Award-Winning MCAT Tutors

Here is an overview of the MCAT exam to help you become more familiar with it:

MCAT Overview

• Four sections
  • 1 hour and 35 minute sections with 59 questions each
    • Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
    • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
    • Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
  • 90 minute section with 53 questions
    • Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
  • Each sections earns a score between 118 and 132
  • Total score is the combination of the score of all sections
    • Ranges from 472 to 528

What advantages are there to seeking MCAT tutoring near me?

You will notice that one of the best benefits to having an MCAT tutor is that it is one-on-one attention giving way to personalized study sessions. Your tutor can spend as much time with you as you need on any subject that you are finding challenging, without using up too much time reviewing information that you already know. Your MCAT tutor is another trustworthy person in your life who is there to help you succeed.

You may feel more comfortable during MCAT tutoring sessions, which may lead to you asking questions as you think of them and taking risks that you wouldn't have normally taken. Additionally, your MCAT tutor can get a feel for your particular learning style and your strengths and weaknesses. This allows your MCAT tutors to give you customized lessons that are precise and based on your unique needs. Also, as you learn, your tutor can adjust the lessons to reflect your growth.

The MCAT is made up of four sections including Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior. Each section is allotted either fifty or sixty minutes. Including breaks, you will have approximately seven and a half hours to complete it. The Critical Analysis section covers three skills.

The Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems tests physics and chemistry in biological systems. To do well on this section, you will also need an understanding of research methods and statistics as well. The Critical Analysis section tests your reading comprehension with five to six-hundred word passages on many topics. The Biological and Biochemical section not only tests biochemistry and biology, but it also requires you to understand inorganic and organic chemistry as well. The Psychological, Social, and Biological section tests sociology and psychology topics. Your MCAT tutor can help you find your strengths and weaknesses in each section and help you pinpoint exactly where you need to spend the most time studying.

Here is a more organized and detailed look at the content areas and topics on the MCAT:

MCAT Content Areas and Sample Topics

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
  • Growing and reproducing
  • Acquiring materials and energy
  • Sensing and responding to environmental changes
  • Cells and organ systems
  • Levels of biological organization
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
  
  • Human tissues
  • Organs
  • Organ systems
  • Chemical and physical principles of mechanisms in the human body
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
  • Behavior and behavior change
  • Cultural and social differences that influence well-being
  • Relationships between social stratification, access to resources, and well-being
  • Psychological, social, and biological factors that influence perceptions and reactions to the world
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
  • Reading comprehension
  • Analysis skills
  • Reasoning skills
  • Ethics
  • Philosophy
  • Diverse cultures
  • Population health

Can MCAT tutoring near me help me improve my test-taking skills?

The MCAT questions are presented in multiple-choice format. One way that your MCAT tutor can help you is to introduce you to the types of questions that you will find on the exam. MCAT tutoring can also include help learning how to take a standardized exam in general. By helping you become acquainted with the format and structure of the exam, your MCAT tutor can give you the tools to study for this test and future exams as well.

Here is a look at what major skills are assessed on the exam:

MCAT Major Skills Assessed

• Knowledge of scientific concepts and principles
• Scientific reasoning and problem solving
• Reasoning about the design and execution of research
• Data-based and statistical reasoning
• Comprehending and analyzing reading passages

Can SAT tutors near me help me finish the test on time?

As discussed above, MCAT tutoring is more than just a review of the material on the exam. A review is a large part of the sessions, but there are other vital ways that MCAT tutors can prepare you for the exam. Standardized tests such as the MCAT are different than the tests we take in our everyday classes. A lot of content is covered all in one day, and every section has time constraints. This can make demands on your stamina that you are not used to, and you might struggle to answer all of the questions within the given time.

Therefore, tutors may teach you time management strategies that you can use during the test. For example, if you are stuck on a question and find two answers that seem true, it is better to pick an answer as opposed to leaving the question blank. You will not be penalized on questions you get wrong, they simply won't count towards your score. Your MCAT tutor could even show you strategies to help you determine what answer is the most likely to be correct in that situation. Additionally, your tutor might also give you practice problems and practice exams to help you discover any pacing and timing issues you may have.

Can MCAT tutoring near me help me understand questions that seem confusing and/or tricky?

Yes, your MCAT tutor can help you make sense of each question. You may notice that questions on the MCAT are worded much differently than day-to-day questions on everyday exams and homework. You might even feel that the test questions are trying to trick you into choosing an incorrect answer. That's why a lot of MCAT tutors spend plenty of time showing students how to read MCAT questions in ways that they can clearly understand what the test is asking of them. This may include things that seem almost obvious, like how important it is to read every word of every question. If you simply miss a word as small as "or" in a question, it can lead you to a directly opposite answer.

In addition to reading each question carefully, your MCAT tutor can give you sample questions that could be considered to be confusing and walk through them with you. They may point out phrasing twists or words that are often interpreted incorrectly. This is just one more way you can benefit from the many practice exams and problems your tutor can provide you with. Once you have all the practice you need, you will be able to determine what questions are asking, and if not, you will have the strategies necessary to figure them out for yourself.

Can studying with an MCAT tutor near me help me in the future?

The results of the MCAT have an impact on the path that your career takes. You want to do your best on the MCAT the first time so that you are more likely to get into the school of your dreams. Now, if you do not pass the exam, you can retake it. However, if you do not change your study habits, you can fall into the same patterns. Your MCAT tutor can help you switch up your study process and work towards your score goals the first time around.

Below you can see a breakdown of the MCAT scoring results from 2018 to April 30th, 2019:

MCAT Scoring Results

• Percentile Ranks May 1, 2018 to April 30, 2019

Another reason for you to be glad that your MCAT tutor can give you more than a customized content review is that they can help you understand what score you need to aim for. Part of preparing for the MCAT includes figuring out exactly what career you are aiming for, finding the appropriate college and university programs, and what requirements you will need to meet to get in. Rather than being overwhelmed and feeling ready to give up before you even really get started, you can work alongside your tutor on setting score goals and taking all of the appropriate steps necessary to reach that score. MCAT tutors are familiar with every inch of the exam, and they can spend however long you need helping you overcome the challenges you face. Your tutor can work with you until you feel comfortable and confident that you have done your best, conquered your obstacles, and are ready to reach for your score goal.

Now that I have learned all I need to know about working with MCAT tutors near me, how can I get started?

Varsity Tutors will do their best to connect you with an MCAT tutor who is available when it is the most convenient for your busy work and school schedule. Since you will be meeting through the Live Learning Platform online, you will probably find the whole process to be extremely flexible. Additionally, you can access the platform wherever you have a stable internet connection. You can also use any device including your tablet, smartphone, and desktop to set up and attend sessions for further convenience. Contact us today to find out how a professional MCAT tutor near me can help you prepare for exam day.