What is the MCAT?

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a computer-based, multiple-choice, standardized test required for medical school admissions.

The MCAT is developed and administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the same organization applicants use when applying to medical school. The MCAT was designed to assess whether the applicant has the necessary knowledge and critical thinking skills to succeed as a medical student.

Everyone knows the MCAT is a highly stressful exam. It is one of the main factors medical schools use in their admissions process to weed out applicants. The MCAT is the medical schools' best way to compare the knowledge and critical thinking abilities of applicants who attend different universities. Even two students who attend the same school cannot be adequately compared because other professors grade and teach at different difficulty levels. Because of its design, most students who take the MCAT will NOT get a competitive score.

What subjects are tested on the MCAT?

Think of the MCAT as a giant final exam for pre-med students. It tests your knowledge of all the required courses you took during your undergraduate education. In other words, test-takers need a strong foundation in:

General Chemistry 1 & 2
Organic Chemistry 1 & 2
Physics 1 & 2
English Literature
Biology 1 & 2
Biochemistry
Psychology
Sociology

Additionally, you will be expected to apply your knowledge to new material through critical thinking and reasoning skills. While this may sound overwhelming, the MCAT tests certain content more than other content. The content that often shows up on the MCAT is considered "high-yield." If you can understand the high-yield material deeply, you will be in an excellent position to achieve a competitive score.

However, sifting through all the possible material on the MCAT to find out what is likely to be tested takes too much precious time that pre-med students cannot afford to waste. Some MCAT test-takers try to learn and remember everything from every undergraduate course by reviewing their notes and watching hundreds of hours of unrelated videos not designed explicitly for the MCAT. Others purchase expensive MCAT prep that overloads them with unnecessary useless hours of content.

Fortunately, the MCAT for Victory course presents curated high-yield MCAT content review videos in a bite-sized format. The courses' engaging videos, textbooks, and flashcards make even the most complex scientific concepts easy to understand.

What are the MCAT sections?

The MCAT consists of four sections that integrate multiple subjects. There are three science sections and one reading and comprehension section. Most questions from the science sections will attempt to relate the content from the undergraduate subjects to medicine.

The four test sections of the MCAT include:

Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

The four sections are often referred to by their abbreviated names: Chem/Phys, CARS, Bio/Biochem, and Psych/Soc.

What is included in each section?

The three science MCAT sections relate the topics covered in most undergraduate courses to human biology. Regardless of test day, the MCAT sections are always organized in the same order.

To memorize the extensive amount of material tested on the MCAT, many use a free program called Anki for spaced-repetition flashcards. While the program has a steep learning curve, most who use Anki highly recommend the application. To learn how to effectively use Anki, sign up for the free MCAT for Victory Anki course!

Now, let's go through a breakdown of each section.

Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

The Periodic Table of Elements
Number of Questions Number of Passages Time Allotted Score Range

59 total questions

15 discrete questions

44 passage-based questions

10 passages 95 minutes 118 to 132
The Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section of the MCAT tests knowledge on chemistry and physics. Moreover, test-takers are expected to use their critical thinking abilities as physical concepts are related to human biology. Physical concepts commonly tested include translational motion, forces, fluids, and circuits. Chemical concepts commonly tested include thermodynamics, kinetics, solubility, and organic reactions.

The undergraduate courses tested in this section include:

Physics (25%)
General Chemistry (30%)
Organic Chemistry (15%)
Biology (5%)
Biochemistry (25%)

The percentages in the parenthesis represent how common the subject is tested in the section. Notice that a significant quantity of biology and biochemistry questions are included in this section. Based on the percentages provided, out of the 59 questions, this section includes:

15 Physics questions
18 General Chemistry questions
9 Organic Chemistry questions
2 Biology questions
15 Biochemistry questions

It is important to note that some questions require knowledge of multiple interrelated concepts. The breakdown of questions is not the same on every MCAT exam. However, this section will always have ten passages from scientific journals. Forty-four questions are related to the passage, and 15 questions are independent of the passages.

Given the material covered in this section, the AAMC will provide a periodic table similar to the image above. Even though math is expected in this section, you will not be allowed to use a calculator.

