11 Best MCAT prep courses online to score highly on the MCAT test
The MCAT or the Medical College Admission Test is a standardized test designed to assess the critical thinking, problem-solving ability, and conceptual understanding of prospective medical school applicants. Students who excel in the test considerably improve their chances of securing admission into their favorite medical schools.
The MCAT is not an easy test and prospective test takers are advised to push back their test dates if they are afraid of underperforming from lack of preparation. This review lists some of the best MCAT prep courses online to prepare for this test effectively.
MCAT Prep Courses Online – Overview
The MCAT is developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges AAMC. It is a multiple-choice test that is required to secure admission to a medical college in the US and Canada. The MCAT exam has been a part of the medical school admission process in the US for around 90 years now and has become more than just a formality.
There are four sections in the MCAT test. Your performance in each section will carry equal weight in your overall score. The four sections are as follows:
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
What is a good MCAT score? A student’s MCAT score is calculated by combining their section scores. In each section, a student can achieve a score as high as 132 with a median of 125. The aggregate scores can range anywhere from 472 to 528. The median is at 500. Above 502 is good. Above 510 is great, and above 515 is excellent.
Your final score determines your MCAT percentile, which reflects where you stand amid the competition. For example, an aggregate score of 520 yields a 98th percentile. You scored better than 98 percent of the competing test takers.
A handful of MCAT prep courses excel at preparing students for the MCAT by combining test practice with study tips and strategies. Below, you’ll find a list of the best MCAT prep courses online, what they entail and how much they cost.
Best MCAT Prep Courses Online 2023 – Top Picks
| Magoosh MCAT | The Princeton Review | Varsity Tutors | Kaplan MCAT |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
| ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Price: $399 | Price: from $2,299 | Price: $599 | Price: from $2,499 |
| View Website | View Website | View Website | View Website |
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure at the end of this post.
Note: Below, we cover some of the best MCAT prep courses online and in-person MCAT training classes. The list cannot cover all online courses available, though.
1. Magoosh MCAT Prep Courses
Magoosh MCAT (visit website) is an affordable MCAT prep course that promises students a high prospect of landing in a renowned medical school. Its goal is to increase enrolment diversity in medical schools by making MCAT preparation effective and cheap for many.
This MCAT prep course covers all the important high-yield topics through streamlined content review videos. There are 380 video lessons in the class, over 700 practice questions, full-length practice tests, and day-by-day study plans.
As students enroll in the program, they will encounter a detailed study schedule that is flexible enough to adjust to their busy routines. You will be taught by MCAT experts and any additional assistance from them will be an email away.
Amongst other perks, Magoosh MCAT offers students a 10-point increase score guarantee or a refund. Students wishing to break into the 500s or aiming at a score of 520+ can claim their spot in this online course with sound expectations.
You can sign up for the free 7-day trial with Magoosh, a 1-month premium program at $379, or a 12-month premium program at $399. It is one of the best MCAT prep courses online for a budget-friendly yet comprehensive test prep experience.
Rating: ★★★★☆ | Details: Real MCAT questions. tests, videos, study schedules.
Price: $399 for 12 months. Info: View website.
2. The Princeton Review MCAT Prep Course
The Princeton Review MCAT Prep Course (visit website) is a durable test prep program to minimize the two main areas of vulnerability students struggle with: lack of prep time and memory stuffing. You can choose from four different course types offered on the platform.
The least expensive class LiveOnline ($2,500) comes with on-demand and live lectures. MCAT 510+ ($ 3,199) comes with a 510+ score guarantee and is available online and as an in-person class. MCAT 515+ Immersion is available online and involves intense MCAT preparation to produce elite scores. Finally, you can opt for private tutoring at $184/hr.
The MCAT prep courses teach students the correct strategies to attempt the tests and claim to make accurate predictions about what these could entail. The Princeton MCAT prep now also includes 4 new section-specific practice tests, 4 new psychology/ sociology-focused modules, and 21 new psychology/sociology homework passages.
The Princeton Review: ★★★★☆ | Details: Test questions, 1:1 sessions, drills.
Price: $2,299 Live-online. $2,899 MCAT 513+. $6,749 MCAT 515+ Immersion.
Info: Visit website and MCAT prep packages,
3. 10-Weeks MCAT Prep Course – Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors offers a 10-week MCAT prep course (visit website) to teach students score-improving strategies. Each week a small class of 6-9 students will assemble for a 2-hour session. During these classes, students will get the opportunity to access personalized assistance and the chance to collaborate via discussions.
