This post is for you if you are researching for MCAT prep free resources and you have begun your journey towards becoming a doctor. You have also come to the right page if you are figuring out how to study for the MCAT with the intent of scoring high on the test and landing a seat in medical school. Here, we have compiled a collection of resources that you can leverage for free (and a few extra premium options).
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Why Look for Free MCAT Prep Resources?
Although preparing and taking the MCAT is a costly affair, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any free resources out there that can help you mitigate (or even completely waive) the MCAT cost. This is possible through the numerous free resources that are readily available for you to access online. We will have a look at some of these resources to help you find the most valuable aides to your MCAT success without having to break the bank.
What Are Some of the Best Free MCAT Prep Resources?
The best MCAT prep free resources we have brought to you in this article have been grouped to make it easier for you to navigate and utilize.
And so, without further ado, here they are:
1. Practice Questions
Let us have a look at a trove of MCAT prep questions and answers that you can use to increase your chances of scoring high on your test.
At BeMo
At BeMo, we offer numerous choices that you can access for free. These include:
These are just a few of the resources you can learn from that are posted on our educational blog. We would advise you to go through the entire BeMo blog to discover many more gems that will help you get the MCAT score you want!
The Official AAMC MCAT Practice Tests
Nothing can be better for your MCAT attempts than actually being able to practice for the test using exams from the AAMC itself.
Remember, the AAMC is the official creator of the MCAT test. The test developers themselves have also created the practice versions for students to try and
The free MCAT prep resources can be found by going to the Free Planning and Studying Resources Page. It offers a myriad of content that covers a wide range of the MCAT prep process. Some examples include:
- What's on the MCAT Exam? – here you have a complete list of the foundational concepts, content categories, skills, and disciplines you will need to know for the MCAT test.
- How to Create a Study Plan for the MCAT Exam – this guide shows you how to implement a Six-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Study Plan. It helps you create your own personal learning style and develop an MCAT study schedule that makes you most efficient.
- Fee Assistance Program (FAP) – applicants who need financial assistance can join this program to receive benefits that include discounted fees, complimentary access to the MSAR online database, and free MCAT Official Prep products.
- MCAT Sample Question Guide – if you want to have a peek at examples and types of questions you will have to answer come test day, then this guide contains 12 MCAT questions for you. There are three questions in each of the four sections of the MCAT exam.
Once you have consumed all the resources, and there’s a lot more, you should probably move on to the paid subscriptions. These low-cost resources can further help your MCAT prep efforts. Even without the FAP program, you will find affordable MCAT prep material that is worth the small investment.
2. Free events and webinars
While still on the AAMC you shouldn’t forget to check out their webinars where you can partake in selected streamed sessions.
Then again, you can find a large collection of our webinar videos that can help you with your MCAT prep, among other topics. There is also a collection of our video resources that cover subjects like:
You can go through the YouTube Playlists to watch videos that have been custom-selected and organized for you to partake in a longer viewing session.
Is an MCAT CARS prep course right for you? Here's how one can help:
3. Online live resources
Various medical schools – and their students – offer free on-campus courses to help students pass the MCAT. Some great examples include:
- University of California, Davis (UC Davis) – this is where you can find Zoom links to a series of workshops that will help you understand how to identify what a question is expecting you to do and which part of each skill set you will need to apply to successfully answer the question. No registration is required, follow their Facebook page for updates.
- MCAT HYC Study Groups, Vanderbilt University – this is the place to go if you need tutoring services for MCAT High-Yield Concepts, for example. They take in applicants every season, and you can keep track of when you can join by following them on social media. The services are free and for the moment, all one-on-one tutoring sessions and group learning support opportunities are currently being held online via videoconference.
- MCAT 520 StudyRoom - Free MCAT Prep – we also have a free 12-week online live instructed MCAT prep program where you get the chance to go over strategies and sample test questions and answers, 3 times a week. You miss nothing, because recordings of every class let you watch at your own pace, and then it starts all over again allowing you to jump right in and follow from the beginning.
4. Free Financial Assistance
The Fee Assistance Program is another way you can get help with your MCAT preparation if you have financial issues that you need help with.
This Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) program aims to assist those who, due to financial challenges, would otherwise be unable to sit for the MCAT and apply to medical schools that use the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).
