Applying for a medical college degree could be challenging and stressful, especially if you have decided to apply for a medical college in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean Islands, and the reason is the MCAT exam. In case you haven't already heard about the MCAT Exam, which stands for the Medical College Admission Test, buckle up because, in the following article, Radviser will help you learn everything necessary for you to know.

Prospective medical students must take a computer-based examination testing their knowledge and skills in physical sciences, biological sciences, psychological, CARS, and social and biological foundations of behavior. The MCAT test is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges, aiming to select only the qualified students with a lot of potential to become highly responsible medical residents. For that reason, the test has evolved through the years, which means although accurate responses are required for most of the questions, many other questions target the students' reasoning skills. Here are some facts about the MCAT exam:

• Sitting Time: 7 hours and 30 minutes
• Cost: $315 for initial registration
• Maximum Score: 528
• Average Score: 125 in each section, 500 in total
• Frequency: 15 times a year
• Language: English
• Attempt Restrictions: 3 times in a year, 4 times in two years, and 7 times in total

Why the MCAT Exam?

More than 85,000 students sit for the MCAT exam every year. The tests are designed by several physicians, medical students, medical educators, and residents putting together questions to evaluate the knowledge and skills required of a medical college student. The proficiency of this test is so high that many medical colleges in the United States, Canada, and a few other countries, consider it a good liaison in the admission phase. Medical schools are looking for specific competencies in their potential students, including:

• Academic strength
• Environmental healthcare and research exposure
• Personal experiences and interests
• The campus and the community's contributive potential
• Personal attributes
• etc.

The MCAT scores say a great deal about your potential and knowledge. Although it is not the only criterion in the application process, medical schools prefer candidates with more promising prospects as their future students.

MCAT Exam Preparation

If you aim for a medical college, you will need a well-organized plan to guide you until you reach the finish line. First thing first, you need to learn everything about the MCAT exam inside out, including the exam rules, the medical school admission process, and the exam content (skills, topics, disciplines, and concepts). You can move to the next step when you have all the required information. Students often wonder how they should start preparing for the exam. The smart thing to do is recognize how much you already know and what you aim to achieve. You will have a starting point and a path to follow by doing so.

Since the course contents differ from one school to another, it would be excellent first to compare the courses you have in mind with the schools' content list. Afterward, you should gather any available related resources that you can get your hands on to read the contents from various sources. Don't forget about the resources that will help you practice and apply your knowledge. Collecting free or low-priced resources is advisable, which you can easily find with a simple search on the internet. Some programs allow you to purchase resources in a bundle at a discount.

You will need a good study plan to help you navigate your studies from now on. Hence, develop a reasonable study plan and stick to it. It is okay to change it later or in other words keep it flexible. However, make sure your study plan is compatible with the goal you have in mind. The final and most important step is to start studying and practicing. You need to focus on both the contents and your knowledge application. Developing strategies will help you immensely, which means it would be an excellent idea to counsel someone who has done the test before or knows a lot about it.

MCAT Exam Scoring System

The examinees will receive a score for each section and one total score. The four primary areas of the exam are:

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (59 Questions/95 Minutes)
• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (53 Questions/ 90 Minutes)
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (59 Questions/ 95 Minutes)
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) (59 Questions/ 95 Minutes)

Each section's score ranges from 118 to 132. As for the total score, the test takers will receive a score ranging from 472 to 528. Usually, the examinees receive their test results 30 to 35 days after the exam date. If you are not satisfied with your score, you can retake the test. Bear in mind that based on the MCAT Exam attempt restrictions, you can only take three tests in one year, four tests in two years, and seven tests in total.

MCAT Exam Fee

The following chart shows you the primary information you need to know about the fee:

For international registration, the examinees are required to add another US$100 to the above fee.

If you can't afford the registration fee, there is the Fee Assistance Program to help students with financial limitations take the MCAT exam by reducing the registration fee. This is only possible if you meet the eligibility requirements of the program. In addition to a fee reduction, the program offers other benefits like free MCAT preparation resources.

How Long Is the MCAT Exam?

In addition to the primary four sections of the exam, there are other sections to the MCAT exam. The following list shows you the remaining sections:

• Examinee agreement (8 Minutes)
• An optional tutorial (10 Minutes)
• An optional break after the first section (10 Minutes)
• An optional mid-exam break (30 Minutes)
• An optional break after the third section (10 Minutes)
• Void questions (5 Minutes)
• Optional satisfaction survey (5 Minutes)

The estimated time for the content sections of the MCAT exam is 6 hours and 15 minutes, and the approximate sitting time is 7 hours and 33 minutes.

The MCAT Exam Dates

The MCAT exam is offered multiple times each month between January and September. The test dates are not the same every year. Therefore, it is essential to know the available dates every year. Early registration will allow you to select your first-choice locations, time, and date. You can visit the AAMC website for more information and online registration.