A Guide to MCAT Prerequisite Classes for Top Scores

Think of your pre-med classes as building a pyramid. Each course is a stone block, and if you don't lay a solid, wide base, the whole thing will be wobbly. The MCAT is the capstone at the very top—and its stability depends entirely on the foundation you've built underneath.

These required courses aren't just arbitrary hoops to jump through. They represent the fundamental language of medicine. The AAMC designed the MCAT to test the very scientific principles you'll use every single day as a physician.

To help you get a bird's-eye view, here's a quick summary of the core courses you'll be taking. We'll dive into the specifics of each one right after.

Core MCAT Prerequisite Classes At a Glance

This table covers the non-negotiables. Getting these classes under your belt is the first step toward a competitive MCAT score and a successful medical school application.

The “Big Four” Science Cornerstones

The traditional foundation of any pre-med journey is built on four core science sequences. Medical schools universally expect to see these on your transcript, and they almost always require a full year of each, complete with a lab component.

• General Biology: This is the bedrock. It provides the essential framework for understanding life itself, from the inner workings of a cell to the complex interplay of organ systems. It’s the basic vocabulary of medicine.

• General Chemistry: This is where you learn about the atomic and molecular forces that run everything. These principles govern all biological processes, from how a drug works in the body to the metabolic pathways that give us energy.

• Organic Chemistry: Ah, O-chem. While it has a fearsome reputation, it’s really just the study of carbon-based compounds—the very molecules that make us who we are. It’s absolutely crucial for understanding biochemistry and pharmacology. It is notoriously tough, but learning how to approach it makes all the difference. Many students swear by acing organic chemistry with flashcards to lock in the concepts.

• Physics: Physics explains the fundamental forces that govern, well, everything. This includes the mechanics of the human body, the fluid dynamics of blood flow, and the principles behind critical medical imaging tools like MRIs and X-rays.

The New Essentials for a Top Score

The MCAT isn't the same exam it was a decade ago. It has evolved, and so have the academic expectations. Just getting through the "big four" isn't enough anymore. The current exam places a massive emphasis on the biochemical and psychosocial sides of health.

The degree itself doesn't mean anything to medical schools. It's the classes, GPA, and MCAT scores that matter from an academic standpoint. They need to see you have the core science foundation to do well.

These newer essentials are mission-critical because they map directly to huge portions of the exam:

• Biochemistry: You could argue this is the single most important prerequisite for the modern MCAT. It beautifully connects the dots between general biology and organic chemistry, and it shows up everywhere on the exam.

• Psychology & Sociology: Don't sleep on these. These courses form the entire basis for the "Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior" section, which makes up a full 25% of your total score.

Nailing down the right academic plan can feel overwhelming, but we've got you covered. You can learn more about crafting the perfect schedule in our complete guide to essential pre-med courses.

How Your Classes Connect to Each MCAT Section

It’s one thing to slog through your prerequisite courses, checking them off a list. It's another thing entirely to see why you’re taking them. When you understand how each class fits into the grand puzzle of the MCAT, your entire perspective shifts. You stop just collecting credits and start strategically building the knowledge you'll need on test day.

Think of this as your mental map. It demystifies the exam and gives a real purpose to every single late-night study session.

This concept map shows you the direct lines connecting your foundational science courses to the MCAT.

As you can see, biology, chemistry, and physics aren't just separate subjects. They’re deeply interconnected pillars that hold up your entire MCAT preparation.

Chem/Phys Section: The Physical Sciences

Think of the "Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems" section as the engineering blueprint of the human body. This is where your General Chemistry and Physics classes lay down the fundamental rules for how everything works on a mechanical and molecular level.

• General Chemistry is all about the concepts—like thermodynamics, kinetics, and equilibrium—that govern every single chemical reaction happening in your cells right now.
• Physics gives you the principles behind fluid dynamics (how blood flows through your arteries), optics (how your eyes process light), and electromagnetism (how nerve impulses fire).

You'll see a little Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry pop up here, too, usually to provide some biological context for a physics-based problem.

Bio/Biochem Section: The Living Systems

This is where the magic of the life sciences really comes alive. The "Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems" section is driven by three core subjects, but one of them is the undisputed king.

Biochemistry is arguably the single most important prerequisite for the modern MCAT. It’s the essential bridge connecting the theoretical worlds of biology and organic chemistry, explaining life’s processes at the molecular level.

General Biology, Organic Chemistry, and especially Biochemistry are the powerhouse trio for this section. You’ll be asked to apply what you know about cellular processes, genetics, and organ systems to complex, passage-based scenarios. A deep dive is non-negotiable, and a thorough MCAT content review is the best way to connect all these intricate topics.

