Many students find this section challenging because it requires memorizing numerous psychological theories, neurotransmitter functions, and brain structures while also understanding how they interconnect. The passage-based questions often require you to apply concepts to unfamiliar contexts, and distinguishing between similar psychological theories or social psychology concepts can be tricky. Additionally, the section moves quickly—you have roughly 97 seconds per question—so developing efficient reading strategies and strong content familiarity is essential.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you apply strategies, but most students see meaningful gains when they work with a tutor to identify weak content areas and develop targeted study plans. Some students improve by 3-5 points on this section alone by strengthening their understanding of high-yield concepts and practicing passage analysis. The key is combining content review with timed practice and strategic question analysis to build both knowledge and test-taking confidence.

Your first session typically involves a diagnostic assessment to identify your current strengths and weak areas within the section—whether that's neurobiology, social psychology, learning theories, or passage comprehension. Your tutor will review your practice test performance, discuss your target score, and create a personalized study plan that prioritizes the concepts most likely to appear on test day. You'll also establish a study schedule and agree on how often you'll meet to stay on track.

Effective pacing starts with content mastery—if you know the material well, you can answer questions faster and more confidently. Work on identifying which question types you can answer quickly and which require more time, then practice allocating your 97 seconds per question strategically. Many students benefit from skimming passages first, tackling standalone questions before passage-based ones, and flagging difficult questions to revisit if time allows. A tutor can help you refine these strategies through timed practice and personalized feedback.

Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full-length MCAT practice tests before test day, with a focus on reviewing and learning from each one rather than just taking them. Between full tests, use section-specific practice to target weak areas in Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations. Your tutor can help you determine the right practice test schedule based on your timeline and current performance, ensuring you're building momentum without burnout.

Start by reviewing your practice test results and categorizing missed questions by topic—neurotransmitters, memory systems, social psychology concepts, etc. This reveals patterns in what you don't understand versus what you misread or misapplied. A tutor can help you dig deeper into these weak areas, determine whether the issue is content gaps or test-taking strategy, and create targeted drills to build mastery. Regular check-ins with practice questions ensure you're making progress.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors in Salt Lake City who specialize in MCAT preparation and understand the specific challenges of the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations section. You'll be matched with a tutor based on your needs, timeline, and learning style, and you can start with a single session to see if it's a good fit. Tutors work flexibly with your schedule to provide personalized instruction tailored to your goals.