WHAT IS THE MCAT?

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized exam used for admission to medical schools in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean. The test is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Here's an overview of the MCAT, including its sections, content, and timing during exam day.

1. Sections: (see the future modules for specific breakdowns of each section) The MCAT consists of four sections, each designed to assess specific skills and knowledge areas:

a) Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (CPBS):

• This section evaluates knowledge of chemical and physical principles that underlie the mechanisms operating in the human body.
• Topics covered include general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics.

b) Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS):

• This section assesses critical thinking and analytical skills through passages related to humanities and social sciences.
• It does not require specific content knowledge but focuses on the ability to analyze and comprehend complex texts.

c) Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (BBLS):

• This section assesses understanding of the basic biochemical and biological concepts necessary for understanding living organisms and biological processes.
• Topics covered include biology and biochemistry.

d) Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (PSBB):

• This section examines understanding of the ways in which psychological, social, and biological factors influence behavior and behavior change.
• Topics covered include psychology, sociology, and biology.

2. Timing and Structure:

• Each section of the MCAT has a specified time limit.
• The total testing time, including breaks and optional tutorial, is approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes.
• The schedule and timing for each section is as follows:
  • CPBS: 95 minutes
    • 10 min break (optional)
  • CARS: 90 minutes
    • 30 min break (optional)
  • BBLS: 95 minutes
    • 10 min break (optional)
  • CARS: 90 minutes
    • Exam is over

3. Number of Questions:

• BBLS, CPBS, and PSBB all have 59 multiple questions.
• The CARS section has 53 multiple-choice questions.
• In total there are 230 multiple choice questions