MCAT®OrganicChemistryReview
2018–2019
EditedbyAlexanderStoneMacnow,MD

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TableofContents
MCATOrganicChemistryReview
Cover
TitlePage
CopyrightInformation
TheKaplanMCATReviewTeam
AboutScientificAmerican
Preface
AbouttheMCAT
HowThisBookWasCreated
UsingThisBook
Chapter1:Nomenclature
Introduction
1.1IUPACNamingConventions
1.2HydrocarbonsandAlcohols
1.3AldehydesandKetones
1.4CarboxylicAcidsandDerivatives
1.5SummaryofFunctionalGroups
Conclusion
ConceptSummary
AnswerstoConceptChecks
SharedConcepts
DiscretePracticeQuestions

DiscretePracticeQuestions:AnswersandExplanations
Chapter2:Isomers
Introduction
2.1StructuralIsomers
2.2Stereoisomers
2.3RelativeandAbsoluteConfigurations
Conclusion
ConceptSummary
AnswerstoConceptChecks
EquationstoRemember
SharedConcepts
DiscretePracticeQuestions
DiscretePracticeQuestions:AnswersandExplanations
Chapter3:Bonding
Introduction
3.1AtomicOrbitalsandQuantumNumbers
3.2MolecularOrbitals
3.3Hybridization
Conclusion
ConceptSummary
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AnswerstoConceptChecks
SharedConcepts
DiscretePracticeQuestions
DiscretePracticeQuestions:AnswersandExplanations
Chapter4:AnalyzingOrganicReactions
Introduction
4.1AcidsandBases

4.2Nucleophiles,Electrophiles,andLeavingGroups
4.3Oxidation–ReductionReactions
4.4Chemoselectivity
4.5StepstoProblemSolving
Conclusion
ConceptSummary
AnswerstoConceptChecks
EquationstoRemember
SharedConcepts
DiscretePracticeQuestions
DiscretePracticeQuestions:AnswersandExplanations
Chapter5:Alcohols
Introduction
5.1DescriptionandProperties
5.2ReactionsofAlcohols
5.3ReactionsofPhenols
Conclusion
ConceptSummary
AnswerstoConceptChecks
SharedConcepts
DiscretePracticeQuestions
DiscretePracticeQuestions:AnswersandExplanations
Chapter6:AldehydesandKetonesI:ElectrophilicityandOxidation—Reduction
Introduction
6.1DescriptionandProperties
6.2NucleophilicAdditionReactions
6.3Oxidation–ReductionReactions
Conclusion
ConceptSummary
AnswerstoConceptChecks

SharedConcepts
DiscretePracticeQuestions
DiscretePracticeQuestions:AnswersandExplanations
Chapter7:AldehydeandKetonesII:Enolates
Introduction
7.1GeneralPrinciples
7.2EnolateChemistry
7.3AldolCondensation
Conclusion
ConceptSummary
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AnswerstoConceptChecks
SharedConcepts
DiscretePracticeQuestions
DiscretePracticeQuestions:AnswersandExplanations
Chapter8:CarboxylicAcids
Introduction
8.1DescriptionandProperties
8.2ReactionsofCarboxylicAcids
Conclusion
ConceptSummary
AnswerstoConceptChecks
SharedConcepts
DiscretePracticeQuestions
DiscretePracticeQuestions:AnswersandExplanations
Chapter9:CarboxylicAcidDerivatives
Introduction
9.1Amides,Esters,andAnhydrides

9.2ReactivityPrinciples
9.3NucleophilicAcylSubstitutionReactions
Conclusion
ConceptSummary
AnswerstoConceptChecks
SharedConcepts
DiscretePracticeQuestions
DiscretePracticeQuestions:AnswersandExplanations
Chapter10:Nitrogen-andPhosphorus-ContainingCompounds
Introduction
10.1AminoAcids,Peptides,andProteins
10.2SynthesisofαAminoAcids
10.3Phosphorus-ContainingCompounds
Conclusion
ConceptSummary
AnswerstoConceptChecks
SharedConcepts
DiscretePracticeQuestions
DiscretePracticeQuestions:AnswersandExplanations
Chapter11:Spectroscopy
Introduction
11.1InfraredSpectroscopy
11.2UltravioletSpectroscopy
11.3NuclearMagneticResonanceSpectroscopy
Conclusion
ConceptSummary
AnswerstoConceptChecks
SharedConcepts
DiscretePracticeQuestions
DiscretePracticeQuestions:AnswersandExplanations

