“Q:A” How long before the MCAT should I start studying?

QofQuimica: I recommend that most students begin preparing for the MCAT three to six months in advance, depending on their work/school schedule and how much preparation they require. It is possible to prepare in two months, but I don’t recommend doing this unless you are able to devote yourself to studying for the MCAT full-time. (For example, some students choose to study full-time during June and July for the August test, which can work if they do not take any summer classes.)

During the last month before you take the MCAT, you should take several practice full-length tests. Students who take a TPR or Kaplan prep course take five full-length proctored exams as part of the course, which is probably an adequate number of practice tests for most people. Those of you who are self-studying will need to take the practice tests on your own; make sure that you strictly observe the time limits for each section. You can purchase actual released MCATs from the AAMC, and you can also buy practice tests from any of the test prep companies.