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Best MCAT Prep Books
Our comprehensive guide covers the best MCAT study books available to help you nail your exam and get into a top-tier medical school.
Getting a top tier score on the MCAT is crucial to getting in to a solid medical school in the US. As such, you will need the help of first-rate study materials, such as commercial prep books. But with hundreds of prep books available, how do you choose? We take the guesswork out of the equation with our helpful guide. Our team of experts has purchased, reviewed and ranked the best books available here.
Table of Contents:
Check out our top five MCAT prep books, each of which we have reviewed and ranked here:
This set of test preparation guides includes three full-length practice tests, plus resources for learning test-taking strategies. The online practice tests mimic the structure of the actual exam (especially helpful to me in familiarizing myself with the format of the exam) and include thousands of practice questions and passages, plus helpful end-of-chapter review.
The box set offers detailed coverage of the tested subjects, including biology, general chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry, physics, math, psychology, sociology, and critical analysis and reasoning.
You’ll find an overview of strategies to tackle varying question types, as well as online practice exams.
For visual learners like me, these books provide a wealth of information with diagrams, tables, and illustrations, plus formulas, charts, and concepts that cover all sections of the exam.
A complete index and extensive glossaries make the volumes easy to browse. Bottom line: these detailed resources do a great job helping you maximize your time. And if you’re looking for a little more guided support, here’s a breakdown of all the MCAT courses, side-by-side.
As someone who learns visually, I was a big fan of the interactive layouts. With this guide, you’ll gain access to MCAT test-taking strategies, in-depth reviews of each subject, and three full-length online practice tests.
The Kaplan MCAT Test Prep guide was crafted by experts who helped create the Kaplan prep course, which has a strong reputation for boosting students’ scores and helping applicants gain entrance into top-notch medical schools.
The guided examples cover subjects such as behavioral science, biology, and biochemistry with an emphasis on analytical and critical reasoning. This revamped guide is full of both helpful information breakdowns and specific recommendations so you know exactly what to memorize and which topics you need to know like the back of your hand.
The full-color portable quicksheets do a nice job illustrating the most relevant information, with charts, 3-D illustrations, and diagrams that work well for visual learners. The streamlined layouts and concept summaries make each chapter easy to flip through, and I really appreciated the helpful CARS strategies for extra help with the toughest section of the exam.
You also receive a one-year online subscription to the Kaplan website. That’s where you’ll work through full-length practice tests to get you ready for the real thing.
Developed by MCAT specialists with more than 20 years of experience in preparing students for this medical school exam, the Examkrackers MCAT Study Package is one of the most comprehensive options out there.
This resource focuses on how to read the exam questions and offers a two-pronged approach that emphasizes both information mastery and understanding the style of questions on the test.
The seven-volume MCAT test prep set includes test-taking strategies, 44 mini-MCATs, and 3 full-length practice tests designed to simulate the real exam.
Within each lecture, you’ll find questions to reinforce the material learned, in addition to full color visuals to enhance learning. A mini-exam is also included at the end of each chapter, with guidance on how to link MCAT concepts to other disciplines.
The Examkrackers MCAT study guide’s seven manuals cover all content areas, including psychology and sociology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology and biochemistry, physics and verbal, research, and math reasoning skills.
Complete with step-by-step review video tutorials and full-length practice tests, Mometrix MCAT Prep Books was created to be just as challenging – if not more – than the actual exam.
This MCAT test prep guide covers difficult concepts with step-by-step video tutorials and practice MCAT test questions that are accompanied by thorough explanations to strengthen your understanding of the content and the question types.
You’ll learn tips to enhance your score, as well as a complete review of each section, including all essential vocabulary, procedures, principles, and concepts.
The Mometrix book is presented in an organized and logical fashion so you don’t get lost. Concepts covered include critical analysis and reasoning skills, biological and biochemical foundations of living systems, psychological, social and biological systems, and chemical and physical foundations of biological systems.
Each chapter also includes links to online review videos that I found to be useful, especially when struggling with a particular content area.
