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How to Study for the MCAT: Complete Guide and Study Plan

Plan to prepare for the MCAT over 12 to 16 weeks at 15 to 20 hours per week. Review the science content first, practice passage-based questions and CARS every week, then build stamina with full-length practice tests that match the real 6 hour 15 minute content time.

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What is the MCAT?

The MCAT is the medical school admission test administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). It is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam taken at test centers, with 6 hours 15 minutes of content time and about 7 hours 30 minutes of total seated time. It has four sections: Chemical and Physical Foundations, Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS), Biological and Biochemical Foundations, and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior. Each section is scored from 118 to 132, for a total score of 472 to 528.

Who it is for

The MCAT is for medical school applicants. Its science sections are passage-based, so it rewards applying scientific knowledge to unfamiliar passages and data, not just recalling facts. Each medical school decides how old an MCAT score it will accept, so check your target schools.

MCAT at a glance

Administered byAssociation of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
DeliveryComputer-based, at test centers.
Total time6 hours 15 minutes of content time; about 7 hours 30 minutes total seated time (excluding check-in).
SectionsChemical and Physical Foundations: 59 questions, 95 min. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS): 53 questions, 90 min. Biological and Biochemical Foundations: 59 questions, 95 min. Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior: 59 questions, 95 min.
Question typesMultiple choice. Science sections: 10 passage-based sets (4-6 questions each) + 15 independent questions. CARS: 9 passage sets (5-7 questions each). No guessing penalty.
ScoringEach section scored 118-132; total score 472-528 (sum of four sections).
FeeUS$360 standard registration; US$145 with Fee Assistance; +US$130 international fee outside the US, Canada and US territories (2027 testing year).
When offered2027 U.S. testing runs January 15 to September 11 (about 36 dates); no testing October-December 2027. Scores release about a month after each date.
RetakesUp to 3 times in one testing year, 4 times over two consecutive years, 7 times lifetime; voids and no-shows count.

Source: Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), checked October 21, 2026. Fees and policies change: confirm with the official site before you register.

What is tested

MCAT study plan: 14 weeks, 15 to 20 hours a week

1. Baseline and planning (week 1)

  • Take a full-length timed practice test to set a baseline.
  • Rank content areas by weakness and by how often they appear in your misses.
  • Schedule a daily CARS habit of at least one or two passages.

2. Content review (weeks 2 to 7)

  • Work through biology, biochemistry, general and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and sociology in order of weakness.
  • After each topic, do passage-based practice questions instead of only rereading notes.
  • Build flashcards for amino acids, hormones, equations and psychology terms, and review them daily.
  • Keep doing CARS passages every day.

3. Passage practice (weeks 8 to 11)

  • Shift most time to timed passage sets of 4 to 6 questions.
  • Practice reading figures and experimental designs quickly.
  • Review each set by labeling misses as content gap, passage reasoning or timing.

4. Full tests and stamina (weeks 12 to 14)

  • Take one full-length timed practice test per week under real section times and breaks.
  • Spend the following day reviewing that test thoroughly.
  • Use the final days for light review of your error log and flashcards, then rest.

How to practice

  • Practice with passages early, since most science questions sit in passage-based sets.
  • Do CARS daily in small doses; it improves with steady repetition more than cramming.
  • Answer every question, because there is no guessing penalty.
  • Use flashcards with spaced review for high-yield facts such as amino acids, hormones and key equations.
  • Read the full explanation for every question to see which concept and passage clue it tested.
  • Train for stamina by taking full-length tests on the same schedule you will follow on test day.

Common mistakes

  • Spending months on content review before doing any practice questions.
  • Neglecting CARS because it has no content to memorize.
  • Underestimating the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section.
  • Bringing outside knowledge into CARS answers instead of staying within the passage.
  • Taking full-length tests without spending enough time reviewing them.
  • Registering late and missing preferred test dates, since U.S. testing is not offered October through December 2027.

Free MCAT practice by topic

How long should I study for the MCAT?

A realistic plan is 12 to 16 weeks at about 15 to 20 hours per week. Students with recent science coursework may need less time, while those starting content review from scratch should plan longer.

How long is the MCAT?

The MCAT has 6 hours 15 minutes of content time and about 7 hours 30 minutes of total seated time, excluding check-in. It has four sections: three science sections of 59 questions in 95 minutes each, and CARS with 53 questions in 90 minutes.

How is the MCAT scored?

Each of the four sections is scored from 118 to 132. The total score is the sum of the four sections and ranges from 472 to 528. There is no guessing penalty, so answer every question.

How much does the MCAT cost?

Standard registration costs US$360, or US$145 with AAMC Fee Assistance, for the 2027 testing year. An additional US$130 international fee applies when testing outside the US, Canada and US territories.

How many times can you take the MCAT?

You can take the MCAT up to 3 times in one testing year, 4 times over two consecutive years and 7 times in your lifetime. Voids and no-shows count toward these limits.

When is the MCAT offered?

In 2027, U.S. testing runs from January 15 to September 11 across about 36 dates, with no testing from October to December 2027. Scores are released about a month after each test date.

Keep studying

Sources: AAMC: What's on the MCAT exam, AAMC: MCAT exam score scale, AAMC: MCAT scheduling fees, AAMC: Testing attempt limits.