MCAT Preparation Classes

The Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to assess the examinee’s problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine. Prior knowledge of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General Biology, Biochemistry, Physics, Psychology, and Sociology is required for this exam.

The MCAT is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) as a part of the medical school admissions process. Almost all medical schools in the United States and Canada, many in Australia, and Duke-NUS in Singapore require applicants to submit recent MCAT scores as part of their application, and many health professions and graduate programs now accept MCAT in lieu of other standardised tests.

For more details, read our MCAT guide here.

The MCAT is available several times annually, with testing cycles running from January to September.

When choosing an MCAT test date, it’s essential to consider the preparation time you require. Planning in advance would help ease out your application process. Completing the MCAT early allows you to shift your focus to crafting your personal statement or gaining practical experience in healthcare.

The AAMC will provide details on specific dates, times, and any policy updates before each registration period begins.

For an always-up-to-date UCAT test dates, bookmark our MCAT test dates page.

The MCAT test examines the skills and knowledge medical educators and physicians have identified as key prerequisites for success in medical school and in the practice of medicine. The test has four sections:

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

Higher level of background knowledge as the content covered includes a stronger emphasis on sciences. Prior knowledge of University Year 1 Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Introductory Physics, General Chemistry, Introductory Biology and Introductory Psychology is expected.

On the MCAT, each of the four sections is scored from 118 to 132. The total score is the sum of all four section scores. Hence, it ranges from 472 to 528, with the mean and median at 500. The MCAT scores are released within 1 month of the test day and are also valid for a longer period of time, around 3 – 4 years depending on the university. Read here for an in-depth explanation of the scoring process for each section.

Related Article: MCAT vs GAMSAT

The Singapore Medical Council (SMC), an advisory body under the Ministry of Health, maintains the compulsory continuing medical education (CME) program, oversees and controls the professional conduct and ethics of registered medical practitioners, and maintains the Register of Medical Practitioners in Singapore.

You can see which medical institutions are accredited in Singapore by looking at a list of universities certified by the Singapore Medical Council. Graduates from these institutions are qualified to work as medical professionals in Singapore. As a result, to qualify for employment in Singapore after graduation, medical students must choose a school from the SMC list of accredited medical schools and enroll there.

Duke-NUS is Singapore’s first and only US-style graduate medical school; a partnership between Duke University School of Medicine and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Duke-NUS prepares doctors, scientists and clinician-scientists to practice and improve the practice of medicine through the MD, MD-PhD and PhD programs. Duke-NUS is known for its signature TeamLEAD framework, which is an advanced form of problem-based learning. In addition to their unique curriculum, Duke-NUS also has a research component that spans one year for all MD students.

The MCAT is a critical component of the Duke-NUS Medical School’s admissions process and you should definitely start planning to sit for the MCAT at least a year before you intend to apply to medical school.

Explore the Duke-NUS Application Guide here if you’re looking to pursue medical studies in Singapore.

Related Article: Duke-NUS MD Overview

With a team of veteran MCAT trainers, Prep Zone Academy™ is one of the best MCAT preparation centres in Singapore. Every year, our MCAT courses help many students ace their test, and get into their desired medical programmes.

• MCAT Beginners Course: Prep Zone Academy’s Beginners Course aims to get you up to speed on your pre-requisite sciences based on your current performance level. Highly recommended for candidates who did not take the pre-requisite science courses in undergrad or need a refresher
• Premium Individual MCAT Course: If you’re looking for flexibility without compromising your MCAT performance, this individual course will allow you to build your fully personalised study plan with your designated MCAT trainers.