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Chapter12:SeparationsandPurifications
Introduction
12.1Solubility-BasedMethods
12.2Distillation
12.3Chromatography
Conclusion
ConceptSummary
AnswerstoConceptChecks
EquationstoRemember
SharedConcepts
DiscretePracticeQuestions
DiscretePracticeQuestions:AnswersandExplanations
AboutThisBook
Glossary
ArtCredits
ScientificAmericanAd:DiveDeepintoSpecialEditions

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MCATđisaregisteredtrademarkoftheAssociationofAmericanMedicalColleges,whichneithersponsorsnorendorsesthisproduct.
Thispublicationisdesignedtoprovideaccurateandauthoritativeinformationinregardtothesubjectmattercovered.Itissoldwith
theunderstandingthatthepublisherisnotengagedinrenderingmedical,legal,accounting,orotherprofessionalservices.Iflegal
adviceorotherexpertassistanceisrequired,theservicesofacompetentprofessionalshouldbesought.
â2017byKaplan,Inc.
PublishedbyKaplanPublishing,adivisionofKaplan,Inc.
750ThirdAvenue

NewYork,NY10017
KaplanPublishingprintbooksareavailableatspecialquantitydiscountstouseforsalespromotions,employeepremiums,or
educationalpurposes.Formoreinformationortopurchasebooks,pleasecalltheSimon&Schusterspecialsalesdepartmentat866506-1949.

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TheKaplanMCATReviewTeam
AlexanderStoneMacnow,MD
Editor-in-Chief
DepartmentofPathologyandLaboratoryMedicine
HospitaloftheUniversityofPennsylvania
KellyKyker-Snowman,MS
KaplanMCATFaculty
ReviewersandEditors:ElmarR.Aliyev;JamesBurns;JonathanCornfield;AlishaMaureenCrowley;
BrandonDeason,MD;NikolaiDorofeev,MD;BenjaminDowner,MS;ColinDoyle;Christopher
Durland;M.DominicEggert;MarilynEngle;EleniM.Eren;RaefAliFadel;ElizabethFlagge;Adam
Grey;TyraHall-Pogar,PhD;ScottHuff;SamerT.Ismail;ElizabethA.Kudlaty;NingfeiLi;JohnP.
Mahon;MatthewA.Meier;NainikaNanda;CarolineNkemdilimOpene;KaitlynE.Prenger;Uneeb
Qureshi;DerekRusnak,MA;KristenL.Russell,ME;BelaG.Starkman,PhD;MichaelPaulTomani,MS;
NicholasM.White;AllisonAnnWilkes,MS;KerrannaWilliamson,MBA;andTonyYu
ThankstoKimBowers;TimEich;SamanthaFallon;OwenFarcy;DanFrey;RobinGarmise;Rita
Garhaffner;JoannaGraham;AdamGrey;AllisonHarm;BethHoffberg;AaronLemon-Strauss;Keith
Lubeley;DianeMcGarvey;PetrosMinasi;JohnPolstein;DeeangeleePooran-Kublall,MD,MPH;
RochelleRothstein,MD;LarryRudman;SylviaTidwellScheuring;CarlySchnur;KarinTucker;Lee
Weiss;andthecountlessotherswhomadethisprojectpossible.

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AboutScientificAmerican
Astheworld’spremierscienceandtechnologymagazine,andtheoldestcontinuouslypublished
magazineintheUnitedStates,ScientificAmericaniscommittedtobringingthemostimportant
developmentsinmodernscience,medicine,andtechnologytoourworldwideaudienceinan
understandable,credible,andprovocativeformat.
Foundedin1845andonthe“cuttingedge”eversince,ScientificAmericanboastsover150Nobel
laureateauthorsincludingAlbertEinstein,FrancisCrick,StanleyPrusiner,andRichardAxel.
ScientificAmericanisaforumwherescientifictheoriesanddiscoveriesareexplainedtoabroader
audience.
ScientificAmericanpublisheditsfirstforeigneditionin1890,andin1979wasthefirstWestern
magazinepublishedinthePeople’sRepublicofChina.Today,ScientificAmericanispublishedin14
foreignlanguageeditions.ScientificAmericanisalsoaleadingonlinedestination
(www.ScientificAmerican.com),providingthelatestsciencenewsandexclusivefeaturesto
millionsofvisitorseachmonth.
Theknowledgethatfillsourpageshasthepowertosparknewideas,paradigms,andvisionsforthe
future.Asscienceracesforward,ScientificAmericancontinuestocoverthepromisingstrides,
inevitablesetbacksandchallenges,andnewmedicaldiscoveriesastheyunfold.