This will be a great help if you find it hard to pay for the test.
5. BeMo MCAT Book on Amazon
Although not free, per se, the value of our book on Amazon is worth more than its weight and we would recommend you invest in it if you are serious about acing your MCAT. The book, BeMo's Ultimate Guide to MCAT®* CARS: How to Ace the MCAT CARS Using A Simple 7-Step Process, is the most comprehensive resource you can use when preparing for the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section of the MCAT.
The book is written by former admissions committee members, medical doctors, and award-winning scientists. This guide, which is a must-read for all medical school applicants, includes effective strategies, sample CARS passages with questions, answers, and expert analyses, along with 40 practice passages.
Need more MCAT prep tips to increase your score? Check out this video:
Conclusion
Your journey to become a doctor will be a tough one. You will need all the help you can get. We hope the resources we have shared with you will take you one step closer to making your dreams of becoming a medical professional come true.
With that being said, we would advise you to go through as many resources as possible – if not all – to ensure a greater chance of scoring a high score on your MCAT test. Keep repeating the practice until you consistently start scoring in the 90th percentile. And finally, make sure you know you are ready and don’t take the test until you are 100% confident you are ready to go ahead.
Good luck!
FAQs
1. How hard is the MCAT?
The MCAT is a difficult test. But, the good news is that it is one that you can overcome if you tackle it diligently and efficiently. In other words, you will not only have to work hard, but also approach it smartly. Also, don’t forget that apart from the material that is covered, the length of the MCAT makes it mentally and physically challenging. We, therefore, advise you to take at least five full-length exams under test-like conditions. Take an MCAT diagnostic test to gauge where you're at and begin your prep.
Alternatively, you should seriously consider working with a medical school admissions consultant to help you with your efforts if you find it all to be a daunting task.
2. Can I only get into medical school if I have a high MCAT score?
The short answer is, “No.”
The longer version is that you should work hard to get the highest score possible. You should practice taking the test until you score in the 90th percentile.
But, if you don’t get the high score you had hoped for, you should know that there are ways you can get into medical school with a low MCAT score. Again, this will be tough so be prepared to work even harder.
3. What is a good MCAT prep strategy?
First, take a few practice tests. Although everyone has their own preferred method of tackling the MCAT, we can say that the best approach here would be to start by creating a study schedule based on your practice test results. Next, search for the resources that will help you study and improve (a good place to start would be to go through the list we have above) and dig in. Use props like flashcards and podcasts to drill the information into your brain. Then go back to taking the practice tests to see the changes and gaps. Keep repeating until you are happy with your results.
4. How long should I take to prepare myself for the MCAT?
The recommended time you should spend preparing for your MCAT is between 3 and 6 months. You should schedule yourself to spend a minimum average of 10 hours per week for your MCAT prep. Your individual decision should be made depending on the results you get and keep tuning your schedule accordingly.
5. What is a worthy MCAT score?
The ideal MCAT score depends on the medical school to which you are seeking to get admission to. This is to say that all schools have their own standards. This means you will have scored well enough for some schools while you wouldn’t be accepted in others. But, with that being said, a worthy or competent score would be anywhere between 506 and 515 while any score above 517 would be an outstanding score.
6. Is the MCAT the only way I can get into medical school?
It is quite understandable to ask this question because it is a tedious journey to pass and achieve a high MCAT score. But, you would be happy to know that no, the MCAT is not mandatory to join all medical schools. Some medical schools in the US and Canada do not require it. Here is a list of medical schools that don’t require MCAT scores.
7. When should I consider myself to be ready for the MCAT test?
The best sign you are ready to sit for the MCAT test is when you find yourself consistently scoring around the 90th percentile on your practice tests. Also, the greatest indication that you are indeed ready to take the test is when you think you are ready and feel that you are 100% up to the task.
8. How long does the MCAT test take?
There are 230 questions in the MCAT. It is divided into four sections with the CARS section comprising of 53 questions, and the remaining three having 59 questions each. The total amount of time given to complete the test is 6 hours and 15 minutes. Meanwhile, candidates have a total seated time of 7 and a half hours (7.5 hours) for anyone that wants to take the optional breaks. This is why it is considered to be one of the most physically demanding tests to take.
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1 Comments
Lana
Is there any place where I can find MCAT questions from past years?
Reply