If you’re a student gearing up to start preparing for the MCAT, the planning can seem almost as intimidating as the actual material. How many months should you set aside, and how many hours per day? What prep materials should you use? And how will you be able to confirm that you’re ready to take the official MCAT exam?

All of these questions are influenced by another common query: how many full-length MCAT practice tests should you plan to take? The AAMC currently has four full-lengths available for purchase. Virtually all sources recommend taking more, but exactly how many can vary substantially. In general, it’s best to take somewhere between 5 and 10 full-length exams, including the official AAMC exams and then additional representative MCAT full-lengths. To figure out how many, check out these tips:

1. If you’re a first-time test-taker and/or have problems with endurance, aim to take 8 or more full-length exams.
A large portion of MCAT prep is accomplished outside of MCAT practice tests, including review of content and practice working through individual passages.

However, the one aspect that is difficult to master in any format other than full-length tests is endurance. If you tend to lose focus or get tired easily, consider taking more tests in a test-like setting (no time cheating!). 

Don’t fret if you become exhausted by the bio/biochem section of the first few tests you take; keep working through more until you feel relatively mentally sharp throughout all four sections. Similarly, if you tend to run out of time on certain sections, try to assess whether this happens more often when you are already tired. 

2. If you have little trouble staying focused for 6+ hours, 5-6 exams may be closer to the perfect number for you.
It’s not uncommon for students to score extremely well on the MCAT after taking only 5 full-length exams. However, these are typically the students who are already suited to the MCAT style and format – either retakers, those with naturally good endurance, or those who (in other facets of life, such as work) already practice remaining focused for long durations. If you fall into these categories, you may be able to get by with only 5-6 MCAT practice tests, but be sure to complete sufficient practice outside of full-lengths to fully master the MCAT science material.

3. Avoid taking more than one full-length per week!
Students–especially those with only 1-2 months until their test date–often fall into the trap of packing multiple full-length MCAT practice tests into the same week. However each full exam takes approximately one full day to complete, and an ideal review should take that amount of time or even longer. Trying to take even two full-lengths in a week, then, leaves very little time for other studying, and it risks burnout or exhaustion.

If you have limited time until your test date, try instead to limit yourself to one full-length per week, and fill some of your remaining time with individual exam sections, if possible. This way, you can complete the equivalent of 1.5-2 full-lengths per week without risking the fatigue that comes with taking multiple full exams in a row.

4. More full-lengths is NOT always better
We’ve seen several students with the same grave misconception – “If 5-10 full-lengths are good,” they say, “then more than 10 must be even better!” While this sounds sensible in theory, students who try to take more than 10 full practice tests typically sacrifice some valuable review time. Taking 6 full-lengths and reviewing each carefully–making note of your mistakes and weaknesses–is far more valuable than taking 15 and skimping on the review.

Of course, every student is different, so it may take some time to decide what path is right for you. But regardless of the number of practice exams you end up completing, we have high hopes for your MCAT success. Good luck!

Ready to get started with the MCAT? Sign up for a free Blueprint MCAT account to receive a full-length free MCAT practice test. If you need more practice, check out our 10 full-length MCAT practice exams. Representative MCAT practice is key to success on Test Day – that is why we are constantly updating our exams to match changes made by the AAMC.

Written by Blueprint MCAT (formerly Next Step Test Prep) MCAT experts.