This MCAT prep course will begin by preparing students for each test section. You will compound your learning with key test-taking tips and strategies. Here, the focus would be on the exam structure, tested concepts, and scoring strategies.
For each incorrect and also correct answer on the practice tests, students will take assistance from content-rich-rationales explaining the logic behind the right choices.
By the end, students should have a sound understanding of the exam structure, the ability to handle tricky questions, and the scoring methodology. It is one of the best MCAT prep courses online if you seek an in-class learning experience.
Rating: ★★★★☆ | Details: 10 weeks. In-person classes. Self-paced studying.
Price: View course page. $599. 10 sessions. 6-9 students.
4. Kaplan MCAT Prep Courses
Kaplan MCAT prep courses (visit website) offer a customizable test prep program that allows enrollees to decide whether they want to study with a teacher or at their own pace. Students can enroll in a quick quiz to see where they stand before opting in.
The Kaplan MCAT test prep courses include in-person classes and live streams to intensive bootcamps and assistive tools. Opting for the in-person course at $2899 will land students 16 3-hour classes with an MCAT expert nearby.
In the Live Online MCAT Course, you will get 24 2-hour live-streamed lessons. Your class will be led by an online instructor, while a team of offline instructors will answer students’ questions in real time. Finally, students comfortable with pre-recorded teacher-led lessons can opt for On-Demand instructions.
There are also bootcamps (5-week) and one-on-one tutoring lessons along with other additional resources, such as Kaplan MCAT prep books, practice tests and the Q-bank, for thorough preparation. This is one of the best MCAT prep courses online if you seek the most comprehensive MCAT preparation and have sufficient funding available.
Rating: ★★★★☆ | Details: Teacher support, practice library, questions, lessons
Price: $2,499 Kaplan MCAT Live Online. $2,899 Kaplan MCAT In-Person.
Info: Visit website and MCAT prep packages.
Not the right test prep? Browse reviews of other test prep online courses. LSAT prep Courses, ACT prep courses, SAT prep courses or GRE prep courses or GMAT prep courses.
5. Wize MCAT Prep Course
WizePrep offers a popular MCAT course (visit website) to help students get into the medical school of their choice. You will encounter a study resource comprising 1100+ video lessons, 820+ practice questions, and 405+ passage-based questions.
It is a time-efficient MCAT prep course that covers the most important topics with effective tips and strategies that help students solve these like a doctor.
Their MCAT practice questions are designed in a way that makes the application of ideas inevitable for learners. With their passage-based questions, you will work on efficiently analyzing experimental data, determining the author’s opinions, concept application, problem-solving, and successfully arriving at the correct answer.
Students can also benefit from some 160+ cheat sheets that contain summaries, illustrations, and key takeaways, which can help the students consume the gist of the lesson more efficiently. There’s a one-month subscription plan ($299), a six-month plan ($150/month), and a 12-month subscription plan ($112/month).
Rating: ★★★★☆ | Details: Real MCAT questions and tests. 1-on-1 available.
Price: from $112/month. Info: View website.
6. MCAT Prep Courses Near Me – Varsity Tutors
Guaranteeing 100% customer satisfaction, Varsity MCAT prep courses (visit website) offer learners several options. These test prep courses are tailor-made to suit learners with different learning styles, existing sets of academic skills, and test aims.
One of the options is the MCAT test prep class, which is conducted in small group settings with peers that you can interact with. If required, students can even opt for one-on-one settings for additional guidance.
Another option is to sign up for an MCAT prep course with a private course educator. Your private tutor can set up a customized lesson plan to suit your learning needs. These MCAT classes are not instructor-led, rather students will learn at their own pace and retain the option to reach out to the instructors for additional guidance.
Varsity Tutors boast a wide assortment of subject experts and specialists that can teach students effective strategies and lessons covering high-yield topics such as chemical and physical foundations and critical analysis of biological, biochemical, and psychological foundations. They offer some of the best MCAT prep courses online for 1:1 tutoring.
Review: ★★★★☆ | Details: 1:1 tutoring. In-person classes. Self-paced options.
Info: View website. Flexible hours. Various MCAT tutors and experts.
Tip: Preparing for university involves learning new skills. Here are the best online learning platforms. Alternatively, browse our round-ups of Udemy courses, Coursera courses, MasterClass courses, or Mindvallley courses.
7. Blueprint MCAT Prep Course
The Blueprint MCAT prep course brands itself as the home of the 13-point score increase. Enrollees have the option of a free trial before they decide if the platform can live up to its claim and if it’s the right fit. According to Blueprint, there are a handful of things that make this MCAT test prep course a smarter way to prepare for the exams.
