MCAT Exam Syllabus: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Medical Students
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized, multiple-choice examination crucial for candidates seeking admission to medical schools in the USA, Canada, and other countries. Administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the MCAT assesses a candidate's problem-solving skills, critical thinking abilities, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts essential for studying medicine. The MCAT exam is a computer-based test that evaluates the candidate’s ability to solve complex problems, critical thinking, and knowledge prerequisite to the study of medicine.
MCAT Exam Pattern
The current MCAT exam pattern, launched in April 2015, reflects advancements in medicine and science. It emphasizes skills deemed most important by medical professionals for pre-med students. The MCAT exam pattern consists of 230 multiple-choice questions. The duration of the MCAT Exam is 6 hours 15 minutes; however, the total seated time is 7 hours and 30 minutes due to incorporating breaks and other sundries.
The MCAT exam is divided into four sections:
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
The first three sections integrate scientific knowledge from multiple disciplines with scientific inquiry and reasoning skills. The fourth section, Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS), evaluates analytical and reasoning skills through passages from various disciplines in the social sciences and humanities.
Section Breakdown
| Section | Number of Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems | 59 | 95 minutes |
| Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems | 59 | 95 minutes |
| Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior | 59 | 95 minutes |
| Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills | 53 | 90 minutes |
MCAT Syllabus
The MCAT syllabus covers a range of topics that assess a candidate's conceptual understanding of medicine. It evaluates knowledge of science, psychology, and sociology, alongside critical reasoning and analytical skills.
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1. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
This section assesses knowledge of biological and biochemical concepts, scientific inquiry, and reasoning skills. It tests introductory-level biology, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry fundamentals, as well as biochemistry concepts at the level taught in the 1st semester of biochemistry courses at most colleges and universities.
- Cellular and molecular biology topics at the level taught in introductory biology sequences and 1st-semester biochemistry courses at most colleges and universities.
- Basic research methods and statistics concepts, as described by many baccalaureate faculty to be important for success in introductory science courses.
- Scientific inquiry and reasoning, research methods, and data-based and statistics skills as applied to the natural sciences.
Content Distribution: Introductory biology (65%), first-semester biochemistry (25%), general chemistry (5%), and organic chemistry (5%).
Key Topics:
- Protein structure, functions, and constituent amino acids.
- Genetic information transmission from gene to protein.
- Heritable information transmission and processes increasing genetic diversity.
- Bioenergetics principles and fuel molecule metabolism.
- Molecules, cells, and groups of cells within single and multicellular organisms.
- Structure, growth, physiology, and genetics of prokaryotes and viruses.
- Processes of cell division, differentiation, and specialization.
- Structure and functions of the nervous and endocrine systems and their coordination of organ systems.
- Main organ systems structure and integrative functions.
For most effective learning, completing sessions 1-24 at a pace of 2 2-hour sessions per week is recommended. Amino acids, proteins, and enzyme kinetics are the first tier of biomolecules in biochemistry and together they make up the largest share of questions on the test. Review the rest of biomolecules, which include carbs, lipids, and nucleic acids. Biopathways include pathways for carbs, fats, and proteins. Focus on understanding the large divisions within biopathways, including anabolic vs. catabolic, synthesis vs. metabolism, aerobic vs. anaerobic, starved vs. This session will review biotechniques for protein purification and identification.
Genetics follows biochemistry. Start with the basic genetics concepts like DNA, RNA, and the central dogma. Understanding genetics techniques is crucial to understanding experimental data. Cell biology is the last very high-yield topic. Generally, you should make sure you are completely comfortable with biochemistry and genetics before moving on to cell biology. Cell biology will cover the cell cycle, cellular organelles, and cellular divisions like mitosis and meiosis. Following these basics, content review should move onto how prokaryotes and eukaryotes differ in size, organelles, transcription, translation, and replication.
2. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
This section tests the candidate's knowledge of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of human tissues, organs, and organ systems. The section tests the introductory-level biology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and physics concepts.
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- Biochemistry concepts at the level taught in the 1st semester of biochemistry courses at most colleges and universities.
- Molecular biology topics at the level taught in the introductory biology sequences and 1st-semester biochemistry courses at most colleges and universities.
