I have been told the bio section of the MCAT focuses only on Phys and Genetics ? True

[FreakyStudent]

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I have been told the bio section of the MCAT focuses only on Phys and Genetics ? Is this true ?

What level of phys is covered ? Is the two semester for health professionals enough or is it better to take the upper level Human Phys classes ?

What about advanced Genetics ? We have a couple of advanced Genetics classes. Would they be helpful ?

Thanks.

 

[boathouse34]

I don't think the MCAT covers physiology beyond what is covered in an intro biology class. There is sometimes a lot of genetics. Half the section can be organic chemistry though! Don't forget about that.

 

[MadameLULU]

haven't you asked this before?

 

[shantster]

haven't you asked this before?

Yeah, I saw one of these that was moved with the exact same heading and was surprised to see that another one popped up.

To the OP - there's an MCAT forum that I highly recommended you post questions about the MCAT on instead. If you can't find it, at the bottom of the page there's a dropdown menu and click on that and select MCAT.

 

[tigress]

I had no physiology on my MCAT in April. You just have to know everything on that list that littleroo linked you to and then hope for the best. There's no guarantee you'll get any specific topic.

But yes, in my practice tests there was usually a lot of physiology, and I found that having a physiology course was helpful. As far as genetics, AAMC claims that there is more genetics and molecular bio than there used to be, but it's an average, so like I said nothing is guaranteed on your particular test form. Heck, on my form we had 5 passages of orgo, which is unheard of.

You can do really well on the MCAT without any upper level bio classes at all. If you are going to take them anyway, I would suggest a genetics class and a physiology class. Either beyond an introductory level won't help you much, if at all, for the MCAT.

 

[Biodude]

I talked to a person who took the April MCAT and she told me that there were tons of Microbiology questions on her test and only maybe one or two Physiology sections.

😱

 

[Crete]

I have been told the bio section of the MCAT focuses only on Phys and Genetics ? Is this true ?

What level of phys is covered ? Is the two semester for health professionals enough or is it better to take the upper level Human Phys classes ?

What about advanced Genetics ? We have a couple of advanced Genetics classes. Would they be helpful ?

Thanks.

Mine was heavy on both. Advanced classes can only help, but if you study properly, they are unneeded. A friend of mine had a passage whose topic we had written a paper on the previous quarter; he didn't even need to read the passage. Quite often, you will find sections that are either phys or genetics heavy, so know both well. And the Ochem section cannot be up to half the test, only a few passages by AAMCs own admission.

 

[freelow]

I would have to agree with Crete. I took the April MCAT and the Biology section I had, had plenty of Genetics passages with very little organic chemistry. It was nothing like my TPR tests in which I would usually score 9's on . This section to me on the April exam seemed more logical based. Most of the answers I was able to find in the passage. I believe I may have scored higher than my usual. My best bet to studying this section is to get used of extracting information out of convoluted passages. Practice! Practice! Practice! makes perfect!

 

[monu1234]

there's no real heavy bias towards one particular topic however karma seemed to make sure that my mcats only had topics focusing on my weakness... goodluck with the studying