Free study resources
for pre-health exams.

All exams

Universal Tools (for all exams)

Communities (for schedules, resource reviews, score reports, exam-day tips): r/MCAT · r/PreDental · r/physicianassistant · r/PrePharmacy · r/PTschool

How to use Anki without burning out: pick one deck per exam, cap new cards (e.g., 20 to 40 a day), and never skip reviews. A consistent small daily habit beats long bursts.

Don’t know how to use Anki; below are some great tutorials

Ali Abdaal: Kinda long video, but a really good one

Sab Yang: She is straight to the point, and not a long video

Link to buy an Anki remote: You don’t need one to use Anki, but I would strongly recommend getting one

MCAT

MCAT

Exam snapshot

The AAMC writes the MCAT, so its official materials are the most representative of the real exam. The AAMC free practice exam has 230 questions with the same look and feel as the real thing.

Step 1: Official AAMC free resources (start here)

Everything below is on the AAMC site and requires a free AAMC account.

• Free Planning and Study Resources hub: students-residents.aamc.org/prepare-mcat-exam/free-planning-and-study-resources
• Free full-length practice exam (230 questions from previously administered exams; check the AAMC page for whether it currently gives a scaled score and percentile): offers.aamc.org/free-practice-exam
• Unscored Sample Test (free): full-length, includes explanations and CARS video walkthroughs. Best used as a baseline diagnostic at the very start.
• MCAT Sample Question Guide: 12 questions (3 per section) showing question styles.
• Practice with Exam Features tool: learn the test-day interface and keyboard shortcuts.
• "What's on the MCAT" content outline: the official blueprint. Use it to avoid studying out-of-scope material.
• How to build a study plan (AAMC): students-residents.aamc.org/prepare-mcat-exam/creating-your-mcat-exam-study-plan

Financial hardship? The AAMC Fee Assistance Program discounts exam fees and includes free MCAT Official Prep products.

Step 2: Free content review

Step 3: Free practice tests (third-party)

Several companies offer a free full-length or partial diagnostic in exchange for an email signup. These change, so check each site:

• Princeton Review: princetonreview.com
• Kaplan: kaptest.com
• Blueprint MCAT: blueprintprep.com/mcat
• Gold Standard / MCAT-Prep.com: mcat-prep.com/free-mcat-practice-test

Section-by-section strategy

• CARS: do a passage set daily from day one (Jack Westin free daily passage). It improves slowly, so start early.
• Bio/Biochem, Chem/Phys, Psych/Soc: content review (Khan + Anki), then AAMC-style practice questions.
• Sequencing: take the free AAMC sample test as a diagnostic first, use third-party free tests to build stamina, and save paid AAMC practice exams for the last weeks if you can afford them.

DAT

DAT

Exam snapshot

The ADA administers the DAT. It has four sections: Survey of the Natural Sciences (bio, general chem, orgo), Perceptual Ability Test (PAT), Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning. The PAT is 90 questions in 60 minutes across six subtests: keyholes/apertures, top-front-end view, angle ranking, hole punching, cube counting, and pattern folding. Its score is reported separately from the Academic Average. Always confirm the current format, fees, and fee-waiver options at ada.org/dat.

Official / free

• ADA DAT official page (test info, user manual, sample items, fee assistance): ada.org/dat
• ADA DAT sample items: free from the ADA; use the ADA site to find the current file.
• Free explanations for the ADA PAT sample items (free account, no credit card): eruditionprep.com/dat/pat/free-resources

Free practice and content

Section strategy

• Natural Sciences: Khan Academy + an Anki deck, then practice questions. Orgo reactions can be summarized effectively, so use the free reaction summaries.
• PAT: this is a skill, not knowledge. Do a little every day using generators. Start untimed, then add time pressure. Practice one subtest at a time before mixing.
• Quantitative Reasoning: Khan Academy algebra, geometry, and word problems, then timed sets. Practice mental math and estimation.
• Reading Comprehension: read dense science articles daily and practice timed passages.

