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Do not skip study sessions or lecture hours

This is another very important study tips and tricks. Do not miss out any study sessions or lectures. Whatever might be the case, you feel the sessions sound boring or neither interesting, you need to be present as sometimes you will learn things better either by your staffs or some students who understood it better. Surroundings help you in some way or the other. Be punctual to feel responsible and to study well. Try to be involved in classes and try to understand what the professor is teaching. If you feel that the professor is moving fast with his subject, then feel free to inform him that you are not able to follow. Also, ask doubts and questions if you feel confused or lost. Clearing doubts is a best way to study effectively and clarify your questions at the same time.

Art of taking notes

This is the most common tip which is very effective not only in college but wherever you go. The art of taking notes not only will help you to improve your listening skills but will also help the students grasp the contents quicker as well. One of the effective study habit is to write notes for all the subjects either during the lecture or take some time to write notes after your lecture hours. Try to grab the keywords of the session so that you do not end up writing pages. The whole concept of writing notes is not to miss out any point in the topic taught during the lecture. If you feel that you have missed some points then feel free to ask the lecturer about it. The key in taking the best notes lies in how well the student knows their subject. Try to take notes that are thorough and accurate. This will help you to be more familiar with the topic and the material while rewriting these notes into a fair material.

Set goals for yourself

Aimlessly reviewing notes or study materials before the MCAT won’t result in your best score. You’ll want to work towards a goal — your ideal, yet realistic MCAT score. You’ll also want to set smaller goals for yourself throughout the studying process leading up to the exam. This could include how much study material you’ll cover in the span of a week, how many hours you want to spend studying, or what score you’d like to achieve on your practice exams. Bite-sized goals like these will help keep you accountable along the way and help you make progress toward your ultimate goal. "This allowed me to set reasonable goals and learn from my mistakes." Panthofer took practice exams nearly every week, which allowed her to take a step back from the tedious prep work to monitor her overall progress. “This allowed me to set reasonable goals and learn from my mistakes, which was the best way to for me to improve my score,” Panthofer says.

Study in ways you’ve found successful in the past

If you’re academically talented enough to pursue medical school, you’ve most likely already mastered the art of studying. You know what study tactics work best for you, so why change that now? MCAT preparation is not the time to try out new preparation habits. Stick with your go-to learning style — whatever works best for you. "My largest bit of advice is to study the way that has made you most successful in the past." "I studied a chapter or two per day for one subject and moved onto a new one the next day."

Prepare yourself mentally and physically

One of the most important study skills that you should have is to get prepared physically and mentally for the day. Arrange your exam essentials, your hall tickets the previous night of the exam to avoid getting nervous on the d -day. Also, try to have a good night’s sleep, as this helps in improving your memory and concentration.