Preparing for the MCAT is a critical step on your path to medical school, and a key decision every student faces is how to effectively utilize the AAMC’s MCAT Official Prep resources. These materials are widely regarded as the “gold standard” for MCAT practice.
However, the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), while providing top-tier resources, isn’t always known for its user-friendly organization. Navigating their website can be challenging. This article aims to clarify the contents of the AAMC materials, demonstrate how they fit into a comprehensive MCAT preparation strategy, and show how their strategic use can minimize the need for additional, costly prep resources.
What Exactly Are the AAMC Official Practice Resources?
The AAMC, the organization responsible for creating and administering the MCAT and managing the AMCAS application portal, has developed and made available for purchase a collection of official MCAT practice materials. Many of these questions have appeared on previously administered, scored MCAT exams before being retired and included in these prep resources.
Given that they are created by the test makers themselves, AAMC official resources are undeniably the most authentic MCAT practice available. They also offer significant value, costing less than $300 (at the time of writing) for nearly 3,000 questions, divided between full practice tests and more focused, subject-specific materials.
Typically, “AAMC resources” refers to the AAMC MCAT Official Prep Online-Only Bundle, or sometimes the AAMC MCAT Official Prep Complete Bundle, which includes a physical copy of The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam. This bundle comprises 14 distinct resources, including practice exams, question packs, and other question sets. These 14 resources, along with two freely available full-length exams (the “Sample Test” and “Free Practice Exam”), represent the complete set of materials released by the AAMC since the MCAT underwent its last major revision in 2015. These resources can be purchased individually or in smaller bundles, but buying the complete bundle offers approximately a 15% discount compared to individual purchases.
Keep an eye out for new resources, which are typically released in October or November each year.
The Quantity of MCAT Questions in AAMC Resources
As of early 2023, the official AAMC practice resources contain a total of 2,849 questions. Here’s a breakdown by resource type:
- Practice Exams: 1380 (6 exams * 230 questions per exam)
- Question Packs: 720 (6 packs * 120 questions per pack)
- Section Bank: 300 (3 sections * 100 questions per section)
- Official Guide Questions: 120
- Independent Question Bank: 150
- CARS Diagnostic Tool: 179
Let’s explore each of these resources in more detail.
Practice Exams
There are two free practice exams accessible to everyone—one scored and one unscored, known as the “Free Practice Exam” and “Sample Test,” respectively—and four additional scored practice exams (labeled “Practice Exam 1,” “Practice Exam 2,” etc.) available for purchase. These are comprehensive, 4-section, 230-question exams. With the exception of the unscored Sample Test, they provide realistic score predictions upon completion.
The best strategy for students is to take one exam early in their preparation as a baseline assessment, identifying their current score range and areas of strength and weakness. Subsequent exams should be taken every one to two weeks as they approach their actual MCAT test date.
Question Packs
There are six question packs available: one each for Chemistry and Physics, and two each for Biology and CARS (Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills). Each pack contains 120 questions focused on its specific subject area. The science question packs (Chemistry, Physics, and Biology) include a mix of passage-based and non-passage-based questions.
It’s important to note that each question pack, and indeed ALL AAMC resources, initially loads as a single 120-question section. This does NOT mean you must complete it in one sitting. In fact, these packs are most effective for shorter, targeted practice sessions where you can review your answers immediately afterward. It’s advisable to complete a manageable number of questions per session, review your results, and then return to the section later. Unfortunately, this means navigating through previously seen questions upon revisiting, a quirk of the AAMC interface 😕.
Section Bank
The Section Bank comprises three blocks of 100 questions each, with each block dedicated to a different science section of the MCAT: Chem/Phys, Bio/Biochem, and Psych/Soc.
Similar to the question packs, the Section Bank includes both passage-based and non-passage-based questions. However, unlike the subject-specific question packs, the Section Bank’s mix of subjects and skills more closely mirrors a real MCAT section. For instance, the Chem/Phys block (officially “Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems”) includes questions from General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry, as well as questions testing all four of the AAMC’s Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills.
Like other AAMC materials, each Section Bank block loads as a single 100-question unit. However, these blocks are designed to be used across multiple study sessions and revisited over time, even if it involves some extra clicking.
Official Guide Questions
The complete title of this resource is “MCAT Official Prep Online Practice Questions from the Official Guide to the MCAT Exam”—hence, we often refer to it simply as the “Official Guide Questions.”
This resource consists of four sets of 30 questions each, which are direct digital copies of the 120 questions found in the AAMC’s book, The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam. These are among the oldest questions in the AAMC’s resource collection, and in some respects, they reflect their age. However, they remain scientifically valid and effectively test the content and skills required for the current exam.
Independent Question Bank
This resource is a set of 150 science-section questions that are NOT associated with passages. The AAMC uses the term “independent” for passage-free questions, though in MCAT prep terminology, they are more commonly known as “discrete” questions. On the actual MCAT and in full-length practice tests, approximately 25% of science-section questions are “independent,” but this resource is entirely composed of them.
These questions are distributed across six science subjects—Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, and Biochemistry—with 25 questions per subject. The questions are in the authentic MCAT format, with appropriate question stems and four answer choices, although they tend to be somewhat simpler than the average question on a scored practice exam.
While shorter, this resource is valuable for many students, particularly those who need to practice straightforward applications of scientific concepts, such as definitions and formulas.
If you’ve heard of “AAMC Online Flashcards,” this is the resource it evolved from. (The term “flashcards” was always a misnomer, as these are practice questions, not flashcards!)
CARS Diagnostic Tool
This resource is unique, offering additional features like a diagnostic walkthrough of the CARS section, a countdown to your test day, and instructional videos. However, its primary use for most students is to provide more CARS practice!
The CARS Diagnostic Tool includes 179 additional CARS questions. It’s also the most recently released dedicated CARS practice material from the AAMC, which some believe makes it highly representative of the current exam. Given the crucial importance of CARS practice, this tool is highly recommended as an extra, extensive CARS question pack, regardless of whether you utilize its other features.
Accessing AAMC Official Practice Resources
AAMC Official Prep resources can be purchased directly from the AAMC website. They are also frequently included in bundles with third-party MCAT prep products. When considering prep options, carefully review the details to see if AAMC resources are included. One such bundle is Sketchy’s MCAT Prep Essentials course, which combines Sketchy’s review course with AAMC resources and a study planner, even offering an MCAT score guarantee. Visit Sketchy’s MCAT site for more information.
No matter how you choose to prepare, everyone at Sketchy wishes you the best in your MCAT journey!
