MCAT Test Sections
Achieving admission into medical school depends largely on the MCAT scores and the grade point average (GPA) of the student. All the sections except for the writing sample section are graded on 1-15 scale. The Writing Sample Section in comparison of the rest of the section is not of much importance and is graded alphabetical.
Verbal Reasoning
The verbal reasoning section has about 9 passages followed by multiple-choice questions. The passages are usually half a page long with questions related to the topics discussed in the passage. This section has about 65 questions, which are divided equally among the passages provided. The passages are pertaining to topics related to science, literature, politics, sociology, etc. The questions at the end of the passage usually require the students to decide on the style, content and themes of the passage.
The Sciences:
All the questions in the Biological and Physical sciences are multiple choices. While most of the questions are factual and stand on their own, some of the questions require the students to discern the scientific issues related to a problem. Under these sections the students are usually provided with passages describing a biological or chemical concept or problem and answer the questions that follow these passages.
Biological Sciences
Most of the questions under this section need the students to solve problems and integrate two or more concepts.
This section consists of two sub-sections:
- Organic Chemistry
- Biology
The chief emphasis is on applied organic chemistry. This section deals with testing the student’s skills and understanding needed to do actual experiments such as purifications, isolations, etc. Knowledge of integrating the facts already known is of crucial importance while dealing with this section.
Covers all the biological topics such as hormones, genetics, etc. the best way to prepare for this section is brushing up on the subjects in human physiology.
Physical Sciences section
Of the four sections of the MCAT, the Physical Sciences section deals with basic Physics and Freshman/Introductory (Inorganic) Chemistry questions. The students are usually provided with a periodic table of elements and require the students to solve problems by giving relevant formulas or now the relationships between elements. Though is helps a lot to memorize formulas in order to deal with this section, students should also require knowledge of how variables interact among themselves. This section has both the passage-question format along with the random questions.
Writing Sample Section
The writing sample section requires the students to write two essays in the provided 30 minutes for each essay. In order to respond to the essay section, students will have to first find the statement that he agrees with in relation to the topic of discussion. Students will have to prove the topic statement false by providing adequate examples and then merge the two examples. The purpose of this section is to express that the students argumentative power and the ability to lead the reader towards his objective.