Psych/Soc Section: The Human Experience

The "Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior" section gets at the heart of what makes us human. Those introductory Psychology and Sociology courses aren’t just recommended—they are the direct source material for nearly every question you’ll face here. Concepts from your biology classes will also make an appearance, linking psychological states to physiological responses.

Mastering these courses really pays off. AAMC data shows that while biological science majors make up 58.6% of applicants, it’s the math and statistics majors who achieve the highest average MCAT score of 511.6. This just underscores the immense value of a well-rounded and deeply understood academic foundation. You can read more about how undergraduate majors impact MCAT scores in this AAMC admissions data report.

Recommended Courses That Give You a Competitive Edge

Once you’ve locked in the core MCAT prerequisite classes, you’ve built your foundation. But to really set yourself apart, you should think about adding a few high-yield electives. Consider these the strategic power-ups that can make a real difference on test day.

They arm you with the deeper, more specialized knowledge needed to confidently dissect the MCAT’s toughest passage-based questions.

Nailing a top score often means going beyond the basics. These courses help you master the advanced topics that show up again and again.

Advanced Biology Courses for Deeper Understanding

The Bio/Biochem section isn't just about memorizing facts; it’s about connecting concepts from different biological fields. If intro bio gives you the alphabet, these advanced courses teach you how to write novels with it.

• Genetics: This class dives way deeper than Punnett squares. You'll cover molecular genetics, gene expression, and population genetics—all heavily tested concepts on the MCAT.
• Cell Biology: Getting into the weeds of cellular mechanisms, signaling pathways, and the cell cycle gives you a massive advantage when interpreting passages on the molecular basis of disease.
• Human Anatomy & Physiology: While not an official prerequisite, taking a formal A&P course is a game-changer. It makes interpreting complex physiological scenarios on the exam feel almost second nature.

Think of these advanced courses like adding a high-powered scope to your rifle. They let you spot the tiny details and hidden connections that other test-takers will likely miss, turning confusing passages into easy points.

The Unsung Hero of MCAT Prep: Statistics

One of the most valuable—and most frequently overlooked—courses for MCAT prep is Statistics. At its heart, the MCAT is a test of scientific inquiry and your ability to interpret data. A solid grasp of stats is your secret weapon for picking up points across multiple sections.

This knowledge is absolutely essential for breaking down the research studies, charts, and graphs you'll face in Chem/Phys, Bio/Biochem, and especially Psych/Soc. Understanding concepts like p-values, confidence intervals, and different study designs allows you to quickly assess the validity of experiments described in the passages.

Interestingly, your major can play a big role in how prepared you are. Check out our guide on the best pre-med major to see how different fields naturally build these skills.

By strategically choosing these recommended courses, you’re not just checking boxes. You’re building a more sophisticated mental framework that will pay huge dividends on test day. This proactive approach can be the very thing that takes your score from good to truly exceptional.

Your Strategic Prerequisite Timeline and Sequence

Think of your undergraduate coursework not as a checklist, but as a strategic roadmap to MCAT success. A well-planned timeline doesn't just get the requirements out of the way; it builds your scientific foundation layer by layer, making complex topics feel intuitive when it's time to prep.

Let's break down the ideal sequence, year by year.

The Freshman Year Foundation

Your first year is all about building the two main pillars of your pre-med education: General Chemistry and Biology. Getting these core sequences done early sets the stage for everything that follows and prevents scheduling headaches down the line.

• General Chemistry I & II (with labs): This is where you’ll master the fundamentals, from atomic structure to reaction kinetics. It’s non-negotiable.
• General Biology I & II (with labs): This sequence grounds you in everything from cellular processes to organismal systems.
• Math or Statistics: Tackling this early sharpens the data interpretation skills you'll need for the Psych/Soc section and research analysis.

Nailing these courses early does more than just check boxes. It starts training your brain to see the connections between chemical reactions and living systems—a core skill for the MCAT. Plus, a strong freshman year opens doors to meaningful summer research or clinical experiences.

The Sophomore Year Expansion

With your foundation in place, sophomore year is the time to add Organic Chemistry and Physics. "O-Chem" can be a beast, but its focus on carbon-based molecules is the language of biochemistry. Physics introduces the laws of mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism that govern how the human body functions.

• Organic Chemistry I & II (with lab): Essential for understanding the structure and function of biomolecules.
• Physics I & II (with lab): Directly tested on the Chem/Phys section and crucial for understanding concepts like blood flow and nerve impulses.
• Psychology or Sociology: Get a head start on the behavioral sciences section.

