Award-Winning MCAT Test Prep in Kansas City, MO

If you feel that you could benefit from professional Kansas City MCAT prep, Varsity Tutors can help you find the services you need to pursue academic success today. The MCAT, or Medical College Admission Test, is a high-stakes exam designed to measure the skills that medical faculty, residents, and students find most predictive of med school success. It is a requirement to apply to virtually every medical school in the United States, including local schools such as Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and the University of Kansas Medical Center. Needless to say, it's important to put your best foot forward on this test.

Thankfully, Varsity Tutors can set you up with two great services to help you build your study skills. First, we can place you in a Kansas City MCAT prep course where you can study in a convenient online classroom environment with an expert teacher. Alternatively, we can connect you with a one-on-one Kansas City MCAT tutor for individualized instruction. Either way, you'll never want to prepare for a test without expert assistance again.

What topics can I review during my Kansas City MCAT prep?

The MCAT is a digital exam that utilizes a multiple-choice format. Each of the exam's four sections is scored on a scale from 118-132 and then added together to produce a grade ranging from 472-528. The exam has a total testing time of six hours and 15 minutes, though you will be sitting at the test center for seven and a half hours including scheduled breaks. Here is a closer look at each section of the exam:

Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

The first MCAT section consists of 59 questions over a 95-minute testing session. The questions are divided into passage-based and standalone items, with 15 independent questions following 10 reading passages. Major topics on this part of the test include tissues, organs, organ systems, biochemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. You also need to know how to work with the Periodic Table.

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

The second MCAT section is the only one that isn't scientific in nature. You have an hour and a half to answer 53 questions based on nine reading passages, each drawn from either the humanities or the social sciences. You don't need any prior knowledge of these subjects in order to answer the questions, as your verbal reasoning, reading comprehension, and analytical thinking skills are assessed instead. Some of the skills you are expected to display include making inferences based on what you read, using context to define unfamiliar phrases, and identifying how the addition of hypothetical information could change the meaning of a passage.

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

The third MCAT section follows the exact same format as the first: you have 95 minutes to answer 59 items divided into passage-based and independent subsections. Major topics on this portion of the exam include how individual cells work together to achieve macro goals such as growth and reproduction, the microbiology of acquiring energy and other materials necessary for life, and how cells react to internal and external stimuli.

Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

The fourth and final MCAT section also follows the formatting of the first: 59 questions in 95 minutes, with items split between passage-based and standalone formats. Major subjects on this segment of the test include mental health, how behavior affects health, sociology, psychology, and social issues in medicine. For example, you need to understand the effects of social stratification on a patient's access to resources and their overall well-being.

What are some of the benefits of each of the Kansas City MCAT preparation choices I have?

If you opt for a Kansas City MCAT prep class, you'll study on our live virtual platform with a teacher vetted by Varsity Tutors and several other students preparing for med school. The platform facilitates real-time interaction, so asking for help is just as easy as it would be in a physical classroom. Your teacher will also be available for private study sessions outside of normal class times, so you can receive individualized help on an as-needed basis. We also offer two and four-week classes to help you find something that fits into your schedule.

Many students are also surprised by how much having other students in the virtual room helps them build a deeper understanding of academic concepts. If somebody comes up with a great way to remember how neurons respond to stimuli, they can share it with the rest of the class to help everybody out. Likewise, explaining a concept to somebody else is often one of the most effective ways to reinforce your own understanding of the subject material. Studying in a group also gives you value for your money, as you can all split the cost of expert instruction to make it more affordable.

That said, some students prefer to work with a private instructor in a one-on-one learning environment tailored to their needs. A tutor can design sessions around your preferred learning style to enhance your study efficacy. Likewise, you are free to study at your own pace in order to feel comfortable on test day. Your study sessions will also take place on our exclusive Live Learning Platform, providing the benefits of face-to-face instruction without the associated logistical headache.

Many students also take practice tests during private study sessions to get a sense for what they can expect. The MCAT is a long test, and building your intellectual stamina is one of the most important things you can do to prepare to take it. Your instructor may also review the results of your practice exams to determine your academic strengths as well as any areas that could use a bit more work.

Can somebody help me pick which Kansas City MCAT prep option is right for me?

Knowledgeable educational consultants are currently standing by to answer any questions you have and point you toward the Varsity Tutors Kansas City MCAT prep service that's right for you. Contact us today using the information below to get the process started!