MCAT Exam Syllabus: General Test Pattern | 2022 – 2023
General Test Pattern for MCAT
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a 7 and a half hour long standardized test that not only tests your critical thinking skills and understanding of scientific concepts but also tests your mental stamina. It is a computer-based test used as a prerequisite for admission into professional health schools in US, Canada, Australia etc.
The test has 4 sections in total, 3 of which test your scientific understanding, and 1 tests your critical thinking and reasoning. The 3 science-based sections cover a gamut of subjects: physics, biology, chemistry, sociology, and psychology. These sections hover around the “bigger picture” around the sciences, and specifically incorporate the idea of applying interdisciplinary knowledge to mimic real-world scenarios. The critical reasoning section is akin to the verbal section of other major competitive exams: you’ll be given a passage and the questions require you to analyze the given information and critically examine the presented arguments.
Here we have a section-wise break-up of MCAT:
| Sections | Questions | Duration | Distribution of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems | 59 | 95 minutes |
|
| Optional Break | 10 minutes | ||
| Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills | 53 | 90 minutes |
|
| Optional Break | 30 minutes | ||
| Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems | 59 | 95 minutes |
|
| Optional Break | 10 minutes | ||
| Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior | 59 | 95 |
|
Adding up all the section durations, the total is 6 hours and 15 minutes. However, incorporating breaks and other sundries adds to a total “seated time” of around 7 and a half hours.
MCAT Syllabus
The logic of scientific inquiry is a prerequisite for scoring well on all 3 sections related to scientific concepts. It includes (but is not limited to) understanding of scientific concepts and basics of scientific inquiry. The skills to distinguish between the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to scientific theories is a skill that is very advantageous in the medical field of study. The gray area of ethics in science is also a part and parcel of the scientific reasoning. Basic understanding of all the elements of scientific research is expected. Interpretation of data in the form of tables/graphs/charts and deriving conclusions based on that data is the cornerstone of scientific research.
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
This section tests you on the knowledge related to operations distinctive of living organisms: growth/reproduction, maintenance of conducive environment, acquisition of materials/energy, response to environmental stimuli, and adaptation. It also incorporates knowledge regarding the individual cell/organ systems and their inter-dependence — various threads of a biological organism in all its complexity.
The following content categories are included in this section:
- protein structures and amino acids as building blocks
- genetic transmission of information: gene to protein
- heredity and the processes that enhance genetic diversity
- bioenergetics and fuel metabolism
- cells/molecule assembly in single/multi cell organisms
- prokaryotes and viruses: structure, physiology, and genetics
- cell division
- nervous and endocrine systems
- organ systems: functions and structure
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
This section tests your understanding related to chemical and mechanical functions of human organs/tissues. It also tests the knowledge related to the chemical and physical principles that govern the human body, and the ability to apply and extend the same reasoning to various living systems.
The following content categories are included in this section:
- work, energy, forces, equilibrium in living systems
- the role of fluids in blood circulation and gas exchange
- electrochemistry
- interaction of light and sound with matter
- nuclear decay and chemical behavior of atoms
- water: nature and solutions
- molecules and the interaction among them
- the concept of purification
- function and structure of biological molecules
- kinetics and thermodynamic principles
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
This section tests your understanding of the effect of psychological, social, and biological factors on perception and reactions to stimuli, self-talk, mental models of the world (including thinking about others), behavioral changes, the role of society and culture on well-being, and the connections among social hierarchy and well-being.
The following content categories are included in this section:
- environment sensing and understanding
- response to the world
- causes of behavioral change
- effects of social activity on human behavior
- distinctive behaviors
- identity & the concept of self
- the social line of thought and interactions
- social imbalance
- understanding of the social fabric
- demographic systems
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
This section is primarily related to testing your understanding of the written text, geared towards the reasoning skills considered vital to a successful medical career. A passage is presented to the candidate (a wide variety of disciplines can be expected – from science to humanities), and the questions based on the passage require critical thinking and analysis to answer. The passages are short (500-600 words) but often dense, abstruse, and intricate. All information required to answer the questions is presented in the passage itself, and no outside knowledge is assumed. The passages often focus on the complex relationships between the presented ideas/theories and require thinking along disparate lines of thought. Some thought is to be given to subtle indicators such as tone and word usage to establish the intent of the author, and ultimately the meaning of the passage.
The passages are derived from reading sources that a college student typically reads – books, journals, and magazines. The style of the passage differs based on the discipline. For instance, science passages tend to be more factual, while humanities passages tend to be more opinionated.
Humanities passages can be derived from a host of disciplines such as:
- art and architecture
- literature
- ethics
- philosophy
- pop culture
- religion
- cultural studies
Science passages can be derived from a host of disciplines such as:
- economics/history/geography
- anthropology
- linguistics
- psychology and sociology
- archaeology
- political science
The section tests 3 broad skills that are necessary for a candidate to understand complex texts. Foundations of Comprehension is related to the ability to deconstruct the components of the passage, while interpreting the meaning from rhetoric, tone, and structure. Reasoning within the text is related to the ability to assimilate the various components (overt and subtle) to enhance the understanding of the text. Reasoning beyond the text is related to the expansion of ideas from the text to new settings/contexts, and the effect of introducing new conditions and information on the original meaning of the passage.
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