Crafted by experts who know the ins and outs of how to master the concepts on the exam, the Test Prep Books, MCAT Prep Books is quite useful. While your primary goal might be to achieve a passing score, you probably wish to also enhance your overall score so that you are at the top of the list for medical school admission.
This series will help you do just that. Beyond the comprehensive introduction that gives a great overview of the MCAT exam, this resource also includes tips on test taking, as well as practice questions.
What I found most useful: the detailed answer explanations, which do a good job helping you to identify the areas where you need improvement, discover your weaknesses, and correct mistakes you may be making.
Test Prep Books covers all content areas of the MCAT, including critical analysis and reasoning skills, biological and biochemical foundations of living systems, psychological, social and biological systems, and chemical and physical foundations of biological systems.
Each section of this prep book offers tips on how to avoid the most common errors students make and the encouragement you need to boost your confidence and improve your test-taking skills.
MCAT Book Pricing and Value Comparison
Not every MCAT student needs to spend $300+ on a full review bundle. Budget-friendly MCAT books like Examkrackers deliver solid content coverage for under $60, while premium options such as Kaplan’s MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review or The Princeton Review’s MCAT Subject Review set include more full-length practice tests, online resources and high-yield strategies. The right choice depends on your study time, budget and how much practice material you need.
Why Our 2026 List Is Different
Our 2026 rankings reflect the latest MCAT format updates and the newest textbook editions, ensuring every recommendation is relevant for this year’s test. We analyzed more than 1,000 Amazon reviews, consulted with high-scoring MCAT tutors, and tested each book’s practice questions for accuracy and difficulty. This process means you can trust our recommendations to match real exam conditions and help maximize your score.
The Best MCAT Books for Your Study Style
Different MCAT books work better for different learners. Visual learners might prefer Kaplan’s MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review, while detail-focused students often gravitate towards The Princeton Review for its in-depth explanations. If you’re short on time, Examkrackers’ concise subject guides are ideal for high-yield review. Matching your book to your learning style can speed up progress and boost retention.
How To Prepare For The MCAT
Once you’ve selected your prep book, here are some tips to get the most out of your study plan.
In order to succeed on the MCAT, you’ll need to plan ahead. And one of the first steps if you plan to self study is to pick up an all-in-one resource. With your choice of MCAT prep books to provide you with practice questions and tests, as well as comprehensive explanations of essential concepts, you can boost your score and your overall knowledge so you’re better prepared for medical school.
You might also consider using an MCAT prep course or hiring an MCAT tutor. Check out our list of best MCAT prep courses here. For some students, prep courses often provide better instruction and more practice material than you will find in just a book.
MCAT prep courses often include video lessons, live classes, flashcards, and more. And while many students may think MCAT prep courses are too expensive, that’s actually not the case. MCAT prep companies like Magoosh and MCAT Self Prep offer courses for less than $400. In other words, not all courses are as expensive as those from Princeton Review MCAT and Kaplan MCAT.
In addition to utilizing the best MCAT prep books and courses, it’s important to create a study plan for the MCAT. In fact, this may be more important than anything else. Start by taking practice tests to figure out what you know and where you stand. Use this as a starting point.
Then, create a study plan and schedule. Set aside plenty of time well before exam day to read over the test-taking strategies available in one of these MCAT prep books and identify the types of questions that you will be asked during the exam.
Block out time to study each topic and ramp up your time on sections that you struggle with on the practice tests. It’s also helpful to plan for a final rehearsal or final practice exam a few days before you take the MCAT exam so that you feel the pressure you may feel when taking the actual exam and know how to cope with it.
FAQ
What is the best MCAT prep book?
After reviewing over a dozen different MCAT prep options, our team thinks the books from Princeton Review and Kaplan are the most comprehensive and effective.
Where should you buy MCAT prep books?
Our team recommends purchasing MCAT prep books through an online retailer like Amazon. However, it is important you purchase the latest edition of the book you are interested in so the content is up to date.
What is the most effective MCAT prep book in 2026?
Kaplan’s MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review remains a top choice for its combination of thorough content coverage, realistic practice questions and online resources.
Should I buy multiple MCAT prep books or just one?
Many students benefit from using one core book for comprehensive review and a second for targeted practice in weaker subjects.
