Content break down of each section?

[vsl5]

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Hi there,

Just wondering if anyone knows how each section is broken down, like for physical sciences (52 questions), is it 26 physics questions and 26 chemistry questions? If only 26 questions are asked, doesnt this mean that each topic is only touched on very briefly (like 2-3 questions) or do they focus more on certain topics and omit other ones depending on the test.

 

[ilovemcat]

The PS and BS section covers (70 minutes):

- 52 Questions
- 7 Passages with 4 to 7 questions each (39 passage based questions)
- 13 Independent Questions

The amount of Physics or Gen Chem for the Physical Sciences section is unpredictable. Some tests heavily include Physics while others heavily test Gen Chem and still others have an equal proportion of both. However for BS, it's been said the amount of Organic Chemistry has been de-emphasized over the past few years with 30:70 Organic to Biology ratio.

 

[phonyreal98]

Official word is that the PS is 50/50 between Chem and Physics while the BS is 75/25 between bio and orgo. This doesn't mean to expect exactly 50/50 and 75/25 ratios though...although I haven't heard a lot about physics-heavy PS sections...when I hear about PS being heavy on one subject it's seems to be chemistry. (anybody had a PS section really heavy on physics?)

 

[vsl5]

what official word, it doesnt appear to say anything like that on the aamc site

 

[phonyreal98]

Oh oops. I thought I read it somewhere on the AAMC website. Guess not.

 

[MCAT guy]

it is true that the tests are supposed to be around 50/50 chem/physics and something like 1/4 ochem 3/4 bio. AAMC's practice book even gives questions out with this ratio, also go to any AAMC exam.

My last AAMC exam went 39 bio, 13 ochem. The one before that 34 bio, 18 ochem.

That should give you an idea of how they break it down. Ochem "heavy" tests usually mean 3 ochem passages, while ochem light could be 1 passage and more discretes.