Review of Core Science Topics
For the most up-to-date and complete MCAT science review we recommend, The Scholar Review. The home classroom lectures follow the current AAMC outline of what topics are tested on the new exam. In addition, these videos offer crucial test taking strategies and teach students how to identify and avoid common traps set by the test makers.
As an added supplement, The Scholar Review MCAT Books offer an effective strategy to master the core science topics that are presented on the new MCAT. Each book highlights on key concepts discussed in the lectures and tests your fundamental understanding of the material. Together, these two sources offer students an effective strategy to master the core science topics covered by the MCAT.
Verbal Reasoning
There are many companies that will try to teach students a sure-fire way to score well on the verbal reasoning section of the MCAT. It is our recommendation that the best way to study for Verbal Reasoning is through reading and practicing with many verbal passages. Outside knowledge will not help you on this portion of the exam, however, feeling comfortable with your timing, comprehension and passage evaluation will.
A great resource and a highly recommended book is the ExamKrackers 101 passages in MCAT Verbal Reasoning. This second edition book may be purchased directly from:
- The ExamKracker website for $39.95
- Amazon.com for $26.37.
Practice Problem Workbooks
While we have not one found one workbook that encapsulates every MCAT problem style, it is our belief that the best science workbooks come from three companies: The Princeton Review (Hyperlearning), Kaplan and The Berkeley Review. Each company has its strengths, so we recommend using a combination of these workbooks. Many students have found the Physical Sciences section of the new MCAT to be more calculations based. In this regard, The Berkeley Review and Kaplan Q-bank may be better sources since problems in TPR tend to be a little easier.
It is much more challenging to recommend a science workbook for the Biological Sciences section of the new MCAT. We are yet to find a workbook that truly resembles the question style found on new exam. The MCAT questions have recently begun to focus heavily on literature/experiment passages that expect you to extrapolate and apply concepts from the procedures and data. Therefore, either The Princeton Review or Kaplan will serve as a decent question-bank source.
Mostly, it comes down to student preference; however, there was some controversy a couple years back when an actual MCAT had a passage from a Full Length Kaplan exam. The questions were changed slightly, but the passage topic was consistent. With each of these companies, make sure you are just purchasing the science problems workbook or question bank and not the review books. Often, you will find great deals on EBAY from students that have already taken the course and have not marked-up the books. Send us an e-mail if you have any specific questions.
Practice MCAT Exams
Both Kaplan and The Princeton review offer good practice exams, but the best source will always be The AAMC practice tests. These AAMC questions have been pulled from actual MCAT exams that were given in the past. Practice exams 8-10 are the most current and tend to be the most similar on what you may come to expect on test day. Although many students do report that the actual exam is more difficult than any of the AAMC exams, many find that their practice scores are reflective of their actual score.
Each AAMC CBT exam may be purchased from the AAMC for $35.00 by visiting the MCAT Practice Online link. AAMC MCAT CBT 3 is free and should be taken prior to studying to get an idea of what study regime to implement.