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
Number of Questions Number of Passages Time Allotted Score Range
53 passage-based questions 9 passages 90 minutes 118 to 132
The Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section of the MCAT assesses reading and comprehension skills. Unlike the science sections of the MCAT, the CARS section requires no prior knowledge.

This section will always have nine passages with 53 passage-based questions. The passages are often long, challenging, and convoluted, requiring a high degree of analysis. Passages are about various humanities or social sciences topics gathered from books, magazines, and journals. The table below lists the testable fields:

Humanities Social Science
Architecture Anthropology
Art Archaeology
Dance Economics
Ethics Education
Literature Geography
Music History
Philosophy Linguistics
Popular Culture Political Science
Religion Population Health
Theater Psychology
Studies of Diverse Cultures Sociology
Studies of Diverse Cultures
Test-takers are assessed on three skills necessary for their success as medical students. The three skills and the breakdown of their components include:

Foundations of Comprehension (30%)
Understand the main idea of the passage.
Understand the authors' perspectives.
Understand why the author chose certain words.
Understand the overall structure of the passage.
Understand the authors' point in writing the passage.

Reasoning Within the Text (30%)
Integrate multiple components of the text.
Defend or critique the soundness of the arguments presented.
Examine presented evidence, bias, and irrelevant information.
Analyze the authors' purpose for writing the text.
Assess contradictory statements and credibility.

Reasoning Beyond the Text (40%)
Apply ideas from the passage to different contexts.
Determine analogous statements as they relate to the passage.
Extrapolate the authors' opinions to new contexts.
Assess how new information would influence the passage.
Examine the authors' arguments in the context of new factors.

Students often struggle when they have previous knowledge about a passage they encounter. Sometimes, the author may come to a conclusion with which you disagree. However, it is crucial to answer the question provided and ignore your prior knowledge and personal opinions of the topic.

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

The Cell
Number of Questions Number of Passages Time Allotted Score Range

59 total questions

15 discrete questions

44 passage-based questions

10 passages 95 minutes 118 to 132
The Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section of the MCAT tests knowledge on biology and biochemistry. Concepts covered in most undergraduate classes are related to human biology and biochemistry. Test-takers are expected to use their critical thinking abilities to answer questions related to medical sciences. Biochemical concepts commonly tested include amino acids, enzymes, metabolism, and DNA replication. Biological concepts commonly tested include mitosis, genetics, immunology, and cardiology.

The undergraduate courses tested in this section include:

Biology (65%)
Biochemistry (25%)
General Chemistry (5%)
Organic Chemistry (5%)

The percentages in the parenthesis represent how common the subject is tested in the section. Based on the percentages provided, out of the 59 questions, this section includes:

38 Biology questions
15 Biochemistry questions
3 General Chemistry questions
3 Organic Chemistry questions

It is important to note that some questions require knowledge of multiple interrelated concepts. Moreover, the breakdown of questions is not the same on every MCAT exam. However, this section will always have ten passages from scientific journals. Forty-four questions are related to the passage, and 15 questions are independent of the passages.

Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

Classical Conditioning
Number of Questions Number of Passages Time Allotted Score Range

59 total questions

15 discrete questions

44 passage-based questions

10 passages 95 minutes 118 to 132
The Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section of the MCAT tests knowledge on psychology and sociology. Test-takers need to understand the impact of behavioral health on every facet of life. The concepts covered in this section ensure that future physicians will be competent in treating diverse populations who face a wide array of social issues. Many test-takers state that the psychology and sociology section feels like a mixture of the CARS section and other science sections. Critical thinking skills are required to analyze psychosociocultural influences properly. Psychological concepts commonly tested include identity, development, learning, and psychological disorders. Sociologic concepts commonly tested include social structure, demographics, inequality, and discrimination.

The undergraduate courses tested in this section include:

Psychology (65%)
Sociology (30%)
Biology (5%)

The percentages in the parenthesis represent how common the subject is tested in the section. Based on the percentages provided, out of the 59 questions, this section includes:

38 Psychology questions
18 Sociology questions
3 Biology questions

It is important to note that some questions require knowledge of multiple interrelated concepts. Moreover, the breakdown of questions is not the same on every MCAT exam. However, this section will always have ten passages from scientific journals. Forty-four questions are related to the passage, and 15 questions are independent of the passages.

