There are tons of MCAT study books out there—and I mean that literally. Amazon alone lists nearly 600 MCAT books! But when you’re prepping for the Medical College Admission Test, not just any book will do—and some can actively hurt your score. To avoid that, let’s go over: what are the best MCAT prep books? Magoosh’s experts are here to break it down for you!
Table of Contents
- Best MCAT Prep Books for Each Subject
- Best for General Biology: MCAT Practice Tests: Chemical & Physical + Biological & Biochemical Foundations
- Best for Biochemistry: Biology, Part II: Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology
- Best for Physics: The MCAT Physics Book
- Best for Beginner/Intermediate General Chemistry: General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
- Best for Intermediate/Advanced Chemistry: 1001 Questions in MCAT Chemistry
- Best for Organic Chemistry: MCAT Organic Chemistry Review
- Best for Psychology: MCAT Flashcards
- Best for Sociology: MCAT Psychology & Sociology: Psychological, Social & Biological Foundations of Behavior
- Best for CARS: Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, Volumes 1 and 2
- Best MCAT Study Books FAQ
- A Final Word
Best MCAT Prep Books for Each Subject
Best for General Biology: MCAT Practice Tests: Chemical & Physical + Biological & Biochemical Foundations
MCAT Practice Tests: Chemical & Physical + Biological & Biochemical Foundations is the best choice for General Biology. Published by Sterling, this 2016 book gets 8 out of 10 overall.
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Best for Biochemistry: Biology, Part II: Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology
Biology, Part II: Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology is the best choice for Biochemistry. Published by The Berkeley Review, this 2015 book gets 9.5 out of 10 overall.
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Best for Physics: The MCAT Physics Book
The MCAT Physics Book is the best choice for Physics. Published by Nova, this 2016 book gets 9 out of 10 overall.
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Best for Beginner/Intermediate General Chemistry: General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry is the best choice for Beginner/Intermediate Chemistry. Published by Schaum’s Outlines, this 2009 book gets 8.5 out of 10 overall.
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Best for Intermediate/Advanced Chemistry: 1001 Questions in MCAT Chemistry
1001 Questions in MCAT Chemistry is the best choice for Intermediate/Advanced Chemistry. Published by Examkrackers, this 2005 book gets 8 out of 10 overall.
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Best for Organic Chemistry: MCAT Organic Chemistry Review
MCAT Organic Chemistry Review is the best choice for Organic Chemistry. Published by Kaplan, this 2018 book gets 9 out of 10 overall.
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Best for Psychology: MCAT Flashcards
MCAT Flash Cards is the best choice for Psychology. Published by Barron’s, this 2015 set gets 8 out of 10 overall.
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Best for Sociology: MCAT Psychology & Sociology: Psychological, Social & Biological Foundations of Behavior
MCAT Psychology & Sociology: Psychological, Social & Biological Foundations of Behavior – Review is the best choice for Sociology. Published by Sterling, this 2018 book gets 8.5 out of 10 overall.
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Best for CARS: Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, Volumes 1 and 2
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, Volumes 1 and 2. Online is the best choice for CARS. Published by the AAMC, this 2016 book gets 10 out of 10 overall.
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Best MCAT Study Books FAQ
Click any of the below FAQs to view the response from our MCAT experts!
What MCAT prep book is the best?
Overall, the best MCAT prep books are Examkrakers and Kaplan’s MCAT complete 7-book subject review. The best resources for you will depend on where you are in your studies.
Examkrackers is best for people who have less than 3 months to study or just need a little boost in some areas. Kaplan is better for people who have the time and desire to read, study, and digest MCAT content at a deeper level.
In both cases, you’ll get a comprehensive view of the subjects you need to know, complete with excellent illustrations.
The main exception to this is if you’re aiming for a top score and are struggling with the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems. For students in the top 10th percentile who are still coming up short on this section, the best books are The Berkeley Review for advanced prep.
Is Kaplan or Princeton Review MCAT better?
Compared to the Princeton Review MCAT Subject Review, Kaplan’s MCAT materials are far stronger. The reasons center around what we’ve discussed above: you’ll get an in-depth look at the topics you need to know, combined with great illustrations.
How far in advance should you study for the MCAT?
The short answer is, between three months and six months. The longer answer is a little more complicated! It depends on a variety of factors, including your current scores on diagnostic/practice tests, your goal scores, how many hours a week you can devote to studying and practice exams, and your admissions deadlines.
Now, can you study for the MCAT in less time? Sure! You can study for the MCAT in a week if you just need a little brush-up on major subject areas. But if attending medical school means a lot to you, it’s better to take a little longer to review books and prep materials, take full-length practice tests and complete practice questions, and really master the materials before setting foot in the test center for the actual exam.
For a better idea of what different MCAT plans look like, check out Magoosh’s MCAT study schedules!
Are MCAT prep courses better than books?
It really, truly depends on your learning style and your comfort level with the different materials tested on the MCAT.
If you just need to brush up on, say, physical foundations of biological systems, or just need a math refresher or an MCAT general chemistry review, you might be better off spending your time focusing on specialized materials on your own. But if you’re someone who learns well by hearing concepts explained aloud and asking questions, an MCAT tutor might be the better choice for you.
Think about the type of learner you are. Do you do best when you can study diagrams for a long time on your own? Or do you prefer to skim over illustrations and hear concepts explained verbally? Because the MCAT tests concepts in great depth, it’ll be important that you allow yourself to encounter them in the way that best fits your learning style.
Finally, it’s important to realize that one “complete study package” is rarely right for every student. The best MCAT study materials will give you an understanding of the test as a whole but also focus on areas that give you trouble. Even when you take a course, for example, you may want to get supplemental test prep books that build on particular concepts.
A Final Word on the Best MCAT Prep Books
MCAT study guides can be expensive purchases. Beyond that, getting too many of the wrong ones will end up be discouraging. Ideally, you’ll work with the most recent edition of one or more of the books above, combining it with some form of online or in-person course or tutoring to get familiar with the test as a whole.
In the end, finding the best MCAT prep books relies on a deep knowledge of your own strengths and weaknesses. Starting with a diagnostic, like the AAMC sample test, is a great way to get this understanding (and familiarize yourself with the test’s instructions) so you can succeed on the actual MCAT exam. Good luck!
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