5 Mnemonics You Need To Know For The MCAT
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required by almost all medical schools in the United States and Canada. How well you do on this test can determine whether you will get into your top-choice medical school or have to settle for a different school, making it one of the most important exams you will ever take. Although the MCAT is important, you shouldn't let nerves get the best of you. Careful preparation is key to scoring well on the test, whether you study with friends or take an MCAT preparation course. One way to improve your score is to use mnemonics, which are techniques used to memorize and retain important information. As you prepare for the MCAT, use these five mnemonics to memorize information that may appear on the test.
1. FLAG TOP
FLAG TOP is an acronym that makes it easier to remember the hormones produced by the anterior pituitary, an important part of the endocrine system. This acronym stands for follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, melanocyte-stimulating hormone and prolactin. It is much easier to remember a seven-letter acronym off the top of your head than it is to memorize the individual hormones and try to remember them all at the same time.
2. LAB RAT
The human body is known for its complex anatomy, so it's helpful to learn mnemonics to help you remember important anatomical structures. LAB RAT is a mnemonic that makes it easier to remember which atrioventricular valve has two flaps and which one has three flaps. LAB RAT stands for "left atrioventricular bicuspid, right atrioventricular tricuspid." The left atrioventricular valve, also known as the mitral valve, has two flaps and is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle. In contrast, the right atrioventricular valve, also known as the tricuspid valve, has three flaps. This valve is located between the right atrium and the right ventricle. Using this mnemonic can reduce the amount of time it takes you to learn the complex anatomy of the heart.
3. Acidic Cations
The MCAT has a section dedicated to general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics, so it's important to brush up on your knowledge of chemistry before you take the test. Success on this section of the MCAT depends on your knowledge of topics such as chemical reactions, acids and bases, bonding, equilibrium, and the periodic table of elements. One mnemonic that is especially helpful for the chemistry section of the test is one that helps you remember the acidic cations: aluminum, iron, ammonium, zinc, copper, beryllium, and chromium. The mnemonic is "A Fact: No Zebra Could Be Creepy." Note that the F in "fact" corresponds to the chemical symbol for iron, which is Fe. The N in "no" corresponds to NH4, the chemical symbol for ammonium.
4. White Blood Cells
The human body makes many types of cells, including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. What makes things even more confusing is that there are five main types of white blood cells you have to remember. This is where a mnemonic comes in handy. "Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas" is a helpful mnemonic for remembering the five types of white blood cells, as the acronym contains the first letter of each cell type: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.
5. Stages of Mitosis
Mitosis is the process of cell division in the human body. A cell that undergoes this process splits into two cells that are exactly the same. Since mitosis occurs in several stages, it is important to learn the correct order of the stages when you are studying for the MCAT. "People Meet and Talk" is a helpful mnemonic for committing this process to memory. It stands for prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, the four stages of mitosis that occur after interphase, which is when the cell prepares itself to divide.
If you plan to take the Medical College Admission Test, the best thing you can do is study early and study often. These mnemonics can help you memorize important information before the test, but many students feel more comfortable taking an MCAT preparation course in addition to studying on their own. Taking a review course will give you access to an instructor who can help you develop valuable strategies for improving your score.
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