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Preface
Andnowitstarts:yourlong,yetfruitfuljourneytowardwearingawhitecoat.Proudlywearingthat
whitecoat,though,ishopefullyonlypartofyourmotivation.Youarereadingthisbookbecauseyou
wanttobeahealer.
Ifyou'reseriousaboutgoingtomedicalschool,thenyouarelikelyalreadyfamiliarwiththe
importanceoftheMCATinmedicalschooladmissions.Whiletheholisticreviewprocessputs
additionalweightonyourexperiences,extracurricularactivities,andpersonalattributes,thefact
remains:alongwithyourGPA,yourMCATscoreremainsoneofthetwomostimportant
componentsofyourapplicationportfolio—atleastearlyintheadmissionsprocess.Eachadditional

pointyouscoreontheMCATpushesyouinfrontofthousandsofotherstudentsandmakesyouan
evenmoreattractiveapplicant.ButtheMCATisnotsimplyanobstacletoovercome;itisan
opportunitytoshowschoolsthatyouwillbeastrongstudentandafutureleaderinmedicine.
WeatKaplantakeourjobsveryseriouslyandaimtohelpstudentsseesuccessnotonlyonthe
MCAT,butasfuturephysicians.Weworkwithourlearningscienceexpertstoensurethatwe'reusing
themostup-to-dateteachingtechniquesinourresources.Multiplemembersofourteamhold
advanceddegreesinmedicineorassociatedbiomedicalsciences,andarecommittedtothehighest
levelofmedicaleducation.KaplanhasbeenworkingwiththeMCATforover50yearsandour
commitmenttopremedstudentsisunflagging;infact,StanleyKaplancreatedthiscompanywhen
hehaddifficultybeingacceptedtomedicalschoolduetounfairquotasystemsthatexistedatthe
time.
Westandnowatthebeginningofanewerainmedicaleducation.Ascitizensofthis21st-century
worldofhealthcare,wearechargedwithcreatingapatient-oriented,culturallycompetent,costconscious,universallyavailable,technicallyadvanced,andresearch-focusedhealthcaresystem,run
bycompassionateproviders.Sufficeittosay,thisisnoeasytask.Problem-basedlearning,
integratedcurricula,andclassesininterpersonalskillsaresomeoftheresponsestothisdemandfor
anexcellentworkforce—aworkforceofwhichyou'llsoonbeapart.
We'rethrilledthatyou'vechosenustohelpyouonthisjourney.Pleasereachouttoustoshareyour
challenges,concerns,andsuccesses.Together,wewillshapethefutureofmedicineintheUnited
Statesandabroad;welookforwardtohelpingyoubecomethedoctoryoudeservetobe.
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Goodluck!
AlexanderStoneMacnow,MD
Editor-in-Chief
DepartmentofPathologyandLaboratoryMedicine
HospitaloftheUniversityofPennsylvania
BA,Musicology—BostonUniversity,2008
MD—PerelmanSchoolofMedicineattheUniversityofPennsylvania,2013


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AbouttheMCAT
ANATOMYOFTHEMCAT
HereisageneraloverviewofthestructureofTestDay:
Section

NumberofQuestions

TimeAllotted

ExamineeAgreement

8minutes

Tutorial(optional)

10minutes

ChemicalandPhysicalFoundationsofBiologicalSystems

59

Break(optional)

95minutes
10minutes

CriticalAnalysisandReasoningSkills(CARS)


53

LunchBreak(optional)

90minutes
30minutes

BiologicalandBiochemicalFoundationsofLivingSystems

59

Break(optional)

95minutes
10minutes

Psychological,Social,andBiologicalFoundationsofBehavior

59

95minutes

VoidQuestion

5minutes

SatisfactionSurvey(optional)

5minutes


ThestructureofthefoursectionsoftheMCATisshownbelow.
ChemicalandPhysicalFoundationsofBiologicalSystems
Time
Format

95minutes
59questions
10passages
44questionsarepassage-based,and15arediscrete(stand-alone)questions.
Scorebetween118and132

