Best MCAT® Prep Books
Why Choose UBooks?
Choosing the Best MCAT Books for Your Needs
Preparing for the MCAT is a marathon, making the selection of your study materials that much more important. When considering MCAT prep books, there are several questions you should ask yourself to ensure you’re getting the best content review:
Do they fully cover exam topics, foundational concepts, and skills?
The MCAT examines your knowledge in unique ways. Make sure the books you use are up to date and based on the latest AAMC content outline.
Do they fully cover exam topics, foundational concepts, and skills?
The MCAT examines your knowledge in unique ways. Make sure the books you use are up to date and based on the latest AAMC content outline.
Are there concept check questions, and do they include high-quality explanations?
Some MCAT prep books focus on quantity over quality. Ensure concept check questions include visual, step-by-step illustrations that add value.
Are there concept check questions, and do they include high-quality explanations?
Some MCAT prep books focus on quantity over quality. Ensure concept check questions include visual, step-by-step illustrations that add value.
Are test-taking strategies included?
How you approach the exam can dramatically affect your score. Check for tips on time management, question types, and related factors.
Are test-taking strategies included?
How you approach the exam can dramatically affect your score. Check for tips on time management, question types, and related factors.
What have students who studied with the books said?
Your MCAT prep books are an investment. Learn from others’ experiences to make an informed decision.
What have students who studied with the books said?
Your MCAT prep books are an investment. Learn from others’ experiences to make an informed decision.
Does the company producing the content offer any related material?
Companies that offer additional resources, such as QBanks and flashcards, can further supplement your learning and provide a streamlined learning experience.
Does the company producing the content offer any related material?
Companies that offer additional resources, such as QBanks and flashcards, can further supplement your learning and provide a streamlined learning experience.
UWorld UBooks vs. Kaplan, Princeton Review, and Blueprint
When comparing MCAT prep books, you can expect to find similar prices and content coverage. Most providers also include a wealth of concept check questions. Differences are nuanced and usually seen in how the material is presented. Below is a product comparison of the top MCAT book providers, followed by a more detailed analysis:
| UWorld UBooks | Kaplan | Princeton Review | Blueprint | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Price | $289 | $289.99 | $249.99 | Included in course (starting at $1,699) |
| Number of Books | 6 Science books, 2 CARS books | 6 Science books, 1 CARS book | 6 Science books, 1 CARS book | 5 Science books, 1 CARS and Science book |
| Publication Date | 2024 | 2024 | 2022 | 2022 |
| Format | Print and interactive eBooks | Print and eBooks | Print and digital resources | Print and eBooks |
| eBook | Interactive eBooks with study tools | eBooks in PDF form | No eBooks | eBooks in PDF form |
| Illustrations | High-quality educational images, charts, graphs, and diagrams | Charts, graphs, diagrams, and 3D illustrations | Illustrations, diagrams, and tables | Charts, diagrams, and illustrations |
| Concept Checks | Available with detailed, step-by-step solutions | Available solutions are mainly text-based | Available solutions are mainly text-based | Available solutions are mainly text-based |
| Authors | Advanced degrees only (Master’s and PhDs) | A mix of bachelor's and advanced degrees | A mix of bachelor's and advanced degrees | A mix of bachelor's and advanced degrees |
| CARS Content | 2 CARS books (a practice book and passage booklet) | 1 CARS book | 1 CARS book | 1 book on MCAT Reasoning that combines CARS and Science |
| CARS Subskills | Covers 3 main CARS skills plus 19 proprietary CARS subskills and a step-by-step approach to tackle each one | Covers 3 main CARS skills | Covers 3 main CARS skills | Covers 3 main CARS skills |
Why Students Are Switching to MCAT UBooks
Traditional MCAT prep books are text-heavy and overwhelming, and the large volume of content students have to remember can be exhausting. As a result, students often have a hard time studying all the MCAT subjects over a long period of time and can experience burnout. That’s why we created MCAT Prep Books (UBooks) that keep you engaged.
Our MCAT UBooks are print and digital “picture books” that contain over 4,200 beautiful illustrations. “A picture is worth a thousand words,” so we included thousands of high-yield visuals that make the vast number of MCAT concepts easier to remember. Our interactive digital UBooks promote active learning and improve retention with hundreds of hyperlinked visuals and time-saving study tools like an online notebook, annotations (sticky notes), and flashcards with spaced repetition.
1. MCAT UBooks Keep You Engaged
-
Supplement your printed books with interactive online versions.
-
Click in-text hyperlinks for additional information and high-impact images.
-
Track your progress as you complete book lessons.
-
Create custom digital flashcards with spaced-repetition technology.
-
Save hours notetaking with quick content transfer to a digital notebook.
-
Study from anywhere with your print books or access them on our mobile app.
Comparison: Most of our competitors offer print and digital resources in PDF formats that do not feature the same level of online interaction, visuals, or customization.
