MCAT Bio/Biochem study plan

MCAT Bio/Biochem · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Biomolecules and the chemistry of living systems & Structure and function of proteins and enzymes

Map the four amino acid side-chain classes and predict each class's behavior in hydrophobic, acidic, and reducing environments
Draw peptide-bond formation and label the N-terminus, C-terminus, and planar peptide unit
Derive the titration curve of a dipeptide with two ionizable groups and identify each pKa-driven protonation state
Explain how primary sequence dictates secondary structure via backbone hydrogen bonding

A one-page amino acid reference sheet (structures, charges by pH, class) plus three worked titration calculations with no errors

Week 2

Distinguish tertiary and quaternary structure and predict the effect of a point mutation on folding
Compare competitive, uncompetitive, and noncompetitive inhibition on a Lineweaver-Burk plot
Calculate Km, Vmax, and kcat from provided rate data
Explain allosteric regulation with the concerted versus sequential models

A worked enzyme-kinetics problem set (10 items) scoring at least 80%, including one full Lineweaver-Burk construction

Week 3

Classify carbohydrates by stereochemistry and predict glycosidic linkage outcomes
Compare fatty acid saturation effects on membrane fluidity and melting point
Diagram nucleotide structure and distinguish purine from pyrimidine base pairing
Trace how a specific vitamin deficiency disrupts a named coenzyme-dependent reaction

A comparative table of the four biomolecule classes with one metabolic or structural function and one clinical correlate each

Week 4

Trace glycolytic flux from glucose to pyruvate, naming each enzyme and its regulation point
Calculate net ATP and NADH yield per glucose under aerobic versus anaerobic conditions
Connect pyruvate dehydrogenase and the citric acid cycle to electron transport
Explain chemiosmosis and predict the effect of an uncoupler on ATP yield

A hand-drawn full metabolic map (glycolysis through oxidative phosphorylation) with every enzyme, product, and regulatory step labeled

Week 5

Compare substrate-level phosphorylation, oxidative phosphorylation, and the pentose phosphate pathway by yield and purpose
Explain how insulin and glucagon shift flux between glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, and gluconeogenesis
Describe beta-oxidation and ketogenesis and predict their activation during fasting
Relate mitochondrial structure to compartmentalized metabolic reactions

A fasting-versus-fed state comparison sheet predicting hormone levels, key enzyme activity, and net flux for at least six pathways

Week 6

Describe each mitotic phase and predict the consequence of a spindle-assembly checkpoint failure
Compare the phases of meiosis to mitosis and explain how crossing over creates genetic diversity
Distinguish the cell-cycle checkpoints and the cyclin-CDK pairs that regulate them
Explain how a tumor-suppressor loss versus an oncogene gain alters proliferation

A side-by-side mitosis/meiosis diagram plus five checkpoint-failure scenarios with predicted outcomes

Week 7

Compare membrane transport mechanisms by energy source and saturation behavior
Predict osmotic effects of tonicity on cell volume and describe how cells counteract them
Trace a secretory protein from translation through the endomembrane system
Explain signal transduction from receptor binding to a transcriptional response

A cell-biology concept map linking membrane transport, organelle function, and signaling, with at least 15 correctly connected nodes

Week 8

Integrate cross-domain problems that combine enzyme kinetics with metabolic flux
Diagnose and correct personal error patterns from prior practice sets
Time-box full-length practice under exam conditions and review every missed item
Consolidate high-yield facts into a single review document

One timed full-length practice section with a written error log categorizing every miss by domain and root cause

Week 2: Score at least 80% on a self-made 20-item quiz covering amino acids, protein folding, and enzyme kinetics without notes

Week 4: Reproduce the complete glycolysis-to-oxidative-phosphorylation map from memory, naming every enzyme and regulatory step

Week 6: Score at least 75% on a mixed 30-item set spanning cell division, metabolism, and biomolecules

Week 8: Complete a timed full-length section with an error log showing each miss mapped to a domain and a specific corrective action