MCAT prep: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What mcat prep is

MCAT prep helps pre-med students prepare for a medical school admissions exam, reviewing science content, passage skills and test strategy. Students book it when they are planning a test date, when practice passage scores are low, or when the science content has faded since their courses ended.

Signs you need it

  • The student knows the content from class but cannot apply it to a passage
  • Passage reading takes too long, and the student runs out of time on the last passages
  • Practice scores are flat in one science section while others improve
  • The student has a test date set and no plan for weekly review and practice
  • The student has been out of science courses for a while and needs a refresher before practice

What the pro does

  • Runs a timed diagnostic and reviews the scores for each section and content area
  • Reviews science content by topic, with the parts of each topic the exam asks about
  • Teaches passage skills, such as finding the main point, the claim and the data
  • Works on test strategy, including pacing, question order and when to guess
  • Reviews each practice test with the student and sets the next focus for the next session

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of each session and how many sessions are in a series
  • Whether the course is a short workshop or a longer program over several months
  • Whether sessions are in person or online
  • Private tutoring versus a small group class
  • How much content review the student needs before passage and strategy work
  • Whether practice tests, passage reviews and score reports are included

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of sessions, session length and the start date
  • Whether practice tests, passage reviews and progress reports are included
  • Whether sessions are in person or online, and what materials are used
  • Cancellation and make-up policy
  • Whether the tutor will share progress reports with the student

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you start, and what will the first diagnostic show?
  • How do you review the science content, and how much of it do we cover?
  • How do you teach passage skills so the student can find the claim quickly?
  • Do you use official practice materials, and how do you get them?
  • How many full practice tests will we do, and when?
  • What is your own background in the sciences and in the exam?
  • What improvement is realistic for me, and how will we measure it?

Red flags

  • Promises a set score or admission to a medical school
  • Uses unofficial questions and claims they are the real exam
  • Teaches content as a list with no passage practice
  • Pushes a long package of sessions before a diagnostic test

What you can do yourself

A student can work through timed passages each week, review every wrong answer and note the reason for it, and review one science topic a day. Use the test maker's official practice materials, which are often free. Hire a tutor when one science section is far behind, when passage skills are the main problem, or when the student needs a clear plan for the weeks before the test.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to tutor for a medical school admissions exam privately. Ask whether the tutor has teaching experience or a degree in the sciences, and check with your state or local licensing agency only if the program has its own rules for test prep services. A test prep tutor does not give medical advice.

MCAT prep questions

Do I need to be a science major to take the MCAT?

Medical schools set their own course requirements, and the exam tests science content from those courses and passage reasoning. A tutor can review the content and teach the passage skills, even if your major was different.

How long should I study for the MCAT?

Many students study for several months. Ask the tutor for a diagnostic test first, then a plan with a test date and steady weekly practice.

Can a tutor tell me if I should apply to medical school?

A tutor can help you prepare for the exam. Decisions about applying to medical school should be made with advisors at your school and with the medical schools you are considering.

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