This combination of courses strengthens your analytical skills and provides the content backbone for three of the four MCAT sections. You're not just learning facts; you're learning how to think like a scientist.

A strong prerequisite sequence is what propels applicants into the next generation of medical school classes.

The Junior Year Integration

Junior year is when it all comes together. This is the perfect time to take Biochemistry, as it directly builds on your general and organic chemistry knowledge. Taking it now keeps the complex metabolic pathways fresh in your mind as you start your dedicated MCAT prep.

Many students use the summer between sophomore and junior year to either get a head start on MCAT review or dive deep into a research project.

• Take Biochemistry as early as you can in your junior year.
• Fill out your schedule with advanced electives like Cell Biology or Genetics.
• Finish your Psych/Soc requirement if you haven't already.
• Consider a structured MCAT prep course the summer before junior year.
• Start looking for light practice passages to get a feel for the test format.

The competition is real. A recent AAMC report showed that medical school enrollment just topped 100,000 students, fueled by a 5.3% rise in applicants. While the average MCAT for all applicants was 506.3, the average for those who actually matriculated was a staggering 512.1.

The Senior Year Polish

Your senior year should be less about cramming in new prerequisites and more about gaining experiences that confirm your passion for medicine. This is your time to shine outside the classroom. Ideally, you’ll take the MCAT during the summer between your junior and senior years, leaving this year open for applications and interviews.

• Become a teaching assistant for a science course to solidify your own understanding.
• Participate in clinical volunteering to see how the science you learned applies to real patients.
• Take full-length practice exams under timed conditions to build stamina and strategy.

To make sure your course plan lines up perfectly with your test date, check out our guide on when to start studying for the MCAT.

Following a deliberate schedule like this does more than prepare you for the MCAT. It builds confidence, prevents burnout, and ensures you walk into test day ready for anything.

Navigating AP Credits and Non-Traditional Paths

The road to medical school isn't always a straight line from high school to college graduation. Many pre-meds come with different academic backgrounds—some have AP credits from high school, while others are changing careers and returning to the classroom years later. Knowing how to handle these situations is crucial for building a strong application.

One of the most common questions we get is about AP credits. Nailing a 4 or 5 on an AP science exam is a fantastic accomplishment, but don't assume it checks the box for med school. Admissions committees are often skeptical of AP credit for core sciences because they want to see how you perform in a rigorous, graded university lab course. Your college transcript is their primary evidence.

What to Do With Your AP Credits

So, if you’ve got AP credit for a cornerstone class like Biology or General Chemistry, what's the best move? You have two solid options to prove your mastery to admissions committees:

• Forfeit the credit and retake the introductory course. This is the most straightforward path. You take the standard one-year sequence at your university, ensuring you have a recent, graded performance on your transcript that no one can question.
• Accept the credit and take advanced courses in that subject. This is often the preferred route. If you use AP credit to skip introductory biology, for instance, you should immediately enroll in higher-level courses like Genetics, Cell Biology, or Molecular Biology. This demonstrates that you’re not avoiding the subject but are actually challenging yourself at a higher level.

Either way, you need to show graded, upper-level college science work. Simply relying on an old AP score from high school is a risky move.

Forging a Non-Traditional Path

If you're a career-changer or didn't major in science, you’ll likely need to complete your MCAT prerequisites after earning your bachelor's degree. It can feel overwhelming to think about juggling a job, family, and a return to school, but there are structured programs designed just for this.

A post-baccalaureate (post-bacc) program is an excellent option. These programs are built for students in your exact situation, offering a focused curriculum of all the necessary science courses. You get the structure you need and a community of peers on the same journey. If you're weighing this option, thinking about the timing and benefits of a gap year before medical school can provide some valuable insight.

The degree itself doesn't mean anything to medical schools. It's the classes, GPA, and MCAT scores that matter from an academic standpoint. They need to see you have the core science foundation to do well.

Ultimately, your performance in these prerequisite courses is a key predictor of your success on the MCAT and in medical school. According to AAMC data, applicants accepted to MD programs had an average MCAT score of 511.7. Building a strong foundation with excellent grades in your prerequisite classes is the first and most important step toward hitting that target. You can explore the full AAMC data on applicant scores and GPAs here.

Turning Coursework into a Top MCAT Score

Finishing your prerequisite courses is a massive step. You’ve put in the work and survived the finals. But here's the reality check many premeds miss: passing those classes is only half the battle.

