMC provides one free full-length MCAT practice exam (the AAMC Sample Test) available without purchase through the official AAMC store account. This free test should be taken as the first official practice exam — it provides an accurate baseline score estimate and familiarizes you with the interface used on test day. Begin your MCAT preparation by setting up an AAMC ID and accessing the free sample test before purchasing additional materials.
The MCAT tests a large volume of undergraduate science content across biology, biochemistry, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology. Content review books provide systematic coverage of the tested content organized by subject area and MCAT content category.
Kaplan's MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review is one of the most widely used MCAT content review series. The seven volumes cover: Biology 1 (Molecules and Cells), Biology 2 (Systems and Organisms), Biochemistry, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics and Math, and Psychology and Sociology. Each book includes chapter-by-chapter content review, end-of-chapter practice questions, and emphasis on MCAT-specific applications of each subject. The Kaplan series is comprehensive and well-organized — it is particularly strong in biochemistry and biology. Updated editions are published periodically; use the most current edition available.
The Princeton Review MCAT Complete Subject Review is a comparable alternative to Kaplan, with 7 subject volumes covering the same content areas. Princeton Review's explanations tend to be more conversational and accessible for test-takers who find dense scientific prose difficult. Both Kaplan and Princeton Review are widely used and respected — the choice between them often comes down to personal learning style. Some test-takers use one series for primary content review and supplement with the other for additional practice or alternative explanations for difficult concepts.
Examkrackers offers a more concise content review series that covers the same material in fewer pages, using a more high-yield approach that emphasizes MCAT-relevant concepts over comprehensive textbook-level coverage. Some test-takers prefer Examkrackers for its efficiency; others find it insufficient for areas where they need deeper content review. Examkrackers works best as a supplement or for test-takers with strong undergraduate science backgrounds who primarily need review and MCAT-specific application practice.
The CARS section — Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills — is unique among MCAT sections because it tests no specific science content. CARS consists of 53 questions across 9 passages drawn from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences (but written at a general level, requiring no domain expertise). Questions test comprehension, inference, and critical evaluation of the author's argument.
Unlike the science sections, CARS cannot be prepared for by memorizing content — the passages are new each time and cover unpredictable topics. CARS preparation focuses on developing reading speed and comprehension, inference skills, and the ability to identify the author's main claim, tone, and reasoning quickly under time pressure. Many test-takers who excel in the science sections struggle with CARS, and vice versa — CARS performance correlates more with general reading habits and analytical thinking than with undergraduate science preparation.
CARS preparation is most effective when started early and maintained consistently throughout the preparation period. Daily reading of challenging non-fiction texts — philosophy, sociology, history of science, literary criticism, and similar dense academic prose — builds reading fluency and inference skills over time. AAMC CARS Question Packs provide official CARS practice passages and questions that accurately reflect the format and difficulty of MCAT CARS. Third-party CARS resources (Jack Westin daily CARS practice passages, Magoosh MCAT CARS) provide additional free and paid practice. The most important CARS preparation habit is regular practice with difficult reading materials over weeks and months — last-minute CARS cramming is largely ineffective.
Effective MCAT preparation requires 3 to 6 months of structured study for most test-takers targeting competitive scores for MD programs. The specific timeline and approach depend on your undergraduate science preparation and target score.
Average preparation time for a competitive MCAT score (510 or above for MD programs) is 300 to 500 hours over 3 to 6 months. Test-takers who completed strong undergraduate coursework in all MCAT subject areas may require fewer hours; those with weaker science backgrounds may require more. Full-time MCAT preparation (studying 8 to 10 hours per day for 10 to 12 weeks) is feasible for gap year applicants; most pre-med students taking the MCAT while in school prepare over 4 to 6 months alongside coursework. Establish a realistic study schedule and protect your study time consistently.
A structured MCAT preparation approach typically follows three phases: Content Review (reading and learning the tested content using review books, organized by subject); Integrated Practice (applying content knowledge to MCAT-style passage-based questions, using AAMC question packs and third-party practice tests); and Full-Length Test Simulation (taking complete 7.5-hour practice exams under realistic test conditions, reviewing errors in detail). Most test-takers spend 60 to 70 percent of preparation time in content review, 20 to 30 percent in integrated practice, and 10 percent in full-length simulation and review. The AAMC official full-length exams should be saved for the final 4 to 6 weeks of preparation when they most accurately represent your readiness.
Anki — a free spaced repetition flashcard application — is widely used for MCAT content memorization. Pre-made MCAT Anki decks (the 'AnKing MCAT Deck' is among the most comprehensive and widely used) cover biochemistry, biology, chemistry, and other high-memorization content. Reviewing Anki cards daily throughout the preparation period, rather than cramming at the end, builds durable memory for the detailed factual content (amino acid structures, biochemical pathways, physiological mechanisms, psychological theories) that the MCAT tests. Anki works best as a daily habit, not an intensive cramming tool.
The MCAT's three science sections — Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (B/B), Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (C/P), and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc) — each have distinct content emphases and require targeted preparation approaches.
The B/B section is the most content-intensive on the MCAT, covering molecular biology (DNA, RNA, protein synthesis), cellular biology (cell structure, signaling, metabolism), organismal physiology (all major organ systems), and genetics. Biochemistry is heavily tested — biochemical pathways (glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism) are essential knowledge. The B/B section also includes passage-based research questions that test experimental design and data interpretation in biological contexts. Content review books for biology and biochemistry, combined with intensive Anki use for pathway and mechanism memorization, are the core preparation tools.
The C/P section covers general chemistry (atomic structure, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, solutions), organic chemistry (reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, functional groups), biochemistry (overlapping with B/B), and physics (mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics, electricity, waves, optics). Physics on the MCAT is typically at the algebra-based level — calculus is not required. The C/P section also includes research passages that test application of physical and chemical principles to biological and experimental contexts. Test-takers who have not taken physics recently typically find C/P the most challenging section.
The Psych/Soc section covers introductory psychology (perception, learning, memory, cognition, motivation, emotion, personality, psychological disorders, social behavior) and sociology (sociological theories, social institutions, health disparities, cultural influences on health). This section has the most discrete factual content — psychological terms, theories, and researchers — that can be effectively memorized with Anki. Many pre-med students have limited formal psychology and sociology background, making this section require more content study than its position at the end of the MCAT day suggests.