How Much Time Do You Really Need to Study for the MCAT?

One of the most common questions MCAT students ask is: How many hours should I study for the MCAT? The truth is, the number of months you study matters less than the total hours you put in. According to the AAMC, most students spend around 300-350 hours preparing for the exam — but that number can vary depending on your background and study habits.

How Many Hours Do Most Students Need?

Based on data from the AAMC and top MCAT prep resources, the average student spends between 250–350 hours preparing for the MCAT. This usually breaks down to around 3–5 months of consistent studying if you’re balancing other responsibilities.

Here’s a general guideline:

• Strong Science Background: 250–300 hours
• Average Science Background: 300–350 hours
• Non-Science Background or Long Gap Since Classes: 350–400+ hours

Quality > Quantity

Not all study hours are created equal. Passive review (like reading notes or watching videos) takes more time and produces fewer results than active practice (like doing practice questions or taking full-length exams). Focus on active learning as much as possible — especially after your first month of content review.

How to Break Down Your Study Hours

• Content Review: 30–40% of your total hours (1–1.5 months)
• Practice Questions + Exams: 60–70% of your total hours
• Weekly Full-Length Exams: Start taking full-length exams as early as possible — at least one per week.

How to Track Your Hours

Consistency is everything. Using a study tracker helps you stay on pace and ensures you’re hitting your target hours. You can create a free personalized MCAT study plan at MCAT.Tools to automatically track your study hours and plan your schedule.

Final Thoughts

The exact number of hours you need will depend on your starting point, but most students fall between 250–350 hours. What’s more important is how you spend those hours — prioritize practice over passive review and be consistent.

Need help building your study plan? Create a free personalized schedule at MCAT.Tools and take the guesswork out of your prep!