MCAT® Test

Anyone hoping to become a medical doctor will have to score well on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). This all-important test is administered numerous times every year, though individuals are advised to take the exam during the year in which they will apply to medical school. The MCAT is arguably the most difficult academic test out there, and doing well on it requires a high level of native intelligence, mastery of many different subject areas, and intensive preparation. There is a strong emphasis on scientific knowledge and principles on the test.

The MCAT has four components: a Writing Sample and three sections of multiple--choice questions on the Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, and the Biological Sciences. The essays will not be on subjects directly related to the scientific areas; rather, they will be on assigned topics. Candidates will be given a written statement and asked to do three things--explain it, present and explore some exceptions to it, and then show how these two can be reconciled. Two of these assignments make up the Writing Sample. In the Verbal Reasoning section, candidates will have 60 minutes to answer 40 questions demonstrating their ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply written information. In the Physical Sciences section, candidates will have 70 minutes to answer 52 questions about physics and chemistry. Many people regard this as the most difficult part of the MCAT. The Biological Sciences portion consists of another 70 minutes to answer 52 questions on biology and organic chemistry. All questions in these three parts of the MCAT will be multiple choice.

Candidates who are apprehensive about their performance on the MCAT are allowed to void their score before leaving the facility. Individuals should keep in mind that they are only allowed three attempts at the MCAT over the course of a year and voiding a score will use up one of them. Scaled scores range from 1 to 15 on the three multiple-choice parts, and from J (lowest) to T (highest) on the Writing Sample. Scores are available approximately one month after the test date.

StudyGuideZone.com offers an exclusive free, downloadable study guide to the Internet community for the MCAT test.  The guide is in PDF format, so you'll need Adobe's free Reader (already installed on most computers) to view it.  Anyone is free to link to this page or the study guide on our server to let students know about this resource.MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which does not endorse this program or our methodology.

As your test day approaches, make sure that you have had plenty of time to study. Review a MCAT test study guide or study using MCAT test flashcards so that you strengthen any areas that might be more difficult for you on the test. You'll have the rest of your life to enjoy being successful on the exam, but you can only spend time between now and your test day to get prepared. Study hard and maximize your chances of success.

Click here to download StudyGuideZone.com's free MCAT Study Guide

For additional information, we recommend you check out these free MCAT test resources:

MCAT Exam Study Guide

MCAT Exam Biological Science Questions

MCAT Exam Physical Science Questions

MCAT Exam Verbal Reasoning Questions

MCAT Test Information

MCAT Exam Practice Questions

MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which does not endorse this program or our methodology.