How to Study for the MCAT Writing Sample
As part of the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), students must write two essays on topics unrelated to both their prior education and their career goals. But the writing samples do serve a purpose; they highlight your reasoning skills and tell the medical schools you wish to enter how well you would be able to communicate with patients and colleagues. To prepare for this section of the test, practice with sample essay topics.
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Instructions
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Find essay topics which you can use for practice. The Association of American Medical Colleges offers a list of essay questions that shows you the types of topics you can expect on the MCAT. A link to the site is provided in the References section below. You can also find practice essay questions in MCAT study books.
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Brainstorm for about 10 minutes on how you'll write your practice essay. Make sure that your ideas address what the MCAT wants you to address. For each writing sample, the MCAT requests that you first explain what the topic means to you, including an example that supports the sentence. You should then provide an example of when the opposite is true, then discuss ideas that resolve the apparent conflict between your "for" and "against" arguments. Keep these ideas in mind while brainstorming, and think of specific examples that you can include in your essay.
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Write your practice essay, keeping in mind the remaining time. Total time for the exam is 30 minutes, so if you take 10 minutes to brainstorm, limit your essay to less than 20 minutes. Make sure you practice this on a word processor, because this is how it will be administered on your MCAT exam day.
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Review your essay in your remaining time. Make sure that you have logical connecting words between sentences and paragraphs. You should also check for spelling and grammar mistakes.
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Repeat the above steps with a new prompt. Continue to practice writing until you feel comfortable about your brainstorming time and final essay.
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Tips & Warnings
The MCAT Writing Sample will always follow the same format - you will have a prompt, and then you should construct your essay in three paragraphs with a "for," "against," and "resolution" paragraph.
Check out the AAMC MCAT website for their list of past writing sample prompts.
Have a list of memorable quotes, and then try to incorporate one or two into your essay.
The trick with doing well on the MCAT Writing Sample is to balance your time between the different stages - brainstorming, drafting, and proofreading.
The graders will not expect a final polished copy. They are only looking for a solid first draft. Keep this in mind so that you do not get stressed about perfecting your essay.
If a big word seems awkward, do not use it. The purpose of the writing sample is to make sure you can express your thoughts in a logical and concise manner.
Don't become preachy. The best essay is a well balanced essay.
References
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