First, you will encounter a time-efficient personalized curriculum and live online office hours 5 days a week. To help students grasp technical and complex concepts, there will be animated video lessons and illustrations.
Other than visually interactive lessons, Blueprint’s advanced analytics will offer to assess which MCAT questions you got wrong and why, along with sorting those by subject, AAMC reasoning skills, and question type.
Blueprint claims its tests are the most representative of the MCAT tests after the AAMC. The MCAT experts here claim to have an in-depth understanding of the best practices and the reasoning behind the design of the MCAT questions.
Review: ★★★★☆ | Details: MCAT experts, Self-paced options, MCAT tests.
Price: $1,999 with 6 months access. 2,399 for 9 months. $2,699 for 12 months.
8. Khan Academy MCAT Prep Course
With the support of the Association of American Medical Colleges, Khan Academy has announced retaining its MCAT prep course until 2026. It’s a comprehensive assortment of high-yield topics that are divided over a series of exercise-based modules.
Four modules cover the core topics in detail, starting from biological and biochemical foundations to psychological foundations, biomolecules, cells, and organ systems. It follows up with physical and chemical processes, environment, behavior, and society.
For each topic covered, students will be met with a series of passage-based questions. The very first module in the course will comprise critical analysis and reasoning skills practice questions to get your mind working right at the onset of the course. This is among the best MCAT prep courses online if you want free resources to start.
Rating: ★★★★☆ | Details: Self-prep course options, MCAT practice tests.
Price: Free
9. MCAT Self-Prep Course
MCAT Self-Prep offers a free test prep class and live tutoring. The free course is a great alternative for prospective test-takers that are strapped for cash as well as directions.
As part of the free MCAT prep course, students will encounter some 150 practice-based lessons designed in light of the specifications from the AAMC. With more than 300-hour of lesson videos, students will be able to clarify some of their more complex queries and they can do so at 2x the speed.
In the free session with the head tutor, students will learn the essential elements of an MCAT study plan, 12 effective tips, and 6 keys to earning a top score.
Each MCAT video lesson will finish with MCAT practice questions designed to hone your problem-solving skills. In fact, you can directly submit a message and get a response from the course CEO. According to student feedback, this is one of the best free MCAT prep courses online and is great for personalized assistance.
Review: ★★★★☆ | Details: Self-paced MCAT course, questions, tests.
Price: $9.99 Basic Pro, $99.99 Advanced Pro. $999 Deluxe Pro.
11. Prep101 MCAT Prep Courses
Prep101 takes a differently guided approach to help students take their MCAT exam. The platform focuses on mastering the science behind the MCAT passage-based questions and hones students’ critical reasoning skills with 138 hours of live instruction and some 44 lessons on basic science.
Additionally, Prep101 offers 14 workshops and 32 in-class exams to help acquire the strategies and skills to appear in an MCAT with confidence and reduce test anxiety. In each class, the instructors will walk students through their mock practice exams and help them analyze the passages effectively, map their answers, and dissect questions.
Prep101 also claims to provide students with more full-length practice exams than any other course. The idea is to help test takers by making them practice over and over. In this way, students can become thoroughly acquainted with each aspect of the MCAT, so there are no surprises on the day of the actual test.
By combining their full-length practice exams with advanced analytics, Prep101 has found a way to track students’ performance by section, content strategy, and question type. With the data around your vulnerabilities and the strong suite available, you can filter your next exams to work exclusively on your weakest areas.
Rating: ★★★★☆ | Details: Live instructions, MCAT coach, books questions, tests.
Price: from $2,495 live + self-paced course with detailed score reports.
10. Altius MCAT Courses
With 650+ years of staff combined experience, Altius has been offering 1-on-1 mentoring classrooms since 2005. On average, Altius has been helping students obtain a score of around 516.4 points.
Prospective test-takers can opt for a 30-day money-back free trial period, an elite classroom MCAT course, and a study material package with a 14-day guarantee. The elite classroom course promises students a refund provided they complete 100% of the elite program assignments. You will have 30 days to receive the refund.
On the other hand, if you opt for the Altius study materials, a refund will only apply if the prep materials have been unused. For example, they failed to arrive on time. There will be no refund for students that have bought the materials and already used them. Their study practice materials comprise full-length exams, self-study, and at-home packages.
At the same time, the platform also offers live, 1-on-1 mentoring from industry experts that can help students secure 515+ in the MCAT test. Your mentors will deliver science instructions in organic and general chemistry, biology, and biochemistry.
Rating: ★★★★☆ | Details: Self-paced, mentoring programs, questions, tests.
Price: from $999 for the self-paced course.
