Preparing for the MCAT is to be taken seriously. According to the AAMC, on average, pre-med students spend around 240 hours studying. However, budgeting around 300 hours is recommended if you’re aiming for a top score. Still, this is just a ballpark and highly variable per person. If you’re not sure where to start, consider a 3-month MCAT study plan.
This plan breaks down how to organize and maximize your study time over 12 weeks, offering a structured strategy to keep you on track for success.
Maximize Your MCAT Score With a 3-Month MCAT Study Plan
The Essentials for Effective MCAT Prep
Before diving into the study plan, it’s important to gather the right MCAT prep resources. Here’s a list of materials that are essential for any MCAT prep journey.
AAMC MCAT Official Prep Bundle: This includes full-length exams, question banks, and section banks, directly from the test makers, making it the most accurate tool for practice.
Blueprint MCAT AI Qbank: With over 5,000 questions, you can filter by topic to target specific weaknesses. The Qbank is available in Blueprint MCAT exam bundles, Blueprint MCAT Self-Paced, Live and 515+ courses, and private tutoring. This is a great supplement to AAMC’s resources.
Content Review Books: You’ll need comprehensive review books or online content, like the content review modules inside Blueprint MCAT courses.
Flashcards: Utilize MCAT flashcards for spaced repetition to retain information, especially with challenging topics. Get access to 1,600 fully customizable flashcards created by veteran MCAT experts for free here.
Full-Length Practice Exams: Incorporate both the official AAMC exams and supplementary tests (like Blueprint MCAT’s full-length exams) to build endurance and gauge progress.
3-Month MCAT Study Plan Breakdown
Now that you have the materials, let’s break down your 12-week study plan. Each week will have specific goals to ensure content review, practice questions, and full-length exams.
Weeks 1-4: Building the Foundation
Week 1: Diagnostic Test and Study Plan Setup
Start your 3-month MCAT study plan strong by taking a diagnostic exam to assess your baseline score. This will highlight your strengths and weaknesses, helping you target areas that need the most attention. Based on the results, create a study plan that allocates time accordingly.
Daily Structure:
- 3-4 hours of content review
- 1 hour of practice questions
- 30 minutes of flashcards
Key Focus: Broad content review, starting with your weakest subject.
Action: Begin using a “Lessons Learned Journal” to track mistakes and adjust study strategies. Not sure how to create one? Get a free one inside the Blueprint MCAT free account!
Weeks 2-3: Intensive Content Review
After establishing your baseline, focus heavily on content review, tackling one subject per week. Start with the areas where you scored lowest in your diagnostic exam.
Daily Structure:
- 4-5 hours of content review
- 1-2 hours of practice questions
- CARS passage daily
- 30 minutes of flashcards
Key Focus: Mastering foundational concepts in biology, chemistry, and physics.
Action: Take practice quizzes every few days to gauge understanding.
Week 4: First Full-Length Exam
At the end of Week 4, take your first full-length AAMC practice test under real testing conditions. This will serve as a check-in point to reassess your progress.
Exam Day: Mimic test-day conditions. Start at 8 AM, minimize distractions, and take breaks as required.
Review Day: Thoroughly review every section of the exam to identify content gaps and adjust your study plan.
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Weeks 5-8: Strengthening and Practicing
Weeks 5-6: Focused Practice and Adaptive Review
With a strong foundation in place, shift towards a balance between content review and practice questions. Continue targeting weak areas identified through your full-length exam and quizzes.
Daily Structure:
- 3 hours of content review
- 2 hours of practice questions
- CARS passages
- 30 minutes of flashcards
Key Focus: Strengthening challenging subjects, especially with practice questions.
Action: Track mistakes meticulously and use the “Lessons Learned Journal” to develop corrective strategies.
Week 7: Second Full-Length Exam
Take another full-length AAMC exam, following the same testing conditions as before. By now, you should start to see some improvements in your score and stamina.
Review: Analyze each section to adjust your study strategy for the next few weeks.
Adaptation: If there are topics where you’re consistently missing questions, adjust your study time to prioritize those areas.
Week 8: Time for Reflection and Growth
This week is about learning from your mistakes and shoring up any remaining content gaps. Spend more time on practice questions and reviewing high-yield topics.
Daily Structure:
- 2-3 hours of targeted content review
- 2-3 hours of practice questions
- CARS passages
- 30 minutes of flashcards
Key Focus: High-yield review and question analysis.
Weeks 9-12: Final Push and Polishing
Weeks 9-10: Final Content Review and Practice
At this point, your content review should be tapering down. Focus heavily on timed practice questions, CARS passages, and honing test-day strategies.
Daily Structure:
- 1-2 hours of content review
- 3-4 hours of practice questions
- CARS passages
- 30 minutes of flashcards
Key Focus: Perfect timing, identify patterns in wrong answers, and practice endurance.
Week 11: Third Full-Length Exam
Take your third full-length AAMC practice exam, ideally one of the official AAMC exams.
Review: Conduct a detailed analysis and identify any remaining weak points.
Week 12: Taper and Test Readiness
As the exam approaches, reduce your study hours to around 75% of your usual workload. Focus on refining your test-taking strategies and reviewing any weak spots. Avoid full-length exams within four days of your test to keep your mind fresh.
Day Before the Exam: Don’t study. Spend the day relaxing, doing light review (flashcards or concept maps), and ensuring you’re mentally ready.
Final Thoughts
A 3-month MCAT study plan provides you with the flexibility to fully absorb the content and practice necessary for MCAT success. The key is to remain disciplined, adjust as needed, and prioritize both content mastery and test-taking skills. By the time test day rolls around, you should be confident and within range of your goal score.
It’s important to remember that your MCAT study plan will not look like your peers’ study schedules. It’s not impossible to self-study for the MCAT. You’ll have to be responsible and diligent to maintain your MCAT prep schedule and gather all the materials you’ll need for your prep.
If you need more accountability and access to the best MCAT prep resources all in one place, Blueprint MCAT courses might be the perfect option for you. Whether you need the flexibility of a Self-Paced Course, the instruction of a Live Course, or 1:1 assistance of a private MCAT tutor, Blueprint MCAT has the MCAT prep option that works for your learning style!
Further Reading
The Ultimate 6-month MCAT Study Plan: Is prepping for the MCAT in 3 months too overwhelming? Try a 6-month study plan!
How to Study for the MCAT: 10 Evidence-Based Learning Strategies: You know what you need to study, but do you know how to study?
Active Learning Tips for the MCAT: Mastering active learning can take your MCAT prep to the next level.