How long is the MCAT?

In total, the MCAT is a 7 hour and 27-minute exam. The MCAT is the longest exam ever completed for most students. Given the length of the test, it is crucial to learn how to keep your stamina throughout the entire examination. However, it is essential to note that test-takers will not spend the whole time actively testing as there are tutorials, breaks, and surveys. The MCAT is 6 hours and 15 minutes of actual testing time without any optional time.

Section Time Allotted
Test-Day Certification 4 Minutes
Tutorial (Optional) 10 Minutes
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems 95 Minutes
Break (Optional) 10 Minutes
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) 90 Minutes
Break (Optional) 30 Minutes
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems 95 Minutes
Break (Optional) 10 Minutes
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior 95 Minutes
Void Exam Question 3 Minutes
Satisfaction Survey (Optional) 5 Minutes
MCAT Test Total 7 Hours 27 Minutes

How is the MCAT scored?

Each section of the MCAT is scored between 118 to 132. The addition of the scores from each of the four sections gives the final score range of 472 to 528. Given that 125 is the mean and median score for each section, the mean and median of the final score is 500.

Instead of being graded on a curve, the MCAT is scaled and equated before being administered. Scaling and equating the scores allows the AAMC to ensure scores from different MCAT forms can be adequately compared even if the forms have different difficulty levels. For example, let's say that getting a 125 on an "easy" form would require the student to get 51 questions correct. Meanwhile, getting a 125 on a "hard" form would require the student to get 46 questions correct. Overall, standardizations allow for the assumption that the student who got 51 questions right on the "easy" form would only get 46 questions right on the "hard" form.

Since the test is standardized, there is no "best time" to take the MCAT. Instead, students should take the MCAT when ready based on their practice exam scores.

What is a good MCAT score?

A "good" MCAT score is a score that will make you a competitive applicant to get into medical school. Those with lower GPAs and fewer extracurricular activities should aim for a higher MCAT score to overcome their shortcomings. To determine what score you should aim for, first take a look at the AAMC data for the median:

Test-taker MCAT score: 500
Applicant MCAT score: 505
Acceptance MCAT score: 511

By using the AAMC data on MCAT percentiles, test-takers can be subdivided into four groups based on their scores:

Extremely Competitive
90th Percentile and Above
MCAT Score: 515 to 528
Each Section: 129 to 132

Test-takers in this group are the most competitive to get a medical school acceptance. Based on their MCAT alone, they have around a 70% chance of acceptance. Those with a well-rounded application would also be competitive for the highest-ranked medical schools.

Highly Competitive
70th to 89th Percentile
MCAT Score: 507 to 514
Each Section: 127 to 128

Test-takers in this group are highly competitive to get a medical school acceptance. Based on their MCAT alone, they have around a 40% chance of acceptance.

Less Competitive
50th to 69th Percentile
MCAT Score: 500 to 506
Each Section: 125 to 126

Test-takers in this group are less competitive to get a medical school acceptance. Based on their MCAT alone, they have a 30% chance of acceptance. Therefore, students in this group must have a high GPA, extracurricular involvement, strong letters of recommendation, and a well-written personal statement.

Not Competitive
49th Percentile and Below
MCAT Score: 472 to 499
Each Section: 118 to 124

Test-takers in this group are not competitive to get a medical school acceptance. Based on their MCAT alone, they have less than a 10% chance of getting accepted. Those who score below average should consider counseling with an advisor and potentially retesting.

What is the best way to study for the MCAT?

There are four steps students must take to study effectively for the MCAT: learning content, reviewing content, memorizing content, and applying knowledge. Properly mastering all four steps is essential to achieving a competitive MCAT score.