PA-CAT

PA-CAT

Exam snapshot

The PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admissions Test) is run by Exam Master, not PAEA. It is a 240-item test covering 9 science subjects: anatomy, physiology, general biology, biochemistry, general and organic chemistry, microbiology, behavioral sciences, genetics, and statistics. It is offered at test centers and via remote proctoring, and costs about $257 at last check. Approximate weighting: anatomy 16%, physiology 16%, chemistry 16%, behavioral sciences 9%, and 5% each for biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, general biology, and statistics. Verify current details: pa-cat.com.

Official free resources (free with exam registration)

Exam Master provides these at no extra cost once you register for the PA-CAT:

• 30+ hours of video learning modules with practice questions and quizzes
• 3,200+ question bank for building custom quizzes
• 9 subject-specific practice exams
• Two 120-question practice exams
• Candidate handbook and study guide

Start at pa-cat.com/preparing-for-the-pa-cat. Registering 4 to 6 weeks before you plan to test is recommended.

Free without registering:

• Exam blueprint and sample questions (PDF): pa-cat.com blueprint PDF. Use it as your topic checklist.

Free supplementary content

Strategy

• Anatomy, physiology, and chemistry are about half the exam, so put roughly half your time there.
• Use the blueprint PDF as a checklist and mark each topic red/yellow/green.
• Take the first official practice exam early as a baseline, and the second as a final check.
• Expect case studies and data interpretation rather than reading passages.

GRE (PA)

GRE (for PA School)

Exam snapshot

Most PA programs no longer require a standardized test, but a meaningful minority still require the GRE General Test. Recent compiled data puts it at about 86 of 313 programs (roughly 27%), down from prior years, with another handful that recommend or merely consider it and a few that accept the PA-CAT or MCAT instead. A small number have also re-added the test as applicant pools grow. The GRE has Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing sections; scores are most often valid for five years (some programs allow three or ten), and the standard fee has been $220. Verify policy per program and per cycle in the CASPA Program Directory and on each program’s own admissions page — static lists go stale fast.

Scores that matter

• Composite: about 305 is the typical average for accepted students; program averages range from roughly 301 to 315.
• Sections: low 150s or better on Verbal and Quantitative is broadly competitive; 155+ is strong, and selective programs (Duke, Penn State, USF, Yale) average 309 to 318.
• Analytical Writing: 4.0 or above is the common competitive benchmark; some programs set a 3.0 to 3.5 floor.
• Minimums: many programs use a 300 composite cutoff, others set 285 to 295, and many have no minimum at all.
• Waivers: a number of programs waive the GRE for applicants who already hold a graduate degree (for example James Madison, UT Southwestern, Detroit Mercy, Lynchburg).

Official / free GRE resources

Additional official POWERPREP PLUS practice tests are paid. The two free POWERPREP tests plus free content review are enough for most applicants.

Strategy

• Check first, study second: filter the CASPA Program Directory by test requirement, then confirm on each program’s admissions page. If none of your target programs require the GRE, your prep time is better spent on patient-care hours, science GPA, and your personal statement.
• Take it anyway if: your list includes even one GRE-requiring program, your GPA is below about 3.5 and you want a second piece of academic evidence, or you want to keep your list open (scores last five years, so testing in college is a reasonable backstop).
• Quant is the easier lift: PA-relevant math is arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation. Khan Academy plus timed sets moves this score fastest.
• Verbal: build vocabulary daily with free Magoosh flashcards and read dense nonfiction; text completion and sentence equivalence reward vocabulary more than reading speed.
• Analytical Writing: write two or three timed essays against the official published prompt pool and compare to the scored samples in the free ETS materials. A 4.0 is usually enough.
• Timing: plan 4 to 8 weeks of prep and test 4 to 8 weeks before you submit CASPA so official scores arrive in time.
• Reporting: self-report in the CASPA Standardized Tests section under Academic History and send official reports to the program codes. Policies differ on highest versus most recent versus all scores, so check each program.
• Do not take the PA-CAT as a GRE substitute unless a program explicitly accepts it; most GRE-requiring programs do not.

