Dyslexia and the MCAT: Strategies for Reading-Heavy Sections
Seven and a half hours. More than two hundred questions. Page after page of passages that range from dense biochemistry to abstract philosophy. The MCAT is not only a test of knowledge, it is a test of reading stamina. Success requires not just understanding the science, but also extracting meaning from complex texts under strict time limits.
For students with dyslexia, this reading load can present an additional layer of challenge. Dyslexia affects the way the brain processes written language, making reading slower and often more mentally draining. Yet this does not mean the skills tested on the MCAT are out of reach. Critical reasoning, pattern recognition, and the ability to connect ideas are all strengths that dyslexic students can bring to the exam. The key is finding strategies that reduce the strain of constant reading while preserving accuracy and comprehension.
The goal is not to read faster than everyone else, but to read with purpose. By developing techniques that prioritize comprehension, minimize re-reading, and build endurance, you can approach the MCAT with a sense of control. The strategies in this guide are designed to help you do just that.
Understanding the Reading Demands of the MCAT
Each section of the MCAT involves significant reading, but two of them pose a challenge for students with dyslexia:Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
This section requires reading long passages drawn from philosophy, ethics, history, or cultural studies, and then answering questions that test inference, reasoning, and argument analysis. The challenge lies in quickly identifying the author’s main idea and evaluating nuances in the text.
Science-based sections (Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, and Sociology)
While these sections are content-driven, they still present information in passage form. Each passage may include a mix of text, figures, and experimental data, followed by multiple questions. This format requires the ability to extract key information without being slowed down by unnecessary detail.
On test day, you will be reading for almost the entire 7.5 hours. For students with dyslexia, that makes it essential to practice strategies that preserve comprehension while reducing the strain of constant decoding.
Strategies for Managing Reading-Heavy Content
The following strategies focus on comprehension first, while gradually building speed and confidence.The standard registration fee is $345. If you qualify for the Fee Assistance Program (FAP), your registration fee will be reduced to $140. If you choose to test outside the U.S., Canada, or U.S. territories, an extra $120 international testing fee will be added to your total cost. This international fee is non-refundable, even if you cancel your exam.
Prioritize Comprehension Before Speed
Many students with dyslexia feel pressure to keep pace with strict MCAT timing right from the start. This often leads to rushing, shallow reading, and the need to reread passages multiple times. A more effective approach is to slow down during practice, making comprehension the primary goal. As understanding improves, you can begin introducing time constraints in small steps. This way, speed becomes a byproduct of strong comprehension rather than a substitute for it.
Actively Annotate Passages
Annotation provides a structure that helps reduce cognitive strain. Instead of trying to remember every detail in your head, mark the text as you go. Circle transition words such as however, therefore, in contrast, or for example, since these usually signal shifts in the author’s reasoning. Underline main ideas or hypotheses, and jot short notes in the margin or on scratch paper.
Train with Multi-Sensory Input
Combining visual and auditory input can improve fluency and retention. Use text-to-speech software to read passages aloud while you follow along visually. This pairing strengthens comprehension and allows you to process information using more than one pathway. When practicing at home, alternating between reading silently and reading while listening can also train endurance and reduce fatigue.
Map the Structure of Each Passage
Every passage has an underlying skeleton: an introduction, a main claim, supporting evidence, and often a conclusion or counterpoint. Instead of focusing on every word, train yourself to see this structure. After reading, practice summarizing the passage in one or two sentences. Ask yourself: What is the author trying to argue or explain? How is the argument supported? Where do new perspectives appear? This “big picture” view prevents you from getting lost in the details and makes answering questions far simpler.
Preview the Questions to Read with Purpose
In science-based sections, looking at the questions before reading the passage can give you a sense of what information will matter most. For example, if a question asks about experimental design, you know to pay close attention to the methods section of the passage. This prevents unnecessary rereading and allows you to direct your focus where it counts. For CARS, where you cannot rely on outside knowledge, previewing can still help you recognize whether questions are targeting main ideas, tone, or inference.
Break Down Reading into Manageable Subparts
Long passages can feel overwhelming when approached as a whole. In place of that, break them into smaller sections. Pause briefly after each paragraph to summarize what you read before moving on. This keeps comprehension steady and prevents the feeling of being overloaded by text. Over time, as this habit becomes automatic, you will find you can summarize more quickly and with less effort.
Use Consistent Practice to Build Endurance
Because dyslexia makes reading more mentally taxing, endurance must be trained gradually. Start by working with short sets of passages, then steadily increase the number until you can sustain focus for the length of a full section. Incorporate short breaks between sets in the beginning, then reduce them over time to simulate the actual exam. This progressive approach will definitely build stamina without burning you out.
Develop a Personal Toolbox of Techniques
No single strategy works for everyone. Some students benefit most from annotation, while others find passage mapping more effective. As you practice, pay attention to which techniques improve your accuracy and which ones slow you down. Refine your approach until you have a personal toolbox of reliable methods you can use confidently on test day.
Building Test-Day Endurance
Reading for seven and a half hours requires stamina. These small, but binding strategies can help you reduce fatigue and maintain focus throughout the exam:
Simulate exam conditions
Practice with full-length tests so your brain and body are prepared for the sustained effort.
Use breaks wisely
Step away from the screen, stretch, hydrate, and eat light snacks. Avoid phones or notes that drain focus.
Have a pacing plan
Decide in advance how much time to spend per passage and monitor your pace with the on-screen timer.
Support your body
Get consistent sleep, balanced meals, and hydration in the days leading up to the exam.
Final Thoughts
The MCAT is built on text. It asks you to sit for hours, read passages that often feel deliberately dense, and make sense of them under pressure. For students with dyslexia, this can feel like an unfair playing field at first glance. But here is the truth: dyslexia does not diminish your ability to think critically, to analyze, or to reason. Those are the very skills the MCAT is designed to test, and they remain fully within your reach.
What matters is how you approach the exam. Reading every word quickly is not the path forward. Reading strategically, training your endurance, and leaning on methods that make the text accessible is where progress comes from.