Step One: Learning Content

Before studying for the MCAT, completing or being close to finishing all the required pre-med courses is necessary. However, it has likely been months to years since the time you took one of the required pre-med classes. Moreover, due to memory decay, everyone must re-learn a lot of the content they previously knew from each class. Testable material comes from:

General Chemistry 1 & 2
Organic Chemistry 1 & 2
Physics 1 & 2
English Literature
Biology 1 & 2
Biochemistry
Psychology
Sociology

While the MCAT covers a wide breadth of content, the depth is limited. Also, the MCAT will not test everything you learned from each of these classes. Therefore, you should seek to re-learn the material from sources created explicitly for the MCAT. However, not every study resource for the MCAT is equal. Additionally, much of the available content review resources are boring, inefficient, and overly drawn-out. Since most students try to study for the MCAT over a few weeks to months, you should look for an efficient and comprehensive resource. Fortunately, the MCAT for Victory videos include 100+ engaging bite-sized videos covering all the high-yield material tested on the MCAT. The videos are full of animations to help illustrate and explain intricate scientific concepts.

Step Two: Reviewing Content

Learning and understanding the material is a critical first step in studying for the MCAT. Still, the next step is just as important. To ensure understanding and to keep the content fresh in your mind, you should have an effective way to review everything testable. For example, the MCAT for Victory textbooks serve as an excellent supplement to the video course. The textbooks follow the same organization as the video course, making looking up and reviewing information fast and effective. Everyone who signs up for the MCAT for Victory course gets immediate access to 10 electronic textbooks:

Introduction to MCAT for Victory
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
Physics
Chemistry
Biology 1
Biology 2
Biochemistry
Psychology
Sociology
Testing for Victory

Step Three: Memorizing Content

Learning, understanding, and reviewing content are all essential but useless if you cannot retrieve the information in your brain on test day. For that reason, ensuring that you appropriately memorize facts, equations, and concepts is essential. The best way to remember information is by using mnemonics and active recall. Mnemonics are used throughout the MCAT for Victory course. Meanwhile, the most efficient form of active recall is through flashcards. However, the best time to review each flashcard is right before you would have forgotten those facts. Anki is a free flashcard application that uses spaced repetition to help test takers memorize vast quantities of information as efficiently as possible. Due to its' effectiveness, it is used by almost every medical student. Now, more pre-med students are understanding the value of Anki and incorporating it into their MCAT studies. While Anki has a steep learning curve, the FREE MCAT for Victory flashcard course teaches you to become an Anki master. The course will teach you:

How the Anki algorithm works.
Required and recommended add-ons to improve your efficiency and experience using Anki.
How to set up your settings.
How to use the browser to search through the Anki deck
How to understand the available statistics.

Those videos are just the tip of the iceberg. Everyone who signs up also gets immediate access to 4,100+ MCAT for Victory flashcards for free. Click here to sign up!

Note that the way you study is extremely important to help improve retention and efficiency. In other words, you should first learn and deeply understand the content before attempting to memorize anything. The best way to use the MCAT for Victory flashcards is demonstrated in the free course.

Step Four: Applying Knowledge

The MCAT tests critical thinking abilities just as much as it tests one's ability to understand and memorize scientific principles. Therefore, the final step in studying for the MCAT is through practice questions and passages similar to the real MCAT. Fortunately, the AAMC (the MCAT test creators) released 2,300 questions that are incredibly similar to the actual MCAT. The AAMC MCAT Official Prep Online-Only Bundle is hands down the best resource to use to apply your MCAT knowledge and test your retention. The bundle includes:

Four Official MCAT Practice Exams
Biology Question Packs
Chemistry Question Packs
CARS Question Packs
Physics Question Packs

We recommend the official AAMC practice material without any affiliation or monetary gain. Make sure you mimic the actual MCAT exam as you go through the available questions.

Putting Everything Together

The MCAT for Victory course includes everything you need to get a competitive MCAT score. Four schedule options are available, ranging from 6-week schedules to 16-week schedules. Each tells you precisely what you need to do every single day. By following the plans and completing all required tasks, you will be in an excellent position to get the score you deserve on test day. We are so confident in our course that we even have a higher score guarantee and a 510+ guarantee.
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How to register for the MCAT?

The first step in registering for the MCAT is deciding on a test date. Next, head over to AAMC's official website and create an account. Then, click on "Start Exam Registration" and complete all of the required forms on your profile. The final step is to select an exam date and location.

There are different costs associated with changing your exam date or cancelling your MCAT test completely. Check out the scheduling fee information to learn more about potential refunds.