Should Struggling Students Take The MCAT?

Most students are excited about taking the tests. It gives them the opportunity to show what they learned throughout their college career. For many students, the true purpose of the MCAT is not just to pass. Instead, it allows students to further their education and gain further skills that will help them achieve success after college graduation. So, will a poorly performed MCAT hurt my chances of achieving a better job?

First, let’s discuss a common misconception about college testing. That is, many students believe that they will have a low score because they did not prepare well for it. This is not necessarily true. In fact, preparing for standardized tests like the MCAT requires the same kinds of study skills and resources that students should be using even before high school. Furthermore, some resources can even help you reach a high score without requiring extra work.

One way to prepare for the test is by studying well ahead of time. This means committing yourself to spend four to six hours a week studying for the test, ideally taking it in the evening. However, if you are in college and struggling with classes, you should still do this. You can use your evenings to review topics that you have struggled with or topics that you feel are particularly important for college application.

In addition to spending the time studying for the tests, you should also begin studying for standardized tests outside of school, as well. For example, you should take an SAT test three weeks before you apply. This will give you a feel for the sorts of questions you will face, which will give you an idea of how much preparation you should do. You should also begin doing practice tests two months before the test to build up your speed and familiarity with the types of questions on the exam.

As mentioned earlier, students who are struggling with tests generally need more assistance than other students. This can include extra tutoring from a qualified college advisor or specialist, additional textbook purchases, and more learning resources. If you feel that you are at a disadvantage due to prior studies or poor test preparation, you should not be afraid to seek assistance. Even if you cannot afford to take extra classes, you can always use the resources available to you to make sure that you come ready for the exam.

If you are already in college and feel like you will not have enough time to take another test, you should really think about waiting to take it until you get to the next level of education. Take a look at your high school transcripts. They will show you whether you dropped any subjects, and you should seriously consider dropping those courses. In most cases, dropping a class can seriously lower your standardized score, which means that you will likely have a harder time getting into a top college. If you do end up in a top college, however, you will likely end up with a higher income and more success as a result.

Students who are struggling with their test scores should absolutely not wait to take the exam. In addition to having to pay for the entire test, struggling students will also lose out on the valuable college experience. In the end, they may discover that they would have paid more to continue their education by taking the test early. There is also strong evidence that early testing dramatically reduces drop-out rates.

When students are given a choice between taking an exam and not doing well in school, many will choose the easier option. However, if students are struggling with their test scores, taking an exam might be their only option. If you are one of those struggling students, then don’t let the question “Should struggling students take the MCAT?” distract you from accomplishing your goals. Instead, use this guide to help you make the best possible decision.