Most of America’s future MDs and DOs are required to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), written and administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The exam gives med schools an overview of how prepared applicants are for their curricula. This is also why most med schools set minimum scores to even be considered for acceptance. The entire exam lasts about seven and a half hours. It consists of: a 95-minute biology and biochemistry section; a 95-minute chemistry and physics section; a 95-minute psychology and sociology section; a 90-minute reasoning section; and breaks sprinkled in between. MedConnect is proud to present you with a breakdown of what exactly the MCAT looks like and when you should plan to start studying. As a reminder, we’ll be using “MCQ” as an abbreviation for “multiple choice question”.
Before we dive into each individual section of the exam, it’s useful to know that the AAMC defines a specific set of Foundational Concepts and Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills. The Skills are applied to test the Foundational Concepts throughout the first three sections of the exam. They are as follows:
Foundational Concepts
Concept One:
Biomolecules have unique properties that determine how they contribute to the structure and function of cells, and how they participate in the processes necessary to maintain life.
In our words…Every molecule in a body has special properties that let it contribute to the body’s functions
Concept Two:
Highly-organized assemblies of molecules, cells, and organs interact to carry out the functions of living organisms.
In our words…Bodies are organized into different levels that all interact as it functions.
Concept Three:
Complex systems of tissues and organs sense the internal and external environments of multicellular organisms, and through integrated functioning, maintain a stable internal environment within an ever-changing external environment.
In our words…Bodies sense changes and have mechanisms in place to maintain homeostasis.
Concept Four:
Complex living organisms transport materials, sense their environment, process signals, and respond to changes using processes that can be understood in terms of physical principles.
In our words…A body’s functions can be understood through the lens of physics.
Concept Five:
The principles that govern chemical interactions and reactions form the basis for a broader understanding of the molecular dynamics of living systems.
In our words…A body’s functions can be understood through the lens of chemistry.
Concept Six:
Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors influence the ways that individuals perceive, think about, and react to the world.
In our words…The ways a person interprets and reacts to their environment are shaped by biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
Concept Seven:
Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors influence behavior and behavior change.
In our words…A person’s behavior is shaped by biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
Concept Eight:
Psychological, sociocultural, and biological factors influence the way we think about ourselves and others, as well as how we interact with others.
In our words…A person’s interpersonal and intrapersonal behaviors are shaped by biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
Concept Nine:
Cultural and social differences influence well-being.
In our words…Different cultures and societies shape a person’s well being.
Concept Ten:
Social stratification and access to resources influence well-being.
In our words…A person’s well being is shaped by the resources at their disposal.
Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills
Skill One:
Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and Principles
In our words…Show the AAMC that you know the ten Foundational Concepts well.
Skill Two:
Scientific Reasoning and Problem-solving
In our words…Show the AAMC that you know how to use the ten Foundational Concepts to solve problems.
Skill Three:
Reasoning about the Design and Execution of Research
In our words…Show the AAMC that you know all about conducting proper research.
Skill Four:
Data-based Statistical Reasoning
In our words…Show the AAMC that you can use data to solve problems and reach reasonable conclusions.
The Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section of the exam also has a few unique skills that it tests for:
Skill One:
Foundations of Comprehension
In our words…Show the AAMC that you can find meaning in specific portions of a text.
Skill Two:
Reasoning Within the Text
In our words…Show the AAMC you can find general concepts within a text.
Skill Three:
Reasoning Beyond the Text
In our words…Show the AAMC you can apply the concepts of a text to a broader context.In our words…Show the AAMC you can apply the concepts of a text to a broader context.
Note that the questions on the MCAT, while all MCQs, can be either passage-based or discrete. Passage-based questions present a text that must be used to answer a set of questions. Discrete questions present an independent stimulus that is used to answer the question. You won’t have to refer back to a passage with those.
Now let’s take a look at each of the test’s four sections.
Section One: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
The Basics:
- 59 MCQs, varying between passage-based and discrete questions
- 95 minutes long (~37 seconds per question)
- Tests Foundational Concepts 1 (~55% of the MCQs), 2 (~20% of the MCQs), and 3 (~25% of the MCQs)
- Tests Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills 1 (~35% of the MCQs), 2 (~45% of the MCQs), 3 (~10% of the MCQs), and 4 (~10% of the MCQs)
This section covers content from introductory biology (~65% of the MCQs), general chemistry (~5% of the MCQs), organic chemistry (~5% of the MCQs), and first-semester biochemistry (~25% of the MCQs) undergraduate courses. You should also know the basic research and statistics material that pre-med students are taught. You’ll get access to a periodic table of elements throughout the section.
