90 second rule for MCAT

The 90-second rule is an essential strategy for managing your time efficiently during the science sections of the MCAT: Biology/Biochemistry, Chemistry/Physics, and Psychology/Sociology. Since each of these sections contains 59 questions to be completed in 95 minutes, staying on track is crucial. Here's a detailed breakdown of how and why this rule works, along with practical steps to implement it effectively.

Why the 90-Second Rule Works

1 Prevents Getting Stuck: Some questions can be disproportionately time-consuming. By limiting yourself to 90 seconds per question, you prevent yourself from getting bogged down on a single tricky question, which can waste precious time.

2 Ensures Full Section Completion: With this rule, you maximize your chances of getting through all 59 questionsand avoid missing easy questions that may come later.

3 Reduces Test Anxiety: Knowing you have a systematic approach helps manage stress and keeps you focused. Even if you encounter a tough question, you know you have a chance to come back to it.

4 Encourages Smart Guessing: If you reach the 90-second mark and haven’t cracked the question, making an educated guess and flagging the question for review is often a better strategy than struggling further.

How to Implement the 90-Second Rule

1 Internal Clock Awareness: Develop a sense of how long 90 seconds feels by practicing with a timer during your study sessions. This will help you instinctively know when to move on during the real test.

2 Initial Approach:

◦ Read the Question and Stem Carefully: Spend the first 20–30 seconds understanding the question and identifying key information.

◦ Decide on Your Strategy: If calculations or conceptual reasoning are required, immediately decide the quickest way to approach it.

3 Make a Decision:

◦ At around the 60-second mark, assess your progress. If you're on the right track, keep going.

◦ If you’re stuck or unsure, choose the best answer based on your current understanding.

4 Flag and Move On:

◦ If you haven’t solved the question by 90 seconds, select your best guess and flag it to revisit if time permits.

◦ This ensures you’re advancing through the section and not losing easy points later on.

Practice Tips 📝

1 Timed Practice Sets: Use practice tests to simulate real conditions and apply the 90-second rule consistently.

2 Review Your Timing: After practice sessions, review questions where you struggled with timing. Identify patterns (e.g., types of questions that take you longer) and refine your approach.

3 Strategic Review: During the actual exam, if you have extra time at the end of the section, revisit flagged questions. Sometimes, a fresh perspective or context from other questions helps clarify things.

When to Break the Rule ❗

1 Passage-Based Questions: For complex passage-based questions, you might need a bit more time for the first question in the set, especially if understanding the passage is key. Allocate slightly more time but make up for it on easier questions.

2 Calculation-Intensive Questions: If you know a question involves a straightforward calculation, it might be worth an extra 10-20 seconds to ensure accuracy.

Benefits of the 90-Second Rule

• Efficiency: Helps you allocate time where it's most valuable.

• Adaptability: Ensures you can pivot quickly from tough questions to easier ones.

• Confidence: Keeps your momentum going, reducing panic and maintaining focus.

By consistently applying this rule during practice, you'll develop a test-taking rhythm that ensures you maximize your score potential on the MCAT!