WhatItTests

Biochemistry:25%
Biology:5%
GeneralChemistry:30%

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OrganicChemistry:15%
Physics:25%
CriticalAnalysisandReasoningSkills(CARS)
Time
Format

90minutes
53questions
9passages

Allquestionsarepassage-based.Therearenodiscrete(stand-alone)questions.
Scorebetween118and132

WhatItTests

Disciplines:
Humanities:50%
SocialSciences:50%
Skills:
FoundationsofComprehension:30%
ReasoningWithintheText:30%
ReasoningBeyondtheText:40%

BiologicalandBiochemicalFoundationsofLivingSystems
Time
Format

95minutes
59questions
10passages
44questionsarepassage-based,and15arediscrete(stand-alone)questions.
Scorebetween118and132

WhatItTests

Biochemistry:25%
Biology:65%
GeneralChemistry:5%
OrganicChemistry:5%


Psychological,Social,andBiologicalFoundationsofBehavior
Time
Format

95minutes
59questions
10passages
44questionsarepassage-based,and15arediscrete(stand-alone)questions.
Scorebetween118and132

WhatItTests

Biology:5%
Psychology:65%
Sociology:30%

Total

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TestingTime

375minutes(6hours,15minutes)

TotalSeatTime

453minutes(7hours,33minutes)

Questions


230

Score

472to528

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SCIENTIFICINQUIRYANDREASONINGSKILLS(SIRS)
TheAAMChasdefinedfourScientificInquiryandReasoningSkills(SIRS)thatwillbetestedinthe
threesciencesectionsoftheMCAT:
KnowledgeofScientificConceptsandPrinciples(35%ofquestions)
ScientificReasoningandProblem-Solving(45%ofquestions)
ReasoningAbouttheDesignandExecutionofResearch(10%ofquestions)
Data-BasedandStatisticalReasoning(10%ofquestions)
Let'sseehoweachonebreaksdownintomorespecificTestDaybehaviors.Notethatthebullet
pointsofspecificobjectivesforeachoftheSIRSaretakendirectlyfromtheOfficialGuidetothe
MCATExam;thedescriptionsofwhatthesebehaviorsmeanandsamplequestionstems,however,
arewrittenbyKaplan.
Skill1:KnowledgeofScientificConceptsandPrinciples

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ThisisprobablytheleastsurprisingofthefourSIRS;thetestingofscienceknowledgeis,afterall,
oneofthesignaturequalitiesoftheMCAT.Skill1questionswillrequireyoutodothefollowing:
Recognizecorrectscientificprinciples
Identifytherelationshipsamongcloselyrelatedconcepts

Identifytherelationshipsbetweendifferentrepresentationsofconcepts(verbal,symbolic,
graphic)
Identifyexamplesofobservationsthatillustratescientificprinciples
Usemathematicalequationstosolveproblems
AtKaplan,wesimplycalltheseScienceKnowledgeorSkill1questions.AnotherwaytothinkofSkill
1questionsisas“one-step”problems.Thesinglestepiseithertorealizewhichscientificconcept
thequestionstemissuggestingortotaketheconceptstatedinthequestionstemandidentify
whichanswerchoiceisanaccurateapplicationofit.Skill1questionsareparticularlyprominent
amongdiscretequestions(thosenotassociatedwithapassage).Thesequestionsarean
opportunitytogainquickpointsonTestDay—ifyouknowthescienceconceptattachedtothe
question,thenthat'sit!OnTestDay,35%ofthequestionsineachsciencesectionwillbeSkill1
questions.
HerearesomesampleSkill1questionstems:
HowwouldaproponentoftheJames-Langetheoryofemotioninterpretthefindingsofthestudy
citedthepassage?
WhichofthefollowingmostaccuratelydescribesthefunctionofFSHinthehumanfemale
menstrualcycle?
IftheproductsofReaction1andReaction2werecombinedinsolution,theresultingreaction
wouldform:
Ionicbondsaremaintainedbywhichofthefollowingforces?
Skill2:ScientificReasoningandProblem-Solving
TheMCATsciencesectionsdo,ofcourse,movebeyondtestingstraightforwardscienceknowledge;
Skill2questionsarethemostcommonwayinwhichitdoesso.AtKaplan,wealsocalltheseCritical
Thinkingquestions.Skill2questionswillrequireyoutodothefollowing:
Reasonaboutscientificprinciples,theories,andmodels
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Analyzeandevaluatescientificexplanationsandpredictions
Evaluateargumentsaboutcausesandconsequences

