Score improvement depends on your starting point and study effort, but most students see meaningful gains—typically 2-4 points on the section—with focused, personalized instruction over 8-12 weeks. A tutor can help you identify whether you're struggling with content gaps or test-taking strategy, then target the specific area holding you back. Consistent practice combined with expert feedback accelerates improvement significantly.

Many students struggle with the sheer volume of biochemistry content and distinguishing between high-yield and low-yield topics. Others find the passage-heavy format challenging—you need to extract relevant information quickly while managing time pressure. Additionally, integrating knowledge across multiple disciplines (cell biology, organic chemistry, physiology) trips up students who studied these subjects in isolation.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who assess your current strengths and weaknesses, then create a customized study plan targeting your specific needs. Your tutor will teach high-yield content, work through practice passages with you, and develop strategies for managing the time constraints of the actual exam. Sessions typically focus on both conceptual understanding and test-taking tactics to maximize your score.

Practice tests are critical—they help you identify weak content areas, build stamina for the full-length exam, and calibrate your pacing. You should aim to complete full-length practice exams under timed conditions regularly, then review every question you missed or guessed on. A tutor can help you analyze your practice test performance to pinpoint whether errors stem from knowledge gaps or strategy issues.

The Biological Sciences section gives you 95 minutes for roughly 44 questions, so you'll need to spend about 2 minutes per question on average. Most students benefit from reading the passage first, then tackling questions—but some prefer skimming the passage and diving into questions immediately. Your tutor can help you test different approaches during practice sessions to find what works best for your reading speed and comprehension style.

Track your performance by topic across multiple practice tests—note which content areas (biochemistry pathways, cell membrane transport, genetics, etc.) consistently trip you up. A tutor can then create targeted drills and explanations for those weak spots, ensuring you build genuine understanding rather than just memorizing facts. This focused approach is far more efficient than reviewing everything equally.

Look for tutors with strong MCAT scores (ideally 515+), experience teaching both biology and biochemistry content, and familiarity with current MCAT question formats and timing constraints. They should be able to explain complex concepts clearly and help you develop strategic approaches to passages and questions. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who meet these standards and can tailor their teaching to your learning style.