Finding the Best MCAT Study Books for Chemistry
The MCAT is one of the hardest tests you will ever take. It is also one part of your resume that med school admissions committees will weigh more heavily than other things.
The MCAT focuses on three subject areas: chemistry,
physics, and biology. While these are not the only things the MCAT tests, they are undoubtedly most important.
Good MCAT books can be incredibly helpful in preparing you to take the MCAT.
In fact, simply reviewing material from your undergraduate classes would a big mistake. Unfortunately, undergraduate classes are geared to prepare students with many different goals.
To do your best on the MCAT, you need to focus on the material that is specifically going to be tested.
There are many kinds of MCAT books out there. It is best to get a variety.
However, it is important to find books that are geared for the MCAT and are not simply regurgitating/condensing a text book.
Over my premed years, I have bought and looked through almost all of the MCAT study books available.
Here I will focus on the best MCAT study books for Chemistry.
The MCAT focuses on three subject areas: chemistry,
physics, and biology. While these are not the only things the MCAT tests, they are undoubtedly most important.
Good MCAT books can be incredibly helpful in preparing you to take the MCAT.
In fact, simply reviewing material from your undergraduate classes would a big mistake. Unfortunately, undergraduate classes are geared to prepare students with many different goals.
To do your best on the MCAT, you need to focus on the material that is specifically going to be tested.
There are many kinds of MCAT books out there. It is best to get a variety.
However, it is important to find books that are geared for the MCAT and are not simply regurgitating/condensing a text book.
Over my premed years, I have bought and looked through almost all of the MCAT study books available.
Here I will focus on the best MCAT study books for Chemistry.
What's On This Lens?
Best MCAT study book for chemistry
The MCAT Chemistry Book by Ajikumar Aryangat
This books has helped me not only get ready for the MCAT but has also helped me succeed in my chemistry undergraduate classes.
Ajikumar Aryangat is capable of concisely but clearly explaining important chemistry concepts. The language is really simple and straight forward.
My favorite part of this book is that each chapter has around 20 practice problems that are fully solved in the back of the book. The explanations often come with necessary diagrams or pictures which makes understanding solutions very simple.
Most importantly however, the practice questions are written in the "MCAT style". They are grouped into groups of 3-5 question that refer to a specific short passage.
This is incredibly helpful in studying for the MCAT because the more often you do the type of questions that will appear on the MCAT, the more prepared you will be on test day.
I have heard from other people (and I agree) that this book is best used in conjunction with other MCAT books such as The Princeton Review's MCAT book or Kaplan's MCAT 45.
This books has helped me not only get ready for the MCAT but has also helped me succeed in my chemistry undergraduate classes.
Ajikumar Aryangat is capable of concisely but clearly explaining important chemistry concepts. The language is really simple and straight forward.
My favorite part of this book is that each chapter has around 20 practice problems that are fully solved in the back of the book. The explanations often come with necessary diagrams or pictures which makes understanding solutions very simple.
Most importantly however, the practice questions are written in the "MCAT style". They are grouped into groups of 3-5 question that refer to a specific short passage.
This is incredibly helpful in studying for the MCAT because the more often you do the type of questions that will appear on the MCAT, the more prepared you will be on test day.
I have heard from other people (and I agree) that this book is best used in conjunction with other MCAT books such as The Princeton Review's MCAT book or Kaplan's MCAT 45.
The MCAT Chemistry Book
Amazon Price: $30.36 (as of 12/22/2009) 
MCAT Blog
This is a really good MCAT related blog that I have found (I subscribe to it with my RSS reader in Gmail).
The information is usually frequently updated and is very relevant to someone planning on taking the MCAT in the near (and rapidly approaching!) future.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byA Comprehensive Review
Examkrackers 1001 Questions in MCAT Chemistry
When it comes to the MCAT, practice questions are key. the Examkracker's book will give you all of the practice questions you need.
Once again, the questions are formatted in an "MCAT style" so all of the practice will definitely get you in the MCAT mode. The questions are also written very well so that they are easy to understand.
This book covers many aspects of chemistry so it is extremely comprehensive. Do not stress if you are not able to answer every single question in this book. I believe that this book is best used with other MCAT books (Kaplan, Princeton) so that you can cross reference for what they think is important to review.
When it comes to the MCAT, practice questions are key. the Examkracker's book will give you all of the practice questions you need.
Once again, the questions are formatted in an "MCAT style" so all of the practice will definitely get you in the MCAT mode. The questions are also written very well so that they are easy to understand.
This book covers many aspects of chemistry so it is extremely comprehensive. Do not stress if you are not able to answer every single question in this book. I believe that this book is best used with other MCAT books (Kaplan, Princeton) so that you can cross reference for what they think is important to review.
Examkrackers 1001 Questions in MCAT Chemistry
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 12/22/2009)
Preparing for Chemistry in the MCAT
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Supplemental Book
Kaplan MCAT Review Notes General Chemistry by Kaplan
This book is a bit outdated but this book can be good for extra review form chemistry.
I strongly recommend that you get this book only have done the other two and are just looking to get another book to supplement the ones you already have as an extra way to review.
This is not the best book out there by any means but I know that some of you are looking to get multiple review sources so this one would be ok to use as a supplemental book.
This book is a bit outdated but this book can be good for extra review form chemistry.
I strongly recommend that you get this book only have done the other two and are just looking to get another book to supplement the ones you already have as an extra way to review.
This is not the best book out there by any means but I know that some of you are looking to get multiple review sources so this one would be ok to use as a supplemental book.
MCAT General Chemistry Review Notes: 1997 Edition
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
Which Is Your Favorite?
Or Least Favorite!
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I prefer to buy all of my books from Amazon since I've always found the best deals here.
Chemistry Books on EBay
Many of my friends have had a lot of luck on buying MCAT study books on EBay since you can usually get them for cheap. The good news is that you can usually find brand new books that haven't been written in (not usually the case for Amazon).
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