Bringtogethertheory,observations,andevidencetodrawconclusions
Recognizescientificfindingsthatchallengeorinvalidateascientifictheoryormodel
Determineandusescientificformulastosolveproblems
JustasSkill1questionscanbethoughtofas“one-step”problems,manySkill2questionsare“twostep”problems,andmoredifficultSkill2questionsmayrequirethreeormoresteps.These
questionscanrequireawidespectrumofreasoningskills,includingintegrationofmultiplefacts
fromapassage,combinationofmultiplesciencecontentareas,andpredictionofanexperiment's
results.Skill2questionsalsotendtoaskaboutsciencecontentwithoutactuallymentioningitby
name.Forexample,aquestionmightdescribetheresultsofoneexperimentandaskyoutopredict
theresultsofasecondexperimentwithoutactuallytellingyouwhatunderlyingscientificprinciples
areatwork—partofthequestion'sdifficultywillbefiguringoutwhichprinciplestoapplyinorderto
getthecorrectanswer.OnTestDay,45%ofthequestionsineachsciencesectionwillbeSkill2
questions.
HerearesomesampleSkill2questionstems:
Whichofthefollowingexperimentalconditionswouldmostlikelyyieldresultssimilartothosein
Figure2?
AllofthefollowingconclusionsaresupportedbytheinformationinthepassageEXCEPT:
Themostlikelycauseoftheanomalousresultsfoundbytheexperimenteris:
Animpacttoaman'schestquicklyreducesthevolumeofoneofhislungsto70%ofitsinitial
valuewhilenotallowinganyairtoescapefromtheman'smouth.Bywhatpercentageistheforce
ofoutwardairpressureincreasedona2cm2portionoftheinnersurfaceofthecompressedlung?
Skill3:ReasoningAbouttheDesignandExecutionofResearch
TheMCATisinterestedinyourabilitytocriticallyappraiseandanalyzeresearch,asthisisan
importantday-to-daytaskofaphysician.WecallthesequestionsSkill3orExperimentaland
ResearchDesignquestionsforshort.Skill3questionswillrequireyoutodothefollowing:
Identifytheroleoftheory,pastfindings,andobservationsinscientificquestioning
Identifytestableresearchquestionsandhypotheses
Distinguishbetweensamplesandpopulationsanddistinguishresultsthatsupport
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generalizationsaboutpopulations
Identifyindependentanddependentvariables
Reasonaboutthefeaturesofresearchstudiesthatsuggestassociationsbetweenvariablesor
causalrelationshipsbetweenthem(suchastemporalityandrandomassignment)
Identifyconclusionsthataresupportedbyresearchresults
Determinetheimplicationsofresultsforreal-worldsituations
Reasonaboutethicalissuesinscientificresearch
Overtheyears,theAAMChasreceivedinputfrommedicalschoolstorequiremorepractical
researchskillsofMCATtest-takers,andSkill3questionsaretheresponsetothesedemands.This
skillisuniqueinthattheoutsideknowledgeyouneedtoanswerSkill3questionsisnottaughtin
anyoneundergraduatecourse;instead,theresearchdesignprinciplesneededtoanswerthese
questionsarelearnedgraduallythroughoutyourscienceclassesandespeciallythroughany
laboratoryworkyouhavecompleted.ItshouldbenotedthatSkill3comprises10%ofthequestions
ineachsciencesectiononTestDay.
HerearesomesampleSkill3questionstems:
Whatisthedependentvariableinthestudydescribedinthepassage?
ThemajorflawinthemethodusedtomeasurediseasesusceptibilityinExperiment1is:
Whichofthefollowingproceduresismostimportantfortheexperimenterstofollowinorderfor
theirstudytomaintainaproper,randomizedsampleofresearchsubjects?
Aresearcherwouldliketotestthehypothesisthatindividualswhomovetoanurbanareaduring
adulthoodaremorelikelytoownacarthanarethosewhohavelivedinanurbanareasincebirth.
Whichofthefollowingstudieswouldbesttestthishypothesis?
Skill4:Data-BasedandStatisticalReasoning
Lastly,thesciencesectionsoftheMCATtestyourabilitytoanalyzethevisualandnumericalresults
ofexperimentsandstudies.WecalltheseDataandStatisticalAnalysisquestions.Skill4questions
willrequireyoutodothefollowing:
Use,analyze,andinterpretdatainfigures,graphs,andtables
Evaluatewhetherrepresentationsmakesenseforparticularscientificobservationsanddata
Usemeasuresofcentraltendency(mean,median,andmode)andmeasuresofdispersion(range,
interquartilerange,andstandarddeviation)todescribedata