The real challenge is turning that classroom knowledge into a high-percentile MCAT score. Test day isn't about what you crammed last week; it’s about how well you can pull up concepts you learned months, or even years, ago and apply them to complex problems. The key is to shift your mindset from day one. You’re not just studying for a final exam; you’re building the foundation for your future career.

Building Your Personal MCAT Library

Think of every handout, syllabus, and textbook from your prerequisite courses as a building block for your own personalized MCAT study guide. These aren't just old class materials; they are your most valuable assets. Don't toss them in a box after the final.

Instead, organize everything by subject. When you start your dedicated MCAT prep and hit a wall on a topic like acid-base chemistry, you can pull out the exact notes and textbook chapters from a professor whose teaching style clicked with you. This saves an incredible amount of time compared to starting from scratch with a generic prep book.

Treat your prerequisite coursework as the slow, steady training for the MCAT marathon. The habits you build during these classes directly determine your readiness for the final sprint of dedicated prep.

To make sure you’re not just passing your courses but truly mastering the material, it pays to explore some science-backed effective study methods early on.

Practice Like You'll Play

The MCAT is a thinking test, not a memorization quiz. It’s packed with dense, passage-based questions that demand critical reasoning. You can know every formula in your physics textbook, but if you can’t apply it to a novel scenario described in a passage, that knowledge won't translate into points.

The only way to build this skill is to start practicing early and often.

• Integrate Practice Questions: Just finished a chapter on metabolism in your biochem class? Find a handful of MCAT-style practice questions on that specific topic. This connects what you're learning directly to how it will be tested.
• Focus on the "Why": Getting a question wrong is a learning opportunity. Don't just memorize the correct answer and move on. Dig deep. Why did you miss it? Was it a gap in your content knowledge? Did you misread the passage? Was it a simple reasoning error?
• Simulate Test Conditions: Every once in a while, time yourself. Get a feel for the clock ticking. This helps build the mental stamina and pacing you’ll need on the actual 8-hour exam.

This approach bridges the huge gap between understanding a concept in a low-stakes classroom setting and correctly applying it under intense pressure. It weaves test-taking strategy right into your learning process, making your entire undergraduate journey a powerful, long-term MCAT preparation plan.

Your Top MCAT Prerequisite Questions, Answered

Trying to sort out the specifics of your MCAT prerequisite classes can feel like you’re trying to read a map in the dark. Let's shed some light on the most common questions pre-meds have so you can make confident decisions about your academic path.

Can I Take Prerequisite Classes at a Community College?

While it’s definitely possible, you’ll want to tread carefully here. Some medical schools look at community college credits for core sciences a little more critically than those from a four-year university, sometimes questioning their rigor.

That said, for non-traditional students or anyone needing to knock out a class or two over the summer, it can be a perfectly practical choice. The most important step is to check the admissions policies of the specific medical schools on your list before you even think about enrolling. If you do go the community college route, acing those classes is non-negotiable.

How Important Are the Lab Components?

Labs are absolutely essential—think of them as non-negotiable. They aren't just a side dish to your science education; they're where theory gets real. Medical schools universally expect to see lab credits right alongside your lecture courses for biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics.

More than just a requirement, labs teach you the scientific method, how to analyze data, and the critical thinking skills that pop up all over the MCAT, especially in those dense, research-based passages. Skipping them isn't an option.

Think of the lab as the hands-on training for a scientist. It proves you can do more than just memorize facts; you can apply them, troubleshoot problems, and interpret results—the very skills a physician uses every single day.

What Grades Should I Be Aiming for in My Prerequisite Classes?

You should be aiming for As. Plain and simple. While a few Bs won't torpedo your application, your performance in these foundational science courses is one of the biggest predictors of how well you'll handle the academic demands of medical school.

A strong science GPA (sGPA) is a cornerstone of your application. Earning high marks consistently shows admissions committees that you’re academically ready and have a rock-solid grasp of the material, which gives them confidence in your potential to succeed.

Do I Really Need to Finish All Prerequisites Before Taking the MCAT?

Ideally, yes. We strongly recommend finishing all your core prerequisite classes—especially Biochemistry—before you sit for the MCAT. The exam isn’t just a collection of separate subjects; it's designed to test your ability to integrate all that knowledge.

Taking the test without a key course under your belt is like trying to run a marathon without training for the last six miles. You’re just setting yourself up for a major disadvantage. It's always better to adjust your timeline and take the exam fully prepared.

Ready to turn all that coursework into a top-tier MCAT score? At Ace Med Boards, our expert tutors build strategic, personalized prep plans that help you master the material and walk into exam day with confidence. Get your free consultation today!