MCAT: The Best Test Preparation for the Medical College Admission Test (Book & CD-ROM)

Preparing for the MCAT About this Book & TESTware By reviewing and studying the material in this book, you can achieve a top score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). This book has been designed to thoroughly prepare you for the MCAT by providing you with six full-length exams that accurately reflect the MCAT in both the level of difficulty and nature of the questions. The exams provided are based on the current format of the MCAT and include every type of question you may encounter during the actual examination. Following each exam you will find an answer key, complete with detailed explanations and solutions designed to clarify the material. Our objective is not only to provide you with the answers, but also to explain to you why one answer is more acceptable than another. Our topical reviews will take you through the very material you're most likely to encounter on the MCAT. By completing all six practice exams and studying the explanations that follow, you can discover your strengths and weaknesses. Then you can concentrate on the sections of the exam that give you the most difficulty. Our reviews cover each topic on the test: chemistry, biology, physics, as well as mathematics. You'll also find powerful tips on writing the essays. The reviews themselves are interspersed with drills to raise your comfort level. Two of the practice tests in this book and software package are included in two formats: in printed form in this book, and in TESTware format on the enclosed CD. We recommend that you begin your preparation by first taking the practice exams on your computer. The software provides timed conditions, automatic scoring, and scoring information that makes it easier to target your strengths and weaknesses. About the MCAT The MCAT is required by virtually all American medical schools and is a top criterion for admission. Every year, about 40,000 applicants to U.S. and Canadian medical schools submit MCAT results, along with other undergraduate records, as part of the highly competitive medical school admissions process. Every medical school has its own formula for evaluating your application and attaches a different weight to your MCAT scores. As a general rule, however, MCAT scores are equally as important as your overall grade-point average and interview performance. In a word, you must achieve a high MCAT score to have a reasonable chance for admission. And of course, the MCAT's importance is heightened if you are applying to a highly competitive medical school. The MCAT is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges twice a yearÑin the spring and in late summer. You should choose the test date appropriate to the application requirements of the medical school(s) of your choice. However, medical school admissions advisors generally suggest that you take the MCAT in the spring prior to the year you plan to begin your studies. Spring test dates are preferable because your test results will be ready in time for early processing of your medical school application. In addition, in the event you perform poorly during the spring administration of the MCAT, you will have an opportunity to retake the MCAT in the summer. Scores for the late summer administration of the MCAT are available in time to meet most application deadlines. The only way to register for the MCAT is online. You will be able to access the Web registration site approximately 8 to 12 weeks prior to each test date. Candidates are urged to register early; registrations are processed in the order received, so submitting your registration early increases your chance to get tested at your first-choice test center. About five weeks prior to each test date, the MCAT Program Office begins mailing admission tickets and ID cards. If you do not receive your confirmation email, admission ticket, and ID card within a reasonable time after registration, call the MCAT Program OR. Chasnov is the author of 'MCAT: The Best Test Preparation for the Medical College Admission Test (Book & CD-ROM)', published 2004 under ISBN 9780738600352 and ISBN 0738600350.