- Basic research methods and statistics concepts, as described by many baccalaureate faculty to be important for success in introductory science courses.
- Candidate's scientific inquiry and reasoning, research methods, and data-based and statistics skills as applied to the natural sciences.
Content Distribution: Introductory biology (5%), first-semester biochemistry (25%), introductory physics (25%), general chemistry (30%), and organic chemistry (15%).
Key Topics:
- Translational motion, energy, work, forces, and equilibrium.
- Fluid's importance in the circulation of blood, gas movement, and gas exchange.
- Electrochemistry, electrical circuits, and their elements.
- How light and sound interact with matter.
- Atoms, nuclear decay, electronic structure, and atomic chemical behavior.
- Water's unique nature and its solutions.
- Nature of molecules and intermolecular interactions.
- Separation and purification methods.
- Structure, function, and reactivity of biologically relevant molecules.
- Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics.
First and foremost, you should be able to understand the periodic table (it is the only resource the MCAT provides!), from the basics to higher level material. Radioactive decay, half-life, and photoelectric effect are some commonly tested nuclear chemistry topics. The emphasis here should not be “pure” physics but physics from a biological angle, like machines of the body (the bicep is a third-class lever, etc). Fluids are a more frequently tested subject than mechanics because they have biological relevance and they also overlap with gen chem. It is best to tackle gases after fluids, and then use gases as a jumping-off point for the liquid-gas interface and then solubility. Equilibrium is one of the pillars of general chemistry (alongside kinetics and thermodynamics). It is a hard topic because it encompasses many subject areas, including gas equilibrium, solubility, and acid base (the holy grail of equilibrium). Electrochemistry marks the end of general chemistry content.
MCAT organic chemistry is unlike college organic chemistry. The good news is that there is less content to learn for the test and you've already seen most of it in the context of biochemistry. MCAT orgo is best studied in 3 parts or sessions. The first is the basics. This part of physics will be hard, so please dedicate time to learning electromagnetism (E/M) as well as circuits and capacitors. E/M encompasses both electric and magnetic fields. Carbonyl chemistry covers the most-tested organic chemistry reactions, including reactions with carbonyls like ketones and aldehydes (such as the aldol reaction, which is a must know mechanism) and carboxylic acid derivatives.
3. Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
This section assesses the candidate's understanding of the psychological, social, and biological factors influencing perceptions and reactions to the world. It tests psychology, sociology, and biology concepts related to the behavioral and sociocultural determinants of health.
- Concepts taught in first-semester psychology and sociology courses at various colleges and universities.
- Biology concepts related to mental processes and behavior taught at many colleges and universities in introductory biology.
- Basic research methods and statistics concepts, as described by many baccalaureate faculty to be important for success in introductory science courses.
- Candidate's scientific inquiry and reasoning, research methods, and data-based and statistics skills as applied to the social and behavioral sciences.
Content Distribution: Introductory psychology (65%), introductory sociology (30%), and introductory biology (5%).
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Key Topics:
- Sensing the environment
- Making sense of the environment
- Responding to the world
- Individual influences on behavior
- Social processes that influence human behavior
- Attitude and behavior change
- Self-identity
- Social thinking
- Social interactions
- Understanding social structure
- Demographic characteristics and processes
- Social inequality
With biochemistry, genetics and cell biology done, you can then begin your behavioral science prep, particularly focusing on basic study designs and statistical methods. Lastly, sensation is a good intro to the study of psychology. The brain is our most important organ! Be familiar with its anatomy and basic functions. Learning includes associative vs. nonassociative learning. As an introduction to biological systems, we recommend starting with the endocrine system. It is a memorization-heavy system, but it allows for review of biomolecules, and teaches you how to think about the body. Language is connected to cognition. Consider whether language predicts cognition or vice versa. There are many theories of the self and personality, and many theories of development. Know the theorist’s name that goes with each concept. The first sociology topic we recommend covering is group psychology. Like the nervous system, the immune system has many divisions. The session should go through these divisions, step by step, innate vs. adaptive, humoral vs. cell-mediated, MHC class I vs. MHC class II. The student should also know cell types, especially blood cells. The lymphatic system is a small system to cover and it works well to tackle it after the immune system. MSK is the last system to be covered, and includes muscles, bone, and skin.
