What subjects are on the MCAT | 2024 Complete Subject details

What subjects are on the MCAT? Some students go for the Medical College Admission Test without studying the main subjects the test questions will come from. Many students still think it is just like their normal classroom test that requires the study of only textbooks, but MCAT is different. It still tests students’ academic knowledge. However, there is much focus on the student’s critical and analytical reasoning skills. 

The Medical College Admission Test has about three sections that focus on testing student’s knowledge on some science topics. In this test section, students are required to provide their own information on questions using their contexts and understanding. This part is quite different from the critical analytical and Reasoning section that examines students’ critical thinking abilities. 

Overview of the MCAT 

The MCAT is an abbreviation for Medical College Admission Test. It is a computer based standardized test that is required for every student preparing to gain admission into any medical school in Canada or the United States. The main purpose of this test is to know which student is truly prepared to enter a medical school. It tests their academic standing and critical/analytical thinking skills. 

Some students see this test as the major hindrance from them getting admitted into a medical school. I won’t agree with them less because not all students can pass the test since it’s very difficult. However, to practice as a medical doctor, you need to show excellent readiness to handle any area or specialization you will be handling. 

What subjects are on the MCAT? 

The MCAT this year will have about 230 questions which will measure your understanding of major subjects required in the Medical field. The complete list of subjects on the MCAT are General chemistry, Organic chemistry, General biology, Biochemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology and Critical Analysis and Reasoning section. 

The subjects above will be combined to form four sections which are:

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior. 

Note: the four sections will not have equal marks since some will be more important than the other. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section will give only %15, physics is about %25, General chemistry %30, and biology %65, which is the subject with the highest mark. 

MCAT Sections, number of question, time allocated and score range 

1. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

This section will have a total question of 59 (10 passages, 44 passage-based questions, 15 discrete questions). A total of 95 minutes is allocated to this section and the subject to be tested on includes Biochemistry (25%), Biology (5%), General Chemistry (30%), Organic Chemistry (15%), Physics (25%). The score will range from 118 to 132.

2. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

This section will consist of 53 total (9 passages) to be answered in 90 minutes. The subjects you will be tested on in this section are Foundations of Comprehension (30%), Reasoning Within the Text (30%), Reasoning Beyond the Text (40%). The score will range from 118 to 132. 

3. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

This section will have about 59 questions in total with 10 passages, 44 passage-based questions, 15 discrete questions to be answered in 95 minutes. The subjects to be tested on include Biochemistry (25%), Biology (65%), General Chemistry (5%), Organic Chemistry (5%). The score range is 118 to 132. 

4. Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

This section will consist of 59 questions in total (10 passages, 44 passage-based questions, 15 discrete questions) to be answered in 95 minutes. The subjects you will be tested on in this section are Biology (5%), Psychology (65%), Sociology (30%). The score will range from 118 to 132. 

There will be breaks in the test and the total score will range from 472 to 528. 

What knowledge will be tested on each section of the MCAT test? 

Every section is unique and will deeply test students’ understanding of the subjects combination. 

The Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section will focus on your understanding of life, growth, reproduction, energy and many more. You will see questions on how cells in people’s bodies work. 

The Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section will test your understanding of chemicals and how they work in the human body. It will equally test your knowledge of how physical science and biological sciences function. 

The Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section will test how you understand the research implementations techniques and statistics. 

The MCAT Critical Analysis And Reasoning Skills (CARS) section may look very basic but very rooted and requires attention while preparing for the tests. This section tests your understanding of ethics in making decisions, culture, Philosophy and overall ability to think outside classroom knowledge. 

Conclusion 

What subjects are on the MCAT? There are many questions that make up the exam with all major science areas covered. Students still need to go beyond the classroom knowledge to understand techniques and ethics in the Medical field.