Information provided by www.kaptest.com Many people preparing for the MCAT fall prey to
the myth that the exam is a straight forward science
test. However, that's not completely the case.
The MCAT is primarily a thinking exam, testing
your thought process, as well as your science
knowledge. Every section is meant to gauge the
higher-order thinking skills necessary for success
in medical school:
analytical reasoning
abstract thinking
problem-solving
With this perspective, you may be left asking,
"What about the sciences?"
Of course, you will have to know the basic,
fundamental concepts of physics, general chemistry,
biology, and organic chemistry. However, the key
point is that knowing these basics is just the
beginning of doing well on the MCAT.
Anatomy of the MCAT
The MCAT consists of four timed sections always
appearing in the same order:
Verbal Reasoning
Physical Sciences
Writing Sample
Biological Sciences
Verbal Reasoning
85 minutes
65 multiple choice questions
9-10 passages with 6-10 questions each
Focus: critical reading skills
Physical Sciences
100 minutes
77 multiple choice questions
10-11 passages with 4-8 questions each
15 stand-alone questions
Focus: basic chemistry and physics concepts,
analytical reasoning, and data interpretation
Biological Sciences
100 minutes
77 multiple choice questions
10-11 passages with 4-8 questions each
15 stand-alone questions
Focus: basic biology and organic chemistry concepts,
analytical reasoning, and data interpretation
Writing Sample
60 minutes
2 essay questions
30 minutes per essay
Focus: critical thinking, intellectual organization,
and written communication skills
More Information
Learn more about med school admissions at
www.kaptest.com/premed .
Learn about Kaplan's MCAT programs at
www.kaptest.com/mcat .
Enroll in a Kaplan course at www.kaptest.com/enroll .
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