Premed.blog by MedAngle Premed
A-Levels to MDCAT Journey
As an A-Levels student who prepared for the MDCAT, I can tell you that it is a huge struggle as A-Levels and MDCAT both are quite different, but do not worry. To begin with, the syllabus is different and some topics are not present in the A-Levels syllabus, for example, Kingdom Animalia. As A-Levels students, we tend to learn things more conceptually hence transitioning from A-Levels might seem tough to us.
This blog mentions how you can efficiently transition from A-Levels study routines to MDCAT preparation. The first tip I would like to give is to start a little bit of your MDCAT preparation during the beginning of A-levels. Yes! This might seem difficult initially, but if you start slowly from the first year of A-levels, then it will be easier when the MDCAT approaches. Start with topics that are already being taught in A-Levels as it is easier to cover those. In addition to this, you can refer to your provincial textbooks for Biology and Chemistry, however referring to Physics while studying for A-Levels is not recommended because some of the concepts contradict one another and this might lead to further confusion.
When your A2 exams end in May, that’s when your actual preparation starts. The first thing you need to do is get a hard copy of the MDCAT syllabus and start with the difficult topics that require some time to understand, especially topics you are not familiar with or have not studied previously. You can find a list of High-Yield topics at MedAngle Premed as it is very important to prepare those well.
Make a timetable that you can easily follow and set realistic goals. Initially, you can start studying at least 3 to 4 hours a day and gradually extend them.
Moreover, you can use various techniques for efficient learning. One of them is Active Recall that includes question solving. This is something that cannot be emphasized enough. It is very important to practice questions daily. I would recommend using MedAngle Premed for practicing MDCAT questions. It's completely FREE and you can access all past paper questions as well. With Smart Topics, you can solve questions for each topic that you study and save to review later. Use mnemonics and flashcards to memorize details as there is a lot of rote learning, especially in Biology. Another very useful technique is the Pomodoro technique in which you study for a given time then take a short break and then study again for the same time interval as before. For example, you can study for 50 minutes and then take a 10-minute break. Then again start studying for another 50 minutes and then take a 10-minute break. This way you can study for 5 hours easily without feeling burnt out.
For any concept or topic that you find difficult, watch videos on MedAngle Premed’s YouTube channel to get a better understanding of the topic. Make mind maps and flowcharts for certain topics as they help a lot such as organic chemistry as this will help you revise later. Similar techniques can be used while studying kingdoms in Biology as these chapters have a lot of tiny details. In this way, you can organize your study materials in an understandable and digestible manner, making it easier for you to revise later.
Lastly, always remember 'quality over quantity'. MDCAT has a very extensive syllabus, therefore always remember to prioritize the high-yield topics and restrict yourself to your provincial textbooks.
Best of luck to everyone appearing for MDCAT this year! You can ace this exam with your discipline and determination - just believe in yourself.
Author:
Mahnoor Shahid, Premed President