Preparing for the MCAT is a time-consuming process, as well as one that can occasionally be overwhelming. After all, if you choose to supplement your prep plan with free online resources, how do you select an app or tool from the many options? The following websites and tools can help prospective medical school students as they journey toward an ideal MCAT score.
— Begin at the source: The Association of American Medical Colleges, the creator of the MCAT, maintains a number of documents that are useful for initial review. These include content outlines for each section on the exam. These outlines serve as excellent checklists for organizing your prep.
[Try three strategies for MCAT preparation.]
— Expand your grasp of content: Once you are familiar with the content on the MCAT, you must refresh your knowledge and understanding of that material — or learn it for the first time. The following resources contain graphical or written treatments of those MCAT subjects you may find most difficult.
HyperPhysics is a formidable resource for learning physics concepts in written and diagrammatic form. Click through each mind map to delve into a given topic, as well as to determine which others are closely related. MCAT questions test understanding over memorization, and it is critical to have a fundamental grounding in the subjects presented here.
A picture truly can be worth a thousand words, especially in regard to chemistry. The Teachers’ Instructional Graphics Educational Resource, or TIGER, is heavy on the former and light on the latter. To view a visual representation of a chemistry concept, either in a photograph or in a video, navigate the drop-down menus.
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Physics is the study of motion, so what better way to learn its central principles than with animations? The MCAT, for example, expects you to understand how changing one variable affects others. With Physics Applets Virtual Lab, you are able to directly view such concepts.
Evernote enables you to create your own personal trove of information. You can organize it into notebooks, which you can sync across multiple devices. It is even possible to share notebooks with other students who are preparing for the MCAT.
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— Strengthen your understanding of exam format and timing: Finally, you must test your knowledge of the content with thorough practice. Question banks are excellent resources through which to get this practice. The more frequently you test yourself on this information, the more effectively you are able to retain it, and the more familiar you will be with it come test day.
MCAT Question a Day maintains archives of stand-alone questions, as well as explanations for each answer. It is even possible to switch from the current MCAT to problems that reflect the content and format of the 2015 MCAT, as well as to download an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet app.
Students can follow MCAT Question a Day on Twitter as well, where the resource occasionally tweets different practice problems to check out and use. These instant updates from social media can serve as helpful reminders to ensure you continue your practice.
There is a plethora of great, no-cost review resources for prospective medical students who wish to augment their MCAT prep. All you need do is point your mouse toward them.
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Add Free Online Tools, Apps to MCAT Prep originally appeared on usnews.com