Choosing the Best MCAT Prep Courses Online
The MCAT test can be a tough barrier to your entry into the medical school of your choice. A sound score on the MCAT test may guarantee you the spot. For this reason, you may want to leave no stone unturned in securing the right resources and preparing to the max.
Fortunately, there are a handful of best MCAT prep courses online and preparation formats tailored for students with varying skill sets and learning preferences. As a prospective MCAT test taker, you must make a careful assessment of these online courses.
You will also want to decide which MCAT prep course may be the best fit for your individual study needs. You can begin by asking yourself the following questions.
What are the key areas you need improvement in? Some MCAT courses allow test-takers to choose the subjects they need to work on within the wider MCAT program.
What are your MCAT preparation goals? It is possible for some students to have the right command but still underperform due to anxiety, while others may need to expand their skillset. The best MCAT prep courses often offer 1:1 tutoring to address individual needs and achieve good MCAT scores.
Do you prefer self-paced study or instructor-led preparation for MCAT? Ensure you are comfortable with the instruction mode, as it can cause unnecessary distractions. Most well-known providers of MCAT courses offer both styles of learning.
What are the costs and time requirements for enrolment in a course? Truthfully speaking, this should be your first consideration. Needless to say, an MCAT course that is commensurate with your financial resources and time constraints will yield the best results.
What should an MCAT course provide? While this depends on your learning style, we recommend looking for test score guarantees, full-length practice exams, comprehensive MCAT prep materials, MCAT prep books, a range of prep options, subject matter experts, self-paced course options, live online classes, customizable study plan options, study tips.
Tip: The AAMC MCAT prep is a free six-step guide to creating a study plan to prepare for the test. This plan helps students assess their skillset, organize resources, develop a study plan and simulate a full-length practice exam.
Best MCAT Prep Courses Online – Review Verdict
Wrapping up our review of the best MCAT prep courses online 2023. The best MCAT test prep course is a matter of individual preference. Some students prefer private tutoring, where they can freely work on their unique weaknesses. Others may want a less-intrusive, peer-to-peer setting.
Your best option would be to choose MCAT online courses that offer the broadest range of prep modes and study plans. There are MCAT courses, such as the Magoosh MCAT course, that make a point of bringing learners both quality and affordability.
However, if you are not particularly strapped for cash and the cost of an MCAT prep course is not your first concern, then you have a broader pool to pick from and your decision must be inspired by thorough research. This may include a well-known prep company such as the Princeton Review or Kaplan MCAT.
Best MCAT Prep Courses Online 2023
- Magoosh MCAT Prep Courses
- 10-Weeks MCAT Prep Course – Varsity Tutors
- WizePrep MCAT Prep Course
- The Princeton Review MCAT Course
- Kaplan MCAT Prep Courses
- MCAT Courses Near Me – Varsity Tutors
- Blueprint MCAT Prep Course
- Khan Academy MCAT Test Prep Course
- MCAT Self-Prep Course
- Altius MCAT Test Prep Courses
- Prep101 MCAT Courses
What is the Medical College Admission Test or MCAT test?
The Medical College Admission Test assesses the ability of prospective students of medicine to problem-solving and critical thinking. It assesses the command of written analysis and the knowledge of scientific concepts and principles. The MCAT is obligatory to secure a spot in a medical school and college.
According to Karen Mitchell, the senior director of the admission testing service, the content and format of the MCAT test are based on input from the medical school faculty, medical students, and medical residents.
In this way, the MCAT test assesses prospective college applicants’ preparation to meet the most pertinent challenges they may face in a medical school.
What are the four sections of the MCAT test?
There are four sections in the Medical College Admission Test test.
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
The CARS section is essentially assessing your ability to solve complex arguments in a logical manner. The Biological and Biochemical sections comprise basic knowledge in biology and biochemistry as well as organic and general chemistry.
Likewise, the undergraduate courses reflected in the Chemical and Physical Foundations section include general chemistry, introductory physics, organic chemistry, introductory biology, and first-semester biochemistry.
The Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations section will assess your ability to implement and combine statistical principles with behavioral and sociocultural determinants.
How much does the MCAT test costs?
The MCAT test costs about $300 but students who demonstrate financial needs can receive discounts on registration fees. They may also acquire MCAT test prep resources and complimentary access to the Medical School Admission Requirement database.
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What are the best MCAT prep courses online? How do you best prepare for your MCAT tests? Please share any tips and strategies with our readers. Best of luck!
Resources: MCAT Official Website AAMC Association of American Medical Colleges – 1 | Wikipedia AAMC – 2 | MCAT Test Wikipedia – 3 | AMA American Medical Association – 4
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