What is on the MCAT?

The MCAT has four components: Scientific Reasoning: The Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, Scientific Reasoning: The Biological Sciences, and Writing Sample.

Before you sit for the exam, you should have taken two semesters each of biology, physics, chemistry and organic chemistry.

The test has adopted a computer–based (CBT) format. However, unlike some computerized standardized tests, the MCAT CBT is not a computer–adaptive test (CAT). This means that the questions given on the MCAT CBT are predetermined; they are not selected based on the test taker’s performance. If you’d like to acquire a modicum of familiarity before test day, consider taking a free online test through the Princeton Review.

How is it scored?

You will receive four scores, one for each component. The verbal reasoning component and the two scientific reasoning components (biological and physical sciences) are scored on a scale of 1 to 15, with 1 being low and 15 high. The writing sample is scored on a scale of J to T, with J being low and T being high.

A growing number of medical schools are beginning to regard scores that are out of balance as undesirable. They often view a candidate with three 10s more favorably than a candidate who scores 12s on both of the science sections and then only an 8 on the verbal section.

The MCAT is administered on multiple days of the year in morning, afternoon and weekend sessions. To register, visit the AAMC website: www.aamc.org/students/mcat.

The information on this page was taken, with express permission, from The Princeton Review.

Bryce Johnson co-founded premedFAQ.com in 2011 and is the author of Must Reads for the Well-Rounded Pre-Med on Amazon. If you'd like to write for the site or contribute in another way, feel free to reach out to him on LinkedIn or via email.