This session covers three topic areas. The heart and lungs are intricately connected, so you can learn these two systems back-to-back. It's important to understand how the circulatory and respiratory systems connect at the pulmonary artery and vein. Make sure to review the nervous system after you've completed review of electrochemistry and circuits as action potential involves voltage and can be modeled with capacitors. The digestive and excretory systems are covered together in this session. The digestive system covers both the anatomical structure of the GI tract, its accessory organs, and the digestion of carbs, fats, and proteins.
4. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
This section is similar to verbal reasoning tests and assesses a candidate's analytical and reasoning skills through passages from various disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. It evaluates comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills. The questions in this section are from foundations of comprehension (30%), reasoning within the text (30%), and seasoning beyond the text (40%).
- Includes content from ethics, philosophy, cultures, population health, social sciences, and humanities disciplines
- Provides all the information to answer questions in the passages.
This section assesses a student’s ability to comprehend, analyze, and evaluate information presented in written form.
MCAT Paper Pattern Overview
| Section | Number of Questions | Time Allotted |
|---|---|---|
| Test-Day Certification | 4 minutes | |
| Tutorial (optional) | 10 minutes | |
| Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems | 59 | 95 minutes |
| Break (optional) | 10 minutes | |
| Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills | 53 | 90 minutes |
| Mid-Exam Break (optional) | 30 minutes | |
| Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems | 59 | 95 minutes |
| Break (optional) | 10 minutes | |
| Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior | 59 | 95 minutes |
| Void Question | 3 minutes | |
| Satisfaction Survey | 5 minutes | |
| Total Content Time | 6 hours 15 minutes | |
| Total “Seated” Time | 7 hours 30 minutes |
MCAT Test Pattern for Section 1
| Section | Number of Questions | Duration | Break-up of questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills | 53 | 90 | 9 passages |
| 5-7 questions per passage |
MCAT Test Pattern for Section 2
| Section | Number of Questions | Duration | Break-up of questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems | 59 | 95 | 10 passage-based sets of questions |
| 4-6 questions per set | |||
| 15 independent questions | |||
| Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems | 59 | 95 | 10 passage-based sets of questions |
| 4-6 questions per set | |||
| 15 independent questions | |||
| Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior | 59 | 95 | 10 passage-based sets of questions |
| 4-6 questions per set | |||
| 15 independent questions |
MCAT Scoring System
The MCAT scoring system includes both individual section scores and an overall composite score. Raw scores are then converted into scaled scores, ranging from 118 to 132 per section. Along with your score, you’ll receive a percentile rank, which shows how your performance compares to other test-takers.
MCAT Preparation Tips
- Start Early and Plan Strategically: Begin preparation at least 3-6 months before the test date.
- Use High-Quality Study Materials: Utilize effective study materials, including the AAMC Official MCAT Prep Guide.
- Focus on Understanding, Not Just Memorizing: Emphasize critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Take Practice Tests Under Timed Conditions: Simulate real test conditions with timed practice exams.
- Review and Analyze Mistakes: Understand why you got a question wrong and revisit the concept.
During this part of the program, focus on simulated full tests in UWorld and AAMC. The score of PT 3 should be within 3 points of or on par with the goal score. As with previous review sessions between PTs, continue with practice and drills, including full UWorlds and AAMC. Review your fourth practice test. Review PT 5 (aka, the newly released free test named "Free Practice Test" published most recently). This test was an actual MCAT exam and, of available practice tests, this one is often considered the most similar to recent exams. If you are at this stage, then PT 4 must have been within goal range. The last hurrah! Use this session to go back through the highest-yield basics such as amino acids and units. This is NOT the time to bring in new material, or to teach very low yield areas.
Additional Tips
- Complete 50 questions of the psychological, social and biological AAMC section bank.
- The score of PT 2 should be within 5 points of your goal score.
- If you get the same score as PT 1, take some time to regroup.
- You'll note that in this part of the program we are alternating sessions dedicated to review of particular practice tests and "targeted review" sessions, meaning you should be going back to areas of weakness indicated by your practice tests.
- Continue with the section bank.
- Review your first practice test.
