MCAT Detailed Description of Resources
1) All 8 AAMC Tests (Value $245; www.e-mcat.com)
These are the only available previously administered MCATs. The American Association of Medical Colleges provides one test for free and sells the other 7 for $35 each for a total of $245 at www.e-mcat.com. No matter how you decide to prepare for the MCAT, these tests need to be a major focus of your studying. These are the real thing. Every other commercially available test is an attempt to mimic these. These tests form the cornerstone of the ACE study regimen and are included with your registration. Once signed up, you will receive an email with instructions on how to activate these tests. THESE TESTS MUST BE ACTIVATED WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF REGISTRATION. If not, they are deactivated and must be repurchased. They will be a very big part of your preparation. You will have access to them for one year from the date you activate them.
2) Kaplan MCAT Premier Textbook (Value $120; www.amazon.com)
A textbook is an essential component of your MCAT preparation. Currently the best two texts on the market are the Kaplan Premier text and the Examkrackers text. If you decide to study on your own, we recommend either of these. We provide our students with the Kaplan text and it is included with your registration. There are assigned readings in the text that correspond with each lecture (see below). Next to taking practice tests, a thorough study of the textbook is a vital part of the ACE study regimen.
3) 40+ hours of online lectures (Value $300; rates vary by provider)
ACE has had its top lecturers from the past several years record their lectures for students to view as part of the online course. These lectures are interactive and are to be viewed while working through the ACE workbook. These lectures offer a complete review of everything you need to know for every section of the MCAT. You will receive multiple lectures in Biology, Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry, Physics, Verbal Reasoning and the Writing Sample. Each lecture includes practice questions and practice working through real MCAT questions with the lecturer.
4) ACE Practice Tests (Value $25)
You will receive copies of additional ACE practice tests for your use. In total you will receive 13 full-length practice tests. In our years of experience, it is clear that students do best when taking a limited number of practice tests that they will get the opportunity to take and retake to maximize the learning from the questions. Students who take a very high volume of practice questions and do not take the time to retake these questions do not perform well on the test. Our experience is that 8-10 practice tests is a good number to shoot for; each of these needs to be taken once, learned from, and then retaken. We provide 13 for students who wish to take a few more.
5) ACE Formula Sheet and Workbook (Value $25)
The ACE Formula Sheet is a great tool to aid in your studying. The ACE Workbook is used while viewing lectures online. It contains practice problems and tutorials that make the lectures interactive and a high-quality learning experience.
6) 12 week study schedule that can be adjusted to your specific time frame
ACE’s study regimen is divided into 12 “weeks”. These “weeks” can be condensed into as little as six calendar weeks or drawn out to last an entire year. You will receive access to all of ACE’s materials for 1 year from the date of your registration.
7) Lecture on med school admissions by former admissions committee physician
One of ACE’s top faculty members is a university physician with considerable experience in medical school admissions. He delivers a 45-minute lecture that can be viewed online. His lecture covers the type of experiences you need to have on your resume when applying to school, what to include in your personal statement, and how to approach the interview. He provides the inside scoop on what attributes they like and dislike and what admissions committees are looking for when discussing applicants in committee meetings.
8) Online tutoring on approach to MCAT problems
During the online lectures, all of the ACE faculty will review strategies and tips on how to approach MCAT passages and MCAT discrete questions.
9) All of the strategies you need for the Verbal Reasoning and Writing Sample
This is the most difficult section for many students and is given thorough treatment in the ACE online lectures. The lecture provides tips on how to approach passages and how to improve your score without taking study time away from the other sections.
