200+
practice questions
4
textbooks
$0
cost
The MCAT
The MCAT is a seven-and-a-half-hour exam across four sections: Chemical and Physical Foundations, Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, Biological and Biochemical Foundations, and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations. Scores range from 472 to 528. It tests introductory-level science, but it rarely tests it directly. Most questions arrive wrapped in a research passage, and the work is applying what you know to data you have never seen.
The bar is higher than the averages suggest. The average score is 501, however students who actually matriculate average 512. That six-point gap has held steady across recent cycles, which means scoring at the applicant average is not the same as being competitive. Acceptance rates track the number closely: a strong GPA paired with a score below 502 produces acceptance rates in the 21 to 33 percent range, while a modest GPA paired with a 518 or above clears 50 percent.
Most students prepare with a mix of content review and practice questions, all of which can be expensive. Commercial courses run from roughly $1,100 for self-paced options to $7,299 for intensive programs. A standalone commercial question bank runs $339 or more. AAMC's own materials, which nearly everyone buys, are an additional cost on top. Estimates put total preparation spending for a typical student between $2,000 and $3,000 — before a single application fee.
Why we created MCAT Open Review
OpenReview was created for a simple reason: the cost of preparing for the MCAT should not decide who becomes a physician. The exam rewards repetition, honest feedback, and time spent with well-written questions. None of those things are expensive to produce. They are expensive to buy.
The series is made open-access. Every question is written against the AAMC foundational concepts, reviewed and edited by a practicing physician, and paired with an explanation that shows the reasoning rather than restating the answer. It is free to use, with no cap on how many questions can be attempted and no limit on retakes.
"I spent around $1,800 on three textbook series, two question banks, and seven practice tests. That's a high cost to help people."
Mark Lee, MD — Editor, OpenReview series
A complete question bank, free
A free question bank, reviewed and edited by physicians
A Brain Brew chemistry practice question on equilibrium, with its full explanation
A free question bank, reviewed and edited by physicians
Passage-based sets and standalone questions. Both included to reflect the format of the MCAT.
Aligned to the AAMC foundational concepts. Every question maps to a tested concept category.
Figures, graphs, and structures. Questions include the visual data the exam expects students to interpret.
Explanations for every answer. Written to show how the answer follows from the passage, including why the distractors fail.
All four sections and CARS included. Coverage across the full exam.
A complete review series
Biology and biochemical sciences
Cells, systems, metabolism, and the molecular basis of the Bio/Biochem section.
Chemical Sciences
General and organic chemistry as the exam applies them, from bonding to reaction mechanisms.
Physical Sciences
Mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity, and optics in the contexts the MCAT tests them.
Brain and Behavior
Psychology, sociology, and behavioral biology for the Psych/Soc section.
Critical analysis and reasoning skill (CARS) is covered in the question bank
What Brain Brew adds
Hosting OpenReview resources inside Brain Brew means the material connects to everything else: pacing, practice, and study tools.
Paced to an exam date
Setting a test date produces a daily session paced to finish the question bank in time.
Guided reasoning
Help working through a question when you're stuck, step by step.
Study tools from any page
Flashcards, study guides, podcasts, and more generate from the textbooks themselves.
Unlimited retakes
The bank can be reset and repeated as often as needed.
Weak-topic breakdown
Advanced feature
An automatic review of what was answered correctly, what was missed, and why, for each study session.
Focused review before test day
Advanced feature
Missed, skipped, and flagged questions can be pulled into one focused session before test day.
About OpenReview
OpenReview is a series of open-access review materials for standardized examinations. MCAT OpenReview is its first title, published in 2025 and revised on an ongoing basis. Content is developed from open-source and openly licensed materials, then reviewed and edited by practicing physicians. The series is hosted on Brain Brew and free to access.