Section Two: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
The Basics:
- 59 MCQs, varying between passage-based and discrete questions
- 95 minutes long (~37 seconds per question)
- Tests Foundational Concepts 4 (~40% of the MCQs), and 5 (~60% of the MCQs)
- Tests Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills 1 (~35% of the MCQs), 2 (~45% of the MCQs), 3 (~10% of the MCQs), and 4 (~10% of the MCQs)
This section covers content from introductory biology (~5% of the MCQs), physics (~25% of the MCQs), general chemistry (~30% of the MCQs), organic chemistry (~15% of the MCQs), and first-semester biochemistry (~25% of the MCQs) undergraduate courses. You should also know the basic research and statistics material that pre-med students are taught. You’ll get access to a periodic table of elements throughout the section.
Section Three: Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
The Basics:
- 59 MCQs, varying between passage-based and discrete questions
- 95 minutes long (~37 seconds per question)
- Tests Foundational Concepts 6 (~25% of the MCQs), 7 (~35% of the MCQs), 8 (~20% of the MCQs), 9 (~15% of the MCQs), and 10 (~5% of the MCQs)
- Tests Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills 1 (~35% of the MCQs), 2 (~45% of the MCQs), 3 (~10% of the MCQs), and 4 (~10% of the MCQs)
This section covers content from introductory biology (~5% of the MCQs), psychology (~65% of the MCQs), and sociology (~30% of the MCQs) undergraduate courses. About 5% of the questions will link psychology and biology, on top of the strictly biological questions. You should also know the basic research and statistics material that pre-med students are taught. A periodic table won’t be provided for this section, but, regardless, it shouldn’t be necessary.
Section Four: Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
The Basics:
- 53 MCQs, all of which are passage-based
- 90 minutes long (~35 seconds per question)
- Tests Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills 1 (~30% of the MCQs), 2 (~30% of the MCQs), and 3 (~40% of the MCQs)
This section’s passages cover content from the humanities (~50% of the MCQs), and social sciences (~50% of the MCQs). Ethics, philosophy, cultural diversity, population health, and other disciplines will be explored. However, the passages are designed to contain all the information necessary to answer the MCQs. The passages generally range from 500–600 words, and may be written to varying degrees of complexity. They often consider the relationship between different theories and ideas. The MCQs will focus on both the content of the writing and the way the author structured their content. A periodic table won’t be provided for this section, but, regardless, it shouldn’t be necessary.
Because of med schools’ MCAT requirement, the application timeline can start to differ significantly from that of previous college applications. Med school admissions open in May of the year before you plan on matriculating. Students are usually given a comfortable timeframe to submit them, but keep in mind that med schools tend to use rolling admissions. This means that applications will be considered as they are submitted, and acceptance will be given on a first come, first serve basis. The first few steps of the application can actually be done without an MCAT score. Med school applications are two-staged, with primary applications viewed by med schools before they send secondary applications to their favorite bunch. Different schools have different requirements for whom they can send secondary applications to, and these may include a verified MCAT score. It’s important to do your research and know what the schools you’re applying to need. From this point out, though, we’ll use a timeline that assumes early submission of your med school apps (sending them out by the end of June of the year before matriculation) with a verified MCAT score, since this is usually the most advantageous.
Scores are released about a month after the MCAT is taken. Keep in mind that you may get a score you’re not satisfied with and have to retake it. You may even have to spend time studying topics you weren’t confident with. All of this can tack on extra time to the whole process, which is why we don’t recommend taking the exam for the first time close to the application submission window. Rather, we think the most prudent approach is to take the MCAT at the beginning of the year in which you’ll apply (typically, junior year of college).
This timeline can shift on an individual basis. Some may feel more comfortable taking the test earlier, and others may not be able to get to it until later. The important part is that you consider the reasons why this is the timeline we recommend, and then make a decision on your own that best accounts for the factors of your life we can’t consider for you.
With the test as content-heavy as it is, it’s also a good idea to set aside time to study specifically for the test. How much you’ll have to study depends on many points, including whether you’ve taken and mastered courses that cover the test material. We suggest using the summer between sophomore and junior year to dedicate yourself to the MCAT. Again, however, this all depends on where you are in your undergraduate journey. Knowing how much you need to study and how quickly you can study that information plays a key role in completing this timeline for yourself. Med schools aren’t only looking for high MCAT scores, either. You need to make yourself stand out through your extracurriculars. So, consider your personal needs before deciding on any specific path. You’re at the center of your story, after all.
MedConnect 