MCAT Exam Pattern: Mastering Exam Pattern, Preparation Tips, and More

How do the admissions committee decide to evaluate whether you will be successful in a US medical school and whether you have the necessary knowledge and skill-sets? This is where the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) assumes importance. 
All medical schools in the US and several in Canada require MCAT scores for admission. The MCAT exam pattern is a multiple-choice computer-based and standardized test. 85,000+ students appear for the examination each year, as per the authorities. This is a testament to its acceptability and importance for medical school admissions.

Overview of the MCAT Exam Sections 

Knowing about the MCAT test pattern beforehand is imperative if you wish to crack the examination. The examination is divided into four sections as per the MCAT pattern, tailored to evaluate critical thinking, problem-solving and knowledge of behavioral, natural and social sciences concepts/principles necessary for studying medicine. The present version of the examination was launched in 2015 by the AAMC with four sections. 
 

Here is an overview of each section and some other important aspects: 

1.Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems- 

• This section is about solving problems through the knowledge of biological and biochemical concepts along with reasoning and scientific inquiry. 
• It tests introductory inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and biology concepts along with introductory biochemistry concepts at the university/college level. 
• It also tests molecular and cellular biology topics at the same level along with research methods and statistics. 
• Aspirants also have to showcase their reasoning, scientific inquiry, statistics and other skills along with reasoning methods. 
• There are 59 questions (passage-based and discrete questions) to be answered in 95 minutes. 
• You will get access to the periodic table while answering questions. 

2. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems- 

• This section requires students to demonstrate their knowledge of physical and chemical foundational concepts. 
• It tests introductory organic and inorganic chemistry, biology and physics concepts along with biochemistry concepts at the university/college level. 
• It also evaluates molecular biology topics, basic research methods, statistics concepts and abilities pertaining to scientific inquiry. 
• The examination spans 95 minutes with 59 questions (passage-based and discrete questions). 
• You will get access to the periodic table while answering questions. 

3. Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior- 

• This section seeks to evaluate your abilities to solve problems through knowledge of various foundational concepts and reasoning. 
• It tests biology, sociology, and psychology concepts that create the learning foundation in medical school. 
• It also tests concepts taught in first-semester sociology and psychology courses along with those linked to mental behavior and processes taught in several universities and colleges (introductory biology). 
• The examination also tests statistics concepts and research methods as described in introductory science courses by baccalaureate faculty and requires demonstration of research methods, scientific reasoning and inquiry and statistics skills. 
• The section has 59 questions (passage-based and discrete questions) to be answered in 95 minutes. 

4. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills- 

• This section is like many verbal reasoning examinations, including questions and passages that evaluate abilities to understand things you read. 
• You will have to show your analytical skills while you cover passages from disciplines like the humanities and social science and more. 
• The passages are comparatively shorter, usually about 500-600 words with complexity and advanced vocabulary and styles of writing. 
• Everything required to answer the questions is contained in the passages and questions without any additional knowledge being necessary. 
• You will have to critically analyze information given in passages that draw from population health, different cultures, ethics, philosophy and other fields. 
• There are 53 questions (all passage-based) covering 90 minutes in total. 

Now that you have an idea of the MCAT exam pattern¸ here’s learning a little more about the question types and formats. 

Format of MCAT Questions

MCAT questions come in various types, right from MCQs (multiple-choice questions to passage-based questions). Usually, a section can have stand-alone questions in addition to passage-based and multiple-choice ones. Standalone questions are usually focused on evaluating knowledge of any specific concept. 

The Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section only comes with passage-based questions, unlike the others. These can be subdivided into various types like the passage detail, main idea, application/extrapolation, and implication/inference and so on. 

MCAT Scoring System

Along with knowing more about the MCAT exam pattern, you should also learn more about the scoring system. You will get five scores for the MCAT examination, one each for the sections and a combined total score. Here are some core points that you should keep in mind: 

• Every section is scored from 118-132, with the midpoint being 125. 
• Scores for the four sections are combined for getting the total score. This varies between 472 and 528, with the midpoint being 500. 
• The number-correct scores on the four MCQ sections are based on the number of questions answered correctly by you. There are no penalties for wrong answers. 
• The number-correct score is converted to the scaled score (118-132). 
• The conversion procedure is done through equating, while also making up for smaller difficulty variations between question sets. The exact conversion will not be constant, since every conversion is tailored as per the specific question set in the test form. 
• The scaled score is reported on the basis of a 15-point scale and usually offers a more accurate evaluation of performance than number correct scores. Students with the same preparation may get the same scaled score, although number correct scores may vary. 
• The MCAT is not graded on the basis of a curve since it is scaled or equated. 
• Each examination is scaled and equated after every testing day. The whole process requires 30-35 days on average.  This helps in taking care of differences when the number of correctly-answered questions is converted to the MCAT score scale. 
• The percentile ranks given on the score report indicate the percentage of test takers or aspirants who got the same scores or lower scores than yours. This will help you understand how you scored in comparison to other aspirants. The percentile ranks are updated each year on 1st May with data from the last three years. 

Having sufficient knowledge of the scoring system is necessary in order to correctly understand and interpret your score and assess your performance. Let us now look at some preparation strategies for the examination. 

Strategies for MCAT Exam Preparation 

Of course, knowing the MCAT test pattern is important along with the basic divisions of the examination. Yet, what are some helpful strategies that you can adopt for preparation? Here’s taking a look: 

• Use the free practice examination launched by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) for the testing year 2023. The official full-length examination comes with a scaled score and percentile rank for aspirants, comprising 230 questions from previous MCAT tests with the same experience as the actual examination. 
• Make use of additional features like explanations for answers in all sections. 
• Create your personal flashcards at the Official Prep Hub for the MCAT. 
• Choose your confidence level while answering questions and review ratings in the Biology Question Pack Volume 1 and the CARS Question Pack. 
• Create a personalized study plan with the six-step guide developed by the AAMC. You can visit the Official Prep Hub for this purpose. 
• Use all the free planning and study resources available on the platform including the Official Prep Resources, Premed webinars (guidance, resources and tips), Khan Academy videos and the MCAT Sample Question Guide among others. 

From the MCAT exam pattern to valuable study resources, the official platform contains everything you need to succeed in the test. At the same time, keep practicing and perusing additional materials to boost your preparation. Cracking the MCAT may seem difficult, but it is possible with persistence, smart strategizing and a good grasp over the material.