The MCAT Dissected - BS Section

The BS section is 52 questions for 70 minutes allotted (http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/mcatessentials.pdf.  Accessed today) and is approximately 75% biology and 25% organic chemistry.

The emphasis on biology is good news for most pre-meds as for many it's easier to study for.  While the MCAT tests just introductory-level science, I really felt that taking upper-division biology courses like genetics, cell biology, and vertebrate physiology really helped me out on the exam.

Like the PS section:

1.  There are text-heavy/graph-light passages
2.  Graph-heavy/text-light
3.  About equal amounts of text and graphs

The amount of graphs and data to study and crunch is still a theme in the BS section, and I really recommend being familiar with:

1.  Graphs involving enzymatic activity
2.  Being familiar with concepts of concentration, molarity, normality, buffers
3.  A very solid understanding of organic chemistry
4.  A solid understanding of things you've learned in general chemistry
5.  A good background in laboratory techniques: both organic and biochemical

I've bolded number 5 because I feel many pre-meds don't have extensive research experience and may consider biochemical techniques as an afterthought, but there've been passages that have focused on biochemical techniques like: Western Blotting, questions involving antibodies, gel electrophoresis, properties of amino acids (basic, acidic), radiolabeling (phosphorous, sulphur).

Preparation Tips for the BS Section

This section is really easy to study for, but there is a lot of material to learn/study.  The good thing is, this should all be review.  If you're taking the Princeton Review, that's what it should be, not the Princeton Learn It For the First Time.  For the biology sections, you should have a solid foundation in everything from cell biology (like function of organelles, classic structures in the cell and their purpose),  to basic anatomy/physiology involving respiration, the heart, and nervous system. 

For the organic section, you might see general chemistry concepts applied to organic chemistry, in the sense of reaction rates, thermodynamics, free energy, and activation energy. I'd recommend being familiar with oxygen-containing compounds, nitrogen-containing molecules, and all of the "classic" organic chemistry reactions.  I know that's very broad, but it's the nature of the MCAT to test you on just certain aspects of each subject.  It's important to know as much organic chemistry as you can, because you might have a graph on a passage and then be asked if the reaction is undergoing Sn1, Sn2, E1, or E2.  I think it'd be a stretch being asked what intermediates are formed on top of that, but it should be basic and something you're familiar with.



I can make this blog better if you guys have any questions, and I'll do my best to help you guys prepare for the exam.