MCAT Advice

MCAT advice where you'd almost think its cheating with simple strategies of how to ensure you have enough time to complete all sections on the MCAT exam.

You are not penalized for getting a question wrong so it is very important that you put down a response for every MCAT question on the test. Even, if you are running out of time, just go and fill in something.

But if you follow my guidelines you won't run into the problem of not having enough time.

MCAT Pacing Strategy

This MCAT advice is very simple. For each section you know the overall time allowed (70 minutes for Science and 60 for Verbal). On the computer you will have a clock in the lower right hand corner which counts down until there is zero time left.

Before beginning any section go and count how many different passages on found on the section, it will be anywhere from 7 to 9 passages on the Sciences and 7 for Verbal. Now that you have this number you know at what minute interval you must move on the next passage pair.

I am using pairs of passages because you don't want to be staring at the clock for each passage, so to make it easier check only after completing two passages to see if you are pacing yourself correctly.

On the charts below, I am listing your checkpoint and the time left in minutes. Follow this and you're already ahead of the competition.

Sciences - 7 Passages (8 min/psg)

• Start 70 min
• Discretes 57 min
• 1st passage pair 41 min
• 2nd pair 25 min
• 3rd pair 9 min
• Final passage --

Sciences - 8 Passages (7 min/psg)

• Start 70 min
• Discretes 57 min
• 1st passage pair 43 min
• 2nd pair 29 min
• 3rd pair 15 min
• 4th pair(*) --

Sciences - 9 Passages (6 min/psg)

• Start 70 min
• Discretes 57 min
• 1st pair of passages 45 min
• 2nd pair 33 min
• 3rd pair 21 min
• 4th pair 9 min
• Final passage --

Verbal - 7 Passages (7.5 min/psg)

• Start 60 min
• 1st passage pair 43 min
• 2nd pair 26 min
• 3rd pair 9 min
• Final passage --

* In addition, always check your time as you begin the final passage of any section. Please note this MCAT advice assumes you will complete your discrete MCAT questions first. These are the questions which are not related to passages and test your raw knowledge of the material.

Since no passage is required it is suggested they are done first because they are easy points to get and will mentally prepare you for the in-depth thinking needed to answer the passage based questions.