

Gold Standard has a full-length free MCAT Practice Test with an online interface that replicates the real exam. Question banks may or may not include mini and/or full-length practice tests. For example, there could be more basic, independent questions followed by more challenging, passage-based questions. MCAT practice tests are designed to be simulations of the real exam while question banks can be chapter, topic or sectional practice questions (with and/or without passages) that may or may not be at the same level as a real exam. What's the difference between MCAT practice tests and question banks? Many practice tests, if completed according to schedule and well-reviewed thereafter, can ensure that you are very well prepared despite the imperfections that any one test may have.

No one practice test can perfectly replicate the experience of the real exam. However, “progress” is like the stock market: your score may go up and down relative to a few full-length MCAT practice tests but, over time, your scores should improve as long as you continue creating your Gold Notes and that you continue to study from those notes several times per week as the real exam approaches. Of course, by comparing your total score to previous practice exam scores and by comparing your scores by section to previous practice exam scores by section, you will have a better sense of your progress. What type of passage was it? Did you really need to understand the entire passage in order to answer the questions correctly? Was the question discrete, pseudo-discrete, or a truly passage-based question? What insights can you now have while time pressure has been removed? The entire review requires your focus and concentration as though you were re-taking the exam. Regardless of whether you got it right, looking at the explanations might give you insight into a similar type of question that may pop up on the real exam. Reputable practice exams are accompanied by more than just answers, they contain helpful explanations. You require a measure of discipline because many students skip reviewing questions when they feel “I knew that one” whether or not they got it right.
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The equivalent of one or two full days for review would be ideal.

Because it is a full-day exam, a few minutes or hours of review would be considered cursory.
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How to effectively review MCAT practice test?Įffective MCAT practice test review requires time, discipline and focus. Most students with high, official scores have used a variety of reputable MCAT practice tests. Of course, the AAMC - being the official exam organization - is best but other than that, there are as many opinions as learning styles. It's also important to note that no one company provides the perfect practice test experience. Choose the number of practice exams according to your needs, budget and schedule. However, taking brief, effective notes from your MCAT practice test experience and reviewing all of those notes several times per week builds knowledge, reasoning and confidence moving forward. There is little value to have extra full-length MCAT practice tests if you don't have the time and motivation to use them as full-length practice which includes a careful review of answers and explanations over 1-2 days per exam.įrankly, re-taking mock exams is not an efficient use of time for most students.

One to two practice tests are unlikely to be as helpful as 11-12, and some students may benefit from more depending on learning style and target score.Īlthough there are some students who believe that 'more MCAT practice is better', perhaps a more realistic expression would be: 'more effective MCAT practice is better'. The more practice exams you should take for the MCAT, the better. How many practice exams should I take for the MCAT?
