Test Day Timeline

~7.5 hours (including breaks)

The MCAT is divided into four major sections, each with its own unique challenges. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:

Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (95 minutes)
This section tests your understanding of the basic principles of chemistry, physics, and biology as they apply to living systems. It combines both science knowledge and your ability to apply that knowledge to problem-solving in biological contexts.
- What to Expect:
  Expect questions involving organic chemistry, biochemistry, general chemistry, and physics. You’ll be asked to analyze experimental data, understand chemical reactions, and apply principles from physics to biological processes.
- Tips for Success:
  Focus on mastering key concepts such as acid-base chemistry, thermodynamics, molecular biology, and electrochemistry. You’ll also need to interpret graphs, equations, and data. Practice solving these types of questions efficiently under timed conditions.

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) (90 minutes)
The CARS section is one of the most challenging because it tests your reading comprehension and reasoning skills rather than your scientific knowledge. It involves reading passages from a variety of disciplines and answering questions that assess your ability to analyze and critique the material.
- What to Expect:
  You’ll be presented with dense, often complex passages on topics such as humanities, social sciences, and ethics. The questions are designed to assess your ability to extract key ideas, understand arguments, and evaluate the reasoning behind them.
- Tips for Success:
  CARS requires consistent practice to develop your ability to quickly comprehend dense passages and efficiently answer critical reasoning questions. Focus on improving reading speed while maintaining comprehension. Practice analyzing arguments and identifying assumptions and conclusions.

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (95 minutes)
This section tests your understanding of biology and biochemistry, with an emphasis on molecular biology, genetics, and metabolism. Like the Chemical & Physical Foundations section, this one integrates knowledge of basic sciences with biological concepts.
- What to Expect:
  Questions will cover molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and cellular biology. You may be asked to interpret biochemical pathways, analyze experimental data, or solve problems involving enzymes and metabolic reactions.
- Tips for Success:
  Make sure you have a strong grasp of biochemistry concepts like enzyme function, metabolic cycles (e.g., glycolysis, Krebs cycle), and genetics. Be prepared for data analysis questions that require interpreting laboratory results, graphs, and experimental setups.

Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (95 minutes)
This section assesses your knowledge of psychology and sociology as they relate to human behavior, including mental health, social dynamics, and cultural influences. It also ties in biological concepts when discussing behavior and mental processes.
- What to Expect:
  Expect questions on psychological theories, social structures, mental health conditions, and how the brain influences behavior. You'll also need to know how social, cultural, and environmental factors affect health and decision-making.
- Tips for Success:
  Focus on understanding key psychological theories and frameworks (e.g., behaviorism, cognitive theory, attachment theory). Learn about various mental health conditions and how they impact social interactions and individual behavior. Don’t neglect the sociology concepts related to societal structures, inequality, and health disparities.

These breaks are essential for maintaining focus and energy throughout the test. Use your break time to stretch

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