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Reasonaboutrandomandsystematicerror
Reasonaboutstatisticalsignificanceanduncertainty(interpretingstatisticalsignificancelevels
andinterpretingaconfidenceinterval)
Usedatatoexplainrelationshipsbetweenvariablesormakepredictions
Usedatatoanswerresearchquestionsanddrawconclusions
Skill4isincludedintheMCATbecausephysiciansandresearchersspendmuchoftheirtime
examiningtheresultsoftheirownstudiesandthestudiesofothers,andit'sveryimportantforthem
tomakelegitimateconclusionsandsoundjudgmentsbasedonthatdata.TheMCATtestsSkill4on
allthreesciencesectionswithgraphicalrepresentationsofdata(chartsandbargraphs)aswellas
numericalones(tables,lists,andresultssummarizedinsentenceorparagraphform).OnTestDay,
10%ofthequestionsineachsciencesectionwillbeSkill4questions.
HerearesomesampleSkill4questionstems:
Accordingtotheinformationinthepassage,thereisaninversecorrelationbetween:
WhatconclusionisbestsupportedbythefindingsdisplayedinFigure2?
Amedicaltestforararetypeofheavymetalpoisoningreturnsapositiveresultfor98%of
affectedindividualsand13%ofunaffectedindividuals.Whichofthefollowingtypesoferroris
mostprevalentinthistest?
IfafourthtrialofExperiment1wasrunandyieldedaresultof54%compliance,whichofthe
followingwouldbetrue?
SIRSSummary
DiscussingtheSIRStestedontheMCATisadauntingprospectgiventhattheverynatureoftheskills
tendstomaketheconversationratherabstract.Nevertheless,withenoughpractice,you'llbeable
toidentifyeachofthefourskillsquickly,andyou'llalsobeabletoapplytheproperstrategiesto
solvethoseproblemsonTestDay.IfyouneedaquickreferencetoremindyouofthefourSIRS,
theseguidelinesmayhelp:
Skill1(ScienceKnowledge)questionsask:
Doyourememberthissciencecontent?

Skill2(Criticalthinking)questionsask:
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Doyourememberthissciencecontent?Andifyoudo,couldyoupleaseapplyittothisnovel
situation?
Couldyouanswerthisquestionthatcleverlycombinesmultiplecontentareasatthesametime?
Skill3(ExperimentalandResearchDesign)questionsask:
Let'sforgetaboutthesciencecontentforawhile.Couldyougivesomeinsightintothe
experimentalorresearchmethodsinvolvedinthissituation?
Skill4(DataandStatisticalAnalysis)questionsask:
Let'sforgetaboutthesciencecontentforawhile.Couldyouaccuratelyreadsomegraphsand
tablesforamoment?Couldyoumakesomeconclusionsorextrapolationsbasedonthe
informationpresented?

CRITICALANALYSISANDREASONINGSKILLS(CARS)
TheCriticalAnalysisandReasoningSkills(CARS)sectionoftheMCATteststhreediscretefamiliesof
textualreasoningskills;eachofthesefamiliesrequiresahigherlevelofreasoningthanthelast.
Thosethreeskillsareasfollows:
FoundationsofComprehension(30%ofquestions)
ReasoningWithintheText(30%ofquestions)
ReasoningBeyondtheText(40%ofquestions)
Thesethreeskillsaretestedthroughninehumanities-andsocialsciences–themedpassages,with
approximately5to7questionsperpassage.Let'stakeamorein-depthlookintothesethreeskills.
Again,thebulletpointsofspecificobjectivesforeachoftheCARSaretakendirectlyfromtheOfficial
GuidetotheMCATExam;thedescriptionsofwhatthesebehaviorsmeanandsamplequestion
stems,however,arewrittenbyKaplan.
FoundationsofComprehension
Questionsinthisskillwillaskforbasicfactsandsimpleinferencesaboutthepassage;thequestions
themselveswillbesimilartothoseseenonreadingcomprehensionsectionsofotherstandardized

