Preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a critical step on your journey to medical school, and one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make is choosing the right study materials. Among the plethora of options available, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) MCAT Official Prep resources stand out as the undisputed “gold standard” for effective practice.
While the AAMC, the very organization that creates and administers the MCAT and manages the AMCAS application portal, provides these invaluable resources, navigating their website to understand and utilize them effectively can be challenging. Consider this article your comprehensive guide to demystifying AAMC’s official prep materials. We’ll delve into what these resources encompass, how they seamlessly integrate into your MCAT preparation strategy, and how strategically leveraging them can potentially save you both time and money compared to relying solely on third-party alternatives.
What Are AAMC Official Practice Resources?
The AAMC, as the creators of the MCAT, has developed and released a collection of practice materials derived from previously administered, scored MCAT exams. These resources are available for purchase and represent the most authentic MCAT practice experience you can find.
Given their origin, AAMC official resources are inherently the most accurate representation of the actual MCAT exam. They offer exceptional value, providing access to nearly 3,000 questions, including full-length practice tests and subject-specific resources, for a cost significantly less than $300 (at the time of writing).
The term “AAMC resources” typically refers to the AAMC MCAT Official Prep Online-Only Bundle, or the AAMC MCAT Official Prep Complete Bundle which includes a physical copy of The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam. This comprehensive bundle comprises 14 distinct resources, such as practice exams, question packs, and various question sets. These 14 resources, along with two complimentary full-length exams (the “Sample Test” and “Free Practice Exam”), constitute the entirety of AAMC’s publicly released materials since the MCAT underwent its last major revision in 2015. While individual resources or smaller bundles are available, opting for the complete bundle offers approximately a 15% cost saving compared to purchasing each item separately.
Keep an eye out for new resource releases, typically occurring in October or November each year.
Decoding the Volume: MCAT Questions in AAMC Resources
As of early 2023, the complete suite of official AAMC practice resources boasts an impressive 2,849 questions. Here’s a detailed breakdown by resource type:
- Practice Exams: 1380 questions (6 exams * 230 questions/exam)
- Question Packs: 720 questions (6 packs * 120 questions/pack)
- Section Bank: 300 questions (3 sections * 100 questions/section)
- Official Guide Questions: 120 questions
- Independent Question Bank: 150 questions
- CARS Diagnostic Tool: 179 questions
Let’s explore each of these resources in greater detail to understand their unique benefits and how to effectively incorporate them into your MCAT study plan.
A Closer Look at AAMC MCAT Practice Resources
Practice Exams
AAMC provides two free practice exams for all students: the unscored “Sample Test” and the scored “Free Practice Exam.” Additionally, four scored practice exams, labeled “Practice Exam 1,” “Practice Exam 2,” and so on, are available for purchase. These are full-length simulations of the MCAT, each containing 230 questions across four sections. Except for the Sample Test, these exams provide realistic score reports upon completion, mirroring the actual MCAT scoring system.
AAMC MCAT Official Prep Resources Breakdown
The optimal strategy for utilizing these practice exams is to take one early in your preparation as a diagnostic tool. This initial exam serves as a baseline assessment, revealing your current score range and highlighting your strengths and weaknesses. Subsequently, schedule regular practice exams, ideally one every one to two weeks, as you approach your actual MCAT test date. This consistent practice under exam conditions is invaluable for building stamina and refining your test-taking strategies.
Question Packs
There are six distinct Question Packs available, covering specific subject areas: Chemistry, Physics, two Biology packs, and two CARS (Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills) packs. Each pack contains 120 questions focused exclusively on its designated subject. The science question packs (Chemistry, Physics, and Biology) feature a mix of passage-based and independent questions, mirroring the format of the actual MCAT science sections.
It’s important to note that the AAMC platform presents each Question Pack, and indeed all AAMC resources, as a single continuous 120-question section. However, this does not necessitate completing an entire pack in one sitting. In fact, it’s more effective to use these packs for shorter, targeted practice sessions, allowing for immediate review of your answers. Simply answer a manageable number of questions, conclude your practice session to access your results, and resume the pack later. While this may involve navigating through previously seen questions upon revisiting, this is a quirk of the AAMC’s interface.
Section Bank
The Section Bank comprises three blocks of 100 questions each, with each block dedicated to a different MCAT science section: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys), Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/Biochem), and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc).
Similar to the Question Packs, the Section Bank features a blend of passage-based and independent questions. However, unlike the subject-specific Question Packs, the Section Bank offers a question mix that more closely resembles the interdisciplinary nature of a real MCAT section. For instance, the Chem/Phys block incorporates questions from General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry, as well as questions assessing all four of the AAMC’s Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills.
Like other AAMC resources, each Section Bank block loads as a single 100-question unit. However, these blocks are designed for flexible use across multiple study sessions and should be revisited periodically for reinforcement, even if it requires some extra clicks to navigate.
Official Guide Questions
Formally titled “MCAT Official Prep Online Practice Questions from the Official Guide to the MCAT Exam,” these are more commonly referred to as “Official Guide Questions.”
This resource consists of four sets of 30 questions each, directly replicated from the 120 questions found in the AAMC’s publication, The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam. These questions are among the oldest in the AAMC collection and may show their age in terms of question style. Nonetheless, they remain scientifically valid and effectively test the content and skills assessed on the current MCAT exam.
Independent Question Bank
This resource provides 150 science-section questions presented without accompanying passages. The AAMC uses the term “independent” to describe these passage-less questions, which are more commonly known as “discrete” questions in MCAT prep terminology. While independent questions constitute approximately 25% of the science section questions on the actual MCAT and full-length practice tests, they comprise 100% of the questions in this bank.
These questions span six science subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, and Biochemistry, with 25 questions dedicated to each subject. The questions are formatted realistically, mirroring actual MCAT questions with appropriate question stems and answer choices. However, they tend to be slightly simpler than the average question encountered on a scored practice exam.
The Independent Question Bank is a valuable resource for targeted practice, particularly for students seeking to reinforce their understanding of fundamental science concepts, definitions, and formulas.
Previously known as “AAMC Online Flashcards,” this resource’s former name was somewhat misleading, as these are practice questions, not flashcards.
CARS Diagnostic Tool
The CARS Diagnostic Tool is a unique resource incorporating additional features such as a diagnostic assessment of your CARS skills, a countdown tracker to your test date, and instructional videos. However, its primary value for most students lies in its provision of additional CARS practice material.
Among its features, the CARS Diagnostic Tool includes 179 CARS practice questions. Notably, this is the most recently released dedicated CARS practice material from the AAMC, which some believe makes it highly representative of the current MCAT exam’s CARS section. Given the critical importance of CARS performance for many medical school applicants, this tool serves as an excellent supplementary CARS question pack, regardless of whether you utilize its other diagnostic features.
Accessing AAMC Official Practice Resources
AAMC Official Prep resources are available for purchase directly from the AAMC website. They are also frequently included as part of comprehensive MCAT prep packages offered by third-party providers. When evaluating prep options, carefully review the included components to determine if AAMC resources are part of the bundle. For example, Sketchy’s MCAT Prep Essentials course integrates Sketchy’s engaging review course with AAMC resources and a structured study planner, offering a comprehensive approach to MCAT preparation, complete with an MCAT score guarantee. Visit Sketchy’s MCAT site for further details.
Regardless of your chosen preparation method, we at Sketchy wish you the very best in your MCAT journey!
