How to Start Studying for the MCAT
Introduction
Starting your MCAT journey can be overwhelming. This guide breaks down the first steps you need to take.
1. Understand the Exam
The MCAT is a roughly 7.5-hour exam (about 6 hours 15 minutes of actual testing) administered by the AAMC. It has four sections, each scored from 118 to 132, for a total score range of 472 to 528 (mean ~500):
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys)
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/Biochem)
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc)
The format has been stable for years, so any current prep materials will match the exam you sit.
2. Pick Your Test Date
The MCAT is offered roughly 30 times a year, from January through mid-September (for 2026, the AAMC added a new February date). Scores are released about 30–35 days after you test. Work backward from your target date: most applicants aim to test in April or May so scores arrive as AMCAS opens. See our MCAT test dates and score release guide for the full 2026 calendar.
3. Create a Schedule
Most students study for 3–6 months, logging 300–500 total hours. Studying full-time (~40 hrs/week) compresses this to about 3 months; part-time (~20 hrs/week) stretches it to about 6. Build your plan in phases — content review first, then practice questions, then full-length AAMC exams. Our 6-month study schedule gives you a ready-made template.
4. Choose Your Resources
You don’t need everything. A typical effective stack is a content course (Blueprint or Kaplan), the UWorld QBank, and — most importantly — the official AAMC practice materials, which are the gold standard for representativeness. See our best MCAT prep courses breakdown to choose.