Here is the formula so that you can score a 37S too!


Start and End with AAMC Practice Tests

I know it seems odd to say, but the first thing you need to do is to take one of the AAMC's online practice MCAT CBTs (for example, Test #3).  There are too many companies out there that will try to deceive you about what the MCAT is like.  Do it yourself, see it yourself before you end up buying 20 different books because you don't know who to believe.  Leave the rest of the AAMC tests for after your review.


Design a Personal Study Schedule

On average, set aside between 3-6 hours/day for between 3-6 months.  You may need more or less time depending on your "pre-MCAT prep": for example, if you do alot of leisure reading, if you read the New York Times/The Economist/WSJ, if you completed all your basic sciences, if you have a 4.0 GPA, then you might need less time !


Review Daily, Test Weekly

Get a limited amount of review materials in front of you and move forward on a daily basis.  Once per week, do an online practice MCAT CBT and pour over explanations for your mistakes/guesses. 

Here is my review of The Gold Standard: excellent science teaching/review, only pertinent information, below average verbal section (simply not in depth enough), very good writing sample advice/review, three very realistic challenging practice exams. I would give the book 4 and 1/2 stars.

How does it compare to the others? Kaplan and Princeton also have excellent science review books but they only have one full length practice exam (they may have changed this in their 2007 book but I've not seen it). You can't go wrong with Examkrackers but they are long so I stuck to their Audio Osmosis CDs which were very helpful. I supplemented this with the mcat science videos from MCAT-prep.

Paper MCATs are like dinosaurs.  Use all the AAMC online tests and the Gold Standard practice MCAT CBTs.

Good luck!