Studying for the MCAT takes careful planning, the right materials, and consistent practice. TutorLyft recommends starting with a full-length practice test, building a realistic study schedule, and protecting your well-being throughout the process. This guide covers each step so you feel ready, not overwhelmed, on exam day.
When it comes time to prep for the MCAT, many students are immediately overwhelmed by the prospect of an exam with about seven and a half hours of seated time that tests not only their medical knowledge, but their logical and reasoning ability as well. However, our guide on how to study for the MCAT will give you the guidance you need to ace the test, as well as reminding you to take care of your mind and body in the process.
Understanding the MCAT structure
The MCAT is divided into four sections, three that focus on your foundational medical knowledge, and one that deals with your ability to analyse and use logic. The four sections are as follows:
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems. This includes:
- 44 questions based on passages of text
- 15 independent/discrete questions
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems. This includes:
- 44 questions based on passages of text
- 15 independent/discrete questions
- Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behaviour. This includes:
- 44 questions based on passages of text
- 15 independent/discrete questions
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. This includes:
- 53 questions based on 9 passages of text.
Note that while the test is multiple choice and all completed on a computer, the majority of the test is passage based, not discrete questions. The MCAT is not a typical multiple choice test that you can zip through, quickly scanning the question and selecting the answer. The long passages are designed to test your attention to detail, and so there are a few ‘trick’ questions that can trip up test-takers who rush through their reading.
To get the highest score on the MCAT, focus on analysing passages carefully. In many cases, the answer to the question is directly from the passage, not something you need to have memorised already. These are points you can earn without any additional memorisation, so it’s worth taking the time to read each passage carefully.
The scoring system
It’s a myth that the MCAT is graded on a curve. Test scores for the MCAT are scaled and equated. Put simply, the four sections are all graded separately, like a normal test. There are no penalties for wrong answers (so make sure you answer every question, even if it’s just a guess!).
Second, your scores from each of the four sections are converted to a scaled score that ranges from 118 at the lowest to 132 at the highest. Then, the four scores are added together for your total score, ranging from 472 (lowest) to 528 (highest).
For percentile ranks in effect for 2026 to 2027, the mean total MCAT score is 500.6; the fixed midpoint of the total score scale is 500.
Creating a study plan
You’re probably wondering exactly how much time you should dedicate to studying for the MCAT. The right amount of study time varies by student. A longer, more gradual build-up tends to work better than a frantic last-minute push. Most MCAT prep advisors suggest months of consistent daily study rather than a single intensive sprint. Remember that the best way to understand how to study for the MCAT is not just to focus on cramming facts to spit back out, but instead to focus on calmly and carefully digesting information and evaluating it.
To begin your study plan, consider your current study habits. Be realistic about the hours and the kind of studying you do during an average week, not the ideal amount of studying you’d like to do if your life was perfect! How much time can you reasonably devote to studying, considering your other school, work, social, family and volunteering commitments? Are you the type who can focus for long periods of time for marathon weekend study sessions, or will you do better with shorter bursts of studying each day?
Determining your study schedule
Think about whether you’re a procrastinator and would be motivated by deadlines, or if you’re the Upholder type who will diligently peck away at your work because you’ve committed to doing it. Make your schedule realistic for who you are, and you’ll be more likely to stick to it. A good baseline is three hours a day for three months before the exam, plus at least 3 days built into that timeline for taking practice tests. Consider how this feels to you and whether you’d benefit more from a longer study period, or a shorter and more intensive prep.
No matter what your study style, or how many hours you can commit to, don’t fall into the trap of guilt or shame. You wouldn’t talk down to a friend who was struggling, so try to extend that same kindness to yourself. Trying to change who you are and your essential tendencies won’t set you up for success in medical school. If however, you put time into self-reflection and optimising your current habits, you’ll find that you can develop powerful study skills that work for you, rather than against you.
Choosing study materials and a plan of action
One of the best ways to understand how to study for the MCAT is to begin by taking an online practice test. The Princeton Review offers a free practice test that you can use to understand your strengths and weaknesses, and guide your studying. Without beginning with a practice exam, identifying your knowledge gaps can be difficult. It can also be tempting to study the subjects you enjoy the most first, and spend too much time on material you already know well, neglecting your weaker points. With the results of the practice exam in hand, you can build out a schedule that puts the focus on unfamiliar subjects and the sections, topics, or question types you find tricky.
Be sure to invest in an MCAT prep book, and get a copy of the AAMC outline of topics that will be on the exam. There are so many excellent study guides and exam preparation books out there, so don’t shortchange yourself by guessing at or assuming what the test will cover. You should feel confident that you’ll know what to expect on exam day.
Preparing with others
If you’re the social type, consider finding a study group to help you prepare for the exam. Many heads are better than one, and in addition to giving you motivation to stick to your study schedule, a peer group can also give you hints and tips that you might not work out on your own. You might also choose to sign up for an MCAT prep course, whether online or in person. Do your research and find a class that fits both your schedule and your studying goals.
Finally, you might also choose to study with a tutor. A tutor who has completed the MCAT themselves can use their expertise and helpful tips to guide you, but also help you work through test anxiety by sharing their experiences. A good MCAT tutor can also help you reflect on where your weak points are, and challenge you to level up your understanding of your weaker subjects.
