Embarking on your journey to medical school requires strategic preparation for the MCAT, and leveraging the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Official Prep resources is universally acknowledged as the most effective strategy. These resources are the “gold standard” for MCAT practice.
However, navigating the AAMC’s extensive resources can be challenging. The AAMC, while the creator of the MCAT and the authority on MCAT prep materials, isn’t always known for presenting its resources in the most user-friendly way. This article aims to clarify the contents of the AAMC materials, guide you on how to integrate them into your MCAT preparation plan, and demonstrate how their smart utilization can minimize the need for additional, costly prep materials.
Understanding AAMC Official MCAT Practice
The AAMC, in addition to managing the AMCAS application portal, is responsible for developing and administering the MCAT exam. Over time, they have released a wealth of internally developed MCAT practice materials, available for purchase on their website. Crucially, much of this practice material consists of questions from previously administered, scored MCAT exams that have since been retired and repurposed for study aids.
Given their origin, AAMC official resources are inherently the most authentic MCAT practice available. Their value is further enhanced by their cost-effectiveness. For under $300 (at the time of writing), you gain access to nearly 3,000 questions, encompassing both full-length practice tests and more focused, subject-specific resources.
When we refer to “AAMC resources,” we typically mean 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 includes 14 distinct resources, ranging from full practice exams to targeted question packs. These 14 resources, along with two freely accessible full-length exams (the “Sample Test” and “Free Practice Exam”), represent the complete collection of AAMC materials released since the significant MCAT format revision in 2015. While individual resources or smaller bundles are available, purchasing the complete bundle offers approximately a 15% cost saving compared to individual purchases.
Keep an eye out for new resource releases, which typically occur in October or November.
Breaking Down the AAMC Question Bank: How Many Questions in Each Resource?
As of early 2023, the complete suite of official AAMC practice resources contains a total of 2,849 questions. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the question count per resource:
- 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 delve deeper into each of these resources to understand their specific purpose and how to best utilize them in your MCAT prep.
Practice Exams: Simulating the Real MCAT Experience
The AAMC provides two free practice exams for all students: the “Free Practice Exam” (scored) and the “Sample Test” (unscored). In addition, four scored practice exams (labeled “Practice Exam 1,” “Practice Exam 2,” etc.) are available for purchase. These are full-length exams, mirroring the actual MCAT format with four sections and 230 questions. Except for the unscored Sample Test, these exams provide realistic score reports upon completion, giving you valuable insights into your performance.
The optimal strategy for using practice exams is to take one early in your preparation as a diagnostic tool. This initial exam serves as a baseline, revealing your current score range and highlighting your strengths and weaknesses. Subsequently, schedule practice exams every one to two weeks leading up to your official MCAT test date. This regular practice helps you build stamina, refine your test-taking strategies, and track your progress over time.
Question Packs: Targeted Subject Review
There are six question packs available, each focusing on a specific subject area: Chemistry, Physics, Biology (two packs), and CARS (Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills – 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 independent questions, offering a range of practice styles.
It’s important to note that the AAMC platform presents each question pack (and all AAMC resources) as a single, continuous 120-question section. However, this does not mean you must complete an entire pack in one sitting. In fact, it’s more effective to use these packs for shorter, focused practice sessions, allowing you to review your answers immediately after a smaller set of questions. To do this, simply answer the number of questions you intend for that session, end the practice session to review your results, and then restart the section later. Unfortunately, this means navigating through previously seen questions to reach new ones, a minor inconvenience due to the AAMC interface design. 😕
Section Bank: Realistic Section Practice
The Section Bank comprises 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).
Similar to the question packs, the Section Bank features a mix of passage-based and independent questions. However, unlike the question packs, the Section Bank offers a subject and skill mix that more closely resembles an actual MCAT section. For example, the Chem/Phys block includes questions from General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry, and assesses all four of the AAMC’s Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills. This provides a more holistic practice experience for each science section.
Like other AAMC resources, the Section Bank loads as a single 100-question block. However, it is designed to be used in multiple study sessions, allowing for focused practice and review over time. Don’t hesitate to revisit the Section Bank repeatedly throughout your preparation, even if it involves some extra clicks.
Official Guide Questions: A Glimpse into MCAT History
The full title of this resource is “MCAT Official Prep Online Practice Questions from the Official Guide to the MCAT Exam,” which is why it’s commonly shortened to “Official Guide Questions.”
This resource consists of four sets of 30 questions each, directly replicated from the 120 questions printed in the AAMC’s book, The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam. These are among the oldest questions in the AAMC collection and may, in some instances, reflect their age. However, they remain scientifically accurate and test the same content and skills assessed on the current MCAT exam. They can be valuable for additional practice, especially if you have access to the Official Guide book.
Independent Question Bank: Mastering Discrete Questions
The Independent Question Bank is a set of 150 science-section questions that are not passage-based. The AAMC uses the term “independent” for these standalone questions, while in MCAT prep terminology, they are often referred to as “discrete” questions. On the actual MCAT and in full-length practice tests, approximately 25% of science-section questions are independent. This resource, however, focuses exclusively on this question type.
The questions are distributed across six science subjects – Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, and Biochemistry – with 25 questions per subject. These questions are formatted realistically like MCAT questions, with appropriate question stems and answer choices. While they tend to be somewhat simpler than average questions found on scored practice exams, they are excellent for solidifying your grasp of fundamental scientific concepts.
This resource is particularly useful for students who want to drill straightforward applications of scientific knowledge, such as definitions and formulas. You might also know this resource by its former name, the “AAMC Online Flashcards.” Despite the old name, it’s important to remember these are practice questions, not flashcards!
CARS Diagnostic Tool: Your Dedicated CARS Practice Resource
The CARS Diagnostic Tool is unique, offering features beyond just practice questions. It includes a diagnostic walkthrough of the CARS section, a countdown tracker to your test day, and instructional videos. However, its primary value for most students lies in its wealth of additional CARS practice questions.
Within the CARS Diagnostic Tool, you’ll find 179 extra CARS questions. This is the most recent dedicated CARS practice material released by the AAMC, leading many to believe it most accurately reflects the current exam’s CARS section. Given the critical importance of CARS performance for many medical school applicants, we highly recommend utilizing this resource as an extra-large CARS question pack, regardless of whether you use its other features.
Accessing AAMC Official Practice Resources
AAMC Official Prep resources can be purchased directly from the AAMC website. They are also frequently included as part of larger MCAT prep packages offered by third-party providers. Therefore, carefully review the details of any MCAT prep options you are considering to see if AAMC resources are included in the bundle. For example, Sketchy’s MCAT Prep Essentials course integrates Sketchy’s engaging review courses with AAMC resources and a structured study planner, even offering an MCAT score guarantee. You can explore the details on Sketchy’s MCAT site.
No matter how you choose to prepare, everyone at Sketchy wishes you success on your MCAT journey!
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