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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