The Chemical and Physical Foundations section gives you 95 minutes to answer 230 questions, which means you'll need strong pacing habits. Most students benefit from spending 8-9 minutes per passage and question set, leaving 1-2 minutes for a quick review. A tutor can help you identify which passage types you naturally work through faster and which require more time, then teach you when to skip a difficult question and return to it rather than getting stuck. Practice tests are essential here—completing full-length sections under timed conditions helps build the stamina and rhythm you need on test day.

Students preparing for students in Minneapolis frequently struggle with three areas: (1) acid-base equilibria and pH calculations, which require strong math skills and conceptual understanding, (2) thermodynamics and kinetics, where the relationship between ΔG, ΔH, and entropy trips up many test-takers, and (3) translating written chemistry concepts into visual representations. Many students also find the physics content challenging if they haven't taken physics recently. Working with a tutor on these topics can help you move beyond memorization to true conceptual mastery, which is what the MCAT actually tests.

A realistic study timeline is 8-12 weeks of consistent preparation. A typical weekly schedule includes: content review 2-3 times per week (30-45 minutes per session), practice problems 3-4 times per week, and full-length section practice once per week. As your test date approaches, shift more toward full-length timed practice and review of missed questions. Varsity Tutors can help you build a personalized schedule that fits your pace and identifies exactly which topics need the most attention, so you're not spending valuable study time on material you already know.

Practice tests are critical—they're the closest simulation to actual test conditions and reveal patterns in your mistakes. Taking full section practice tests under real timing constraints helps you calibrate your pacing, get comfortable with the question format variety, and identify whether you're missing questions due to knowledge gaps, careless mistakes, or time pressure. Most students benefit from taking 4-6 full practice sections spread throughout their prep timeline. A tutor can help you analyze what patterns emerge in your practice test performance, whether you're consistently missing certain question types or topics, so your studying becomes more targeted and efficient.

It depends on when you took chemistry and physics and how strong your fundamentals were. If you completed these courses within the last 2-3 years and did well, you may only need targeted review of specific topics. However, if it's been longer or you struggled with these subjects, dedicating 2-4 weeks to foundational review will make your MCAT prep more efficient. A tutor can quickly assess your current knowledge level in areas like stoichiometry, equilibrium, forces, and waves, then create a focused review plan so you're not wasting time on concepts you already know while shoring up weak spots.

Test anxiety often stems from feeling unprepared or uncertain about how to approach unfamiliar questions. Building genuine confidence requires three things: (1) thorough content mastery so you recognize the science concepts being tested, (2) lots of practice with the actual question format so nothing surprises you, and (3) developing a problem-solving routine you trust. Working with a tutor helps on all three fronts—they provide targeted content instruction, guide you through many practice problems with explanations, and help you develop strategies for tackling tricky questions calmly. Many students also find it helpful to do timed practice closer to their test date so they know they can complete full sections under pressure.