MCAT Resources
A high score is achievable on a $0 budget. The essentials column below covers content, practice, and CARS. The only unavoidable cost is the AAMC registration fee.
Minimum viable kit. If you do nothing else, do these five: (1) Khan Academy MCAT Collection for content, (2) the AAMC official sample test, (3) Jack Westin daily passages for CARS, (4) one Anki deck (MileDown or AnKing/MrPankow-style) for memorization, and (5) this site's own practice, flashcards, and exam simulator for daily drilling. That stack alone has carried thousands of test-takers to a competitive score for $0.
content & video $0
| Resource | Covers | Why it's worth it |
|---|---|---|
| Khan Academy MCAT Collection | All 4 sections (Bio/Biochem, Chem/Phys, Psych/Soc, CARS) | The single best video and article library for the MCAT. Khan no longer updates it, but the content still maps tightly to the exam, and it is exceptional for Psych/Soc and Chem/Phys. Watch on the site or on the Khan Academy YouTube channel. |
| Blueprint MCAT account | Diagnostic + planning | A high-quality half-length diagnostic exam plus a study planner. Great for getting a baseline score early without paying anything. |
| This site's study guide & notes | All 4 sections, high-yield review | Condensed, written review you can read between practice blocks. Pairs well with Khan video. |
practice & questions $0
| Resource | Covers | Why it's worth it |
|---|---|---|
| AAMC practice | official sample test + Section Bank items | The most representative practice that exists, because it comes from the test maker. The unscored sample test and the Section Bank questions should be the backbone of your prep. Do every piece of AAMC material you can get. |
| This site's practice drills | Topic-by-topic question banks | , unlimited targeted drilling to shore up weak areas between AAMC sets. |
| This site's exam simulator | Full-length timed practice | timed, full-length simulation to build stamina and pacing before exam day. |
| This site's flashcards | High-yield facts, spaced review | in-browser flashcards for daily memorization without installing anything. |
| r/MCAT question-of-the-day & threads | Mixed daily questions | The community regularly posts question-of-the-day content and discussion. A low-effort way to keep reps up. |
CARS practice $0
| Resource | Covers | Why it's worth it |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Westin daily CARS passages | Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills | The go-to CARS resource. New passages drop daily, so you can build the "one CARS passage a day" habit in one place. CARS improves only with consistent reps, and this is the easiest way to get them. |
flashcard decks $0
| Resource | Covers | Why it's worth it |
|---|---|---|
| Anki decks (MileDown, AnKing/MrPankow-style) | Content memorization, all sections | community-built Anki decks are the standard memorization tool for the MCAT. The r/MCAT wiki is the hub where the current recommended decks (MileDown, AnKing/MrPankow-style, and others) are linked and kept up to date. Install Anki (also ) and pick one deck; do not stack three. |
| r/MCAT subreddit + wiki | Strategy, "what's tested" sheets, schedules | advice plus the famous content/"what's tested" reference sheets, score-conversion charts, and ready-made study schedules. Read the wiki before you build your plan. |
Why AAMC material is king. Even the paid AAMC products are the highest-value practice you can buy, because they are written by the same people who write the real exam. No third-party question (and no AI-generated question) matches AAMC's wording, logic, and answer-choice style. Spend your AAMC material carefully, save the official full-lengths for the last stretch, and review every AAMC question to the level of "why each wrong answer is wrong."
Low-cost & paid (optional) LOW-COST
Everything below is optional. You do not need it to score well, but if your budget allows, official AAMC materials are by far the best money you can spend.
| Resource | Covers | Why it's worth it |
|---|---|---|
| AAMC Official Prep bundle LOW-COST | Full-lengths FL1-FL4, Section Banks, Question Packs | THE most important paid resource. The official full-length exams are the closest thing to the real test, and your scores on them are the best predictor of your actual score. Strongly recommended if budget allows; prioritize this over any third-party product. |
| UWorld MCAT QBank LOW-COST | Large third-party question bank | A popular paid QBank with detailed explanations. Good extra volume once you have exhausted and AAMC material, but it is not a substitute for AAMC practice. |
| Blueprint MCAT $0 diagnostic | Diagnostic, full courses (paid) | The half-length diagnostic and planner are included; the full course and additional full-lengths are paid. Use the diagnostic even if you never buy the rest. |