MCAT resource guide
Best MCAT resources, by study need.
Build a focused toolkit for content, practice, review, and retention. Compare free and paid options by the work they help you do—not by how many products you can collect.
Published by 528 Academy. We operate one of the platforms listed. This is a comparison of documented features and study uses, not an independent ranking or a head-to-head score-outcome test.
Sources checked . “Best for” describes our judgment about fit. Confirm current pricing, editions, and access terms on each provider’s site.
At a glance
Compare MCAT prep resources by job.
Swipe the table sideways to see access details.
| Resource | Useful for | Access |
|---|---|---|
| AAMC Official Prep | Exam-maker practice and full-length simulation | Free and paid resources |
| Khan Academy | Free explanations and targeted content review | Free MCAT course |
| UWorld MCAT QBank | Additional question-bank practice and visual explanations | Paid; check current trial options |
| Kaplan MCAT books | Structured, book-based content review | Paid books and packages |
| Jack Westin daily passages | A repeatable CARS passage practice habit | Free daily CARS passages |
| Anki | Spaced retrieval of facts, distinctions, and equations | Free desktop app; mobile options vary |
| 528 Academy | Connecting question review to the next practice block | 40 free account questions; optional Pro plans |
Before adding a subscription, name the bottleneck: understanding a concept, applying it in a passage, reviewing a miss, or remembering the lesson. Two products doing the same job can compete for the same study time.
Resource-by-resource
What each resource adds—and where it stops.
AAMC Official Prep
Exam-maker practice and full-length simulation
Start with the exam maker’s content outline and official practice. AAMC offers free full-length options as well as paid exams and question sets. Use official material to check your reasoning against the source that writes the exam.
Keep in mind: Official questions are a finite resource. Review them carefully rather than treating repeated exposure as new evidence of readiness.
Try this: Check the current product list before buying: AAMC is changing its CARS products in September 2026.
Khan Academy
Free explanations and targeted content review
Khan Academy’s MCAT collection pairs concept lessons with practice material. It is a useful starting point when a missed question reveals that you cannot yet explain the underlying mechanism or relationship.
Keep in mind: Watching a lesson is not the same task as answering an unfamiliar question. Follow the explanation with retrieval and practice.
Try this: Look up the specific concept behind a miss, close the lesson, and explain it from memory before retesting.
UWorld MCAT QBank
Additional question-bank practice and visual explanations
UWorld offers an MCAT question bank with visual explanations, performance analytics, and study tools. Consider it when your main need is another substantial source of questions and you have time to review the explanations.
Keep in mind: It is third-party practice, not an official AAMC score benchmark. Access terms and package contents depend on the current offer.
Try this: Try sample questions before buying, then decide whether the explanation style helps you identify your own reasoning errors.
Kaplan MCAT books
Structured, book-based content review
Kaplan publishes a multi-book MCAT subject-review set and packages with digital resources. A book sequence can help if you prefer a defined chapter structure to searching for individual lessons.
Keep in mind: Check the edition and included access before purchasing. Reading a chapter without applying it can make familiarity look like mastery.
Try this: Use the AAMC outline to track coverage and pair each review block with questions instead of delaying all practice until the books are finished.
Jack Westin daily passages
A repeatable CARS passage practice habit
Jack Westin provides free daily CARS passages with explanations. A small, repeatable passage block can give you a place to practice identifying the author’s point and supporting each answer from the text.
Keep in mind: These are third-party passages. Do not assume the percentage you score on them translates into an official CARS score.
Try this: After a passage, write why the tempting option exceeded or contradicted the evidence. Keep official AAMC material in your preparation.
Anki
Spaced retrieval of facts, distinctions, and equations
Anki schedules flashcard reviews and supports custom cards, media, and cross-device synchronization. It can support retention of the small, durable lessons that emerge from question review.
Keep in mind: A flashcard deck is not a passage bank. Shared decks also vary in accuracy and scope; a large card count is not a coverage guarantee.
Try this: Make a card only when you can explain the idea. Keep the daily review load small enough that it does not crowd out question practice.
528 Academy
Connecting question review to the next practice block
Our platform connects original MCAT questions, answer-choice explanations, bookmarks, flashcards, and performance analysis. It is designed for students who want their mistakes and study history to inform what they practice next.
Keep in mind: We publish this guide and operate this platform. Our questions are not AAMC items, and a short diagnostic is not a full-length exam or a validated score prediction.
Try this: Try the public sample questions or the free diagnostic first. Create an account if you want to keep your practice and review organized.
Check before buying
AAMC’s September 2026 CARS changes.
AAMC ended sales of its CARS Diagnostic Tool and CARS Question Packs on September 14, 2026. Its new CARS Question Bank is scheduled for September 30. Existing access to the retired products continues until expiration. Check the official AAMC update before following an older shopping list.
The AAMC free planning and study resources page is a useful place to start. If cost is a barrier, review the Fee Assistance Program benefits and eligibility before buying materials.
Put the toolkit to work
Three ways to build a smaller, more useful plan.
Starting with a limited budget
Begin with the official outline, free AAMC practice, Khan Academy, and a small flashcard routine. Add free question or passage practice you can review carefully. Identify the missing job before paying for another resource.
You know the material but miss questions
Protect time for passage reasoning and answer-choice review. Use one question bank consistently, track the first faulty reasoning step, then retest that specific skill in a new context.
You are preparing for a retake
Start with the evidence from your previous preparation: unused materials, repeated mistakes, and timing problems. Buy something new only if you can explain how it changes the process that failed—not simply because it is new.
Your schedule keeps breaking
A shorter plan may be more useful than a larger course. Decide what fits each week, include review time, and consider one-to-one coaching when you need a conversation about strategy or constraints.
Buying checklist
Choose the next resource with a specific test.
- Which recurring problem will this resource address?
- Can I explain why its sample answer is right and the alternatives are wrong?
- Will I have time to review, not just complete, the material?
- Does the access period cover the dates I actually plan to use it?
- Am I duplicating a resource I already own?
- Have I kept room for official AAMC practice?
Quick answers
MCAT resources FAQ
What are the best resources for MCAT preparation?
Choose resources by job: AAMC for official practice, Khan Academy or a structured book set for content review, a question bank for application, and flashcards for retention. The best combination is one you can use and review consistently, not the longest list of subscriptions.
Can I start MCAT preparation with free resources?
Yes. Start with AAMC’s free planning and practice resources, Khan Academy lessons, free daily CARS passages, and a manageable flashcard routine. 528 Academy also offers public sample questions, a free diagnostic, and 40 selected questions with a free account. Free access has different limits on each platform.
Do I need both UWorld and another MCAT question bank?
Not automatically. First ask whether you are running out of useful questions or failing to review the ones you already have. Add a second bank only when it fills a specific gap and leaves enough time for review and official practice.
Are third-party MCAT practice tests equivalent to AAMC exams?
No. Third-party resources can support practice, but they are not written by the exam maker. Use official AAMC exams for exam-maker practice and avoid converting an unrelated question-bank percentage or short diagnostic into an official score prediction.