When Should You Start Studying for the MCAT?
By
30 Day MCAT Team
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Published
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Updated
The best time to start studying for the MCAT is when you've covered the main content and can give your preparation steady weeks, counted back from your test date. The AAMC suggests deciding when you want to enter medical school and working backward from there. This guide shows you how to find your own start date.
Key Takeaways
Work backward from your goal. Decide when you want to enter medical school, then pick a test date and count back your study weeks.
Content comes first. The exam covers introductory-level courses, so unfinished coursework is a reason to test later in the year.
Leave room for a retake. Testing earlier in a testing year gives you time to see your scores and decide.
There's no single start date. Examinees report preparing anywhere from a few weeks to more than four months, so fit the plan to your calendar.
When Should You Start Studying for the MCAT?
If you're asking this question, you're probably trying to balance classes, work and the pressure of the application timeline. The reassuring part is that there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. The AAMC says to take the exam when you feel most prepared, and it points to three questions that shape your start date.
When do you want to attend medical school?
Will you need to take the exam more than once?
Have you mastered the content tested on the exam?
The sections below take each one in turn, then turn your answers into a start date.
Step 1: Count Back From Your Enrollment Goal
Start with where you want to be and count back. Whether you go straight from your undergraduate program to medical school or take time off in between, it's a good idea to think about when you want to enter medical school and work backwards.
For example, if you want to go to medical school right after you graduate, you would need to take the MCAT and start the application process in your junior year of college, or the year before you'd like to enroll. Scores don't last forever either. Medical schools generally accept scores dating back two or three years, and each school sets its own policy, so check the schools on your list.
Step 2: Check Your Content Readiness
The exam tests content from introductory-level courses at most undergraduate institutions. That includes biology, general and organic chemistry, and physics, as well as first-semester biochemistry, psychology, and sociology.
That list is a useful checkpoint. If you haven't taken some of those courses yet, you can still learn the exam format and plan ahead, but a full study push usually works better once the main content is behind you. If you feel you need more coursework or studying, think about testing later in the year to give yourself extra time. A pre-health advisor or faculty member can help with course selection.
Step 3: Leave Room for a Retake
Nobody plans to retake the exam, but it helps to keep the option open. If you might retest, think about taking the exam earlier in a testing year. That gives you time to receive your scores, decide whether to retest, and find another seat later in the year.
Limits apply, so it's worth knowing them. You can take the exam three times in a single testing year, four times over two consecutive testing years, and seven times over your lifetime.
Step 4: Count Back Your Study Weeks
Once you have a target test date, count back to today. Scheduling deadlines are also set relative to the test date, with the last day to schedule, reschedule or cancel falling 10 days before it. Scores are released on a set date about a month after each test day, so build that wait into your application plan.
How many weeks should you count back? The AAMC asked examinees how long they prepared, and the answers were spread out.
Weeks spent preparing | Share of respondents |
|---|---|
0 to 8 weeks | 26% |
9 to 12 weeks | 27% |
13 to 16 weeks | 19% |
More than 16 weeks | 28% |
These are survey answers from people who had already taken the exam, so use them as a range to compare against your own calendar, not as a target. Our guide on how long to study for the MCAT shows how to turn weeks and weekly hours into a plan, and our 2 month MCAT study plan shows what a shorter runway can look like.
How Your Situation Changes the Answer
Your calendar matters as much as the content. A few common situations, and what they usually mean for your start date:
Heavy semester or full-time job. Plan a longer runway with fewer hours each week, and protect a few fixed study blocks.
Open summer or gap year. A shorter, more intense stretch is possible, but only if you can keep that schedule up for the whole period.
Content still to learn. Finish or review the introductory courses first, then add practice questions as the material settles.
Possible retake. Choose an earlier test date so a second attempt still fits inside your application timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should you start studying for the MCAT?
There's no official start date. Count back from the test date you picked, using the weeks you can protect each week, and make sure the main content is covered first.
Can you start studying before you finish the prerequisite courses?
You can learn the exam format and plan ahead. The exam tests introductory-level content, though, and the AAMC suggests testing later in the year if you need more coursework or studying.
How many months before the test should you start?
It depends on your starting point and weekly hours. In the AAMC survey, about a quarter of examinees prepared for eight weeks or fewer, and more than a quarter prepared for over sixteen.
When should you take the MCAT if you might retake it?
Think about taking it earlier in a testing year. That leaves time to receive your scores and, if you choose, find another seat later in the same year.
How long are MCAT scores valid?
Medical schools generally accept scores dating back two or three years. Each school sets its own policy, so check the schools you plan to apply to.
Put It Into Practice
A start date works best when it's written down. A practical place to begin is to choose a target test date, count back the weeks you can protect, and mark the date your content review should be finished.
If you're planning to take the MCAT and want help fitting preparation around your classes or job, take our qualification quiz. Qualified students can then book a free strategy call with an MCAT instructor to talk about their timeline and how to start.
