1. Check your appointment the day before your exam. On occasion, changes occur, so make sure you have the current address of your testing center. If you have been contacted by Pearson VUE or AAMC regarding your reservation, please reply as this may have implications for your appointment. Check the time zone of the test center and make sure to review a campus map if your test center is located at a college or university.

2. Bring a mask. You must bring and wear your own face mask while you're at the test center and throughout your exam. Any surgical or cloth face mask, including a homemade face mask, is acceptable as long as your nose and mouth are fully covered. It may also be helpful to get used to wearing the face mask you plan to bring on test day. Examinees without a face mask will not be allowed to test. You may remove your mask to eat or drink during breaks.

3. Be sure you have a valid ID that you can present on test day. If your ID doesn’t meet the necessary criteria, you will not be allowed to test. Make sure that your first and last name on your ID match the name you entered during registration. If they do not match, you may change your registration in the MCAT Registration System up until the Bronze Zone Deadline. If you have any questions about your ID or our policies, contact AAMC Services (202-828-0600) for assistance.

4. Practice with Exam Features. Understanding the features and functions of the MCAT Exam (highlight, strikethrough, etc.) before you arrive on test day will help you be more prepared. Remember that the tutorial was removed to help shorten the exam. You can still familiarize yourself with the exam’s functionality by using the “Practice with MCAT Exam Features” free resource on the MCAT Official Prep Hub. Log in to the hub with your AAMC credentials and go to the free resources section to access the online tool.

5. Read the MCAT Essentials. This document will help you have a good experience during your MCAT exam. It provides critical information about MCAT policies and procedures and was required reading at the time you registered for the MCAT. You agreed to the terms listed in the MCAT Essentials when you registered for the MCAT exam. An addendum has been added to this document due to changes to the MCAT exam related to COVID-19.

6. Learn about the check-in process and plan to arrive 30 minutes early for your exam. This short video provides you with a detailed overview of how the check-in process will work at the test center. Knowing this in advance will help you better understand what to expect on test day. Test administrators will start checking examinees in 30 minutes before exams start.

7. Re-read your Examinee Agreement and “Honoring Your Examinee Agreement.” On test day, you will be presented with a Certification Statement that reminds you of your obligations under the Examinee Agreement. By proceeding beyond the Certification Statement on test day, you will be certifying that you understand and agree to comply with these obligations.

8. Read through the “Guidelines for Discussing the MCAT Exam.” These guidelines provide a summary and examples of what you can and can’t say after you sit for your exam.

9. Bring food and drink. The MCAT exam is about 5 hours and 45 minutes if you use all the allotted time throughout the day. You can’t leave the test center, so we encourage you to bring food and drink to consume during the optional 10-minute breaks.

10. Report any issues to the Test Administrators (TAs). Each test center has TAs on staff to assist you. In the unlikely event that you experience a technical problem, please remember to raise your hand and make sure the TA submits a center problem report. If you believe that test center conditions interfered with your performance on the exam, and wish to have the AAMC research what occurred, review how to file a Test Center Concern in the MCAT Essentials.