2. Our Scientific Illustrations Tell a Story
-
UBooks include 4,200+ educational illustrations that provide a highly visual MCAT review experience.
-
Hundreds of images are included as in-text hyperlinks in the digital version to help you visualize key concepts without disrupting your reading.
-
Realistic scenarios of concepts in the sciences help you understand and bring content to life.
-
Illustrations of essential MCAT laboratory techniques are available to help you answer research design and scientific reasoning questions.
-
Multiple studies suggest that visual learning can greatly improve information retention.
Comparison: Our competitors’ resources are generally text-based with graphics and charts added in. Our UBooks were developed to keep you engaged and help you retain more. That’s why we included graphics, charts, and thousands of stunning visuals that stimulate a deeper understanding of MCAT concepts.
3. You’ll Get Exam-Style Practice
-
Test your knowledge with 450+ concept check questions spanning biology, biochemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics lessons.
-
Printed UBooks contain shortened answer explanations in the appendix for your convenience.
-
Digital UBooks feature comprehensive, step-by-step answer explanations and detailed illustrations.
Comparison: Our competitors offer concept checks and practice questions but do not provide detailed, visual answer explanations in a digital format.
4. We Offer the Most In-Depth CARS Review and Strategies
-
Study from 2 annotated CARS books developed by experts in critical thinking and textual analysis.
-
The CARS Practice Book:
-
Explores the “why” behind the CARS section and prepares you for every CARS question type.
-
Expands the AAMC CARS skills, with 19 question types (subskills) you are likely to encounter on the exam. Each subskill is analyzed in detail so you truly understand all the CARS question types. Then we provide a step-by-step method for answering each question type (subskill).
-
Showcases 12 passages with associated practice questions, organized in order of skill and subskill to help you build a progressive understanding of your critical reasoning skills.
-
Includes strategic tips that highlight CARS habits, conceptual connections, and common student frustrations.
-
-
The CARS Passage Booklet:
-
Serves as a companion to the CARS Practice Book
-
Provides insight into how an expert would analyze a CARS passage and helps students visualize the logical links within the passage text.
-
Exhibits structural and content annotations for the 12 passages in the CARS Practice Book.
-
Comparison: Our competitors provide one CARS book each and do not offer the same level of categorization or depth in their passage analyses. We developed two CARS books that work together to teach passage analysis and explain how to approach and master every CARS question type.
5. Our Content Is Written by Award-Winning Academics with Advanced Degrees
-
Learn from our amazing book authors: experienced university professors and researchers with advanced degrees who are experts in diverse disciplines across the sciences and humanities.
-
Increase your information retention and recall with our active learning methodology that puts you at the center of the learning process.
-
Get acclimated to UWorld, the #1 trusted preparation resource for medical board exams (USMLE® and COMLEX®).
Comparison: Our competitors are also committed to delivering material developed by experts. The UWorld difference relates to how our authors use their educational experience as college professors to present the information and train you to think critically. We empower you to learn independently and save time, which is why over 90% of medical students choose UWorld to prepare for their medical licensing exams.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which MCAT prep book is best for the CARS section?
Our two print and digital UBooks ensure you master CARS. First, our CARS Practice Book, breaks down the AAMC’s CARS skills (Foundations of Comprehension, Reasoning Within the Text, and Reasoning Beyond the Text) into 19 subskills. Second, our CARS Passage Booklet contains the 12 passages in the CARS practice book and provides insights into passage structure and content analysis. Preparing with both books will help you master this difficult exam section.
What is the best MCAT prep book for biology?
Our MCAT biology UBook is filled with detailed information and numerous colorful illustrations that bring difficult-to-visualize concepts to life. This added visual component makes learning about the topic more enjoyable and easier to remember.
Which MCAT prep book is most helpful for the chemistry section?
Which MCAT prep book is best for the physics section?
Our MCAT physics UBook features concise content breakdowns and clearly labeled diagrams and illustrations demonstrating important concepts you need to learn to master MCAT physics. Paired with concept check questions that feature step-by-step digital explanations and time-saving study tools. We give you everything you need to succeed.
Which MCAT prep book is best for psychology and sociology?
Our MCAT behavioral sciences UBook explores how psychological, social, and biological elements impact one’s perception and response to the world. Our illustrations greatly enhance the text by displaying realistic scenarios of concepts and experimental procedures.
Do UBooks come with practice questions or exams?
Our MCAT UBooks contain over 450 concept check questions with explanations that reinforce lessons within the text. Once you have a better grasp of each exam topic, we encourage you to explore our MCAT QBank for additional practice.
Which MCAT prep book is best for students with limited time to study?
Our MCAT UBooks fully cover the AAMC’s content outline in a streamlined way. Our goal is to provide you with a concise, targeted review for maximum efficiency. We also empower you to study in a way that works best for you by providing print and interactive digital books accessible on your computer or through our mobile app.
