MCAT(Medical college Admission Test) Syllabus

MCAT syllabus contains 4 sections: Verbal Reasoning, Writing Sample, Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences. Two sections tests candidate’s ability to understand and writing skills. Other two section tests scientific understandings in physical and biological sciences.

MCAT Verbal Reasoning Syllabus

The Verbal Reasoning section of the MCAT is designed to assess candidate’s ability to understand, reasoning, study, and apply information and arguments presented in prose texts.
It contains a test which consists of several passages, each 500 to 600 words long, taken from the humanities and social sciences and from areas of the natural sciences not tested on the MCAT Physical and Biological Sciences sections.
Each passage is accompanied by 5 to 10 multiple-choice questions based on the information presented in the passage. Since the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences include a vast range of subjects. Since courses in these areas differ greatly in content, test questions will not cover a specific set of topics.
Candidates will not be tested for specific subject knowledge in the disciplines covered on the test.

MCAT Writing Sample Syllabus

MCAT Writing Sample Section comprises of two items, each composed of a brief topic statement and a set of writing tasks designed to elicit a unified, coherent, first-draft essay exploring the meaning and implications of the statement.

MCAT Physical Sciences Syllabus

The Physical Sciences sections contain multiple-choice questions.
Most of the questions accompany brief informational passages; a smaller number are independent of any passage and of each other.
Questions assess knowledge of basic concepts in Mathematics, chemistry, and physics through their application to the solution of scientific problems.

The content tested on the physical sciences section of the MCAT is drawn from Physics and General Chemistry. Questions are roughly divided between the two and are mixed throughout the section. Tested physics concepts include Newtonian mechanics, thermodynamics, magnetism, light and optics, nuclear physics, and atomic phenomena. Chemistry concept that a candidate can expect to see include quantum numbers, the Periodic Table, bonding, phases of matter, and acids and bases. In mathematics, candidates need to know the basics, like algebra, exponents, logs, and a bit of trigonometry. There isn't any calculus, differential equations, or matrix mechanics.

MCAT Biological Sciences Syllabus

The Biological Sciences sections contain multiple-choice questions.
Many informational passages appear along with questions; a smaller number are independent of any passage and of each other.
Questions try to assess candidate’s knowledge of basic concepts in biology and chemistry through their application to the solution of science problems.

Questions in the Biological Sciences section are drawn from biology and organic chemistry, with more emphasis on biology. Tested biology concepts include cell division, muscular and skeletal systems, the lymphatic system, respiratory and circulatory systems, enzymatic activity, viruses, and the nervous system. Organic chemistry concepts that candidates can expect to see include nomenclature, stereochemistry, spectroscopy, hydrocarbons, amino acids and proteins, laboratory techniques, and hydrolysis and dehydration.

MCAT Syllabus

Sections	MCAT Subject Topics
Critical Analysis& Reasoning Skills	Ethics, philosophy, diverse cultures, population health, and a large range of topics from social sciences and humanities disciplines Test comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills
Biological & Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems	Introductory biology, Chemistry concepts: organic, and inorganic Biology: Cellular and molecular (first-semester biochemistry) Natural sciences: Scientific inquiry and reasoning, research methods, and statistics Basic Biochemistry concepts: first-semester biochemistry Statistics concepts and introductory research methods
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behaviour	Social and behavioral sciences: scientific inquiry and reasoning, research methods, and statistics skills. Concepts of psychology, sociology, and biology about the behavioral and socio-cultural health determinants Biology concepts of mental processes and behavior Psychology and sociology concepts Introductory statistics concepts and research methods of introductory science
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems	Biochemistry concepts Introductory biology, chemistry: organic and inorganic, and concepts of physics Show scientific inquiry and reasoning, research methods, and statistics skills as applied to the natural sciences Molecular Biology (first semester) Introductory statistics concepts and research methods used for introductory science courses

MCAT Sections and Scores:

MCAT scores are calculated based on the overall score, for which scores of four sections are combined. The total score ranges from 472 to 528. The midpoint is 500.

Section	Score
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems	118-132, midpoint:125
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems	118-132, midpoint:125
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behaviour	118-132, midpoint:125
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills	118-132, midpoint:125
Total	472 to 528, midpoint:500