Practice and testing
The more you practise, the more comfortable you’ll feel on exam day, both with the material and with the format itself. As you study for the MCAT, remember that you're not only trying to learn the material, but building the habits of an effective test taker for this particular kind of exam. Practising the question formats, looking for patterns in the style of questioning, and familiarising yourself with working within the time limits for each section will help minimise stress on exam day.
The MCAT is also a test of stamina, with 6 hours and 15 minutes of content time. Staying focused for that length of time is a real challenge. Doing as many practice tests as your schedule will allow is one of the best ways to build that kind of mental endurance.
When you take your practice tests, simulate the conditions of exam day at home as closely as you can, including removing all distractions. Knowing how to study for the MCAT is a test of being physically as well as mentally prepared. The test prep should ideally teach you something about the self-care and self-management skills required to be a doctor in a hospital setting, where long and demanding shifts are the norm.
Finally, there can be such a thing as too much prep for the MCAT. As many medical students will tell you, the MCAT is designed to test breadth of knowledge rather than deep expertise in any one area. Therefore, you can spend too much time focusing on the details while you study for the chemistry or psychology sections, for example, and miss out on more time to cover a range of topics. The purpose is to assess that you have studied broadly in your pre-medical program, and also, in the CARS section, that you have good judgement and reasoning ability. Don’t forget that you’re just studying for one exam. You’re not trying to cram for your entire four years of medical school right now!
Critical analysis and reasoning skills
Some Canadian medical schools, such as the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa, place particular emphasis on CARS scores during admissions screening. Check each school's admissions page directly to see how they assess your results. The University of Toronto, for example, requires at least 125 in each section, with an allowance of 124 in one. Be sure to look at the specific requirements for each program you're applying to.
There are two schools of thought when it comes to prepping for the CARS portion of your MCAT exam. Some people swear by the practice materials available (Kaplan and the AAMC offer good ones), but others insist that the way to ace CARS is to broaden your mind and general thinking skills. Read books, the news, scientific papers, and other forms of analysis, focusing on reflecting on the content you’ve read. Form your judgements and opinions based on the facts presented, challenging any biases in your thinking. If you feel that your analysis and critical thinking skills are weak, don’t forget that you can rely on your tutor to help you strengthen those skills.
Also consider checking out the course offerings at your university in the philosophy, English or political science departments. Most philosophy programs offer courses in logic, and this can make a real difference in how prepared and confident you feel going into the CARS section. Even if you don’t have the time to add an extra course to your workload, consider emailing the professors of courses that look relevant to your CARS prep. They may be delighted to send you some materials to review, or connect you with one of their students who can tutor you in logic, critical analysis and reasoning skills.
Managing health and well-being
It’s easy to let self-care slip when you’re in the middle of intense exam prep, but building good habits now can make a real difference in how you feel on test day and beyond. While you’re preparing to embark on this journey by taking the MCAT, use the time to form good health and wellness habits that you can take forward with you into medical school. You can check out our blog 7 Practical Tips for How to Deal with Exam Stress to find some great starting points. Consider your eating habits (the right brain foods for studying can support your focus), and prioritize your sleep schedule, exercise, and social time. Having fun while you’re not studying will make it easy to buckle down and concentrate when you do!
Also keep in mind that the MCAT you’re prepping for isn’t your only chance at medical school. While the test has an incredibly important impact on admittance rates, AAMC testing attempt limits state that you may attempt the exam no more than three times in a testing year and no more than seven times in your lifetime. If you do poorly on the exam, you can always take time to study more, retake the test, and reapply to your top schools. Failing the test or not getting accepted to medical school might make you feel like you’re wasting time, but you have years ahead of you. Many people enter medical school later in life, and delaying by a few months or a year after your undergrad will not mean you’re “behind” your peers.
Remember that the new MCAT (released in 2015) is meant to assess a wider scope of knowledge than previous generations. A 2020 Academic Medicine study on the revised MCAT found that the new exam requires multidisciplinary problem-solving and tests more subjects and greater scientific reasoning than the old exam did. For this reason, you may need more time to prepare and mature in your thinking than others. Working through that kind of setback takes real resilience, and that same resilience will serve you well throughout your medical career.
Preparing for the MCAT is a long process, and it rarely goes exactly as planned. Missing a study day, scoring lower than you hoped on a practice test, or needing extra time on a topic is all normal. The goal isn’t perfection right now. It’s steady, honest progress that sets you up for the kind of thinking medical school will ask of you.
If you’d like support working through difficult sections or building a study plan that fits your schedule, TutorLyft’s MCAT tutors are available across Canada.
FAQs
Yes, 528 is the highest possible total MCAT score. It comes from earning the maximum scaled score of 132 in each of the four sections.
Start with a full-length practice test to identify weak areas, then build a realistic schedule, such as three hours a day for three months. Add a prep book, the AAMC topic outline, and regular timed practice tests to build stamina.
A 492 falls below the 2026–2027 mean total score of 500.6, so it is below average but not a dead end. Students can retake the exam up to seven times in a lifetime, and many medical students apply after extra study time.