The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) often looms in the distance as a frightening prospect to aspiring medical students. At the end of sophomore collegiate studies, the MCAT begins to close in quickly. Juggling an enormous class load, extracurricular activities, and athletics can make it seem like there is no time to prepare! Whether you need MCAT tutoring in Atlanta, MCAT tutoring in Houston, or MCAT tutoring in San Francisco, working one-on-one with an expert may be just the boost your studies need.

In 2015, test anxiety may seem even more severe because the MCAT has been completely changed. For years, the test has been the same, consisting of three main sections: Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, and Verbal Reasoning. The 2015 revision may leave students feel as if the rug has been pulled out from under them, but the new MCAT’s Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section is actually not so different from the Physical Sciences section of years past. 

Nevertheless, the test’s revision does require some modifications in your approach for preparation. In years past, the Physical Sciences section would ask questions that demanded an understanding of how physics and chemistry worked in mechanical systems, so it was sufficient to study physics and chemistry in conceptual isolation. In contrast, the 2015 MCAT is expecting test-takers to apply these mechanical principles to biological systems. No longer is it adequate to understand the ideal gas law by itself; you must now appreciate how the ideal gas law explains alveolar gas exchange in the lungs. Varsity Tutors offers resources like free MCAT Physical Sciences Practice Tests to help with your self-paced study, or you may want to consider an MCAT Physical Sciences tutor.

In this way, the 2015 MCAT’s Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems demands a different approach than the memorization you may be used to in classes like organic chemistry. Now, you are being asked to master the content and then apply that content to novel systems. The MCAT wants to make sure that you don’t just know material, but that you understand its application.

This approach to learning advanced-level science can serve you well in future years. In medical school, the information is far too substantial to memorize. Instead, you must understand the context and the importance of each idea, as well as the relationships of one idea to others. Forming these interacting ideas into a cohesive view of biology can help lead to success in medical school. It is no coincidence, then, that this is the same set of skills being emphasized on the 2015 MCAT. 

With this appreciation of the new Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section, it should be clear that the abundance of resources available for the MCAT of years past still offer value today. The material it covers remains relatively unchanged; it is just testing this material with a different approach and different kinds of questions. As you review, you need to understand abstract ideas, not simply memorize discrete facts. Varsity Tutors’ free MCAT Physical Sciences Flashcards can help you do that. Our MCAT Physical Sciences Flashcards test your knowledge by asking questions drawn from all of the categories that the MCAT Physical Sciences section covers. A full explanation of how to arrive at the correct answer accompanies each flashcard, making it easy to identify any subtle, abstract misunderstandings well before they can trip you up on test day. Plus, you can review anywhere at any time; our MCAT Physical Sciences Flashcards are available through the Learning Tools website or the Varsity Tutors app. In addition to the MCAT Physical Sciences Help Section and MCAT Physical Sciences tutoring, you may also want to consider using some of our MCAT Physical Sciences Diagnostic Tests. 

Undoubtedly, preparing for the new MCAT requires a different approach than previous years. You may experience greater anxiety due to continuously developing expectations of what you’ll see on test day. Overcoming this anxiety and mastering the concepts being tested can help you begin on a path to success in medical school and as a physician.