Preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a critical step on your path to medical school. Among the many decisions you’ll face, choosing the right study materials is paramount. Every successful applicant knows the secret weapon: the AAMC’s MCAT Official Prep resources. These materials are universally recognized as the “gold standard” for MCAT practice. Think of them as your diagnostic tools, helping you understand your strengths and weaknesses, much like a car diagnostic helps identify issues under the hood. But navigating the AAMC’s offerings can be overwhelming. Their website isn’t exactly known for its user-friendliness.
This article will demystify the AAMC MCAT Official Prep resources. We’ll explain what each resource contains, how they fit into an effective MCAT study plan, and how strategically using them can save you both time and money compared to relying solely on third-party materials.
What Are the AAMC Official Practice Resources?
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is the organization responsible for creating and administering the MCAT. They also manage the AMCAS application portal and play a central role in medical education. Over the years, the AAMC has released a wealth of practice materials derived from previously administered, scored MCAT exams. These resources are available for purchase and represent the most authentic practice you can get.
Because they are written by the actual test makers, AAMC official resources are, by definition, the most accurate representation of the real MCAT. They also offer excellent value. For under $300 (at the time of writing), you gain access to nearly 3,000 practice questions, spanning full-length exams and targeted practice sets.
When people refer to “AAMC resources,” they typically mean the AAMC MCAT Official Prep Online-Only Bundle. Another option is the AAMC MCAT Official Prep Complete Bundle, which includes a physical copy of The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam. These bundles are packages of 14 distinct resources, including full-length practice exams, focused question packs, and other question sets. These 14 resources, along with the two free full-length exams (the “Sample Test” and “Free Practice Exam”), constitute the complete set of AAMC materials released since the MCAT underwent its last major revision in 2015. While individual resources and smaller bundles are available, purchasing a complete bundle provides a cost saving of approximately 15%.
Keep an eye out for new resource releases, which typically occur in October or November each year.
How Many MCAT Questions Are in the AAMC Materials?
As of early 2023, the AAMC official practice resources contain a total of 2,849 questions. Here’s the breakdown by resource type:
- Practice Exams: 1380 questions (6 exams * 230 questions per exam)
- Question Packs: 720 questions (6 packs * 120 questions per pack)
- Section Bank: 300 questions (3 sections * 100 questions per section)
- Official Guide Questions: 120 questions
- Independent Question Bank: 150 questions
- CARS Diagnostic Tool: 179 questions
Let’s explore each of these resources in more detail to understand how they can contribute to your MCAT preparation.
Practice Exams: Simulating Test Day
The AAMC offers two free practice exams: the unscored “Sample Test” and the scored “Free Practice Exam.” In addition, there are four scored practice exams available for purchase, labeled “Practice Exam 1,” “Practice Exam 2,” and so on. These are full-length, four-section exams, each containing 230 questions. With the exception of the Sample Test, these exams provide realistic score reports upon completion, giving you valuable insights into your performance.
The best way to utilize practice exams is to take one early in your preparation as a baseline assessment. This will help you understand your initial scoring range and identify your strengths and weaknesses. Subsequently, take one practice exam every one to two weeks leading up to your actual MCAT test date. This spaced practice will track your progress and build your test-taking stamina.
Question Packs: Targeted Subject Review
There are six Question Packs available, each focusing on a specific subject area: Chemistry, Physics, Biology (two packs), and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) (two packs). Each pack contains 120 questions dedicated to its respective subject. For the science question packs (Chemistry, Physics, and Biology), the questions are a mix of passage-based and non-passage-based formats, mirroring the actual MCAT.
It’s crucial to understand how to effectively use the Question Packs. Each pack loads as a single 120-question section. However, this does NOT mean you need to complete it in one sitting. In fact, it’s more effective to use them for shorter, focused practice sessions followed by immediate review of your answers. Answer a manageable number of questions, then end the session to review your results. You can return to the pack later and “restart” it for further practice. Unfortunately, this means you’ll have to click through questions you’ve seen before, a quirk of the AAMC’s online interface. 😕
Section Bank: Realistic Section Practice
The Section Bank consists of three blocks of 100 questions each, with each block dedicated to one of the science sections of the MCAT: 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).
Like the Question Packs, the Section Bank includes both passage-based and non-passage-based questions. However, the Section Bank differs by presenting a question mix that is more representative of a real MCAT section in terms of subject and skill distribution. For instance, the Chem/Phys block includes questions from General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry, and it assesses all four of the AAMC’s Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills.
Similar to other AAMC resources, each Section Bank block loads as a continuous set of 100 questions. They are designed for multiple study sessions and should be revisited over time. Break them down into smaller, manageable chunks for each study session, even if it requires repeated clicking.
Official Guide Questions: Classic Practice
The full title of this resource is “MCAT Official Prep Online Practice Questions from the Official Guide to the MCAT Exam.” These are simply the online versions of the 120 practice questions printed in the AAMC’s book, The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam. These questions are among the oldest in the AAMC resource collection, and some may reflect older MCAT styles. However, they remain scientifically accurate and still test the core content and skills you’ll encounter on the actual exam. They are valuable for additional practice, especially if you have access to the Official Guide book.
Independent Question Bank: Discrete Practice
This resource features 150 science-section questions that are not associated with passages. The AAMC uses the term “independent” to describe these stand-alone questions, while in MCAT prep, they are often called “discrete” questions. On the real MCAT and in full-length practice tests, approximately 25% of science questions are independent. However, in this bank, all questions are independent.
The Independent Question Bank covers six science subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, and Biochemistry, with 25 questions per subject. These questions are in the authentic MCAT format, with appropriate question stems and answer choices. While they tend to be somewhat simpler than average questions on scored practice exams, they are excellent for reinforcing foundational science concepts and formulas.
You might have previously heard of the “AAMC Online Flashcards.” This is the resource’s former name. The current name, Independent Question Bank, is more descriptive of its question-based format.
CARS Diagnostic Tool: Focused CARS Practice
The CARS Diagnostic Tool is a unique resource that offers more than just practice questions. It includes a diagnostic walkthrough of the CARS section, a countdown tracker until your test date, and instructional videos. However, its primary value for most students lies in its additional CARS practice questions.
The CARS Diagnostic Tool provides 179 extra CARS questions. This represents the most recently released dedicated CARS practice material from the AAMC. Many believe this makes these questions particularly representative of the current MCAT CARS section. Given the critical importance of CARS performance for many applicants, we recommend using this tool as an expanded CARS question pack, regardless of whether you utilize its other features.
Where to Find the AAMC Official Practice Resources
AAMC Official Prep resources are available directly from the AAMC website. They are also frequently bundled with third-party MCAT prep products. When considering prep options, carefully review the details to see if AAMC resources are included. For example, Sketchy’s MCAT Prep Essentials course combines Sketchy’s visual learning review with AAMC resources and a structured study planner, even offering an MCAT score guarantee. Explore Sketchy’s MCAT site for more information.
No matter how you choose to prepare, we at Sketchy wish you the best in your MCAT journey!
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