The question at the forefront of every pre-med student’s mind is: “Am I prepared for the MCAT exam?” The MCAT test, which stands for Medical College Admission Test, is a standardized, multiple-choice exam required for all prospective medical students.
I’ve had the privilege of helping many aspiring doctors such as yourself feel prepared and confident on test day, ultimately achieving the high score range needed to get into the med school of their dreams.
My hope is that by the time you are finished reading this article, you will also feel a sense of preparedness and confidence in your ability to excel on the MCAT.
The first step in test prep is for test takers to intimately review the structure of the MCAT. Over the course of the exam, you will be tested on your critical thinking, reading comprehension, content knowledge, and scientific inquiry and reasoning skills. Let’s dive in!
Format of the MCAT Exam
The MCAT is divided into 4 main sections that make up 230 total questions. Those sections are:
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
Through the MCAT, you will need to display the following 4 qualities of a med school student:
- In-depth knowledge of scientific concepts
- Problem-solving and reasoning skills
- Capacity to design and execute research
- Comprehension of statistical and data-based findings
Question formats are either “passage-based” or “discrete.”
- Passage-based questions are associated with a passage of text that may introduce new information or situations that you’ve learned about before. These questions can be difficult because they require you to apply your knowledge of the science content to the passage information to figure out the correct answer.
- Discrete questions are standalone questions that are not associated with a passage. These questions are typically easier because they simply test if you have the science content memorized (e.g., what hormones are secreted by the pancreas).
Note: You will have access to the periodic table during the entire exam.
| Sections (1-4) | Time | Questions | Format | Academic Disciplines |
| 1. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems | 95 minutes | 59 | Combination of passage-based and discrete | 30% general chemistry 25% first-semester biochemistry 25% introductory physics 15% organic chemistry 5% introductory biology |
| 2. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills | 90 minutes | 53 | All passage-based | 50% humanities 50% social sciences |
| 3. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems | 95 minutes | 59 | Combination of passage-based and discrete | 65% introductory biology 25% first-semester biochemistry 5% general chemistry 5% organic chemistry |
| 4. Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior | 95 minutes | 59 | Combination of passage-based and discrete | 65% introductory psychology 30% introductory sociology 5% introductory biology |
Section 1: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys)
Purpose: The CPBS section is designed with questions to test your comprehension of human tissues and organ systems — their mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions.
Allotted time: 95 minutes
Number of questions: 59
Question format: Combination of passage-based and discrete
Academic Disciplines the content will draw from:
- 30% general chemistry
- 25% first-semester biochemistry
- 25% introductory physics
- 15% organic chemistry
- 5% introductory biology
Section 2: Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
Purpose: The CARS section will present you with complex passages of writing, usually between 500-600 words each, spanning a wide range of disciplines relating to social sciences and humanities. You will be asked thought-provoking questions and should choose answers that demonstrate the foundations of comprehension needed to succeed in medical school.
Allotted time: 90 minutes
Number of questions: 53
Question format: All passage-based
Academic Disciplines the content will draw from:
- 50% humanities
- 50% social sciences
Section 3: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/Biochem)
Purpose: The BBLS section is designed to test your comprehension of biology and biochemistry concepts unique to living organisms, as well as how cells and organ systems act within an organism such as the human body.
Allotted time: 95 minutes
Number of questions: 59
Question format: Combination of passage-based and discrete
Academic Disciplines the content will draw from:
- 65% introductory biology
- 25% first-semester biochemistry
- 5% general chemistry
- 5% organic chemistry
Section 4: Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc)
Purpose: The PSBB section is designed with questions to test your comprehension of foundational concepts relating to diverse population groups and the health impact of human behavior.
Allotted time: 95 minutes
Number of questions: 59
Question format: Combination of passage-based and discrete
Academic Disciplines the content will draw from:
- 65% introductory psychology
- 30% introductory sociology
- 5% introductory biology
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FAQs
Is the MCAT all multiple-choice?
The MCAT is made up of 230 entirely multiple-choice questions.
These questions are either discrete (requiring you to rely on your existing knowledge) or passage-based (requiring you to determine the answer by applying your knowledge of the science content to the passage information).
Sections 1, 3, and 4 of the MCAT exam contain a combination of passage-based and discrete questions. Section 2 (CARS) is made up of only passage-based questions.
How long does the MCAT take?
It takes 6 hours and 15 minutes to complete the MCAT test content, not including breaks. Including breaks, the tutorial, examinee agreement, and checking in, you can expect your test date experience to be about 7.5 hours long.
It’s a standardized exam, so you’ll be closely monitored on the computer-based testing program and won’t be able to take time beyond each section’s scheduled timeframe.
What is the hardest section of the MCAT?
The two sections that students typically have the most difficulty with on the exam is either Chem/Phys or CARS. This, of course, depends on the student.
The Chem/Phys section can be difficult because of the broad range of subjects tested and often includes subjects student’s don’t like very much (e.g., organic chemistry and physics).
The CARS section is difficult for a lot of students because it doesn’t test your knowledge of science content. Instead, you have to be able to read and understand passages on social studies and humanities topics to answer the associated questions.
Learn more about how the MCAT is scored.
Are the MCAT sections always in the same order?
Yes, the MCAT sections are always presented in the same order, Sections 1-4:
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
Is it best to leave questions blank on the MCAT if I don’t know the answer?
It’s best to answer all MCAT questions, even if you have to guess or don’t have time to review them all. There’s no penalty for leaving questions blank, but by guessing, you’ll at least have a chance at getting a correct answer.
If you run out of time and have to answer several questions without reviewing them, you’ll have the statistically best chance of getting some of them right by selecting the same answer for each guessed answer (e.g., all “C”).
What is the best way to study for the MCAT?
The best way to study for the MCAT is to learn what’s on the MCAT, create a study schedule you can stick to, take prep courses, find practice questions, and take many practice tests. Focus on high-yield topics that show up the most frequently on the exam.
If at all possible, work with an experienced, private MCAT tutor who can help identify areas you need to strengthen and help you increase your score.
Oh, and don’t miss out on getting a free MCAT practice exam from our friends at MedSchoolCoach!
These are our favorite MCAT study and prep resources:
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When should I take the MCAT?
In most cases, you should take the MCAT by no later than April in the first year of your application cycle. For some students, I advise taking the MCAT in August or September of the year before their application cycle begins, but that’s on a case-by-case basis in specific circumstances.
It’s important to take the MCAT only after you’ve taken the right prerequisites. You can only take this standardized test a limited number of times, and at some point, too many retakes can disadvantage your application.
Learn more about whether or not you should retake the MCAT.
Don’t Leave Your MCAT Score to Chance
The fact that you are intentional in researching the MCAT format and content tells me that you are on the right path. Thankfully, you don’t have to walk it alone.
The team of Advisors and Tutors at MedSchoolCoach have not only been where you are, but we have also helped students just like you excel on the MCAT.
