How Hard Is The MCAT? | Facing The MCAT Challenging
How hard is the MCAT? This is the question that most aspiring doctors have in mind. It's actually their mind set that determines whether or not they want to go to medical college. Because asking this question to yourself sheds light on the challenges, struggles and anxiety levels a student goes through during their MCAT test to achieve a good score.
But through this blog post, you’ll learn how you can face these challenges and ace the MCAT test to get your admission in medical college.
What Makes The MCAT So Hard?
There are collective of things that makes MCAT so hard, some of them are illustrated below:
1- Comprehensive Content
The MCAT covers a vast array of topics, from biology and biochemistry to physics and social sciences. It requires students to recall and apply knowledge from multiple disciplines. This not only necessitates thorough understanding but also the ability to interrelate concepts from different fields.
2- Long Duration
How long is the MCAT? The MCAT consists of 7 hours and 30 minutes which increases the anxiety level of students. It requires significant stamina, mental endurance and concentration to ace the MCAT exam.
3- Passage Based Questions
MCAT is a passage based questions test. It means that it’s not a simple test like others. Due to these passages, it requires careful analysis, exact answer to the question which demands external knowledge and is also time consuming.
4- Time Pressure
The MCAT test sheet contains many questions, so you need to manage not only your knowledge, but also your time management skills. Many students discover that they must strike a balance between giving challenging questions enough time and making sure they have an answer for each.
5- Memorizing Information Is Not Enough
Your capacity to recall and memorize information may have been enough for prior tests, but not for the MCAT. The assessment will allow you to apply knowledge to real-life situations. Situational questions will test your problem-solving skills. Instead of merely answering a question, explain a concept's reasoning to demonstrate your grasp.
6- Emotional Burden
One's emotions and psyche might sometimes become worn out throughout the lengthy preparation process and after realizing how important it is. Stress, anxiety, and exhaustion are very common in this particular group and are experienced by many people taking the MCAT.
Why You Shouldn’t Let MCAT Difficulty Level Scare You?
Although everyone knows the harsh reality of the MCAT test. But once you make your mind, ensure that it doesn’t scare you on test day. Make a promise decision and then stick with it. Here are some difficulty level that shouldn’t scare you:
It test basic knowledge
It leads to personal growth
It’s standardized test
If you understood the concept you studied the MCAT wouldn’t be extremely difficult for you
Keep it in mind that everyone is in the same boat, never discourage yourself.
MCAT test score is not everything, if you fail once you can retake it.
It’s a supportive system, you should share your fairs with others so that you can take tests in a more enjoyable manner.
How To Ace The MCAT?
To ace the MCAT, you should first set your mind on pursuing it or not. After thoughtful decision of clearing it, here’s how you can go right way:
Understand the MCAT format: Familiarize yourself with MCAT test structure, the type of questions, subjects covered and the four sections of it.
Prepare a well managed study schedule: For instance, to ace the exam, know how many hours you should spend per day. Divide your study into phases according to the test day sessions.
Use the right MCAT resource: Get connected with the official site for MCAT (AAMC) and also connect with online resources.
Practice, practice and practice: You should practice each subject wisely to make sure you have covered each point. You can also prefer group study to clear your concepts.
Health: Stay healthy throughout your MCAT preparation. Sleep properly and eat properly.
Stay updated: Check your login portal for new notifications and others.
What Is The Best Way To Prepare For The MCAT Properly?
The best way to determine an MCAT preparation objective, examine the average MCAT scores at your medical school list. Focusing on your target institutions' goals will help you prepare for admission with this complete approach. Score targets may help you pass this challenging test. Optimize your education with three to six months of classes. Practice questions and mock tests while learning. Combine methods to increase test-taking and understanding.
Studying regularly helps you learn. Improve your learning using dependable books, online resources, and AAMC materials. Prefer food, sleep, and exercise to improve health. Breaks minimize burnout and boost productivity. Rest may alleviate stress. Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) success requires preparation and understanding of the latest exam structure. Updating your knowledge helps with exam prep.
How To Manage Post MCAT Anxiety?
To manage your post MCAT test day anxiety. Try these things a week before your test. It really helps you to stay positive and lessen your stress. This include:
Watch a lots of reality shows
Go for walks/ talk with nature
Play cards with family and friends
Do exercise or Yoga
Indulge yourself with things that you loved most (like your favorite hobby, traveling, and others)
Success Tips For Hard MCAT Test
Here are the additional tips to succeed in MCAT test:
Apply Real-Life Contexts: Relate theoretical concepts to real-world medical cases or research to deepen understanding.
Study Interconnectedly: Recognize how subjects like physics intersect with biology to grasp the overarching picture.
Practice Adaptability: Train yourself to apply knowledge in unfamiliar contexts, preparing for varied question styles.
Engage in Active Discussions: Join study groups or forums to reinforce topics and gain diverse perspectives.
Use Mnemonics: Employ memory techniques, like mnemonics or "memory palaces," for better retention.
Mind Mapping: Visualize inter-concept connections to streamline recall.
Understand Ethical Issues: Stay informed on medical ethics, enriching your preparation for decision-making sections.
Practice Timed Reading: Speed-read complex materials to hone your ability to extract key details swiftly.
Final Note On How Hard Is The MCAT?
The MCAT is a challanging test and you have to acknowledge this challenge as it requires balanced and dedicated approach for studying. You can take online courses too for your ease or you can engage with MCAT test games. One of the most popular MCAT preparation game is to download the King of the Curve app on your mobile device. This is the most effective way to excel in your MCAT test.
