Your Ideal MCAT Study Schedule

MCAT prep may feel overwhelming, but setting the right MCAT study schedule will help you feel more in control. Our sample schedules can help you tackle the test AND maintain your sanity.

The Right MCAT Study Schedule for You

Decide how many hours of prep you should do in a week to create your daily schedule.

• Tip #1: Be realistic.

  You may feel like you should be studying all the time, but you likely have other responsibilities and commitments. Plus, you need time to eat, rest, exercise, and unwind.

• Tip #2: Assess what else you have going on.

  You may only be able to manage two hours of MCAT prep if you have a heavy day with classes or work. Set your schedule accordingly. And, if you can manage it, a day off from MCAT study per week is majorly restorative.

• Tip #3: Not a morning person? Adjust accordingly.

  All MCATs begin in the morning. If you're typically a night owl, make sure to adjust your sleep and study schedule to correspond to the time of day you are actually taking the MCAT, at least in the last few weeks before your test.

Take a Free Practice Test

Here are a few sample schedules to help you get started.

Sample MCAT Study Schedule: No Full Practice Test

• 6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.: Wake up, breakfast, quick morning walk/run or workout, shower.

• 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: MCAT prep (this could be half a practice test, practice questions and passages, test review, or some chapter reading for various subjects)

• 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Lunch and leisure time (read a magazine, check social media news, meet with a friend, dance to your favorite song)

• 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.: MCAT prep

• 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.: Snack, stretch, unwind

• 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.: MCAT prep

• 7:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m.: Dinner and leisure time

• 10:30 p.m.–11:00 p.m.: Go to bed

Sample MCAT Study Schedule: Full Practice Test

• 6:30 a.m.–7:30 a.m.: Wake up, breakfast, quick morning walk/run or workout, shower.

• 7:30 a.m.–9:00 a.m.: Warm up for the test (do a few practice questions and passages to get your mind going)

• 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.: Full practice MCAT (including break times)

• 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.: Dinner/snack, relax

• 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.: Practice test review (always review your performance as soon as possible)

• 8:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m.: Relax, do whatever else needs to be done

• 10:30 p.m.–11:00 p.m.: Go to bed

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