PANCE

PANCE

Exam snapshot

The NCCPA develops the PANCE. Its content blueprint covers organ systems plus professional practice, and every question is also tied to a task category. Per a summary of the current blueprint (effective January 2025): medical content is about 94% of the exam and professional practice about 6%, with cardiovascular the largest category at 11%. Always check the official version: nccpa.net.

Official / free

• NCCPA PANCE content blueprint (official PDF) and exam info: nccpa.net. This is your master topic list; prioritize by percentage weight.
• PAEA end-of-rotation topic lists (used by PA programs alongside the blueprint): paeaonline.org

Free study platforms and tools

Strategy

• Blueprint first: break the blueprint into weekly organ-system chunks by percentage weight. A published 8-week structure (Smarty PANCE) is a good template.
• Questions matter most: free question sets go fast, so if you can, budget for one paid question bank in the last 6 to 8 weeks. Free trials can bridge the gap.
• Focus on management: PANCE tests next best step, first-line treatment, and diagnosis. Learn conditions in terms of presentation → diagnosis → treatment.
• Track misses: keep a running "missed concepts" list and turn each into an Anki card.

Pharmacy

Pre-Pharmacy (PharmD)

Exam snapshot

There is no pharmacy admission exam to study for anymore. The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) was retired on January 10, 2024, and no PCAT testing dates are offered. PharmCAS still lets applicants self-report older PCAT scores, and some programs use the Casper situational judgment test or their own assessments. Always check each program's requirements in the PharmCAS School Directory. Because there is no test, your "study plan" is mostly prerequisite courses, GPA, pharmacy experience, and interview prep.

Official information (free)

Free content review for prerequisites

Most programs ask for general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and calculus or statistics. Some add physics or biochemistry, so confirm per program.

Casper and interview prep

• Casper: if a program requires it, check the Acuity Insights website for current registration, pricing, and any free sample questions. Practice explaining how you handle ethical, teamwork, and professionalism situations.
• Interviews: practice with your pre-health office, peers, or by recording yourself.
• Communities: search Reddit for pre-pharmacy communities for experiences with specific programs.

Strategy

• Use the PharmCAS School Directory to build a prerequisite checklist for each target program.
• Note priority versus final deadlines, since they vary by program.
• Build pharmacy experience (shadowing, technician work where allowed, volunteering) alongside coursework.
• Old PCAT prep materials are outdated. Skip them.

Physical therapy

Pre-Physical Therapy (DPT)

Exam snapshot

There is no single PT admission exam, but some DPT programs require the GRE General Test, others do not consider it at all, and some waive it based on GPA or a prior degree. Check each program's policy on its website and in PTCAS. The GRE has Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing sections. Scores are commonly valid for five years, and the standard test fee has been $220 per third-party sources (confirm at ets.org). Apart from the GRE, your prep is mostly prerequisites, PT observation hours, and interview prep.

Official / free GRE resources

Additional official POWERPREP PLUS practice tests are paid, so the two free tests plus free review are a solid start.

Free content review for prerequisites

DPT prerequisites commonly include general chemistry, general physics, biology, anatomy and physiology with labs, psychology, and statistics. Some programs add exercise physiology or medical terminology, so verify each program.

Application resources (free)

Strategy

• Check GRE policy first for every program before you spend time or money on the test.
• Observation hours: many programs ask for roughly 40 to 100 hours, with about 50 common, verified by a licensed PT through PTCAS. Confirm each program's minimum, required settings, and whether paid or virtual hours count.
• GRE plan: take the free timed POWERPREP test as a baseline, review weak areas with free resources, and practice timed sections.
• Fee waivers: PTCAS waivers are limited, cover only the first program, and must be requested before you submit.

Full access

Sample study plans and budget tips.

Week-by-week plans for the MCAT, DAT, PA-CAT, PANCE, pre-pharmacy, pre-PA with GRE, and pre-PT with GRE, plus where free stops and how to get fee help.