You've taken the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) once and didn't get the score you wanted or needed. Whether you've recently taken it or it's been a while, taking the exam again can be a bit daunting. So, what can you do this time around to make sure you get a much better score? Let's explore some of the best strategies to ace it on your next try.

Study Smarter, Not Harder

One of the biggest mistakes students make when prepping for the MCAT is studying too much, too hard. Now that you've taken it once, you have a better idea of what to expect—so when preparing for your second attempt at the MCAT, focus more on quality than quantity. Make sure that your study plan prioritizes efficiency over merely slogging through content. Choose practice questions relevant to your needs—and then focus on mastering them rather than piecing together a lot of surface-level knowledge.

Focus on Shoring Up Your Weaknesses

When you took the MCAT last time, you likely had places where you felt you did well, and other areas...not so much. The second time around, it's important to be honest with yourself. Take a look at your practice and actual scores, as well as the breakdown of topics, and make sure you understand where you need to focus in order to improve. Maybe you struggled in the physical sciences section but excelled in biology, or maybe verbal reasoning gave you some trouble. Whatever the case, it's a smart use of your time to identify your weaknesses and devote a good part of your study to strengthening those areas.

Make a Schedule and Stick to It

Creating a schedule gives structure to your study routine and helps ensure that you're focusing on the most important topics in an organized fashion. Having a plan also helps keep procrastination in check by providing concrete tasks with specific deadlines and keeping yourself accountable for staying on track. That said, don't forget to pencil in time for breaks! Regular breaks will allow you to come back refreshed and ready to tackle difficult concepts easily.

Get Help from a Tutor 

Of course, one of the best ways to prep for the MCAT is with the help of a professional tutor. The right tutor can provide invaluable guidance and help pinpoint the areas you need to work on. They can also provide helpful advice and strategies that may give you a leg up when it comes to the actual exam day.

At Vincent-Pope Tutoring, we offer outstanding MCAT prep services along with tutoring for other standardized tests. For your best chance of improving your MCAT scores, call us at (919) 593-1378 or contact us online to schedule a tutoring session today.