MCAT Bridge Program

If you’re a future MD prepping for the MCAT with The Princeton Review, we’ve got you covered.

This page will walk you through the many ways that TPR students can bridge the gap created by disruptions to scheduled test dates. For starters, you’ll continue to have access to key resources until your new test date. We’re here to help you ensure that you still receive your best possible score. (If you’re not enrolled in a program with us, you may find some helpful advice and resources on this page. Please call 1-800-2-REVIEW or email prep@review.com if we can be of assistance.) 

If your test-taking plans were disrupted, the silver lining is that you’ve got time—not just to stay sharp, but to get sharper. Here are four things you can start doing now:

1. Continue meeting with our expert instructors through MCAT Topic Focus sessions.

Every week, you have access to additional LiveOnline sessions for specific topics—e.g., “Biology: Pedigree Analysis (Advanced)” and “Organic Chemistry: Tautomerism and Acidity (Advanced)”—taught by expert instructors through your MCAT Topic Focus sessions. Upcoming sessions appear on your “MCAT Topic Focus” tab. You’ll also see upcoming sessions and have the option to add those to your study plan. 

As you are studying and completing passages, make lists of questions/areas of confusion to ask teachers about during office-hour sessions.

Schedule and attend Topic Focus sessions and office hours. Attend the same Topic Focus session more than once if it addresses a weak area for you. Remember too that you can review the archived (recorded) Topic Focus sessions.

2. Make a study plan.

Draw up a study plan to help manage your time. Your plan doesn’t need to be elaborate. It can be as simple as designating one day of the week for each subject. 

Use the online Diagnostic Exams to help figure out areas in which you might still have weaknesses. To find the diagnostics, use the MCAT Student Guide. (For example, before Biology 1, the Study Guide says: “Take Biology Diagnostic Exam 1A”; Biology Diagnostic Exam 1A can be found in the “Before” section of Biology Class 1 in your online dashboard. After Biology 3, the Student Guide says: “Take Biology Diagnostic Exam 1B”; Biology Diagnostic Exam 1B can be found in the “After” section of Biology Class 3 in the dashboard, etc.)

Spend some time reviewing your stronger areas, as well! 

3. Keep practicing.

The most important thing you can do between now and your test is to stay in practice. As you practice, make sure to continue to work on strategies: highlighting, noteboard notes, pacing, skipping, question techniques, etc. 

There’s a strong correlation between the number of practice tests taken and the score increase achieved. Take any remaining practice tests. Here are tips for planning your practice-test schedule: 

  • Consider the additional amount of time you have until your new testing date, and work backwards.  
  • Your last practice test/review should be one week before your real test.  
  • Check your online dashboard portal to see how many tests you have left, and build those into your study schedule.  For example, if you have four tests left, and you need to extend your study time from April to August, then taking one test every three to four weeks is appropriate.

Use the Question Review Worksheet to review your prior practice tests. This worksheet (along with instructions for using it) can be found on the Resources page of your online content, under “Additional Printable Documents.” This provides a great way to see patterns in your wrong answer choices and help guide your studying.

Additionally, be sure to finish all unfinished required homework. Then do all optional homework. Complete any remaining In-Class Compendium passages. Redo any homework passages on which you scored below 80 percent.

Finally, dedicate some time each day to reviewing flashcards for memory-based topics (amino acids, hormones, equations, molecular structures, etc.) so that you keep that material fresh in your brain,

4. Use all the resources available to you.

Your MCAT program has more resources than many students are able to use between the start and end of scheduled classes. When students have time before the actual test, the best additional resources are the ones you already have: MedFlix videos, textbooks, and online practice passages. Also be sure to download and use the TPR MCAT Flashcard app.

Best of luck, future doctors! We are rooting for you.

Visit AAMC’s MCAT Coronavirus Page for all the latest news on test dates and admissions. 

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