MCAT tutors charge an average of $50 to $150 per hour. Tutors provide personalized, one-on-one, or small group instruction to help you prepare for the MCAT. They may focus on test-taking strategies, review practice materials, and help you improve your performance on practice tests.

Some students hire a tutor who specializes in the subjects where they are weakest. For example, if chemistry is your lowest-scoring area, you may hire a tutor to help you with that section of the MCAT only. Some tutors may offer package deals for multiple sessions or long-term commitments.

The MCAT is a standardized computer test that most medical schools require for admission. It is given throughout the year at Pearson VUE testing centers around the world. Medical schools use MCAT scores to gauge a student's readiness for the challenges of medical school. 

The 6-hour, 15-minute test has four multiple-choice sections that assess a student's knowledge of chemistry and physics, biology and biochemistry, psychology and social behavior, and critical reasoning skills.

The MCAT is an all-day exam. The actual seated time for the exam is 7 hours 30 minutes, which includes instructions and breaks in between sections. While these breaks are optional, they are recommended. The actual testing time is 6 hours and 15 minutes long for the 4 sections.

A good MCAT score depends on the school you want to attend. The median MCAT score is 500 on a scale from 472 to 528. The highest-ranked med schools typically have higher average score requirements. Less competitive medical schools take students with lower scores.

Most students attempt to score as well as or better than the average score of admitted students. The higher the average score at your preferred school, the higher you will need to score to have a chance at admission to their program.

The MCAT has 4 sections designed to test your science knowledge, including:

• Biological and Biochemical foundations of Living Systems– This 95 minute section includes 59 multiple-choice questions about biology, organic chemistry, and inorganic chemistry concepts.
• Chemical and Physical foundations of Biological Systems– This 95 minute section includes 59 multiple-choice questions about biology, organic and inorganic chemistry, and physics concepts.
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior Section – This 95 minute section includes 59 multiple-choice questions about psychology, sociology, and biology concepts.
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Section – This 90 minute section includes 53 multiple-choice questions that test your comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills by asking you to analyze information provided in written passages.

The difficulty of the MCAT depends on how well you are prepared, your familiarity with the test content, and your abilities as a test-taker. The test is considered difficult because it is a full day exam covering a vast number of scientific topics.

The test is high stakes since the score can determine your admission to medical school. This pressure to do well, along with the time-pressure of the test itself, make it one of the hardest exams you will ever take.

Students are permitted to take the MCAT 7 times in their lifetime. Additionally, your attempts are limited to 3 times in a single testing year, or 4 times in a two-year period. No shows or void attempts are included in these limits.

A voided attempt is when you choose at the end of the exam to not have your attempt scored. Students use this option when they feel they performed poorly and do not want that score to count on their permanent record. Instead, they void the exam and are not scored. The test attempt counts toward the annual limit, but the possibly low score is not recorded for medical schools to see.

Here are some helpful suggestions that can save you money on your MCAT costs:

• Apply for financial aid through the AAMC Fee Assistance Program.
• Keep your original test date and testing site to avoid costly rescheduling fees. If you must make changes, do it as early as possible to avoid higher fees.
• Use free or low-cost study materials rather than more costly MCAT tutors or prep courses.
• Prepare well to ensure a good score on your first test attempt. Test attempts are costly and limited.

Some questions you should ask a potential MCAT tutor include:

• How much is your tutoring rate per hour?
• Do you offer packages or discounts for long-term commitments?
• What is your educational background?
• Have you taken the MCAT yourself?
• How long have you been an MCAT tutor?
• Have you been able to help students improve their MCAT scores?
• What is your teaching style?
• Do you tailor your approach to my learning style?
• What study materials do you include?
• Will you provide practice tests to gauge my improvement?
• What is your availability? Will we meet in person or online?