MCAT Exam Guide
What's actually on the exam, how it's timed and scored, and what to know before test day.
Sections
4
Total Questions
230
Seated Time
6h 15m
across all 4 sections
Score Range
472–528
midpoint 500
The format, in brief
The MCAT is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam administered by the AAMC at Pearson VUE test centers. It has four sections, always given in the same order, each scored independently on a scale of 118–132. The four section scores sum to a total score of 472–528. With the tutorial, optional breaks, and a satisfaction survey at the end, the full appointment runs about 7.5 hours — the four sections themselves total roughly 6h 15m of seated testing time.
Section by Section
In real MCAT order — this is also the order Full-Length exams run in.
1. Chem/Phys
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
95 min · 59 questions
General chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry as applied to living systems.
What's covered
General Chemistry
- Atomic Structure
- Periodic Trends
- Bonding
- Stoichiometry
- Gases
- Thermochemistry
- Kinetics
- Equilibrium
- Acids and Bases
- Electrochemistry
- Solutions
Organic Chemistry
- Functional Groups
- Stereochemistry
- Nucleophiles/Electrophiles
- Carbonyl Chemistry
- Carboxylic Acid Derivatives
- Alcohols
- Spectroscopy
- Laboratory Techniques
- Separation/Purification
Physics
- Kinematics
- Forces
- Energy
- Momentum
- Fluids
- Electrostatics
- Circuits
- Magnetism
- Waves
- Sound
- Optics
Biochemistry
- Amino Acids
- Proteins
- Enzymes
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Nucleic Acids
- Metabolism
- Bioenergetics
- Molecular Biology Methods
2. CARS
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
90 min · 53 questions
Passage-based reasoning across humanities and social science topics. No dedicated content knowledge is tested.
What's covered
Humanities
Passage domain only — CARS tests reasoning about the passage, not outside knowledge of these topics.
- Philosophy
- Literature and Language Arts
- Religion and Ethics
- Art and Architecture
- Music and Theater
Social Sciences
Passage domain only — CARS tests reasoning about the passage, not outside knowledge of these topics.
- Population Health
- Cultural Studies
- Economics
- History
- Political Science
- Anthropology
3. Bio/Biochem
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
95 min · 59 questions
Biology and biochemistry, with organic chemistry where relevant.
What's covered
Organic Chemistry
- Functional Groups
- Stereochemistry
- Nucleophiles/Electrophiles
- Carbonyl Chemistry
- Carboxylic Acid Derivatives
- Alcohols
- Spectroscopy
- Laboratory Techniques
- Separation/Purification
Biochemistry
- Amino Acids
- Proteins
- Enzymes
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Nucleic Acids
- Metabolism
- Bioenergetics
- Molecular Biology Methods
Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Evolution
- Nervous System
- Endocrine
- Cardiovascular
- Respiratory
- Renal
- Digestive
- Immune
- Musculoskeletal
- Reproduction
4. Psych/Soc
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
95 min · 59 questions
Psychology and sociology concepts underlying behavior and society.
What's covered
Psychology
- Sensation
- Perception
- Learning
- Memory
- Cognition
- Consciousness
- Emotion
- Motivation
- Personality
- Psychological Disorders
- Social Psychology
Sociology
- Culture
- Socialization
- Groups
- Demographics
- Stratification
- Institutions
- Social Structure
- Health Disparities
- Research Methods
How scoring works
Each section is scored on its own 118–132 scale (midpoint 125), and the four section scores are added together for a total of 472–528 (midpoint 500). Scores are scaled, not a raw percent correct — the exact conversion varies slightly between test dates to account for difficulty. Your score report also includes a percentile rank comparing you to other recent test-takers. Scores are typically released 30–35 days after your test date.
Before test day
- Bring one valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID — the name must exactly match your AAMC registration. No ID, no exam, no exceptions.
- Personal items stay in a locker. Phones, watches, wallets, and any study materials aren't allowed in the testing room. The test center provides scratch material — you can't bring your own.
- Plan for a ~7.5 hour appointment. That includes a tutorial, the four sections, a mandatory optional-but-timed break structure (10 min after section 1, 30 min after section 2, 10 min after section 3), and a void screen at the very end.
- You can't go back to a previous section once you've moved on, and you can't extend a break beyond its allotted time. Within a section, you can flag questions and move freely between them until time runs out or you end the section early.
- The void option is real but rarely worth it. After the last section, you can choose to void your exam before ever seeing a score — but the decision is irreversible and you'll have no way to know your score first. Most test-takers should let it ride.
- Arrive early. Test centers recommend arriving well before your appointment time for check-in, which includes ID verification and a digital photo.
Ready to see where you stand?
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Create a free accountIndependent MCAT prep. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the AAMC. Timing, scoring, and format reflect AAMC's published MCAT structure at the time of writing — always confirm current details at aamc.org before test day.