Hello, future doctors! A lot of students that I have taught struggle with passages that include experiments, whose results are generally summarized in the form of a graph or figure. I’ve found that by mastering the ability to quickly assess and extract information from graphs and figures has been a surefire way to help increase student’s scores and their confidence in taking the exam. In this post, we will discuss important pointers and focus areas so that you can conquer any of these passages.  The basics  Become familiar with common graph types. As you go through UWorld, practice e ..read more

Quickly recognizing the structures of amino acids is an essential, but oftentimes challenging, aspect of both biochemistry courses and standardized tests like the MCAT. Many posts at Cambridge Coaching have provided excellent tips and mnemonics to memorize these based on their names. We’ll take a different approach here leveraging pattern-recognition to help us with some of the amino acids, a great approach for visual-learners, to help you feel confident on test day!  The Basics Before we dive in, we’ll start with our foundation. The structure of an amino acid consists of 4 main groups:&n ..read more

Tired of trying to memorize the same complicated enzymes and pathways? Learn these concepts quicker with the following mnemonics: Glycolysis intermediates: “Goodness Gracious, Father Franklin Did Go By Picking Pumpkins (to) Prepare Pies” Does memorizing the glycolysis pathway leave a bitter taste in your mouth? Remember the intermediates easily with this sweet mnemonic! Goodness - Glucose Gracious - Glucose-6-Phosphate (G6P) Father - Fructose-6-Phosphate Franklin - Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphate Did - Dihydroxyacetone Phospate (DHAP) Go - Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate (G3P) By - 1,3-bisphosphoglycerat ..read more

The autonomic nervous system is a division of the peripheral nervous system that mediates non-voluntary control of many of the basic functions of the body, such as heart rate, breathing, and digestion. It is made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which have opposing functions that help to regulate the body depending on the situation. The sympathetic nervous system is activated by stress and danger and mediates the “fight or flight” response. The parasympathetic nervous system is activated during times of rest to mediate a “rest and digest” response. Below we’ll review ..read more

Preparing for the MCAT can be a daunting task. One of the most effective tools at your disposal are the AAMC full length practice exams. The AAMC offers 2 free exams (one scored, one not) and 4 paid ones. AAMC practice exams not only provide you the opportunity to assess your knowledge and skills, but also help you familiarize yourself with the format and timing of the actual exam. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how to make the most of your MCAT practice exams, ensuring that you are well-prepared for test day. Simulate the Exam To truly benefit from practice exams, it is crucial ..read more

Preparing for the MCAT can be an overwhelming task, especially when it comes to the physics section. Physics concepts, equations, and calculations may seem daunting at first, especially with all the numbers and variables in the test’s complex problems. However, with the right approach, you can tackle this section with confidence and success. In this blog post, I dive into the invaluable tool of dimensional analysis and how it can be used to succeed on the MCAT. Part 1: Understanding Dimensional Analysis Dimensional analysis is a problem-solving technique used in physics to check the correctnes ..read more

The default Anki settings are meant to be changed, especially when studying for the MCAT. Anki is set up in a way that maximizes indefinitely long-term retention, but for the MCAT we just want to prioritize retention on test day, rather than memorization forever. Let’s take a look at each of the settings so we can optimize them for peak MCAT performance. Steps This is how frequently you’ll see a card before it “graduates” to learned status. These are in minutes, and the default is 1 minute, then 10 minutes. This means that when you mark a card “good,” you’ll see it again 1 minute later. After ..read more

You know the feeling: an uneasiness in your stomach, a shakiness in your stride, and a growing sense of doom as you approach your test center. You may even be worried that the nerves will cause you to freak out and ruin your chances of a good score. These feelings are normal and don’t have to ruin your test day performance! If anything, fighting the jitters will only harm your performance. In fact, science shows that if used properly, the adrenaline can help you perform better.  Here are two free, easy, and scientifically proven ways to use that adrenaline in your favor to perform better ..read more

The Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section of the MCAT can be challenging to tackle, and it’s hard to know how to approach it. But you CAN study and practice for it. Structure of the CARS Section The goal of CARS is to test your critical thinking and reasoning skills. Check out the breakdown below: Timing: 90 minutes Passages: 9 total, 500-600 words each 50% humanities Architecture  Art  Dance  Ethics  Literature  Music  Philosophy  Popular Culture  Religion  Theater  Studies of Diverse Cultures 50% social sciences Anthr ..read more

If you’re overwhelmed by the seemingly endless amount of terms and theories necessary to succeed on the psychology and sociology section of the MCAT, know that I was right there with you. In this blog post, I’ll break down the strategies that helped me transition from feeling flustered to confidently going into the Psych/Soc. LEARN MORE THAN THE DEFINITIONS Unlike the science content on the MCAT, I had never seen many of the topics covered in the psychology and sociology section. I tried doing flash cards, completing practice problems, and reading MCAT review books, but I couldn’t get the info ..read more