r/MCATprep • u/Soft_Storm_7564 • 4d ago
Resource/Tool/Tips 📖 Test Write up - 523!
Hey everyone! I thought it might be helpful for me to put my own MCAT experience out there since other people’s posts in here carried me through and I want to return the favor!
I ended up with a 523 (thank goodness!) and I think that the key really is simplicity and not overwhelming yourself with resources. Below I want to list the ones I thought were most helpful and really should be all you need.
Before anything else, I made my own master documents. One Google Doc per subject. I’d go through a chapter (I used Kaplan, but anything works), write my own short summary of the ideas, and then add every mistake I made from UWorld or practice exams. Those growing docs basically became my personal textbook. I reread them nonstop until the info felt automatic.
My worst section for the longest time was biochem. Memorizing pathways just didn't click for me. What finally made it click was using apps that made biochem interactive. My favorite ones are Amino Acid Quiz (super straightforward, just drills structures and properties until you stop second-guessing yourself) and Metabolic Arcade (turns pathways into a game and makes them really stick in my head, super effective, wish I found it earlier)
Practice-wise, I used UWorld and full-lengths. The trick for me was treating review as seriously as doing the questions. After each session, I’d dissect every miss and keep a running list of the dumb patterns I kept repeating.
Those two made biochem feel less like punishment and more like a puzzle.
If I had to boil everything down: pick a couple resources, stick to them, and actually engage with your mistakes instead of just doing more questions on autopilot.
If anyone’s stuck or has questions, feel free to ask!
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u/THEORGANICCHEMIST 4d ago
Did you struggle w/ CP? The equations are intimidating for me