Is There A Lot Of Math On The MCAT?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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What math is covered on the MCAT? The MCAT is primarily a conceptual exam, with little actual mathematical computation. Any math that is on the MCAT is fundamental:

just arithmetic, algebra, and trigonometry

. … Math-based problems will appear mostly in the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section.

How much math do you need to know for the MCAT?

While the MCAT does not have calculus, most pre-medical students still have to take the class as part of the prerequisite courses for to medical school. The general requirement is a year of math, which can be

two semesters of calculus or one semester each of calculus and statistics

.

How hard is the math on the MCAT?

The good news:

The math on the exam is not difficult and can be mastered with sufficient practice

. This means that all calculations, regardless of the section of the MCAT, have to be completed mentally. … MCAT test-takers often underestimate the quantitative skills required and find themselves in such positions.

Is there a lot of physics on MCAT?

Physics will represent somewhere

between 20-30 percent of your MCAT Chem/Phys section

, which is one of four MCAT sections. Hence, you can expect to see 12 to 18 physics questions (out of 230 total questions) on the entire MCAT—about 5 to 8 percent of the exam.

Does MCAT give equations?

The simple answer is that you should not spend your time trying to memorize every single equation that might show up on the MCAT. … Because more often than not,

the MCAT will give you the equation you need to solve the problem

. This doesn't mean you won't need to have some equations memorized though.

What is the average MCAT score for accepted students?

For comparison, the average MCAT score for students admitted to an MD program in the United States in 2017–2018 is

between 510 and 511

, with an average GPA of 3.71. (Source: AAMC ).

Do you get breaks during the MCAT?

During the MCAT exam,

you will have two 10-minute breaks and one 30-minute mid-exam break

. During these times, know what you can and cannot access. To make any notes or calculations during your exam, you will be given a noteboard booklet and fine-point-marker. Learn more about the noteboard booklets.

Is the MCAT all multiple choice?

The official MCAT is given entirely through a computer interface.

All questions are multiple-choice

. The first section of the exam is the Physical Sciences section, followed by the Verbal Reasoning section, followed by the Biological Sciences Section.

Is the MCAT hard?


The MCAT is a hard test

, but it's manageable if you approach it diligently and efficiently. In other words, you'll need to work hard and smart. Let's look at what makes the exam more challenging than other tests you might have taken or heard of. Challenge #1: The MCAT is long.

Why can't you use a calculator on the MCAT?

To score well on the Math section of the MCAT, the key is to practice the simple tricks and tips to manipulate complicated problems and turn them into simple ones. Since you are not allowed to use a calculator, you are not expected to perform any lengthy calculations to get to the final answer.

Is the MCAT harder than the SAT?

With a total exam day test time of seven hours and 30 minutes,

the MCAT is more than twice as long as the ACT or SAT

. … That number dwarfs even the more ambitious college-entrance exam prep schedules. Minasi recommends that students spend 300-plus hours of prep time and spread it out over three to five months.

How many times can you fail the MCAT?

In total, students are allowed to take the MCAT

seven times

.

This is the lifetime policy. If you don't achieve your desired score after seven attempts, you're out of luck. Those attempts cannot be taken one after another.

Is physics II on the MCAT?

What are the actual prerequisite courses for the MCAT?

All students need to take Physics 1 and 2

– without exception.

Do you need to memorize kinematic equations for MCAT?

On the MCAT, kinematics is a low-yield topic, and

you'll only need to be familiar with it in a biological context

. That said, kinematics is the physics topic most used in everyday life. Understanding it can be an important first step in understanding more advanced topics in physics.

Do you need to memorize physics equations for MCAT?

Tip #1: Remember, you do not need to be a physics genius to do well on the MCAT. Yes,

there are a fair number of physics equations that you will need to memorize

, and thoroughly understand how to utilize, for the MCAT, but they are only a small portion of the physics equations that exist in the universe.

How hard is physics on the MCAT?


MCAT physics is pretty difficult in

terms of the way they address the question, which is in some unique, bizarre version which may leave you scratching your head (or panicking). Physics in college is more straightforward in terms of what you'd expect but also more indepth, more math-intense.

Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.