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examsliketheSAT®andACT®.FoundationsofComprehensionquestionswillrequireyoutodothe
following:
Understandthebasiccomponentsofthetext
Infermeaningfromrhetoricaldevices,wordchoice,andtextstructure
ThisadmittedlycoversawiderangeofpotentialquestiontypesincludingMainIdea,Detail,
Function,andDefinition-in-Contextquestions,butfindingthecorrectanswertoallFoundationsof
Comprehensionquestionswillfollowfromabasicunderstandingofthepassageandthepointof
viewofitsauthor(andoccasionallythatofothervoicesinthepassage).
HerearesomesampleFoundationsofComprehensionquestionstems:
MainIdea—Theauthor'sprimarypurposeinthispassageis:
Detail—Basedontheinformationinthesecondparagraph,whichofthefollowingisthemost
accuratesummaryoftheopinionheldbySchubert'scritics?
(Scattered)Detail—Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingisFALSEaboutliterary
reviewsinthe1920s?
Function—Theauthor'sdiscussionoftheeffectofsocioeconomicstatusonsocialmobility
primarilyserveswhichofthefollowingfunctions?
Definition-in-Context—Theword“obscure”(paragraph3),whenusedinreferencetothe
historian'sactions,mostnearlymeans:
ReasoningWithintheText
WhileFoundationsofComprehensionquestionswillusuallydependoninterpretingasinglepieceof
informationinthepassageorunderstandingthepassageasawhole,ReasoningWithintheText
questionswilltypicallyrequireyoutoinferunstatedpartsofargumentsorbringtogethertwo
disparatepiecesofthepassage.ReasoningWithintheTextquestionswillrequireyouto:
Integratedifferentcomponentsofthetexttoincreasecomprehension
Inotherwords,questionsinthisskilloftenaskeitherHowdothesetwodetailsrelatetoone
another?orWhatelsemustbetruethattheauthordidn'tsay?TheCARSsectionwillalsoaskyouto
judgecertainpartsofthepassageorevenjudgetheauthor.Thesequestions,whichfallunderthe

ReasoningWithintheTextskill,canaskyoutoidentifyauthorialbias,evaluatethecredibilityofcited
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sources,determinethelogicalsoundnessofanargument,orsearchforrelevantevidenceinthe
passagetosupportagivenconclusion.Inall,thiscategoryincludesInferenceandStrengthen–
Weaken(WithinthePassage)questions,aswellasasmatteringofrelated—butrare—questiontypes.
HerearesomesampleReasoningWithintheTextquestionstems:
Inference(Implication)—Whichofthefollowingphrases,asusedinthepassage,ismost
suggestivethattheauthorhasapersonalbiastowardnarrativerecordsofhistory?
Inference(Assumption)—Inputtingtogetherherargumentinthepassage,theauthormost
likelyassumes:
Strengthen–Weaken(WithinthePassage)—Whichofthefollowingfactsisusedinthepassage
asthemostprominentpieceofevidenceinfavoroftheauthor'sconclusions?
Strengthen–Weaken(WithinthePassage)—Basedontheroleitplaysintheauthor'sargument,
ThePossessedcanbeconsidered:
ReasoningBeyondtheText
ThedistinguishingfactorofReasoningBeyondtheTextquestionsisinthetitleoftheskill:theword
Beyond.Questionsthattestthisskill,whichmakeupalargershareoftheCARSsectionthan
questionsfromeitheroftheothertwoskills,willalwaysintroduceacompletelynewsituationthat
wasnotpresentinthepassageitself;thesequestionswillaskyoutodeterminehowoneinfluences
theother.ReasoningBeyondtheTextquestionswillrequireyouto:
Applyorextrapolateideasfromthepassagetonewcontexts
Assesstheimpactofintroducingnewfactors,information,orconditionstoideasfromthe
passage
TheReasoningBeyondtheTextskillisfurtherdividedintoApplyandStrengthen–Weaken(Beyond
thePassage)questions,andafewotherrarelyappearingquestiontypes.
HerearesomesampleReasoningBeyondtheTextquestionstems:
Apply—IfadocumentwerelocatedthatdemonstratedBerliozintendedtoincludeachorusofat
least700inhisGrandeMessedesMortes,howwouldtheauthorlikelyrespond?

