When I signed up to take the MCAT this spring, I never would have thought it would be in the middle of a pandemic. The uncertainty spans all aspects of our lives, including with medical school applications and a new, COVID-19 MCAT.
As if the MCAT was not stressful enough, now we are tasked with navigating a COVID-19 MCAT, with new times, and new dates.
As most premed students know by now, the AAMC announced new policies regarding the MCAT from May-September. These include:
- Shortening the exam from 7 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours 45 minutes
- To accommodate for shortening, there are now 42 questions per section, no tutorial, and no survey
- Additional test days
- 3 times per day to take the exam (6:30am, 12:15pm, and 6:00pm)
The AAMC also closed registration until May 7th, maintained horrible communication via Twitter, and experienced a major site breakdown when registration opened.
How should I adjust my studying?
My original 8am time was changed to 6:30am. I could have logged on and tried to get a different time, but I did not want to deal with that stress.
I also did not want to wake up on test day and wait, very anxiously, for 12:15 or 6:00 to take my exam. The sooner the better for me to take this exam!
To prepare for functioning that early in the morning, I have started waking up at 4:30am every morning and studying before work. As of writing this, I am on day 4 and let me tell you, it has not been easy!
It is difficult waking up before the sun rises and going to bed before the sun sets!
If you have a noon or evening time, adjust your study schedule so that you are studying during those times. The 6pm exam will go until 11pm so make sure your brain is still working that late!
For more MCAT study tips, check out how I studied for the MCAT previously!
What to do about full lengths
The AAMC has said that they are not adjusting their full length exams to the new format. I guess the positive side to that is if you prepare for a longer test, the shortened one should be easier to get through.
Some test prep companies are providing adjusted COVID-19 MCAT exams! I am using Blueprint {formally NextStep} for my full length practice exams leading up to a month before my test date. 4 weeks before my exam date, I will be doing the AAMC full length exams.
Some other test prep companies that are offering the modified practice exam is Magoosh and Altius. While these prep companies are not one of the “big name” companies, it still might be worth using a test or two from them so you can see how the modified version is different from the pre-COVID version.
My new study schedule
My new time and postponing my exam by over a month has led me to revamp my study schedule both overall and on a daily basis. I finished content review in March and have since been focusing on practice questions and reviewing weak spots.
Here’s my new daily schedule:
- 430: Wake up and start Anki {flashcard app}. This is when I’m going to wake up on test day so I’m training my brain to be awake and ready to go this early.
- 630-1600: Go to work.
- 1630-1730: General housekeeping things like walking the dog, dishes, eat dinner.
- 1730-1900: Khan Academy. I have come up with a new method of studying with Khan Academy. They break their videos up into subject sections and precede each group of videos with 5-10 practice questions. I do the practice questions and depending on what questions I get wrong, I’ll watch the videos and take notes on my iPad about that content. After watching the videos, I do the questions again and {hopefully} get a 100%.
- For more about how I use my iPad to study, check out how I used my iPad Pro in college!
- 1900-2000: AAMC/Khan Academy/Examkrackers practice passages. I have section question banks from the AAMC, 101 passages books from Examkrackers, and Khan Academy has practice passages as well {for free!}
- 2030: Get ready for bed and go to sleep!
The main takeaway from all of these changes to the MCAT is not to panic. If this situation is sending your anxiety through the roof, it is okay to postpone your application for a year.
If you are set on applying this year, try to be as flexible as possible. Remember, we are all encountering similar struggles with the new COVID-19 MCAT and application cycle so do not be afraid to reach out to others! Comment below on this post or message me on my Instagram! Don’t forget to click the share button below to share with your fellow premeds!
