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When:
There are twenty-five test dates from January through September. Although there are many dates, it can still be difficult to get your first choice location, date, and time, if you do not register well in advance (3). It is recommended that students register about three months in advance through the AAMC website. The registration opens about twelve weeks prior to the test date, and registration at least 60 days beforehand guarantees a seat at a site within 100 miles of your requested site (4).
Most students begin preparing seriously for the MCAT at least two months beforehand, allocating six to twelve weeks for intense study (5). Popular forms of studying include the ExamKracker books, the Audio Osmosis program, and online courses through Kaplan or the Princeton Review. There are in-person review programs available as well, which are helpful for some people, depending on their individual ways of learning.
Once you take the MCAT, you will receive your scores in approximately four weeks, or between thirty and thirty-five days (6). These scores are typically valid for between two and three years (although this varies from school to school, so you should always check the most recent MSAR for individual school requirements) (7).
Works Cited:
- Prep 101
- AAMC
- Kaplan
- Cornell Health Careers
- Doctor Premed
- AAMC Releasing Scores
Here are several practice MCATs
Information about careers in medicine and applying to medical school
Stanford Premedical Association – The MCAT
This website answers many frequently asked questions about how to prepare for the MCAT, when to take it, and how medical schools interpret the score. In addition, it answers questions about how important the MCAT is in the admissions process overall.
MCAT Review Courses (Princeton Review and Kaplan)
Both of these review courses offer great material that will help in preparing for the MCAT. This material includes review books, practice tests, and real MCATs released by the AAMC.
MCAT Practice Online
If you register on this website, you can get access to 900 previously administered questions, comprehensive solutions, diagnostic score reports, and dozens of practice tests, sample essays, and an MCAT monitored bulletin board. You also have the opportunity to buy the most recently released official MCAT tests.
MCAT Prep
This is a great website that gives you access to free MCAT practice tests. In addition, you have the opportunity to buy MCAT videos and complete MCAT prep courses online. The website also connects you to the MCAT store where you can find many more resources about the MCAT.
MCAT General Information
This website offers a lot of information about when to the MCAT, how to study for the MCAT during your Freshmen, Sophomore, and Junior years, and what kind of information is in each of the three sections. Though it is a very concise website, it is very helpful.
MCAT Information
This website offers information about the format of the MCAT and how it is scored. It provides information about average, good, and top scores. In addition, the website gives information about how to prepare for the science and verbal sections, and how to write a good essay.
MCAT FAQs from Cornell University
This website answers many questions such as: when to take the MCAT, what the format of the test is, how the MCAT is scored, how the scores are reported, how to prepare for the MCAT, and how you know whether or not you should retake the MCAT. The answers given on the website are extremely clear and very helpful.
