Taking the MCAT can seem like a daunting experience for any student — especially when you consider the sheer length of the exam. If you use every moment of your time, including breaks, the test takes roughly seven and a half hours.
In addition to ensuring that you have reviewed all the academic material that might be assessed, think about other factors that could affect the outcome of such a long testing session. If you are already deep into prep for the medical school admissions exam, check out these tips to help you ensure a smooth testing process when exam day finally arrives.
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1. Decide how to use your breaks: There is quite a bit of advice available about how to not spend your MCAT breaks — including foregoing them altogether — but there is less direction about how to plan for these precious few minutes away from the testing screen.
On a typical break during class, you might check your phone or review course materials. On MCAT exam day, however, your activity during breaks will be limited — none of these usual methods of passing the time will be available.
There are two main ways that you can spend the breaks: using active recall techniques to prepare for the next section on the test, or giving your mind a rest by using mindfulness and meditation techniques. Of course, do not forget that the lunch break is for lunch, as well as for any other strategies you find useful.
When choosing your techniques for exam day, consider taking each for a trial run during the breaks of your full-length practice tests. With practice test No. 1, for example, you might spend time mentally reviewing several relevant equations, like the Hardy-Weinberg equation, before the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section. With your second practice test, in contrast, you could spend five of your free minutes with your eyes closed, visualizing a calming scene.
You may even find that different break strategies work better for you depending on which portion of the MCAT is next. Begin experimenting with different techniques as soon as you begin taking full-length practice exams.
[Find ways to build last-minute confidence for MCAT success.]
2. Consider how you will use scratch paper: Scratch paper can be a tremendous advantage for the most difficult MCAT questions, but when used unwisely, it can also cause you to fritter away your time by focusing an inordinate amount on just one or two problems.
Before you sit for the real MCAT, explore several ways to use scratch paper during the four portions of the test. Certain people find it helpful to jot down relevant formulas or shorthand concepts prior to beginning particular sections.
Others prefer to use their scrap paper for summarizing Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills passages or for identifying important points within these passages. Still others use their scratch paper to better understand question stems.
You may find that a combination of these approaches works best for you. Regardless of how you think you will use scratch paper, practice putting your predictions to work on the practice tests. This can help ensure your preferred strategies are efficient and helpful.
[Avoid these three common MCAT mistakes on test day.]
3. Confirm your understanding of the MCAT’s virtual tools: Some online practice tests have their own tools with which you can eliminate answers, highlight within passages and scroll. Because every company is different and not all may emulate the MCAT exactly, it is best to review the tools used by the MCAT itself prior to sitting for the real computer-based exam.
Ensure you know how to select answers, highlight passages and cross out answers before test day. In addition, remember that eliminating all answers but one with a cross-out does not automatically select the remaining answer.
Finally, at the end of each section, make sure you have answered all questions using the appropriate MCAT tools. Knowing all of the features of the MCAT testing platform can help you feel more confident on exam day.
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3 Techniques to Ensure a Smooth MCAT Testing Session originally appeared on usnews.com
