Mastering the AAMC practice material is an absolutely essential step in your MCAT preparation. If you can conceptually understand every topic presented and learn to think about information in the right way, you’ll be in a position to crush the MCAT. 

Each specific component of the practice material is a bit different and has a particular function.

Before we get into each one, we want to quickly remind you to utilize the AAMC performance function within the testing interface (in the Analysis tab). This will allow you to track your AAMC performance in one central location and compare your progress against other Med School Insiders MCAT users.

AAMC Practice Exams

Practice exams 1, 2, 3, and 4 are the best of the AAMC materials because they provide a full-testing experience, including a scaled score and percentile. They will be used during your dedicated 4-week testing period at the end of your prep to give you the most accurate benchmark of how you will perform on test day. Make sure you use all full-length tests to mimic your experience with the MCAT. Begin around 8 AM, end around 4 PM, be in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed, have your snacks prepared, use earplugs, take the standard break times, and get an idea of how to handle hydration. Some students struggle finding the balance of staying hydrated without urgently needing to use the bathroom in the middle of a section. 

Statistically speaking, the majority of examinees score within +/- 3 points of their average on these 4 tests on their actual exam. But there are some factors that contribute to a test day dropoff. 

The first factor is not closely mimicking test conditions or allowing oneself extra time with the practice tests. 

The second factor is a lack of confidence, particularly in Chem/Phys and CARS. Examinees who experience this usually have worked hard, understand the test, and know the content, but on test day, the pressure gets to them and they revert back to old habits. If you think this may describe you, we have a separate lesson in this Student Resources section outlining some best practices. If you still require assistance, our tutors are well versed in helping students overcome test taking anxiety. 

Again we need to reiterate that you should not use these practice tests until the 4 week dedicated testing phase! This is because these tests are made from the official MCAT test makers, and therefore are the closest thing to the real test. You want to simulate and practice as closely to the real test in your final few weeks. There may be a couple exceptions which we’ll get to later in the course. 

AAMC Sample Test

The AAMC Sample Test is a full-length practice test with all the features of the MCAT except for a scaled score. Instead, you will receive a percentage. It is slightly easier than the AAMC Practice Exams discussed previously. This difference isn’t drastic, but it’s there.

This will be your first practice test after the completion of Science Module 1. You may also desire to take this test again after you finish the science modules, just before you begin the dedicated testing phase. Because this was your very first test and you’ve learned so much in the meantime, it is likely that taking the Sample Test a second time will offer value. Do not do this, however, if you have access to practice tests from secondary resources that will give you a more novel testing experience. More on this later.

In the Student Resources, we’ve included a function that will allow you to put in your percentages and get a scaled score. This score converter takes into account the difference in difficulty between the AAMC practice tests and the Sample Test. While it isn’t perfect, it is a good indicator of your current score. In our experience, +/- a few points on the total score and +/- 1 point on each section score.

Remember that this initial diagnostic score isn’t something to be overly concerned with. Yes, you are probably anxious and excited to know where you’re starting from. But the function of this test is to give you a baseline and help you understand your strengths and weaknesses. Like all practice questions, your primary objective is to learn everything you can from it.

Section Bank

The Section Bank is a great resource to refine your science knowledge and improve your critical thinking skills. It has 100 questions for each of the 3 science sections, making 300 total questions. The questions are both passage-based and standalones.

The Section Bank tends to be the most difficult of all the AAMC practice material. Generally speaking, the passages are similar to the most difficult ones you would see on your actual MCAT. However, don’t use this as an excuse to overlook them as the actual MCAT administrations seem to be trending in this direction. These questions are an excellent opportunity to focus on many of the critical thinking skills discussed in the science modules and will also help you master content. Strive to get above 75% correct on these, or above an 80% if you’re aiming for a 515 or higher. But more importantly, use these as opportunities to fill holes in your content understanding and practice your test taking skills.

You’ll be starting these questions about halfway through your content review, after Science Module 7.

Online Practice Questions from The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam

Next, the online practice questions. These questions come from The Official Guide To the MCAT Exam, a paper publication from the AAMC. With the information in this Med School Insiders MCAT Course, it’s not necessary to obtain this publication. However, the questions are good practice. They resemble a half-length exam, with 120 questions total with some passage-based and some standalone.

The Official Guide questions are a bit easier than the questions from the Sample Test, and the difference between the Section Bank will be quite apparent. Again, this is not an excuse to take them lightly or blow them off. Aim to be above 85% on these questions, and again, use them as an opportunity to practice and learn.

You’ll be starting these questions about halfway through your content review, after Science Module 6.

Science Question Packs

The Biology, Physics, and Chemistry question packs may have some use during your preparation. The questions and passages are taken from the old MCA, meaning before 2015, and their structure/focus is different from what you will encounter on test day. They can be used for good content review but if you’re running low on time, definitely prioritize other components of the course first.

CARS Question Packs

The CARS question packs are exceptional and are one of the most important parts of your prep. Each of them accounts for 120 questions, meaning 240 questions total, and these are the best CARS practice available. You’ll use them after the first couple of CARS modules once you’ve mastered some of the basic skills. When approaching these question packs, you want to be able to understand the logic behind them, which can only be done when you’ve established the fundamentals of CARS success.

Note that Question Pack 1 will start off with more difficult passages, which will gradually get easier. While you should understand your percentages will vary per passage, don’t blow off the more difficult passages – dig in and use them to refine your approach. It’s quite possible you’ll have multiple passages that are challenging on your test day and these passages will give you great practice in how to handle them.

CARS Diagnostic Tool

The AAMC recently rolled out a CARS diagnostic tool. While it’s a new resource, it isn’t well understood how different it is from the CARS question packs. What we do know is that it consists of another 28 passages and tends to be on par in difficulty with the CARS question packs. Use it as you would the question packs – master basic skills first and then use them to learn the logic of the AAMC.

Online Flashcards

The flashcards are misnamed. Instead of being the traditional front-and-back style, they are essentially 150 standalone questions from the science sections. Take these as you are completing the science modules and about to start the 4-week dedicated testing phase. They can be a helpful tool to identify gaps in your science knowledge. 

If you are running low on time, be sure to at least hit the Psych/Soc section as it’s heavily content focused, and it shouldn’t take long – just about 1 hour or so. 

Frequently Asked Questions