Apply—Whichofthefollowingisthebestexampleofa“virtuousrebellion,”asitisdefinedinthe
passage?
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Strengthen–Weaken(BeyondtheText)—SupposeJaneAustenhadwritteninalettertoher
sister,“Mystrongestcharacterswerethoseforcedbycircumstancetoconfrontbasicquestions
aboutthesocietyinwhichtheylived.”Whatrelevancewouldthishavetothepassage?
Strengthen–Weaken(BeyondtheText)—Whichofthefollowingsentences,ifaddedtotheend
ofthepassage,wouldmostWEAKENtheauthor'sconclusionsinthelastparagraph?
CARSSummary
ThroughtheFoundationsofComprehensionskill,theCARSsectiontestsmanyofthereadingskills
youhavebeenbuildingonsincegradeschool,albeitinthecontextofverychallengingdoctoratelevelpassages.Butthroughthetwootherskills(ReasoningWithintheTextandReasoningBeyond
theText),theMCATdemandsthatyouunderstandthedeepstructureofpassagesandthe
argumentswithinthemataveryadvancedlevel.And,ofcourse,allofthisistestedunderverytight
timingrestrictions:only102secondsperquestion—andthatdoesn'tevenincludethetimespent
readingthepassages.
Here'saquickreferenceguidetothethreeCARSskills:
FoundationsofComprehensionquestionsask:
Didyouunderstandthepassageanditsmainideas?
Whatdoesthepassagehavetosayaboutthisparticulardetail?
ReasoningWithintheTextquestionsask:
Whatmustbetruethattheauthordidnotsay?
What'sthelogicalrelationshipbetweenthesetwoideasfromthepassage?
Howwellarguedistheauthor'sthesis?
ReasoningBeyondtheTextquestionsask:
Howdoesthisprinciplefromthepassageapplytothisnewsituation?
Howdoesthisnewpieceofinformationinfluencetheargumentsinthepassage?
Scoring
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EachofthefoursectionsoftheMCATisscoredbetween118and132,withthemedianat125.This
meansthetotalscorerangesfrom472to528,withthemedianat500.Whysuchpeculiarnumbers?
TheAAMCstressesthatthisscaleemphasizestheimportanceofthecentralportionofthescore
distribution,wheremoststudentsscore(around125persection,or500total),ratherthanputting
unduefocusonthehighendofthescale.
NotethatthereisnowronganswerpenaltyontheMCAT,soyoushouldselectananswerforevery
question—evenifitisonlyaguess.
TheAAMChasreleasedthe2016-2017correlationbetweenscaledscoreandpercentile,asshownon
thefollowingpage.Itshouldbenotedthatthepercentilescaleisadjustedandrenormalizedover
timeandthuscanshiftslightlyfromyeartoyear.
TotalScore

Percentile

TotalScore

Percentile

528

>99

499

49

527


>99

498

45

526

>99

497

42

525

>99

496

39

524

>99

495

35


523

>99

494

32

522

99

493

29

521

99

492

26

520

98

491


23

519

98

490

20

518

97

489

18

517

96

488

16

516

95


487

13

515

94

486

12

514

92

485

10

513

90

484

8

512


88

483

7
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511

86

482

5

510

84

481

4

509

82

480


3

508

79

479

2

507

76

478

2

506

73

477

1

505

70


476

1

504

67

475

<1

503

63

474

<1

502

60

473

<1

501


56

472

<1

500

53

Source:AAMC.2016.SummaryofMCATTotalandSectionScores.AccessedDecember2016. />
Furtherinformationonscorereportingisincludedattheendofthenextsection(seeAfterYour
Test).

MCATPOLICIESANDPROCEDURES
WestronglyencourageyoutodownloadthelatestcopyofMCAT®Essentials,availableontheAAMC's
website,toensurethatyouhavethelatestinformationaboutregistrationandTestDaypoliciesand
procedures;thisdocumentisupdatedannually.Abriefsummaryofsomeofthemostimportant
rulesisprovidedhere.
MCATRegistration
TheonlywaytoregisterfortheMCATisonline.YoucanaccessAAMC'sregistrationsystem
at:www.aamc.org/mcat .
YouwillbeabletoaccessthesiteapproximatelysixmonthsbeforeTestDay.TheAAMCdesignates
threeregistration“Zones”—Gold,Silver,andBronze.RegisteringduringtheGoldZone(fromthe
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