How Many Cars Passages On Mcat

Moving past the content of the passages, let’s look at the questions themselves. The questions are broken down into three main types. 30% will fall under the category of Foundations of Comprehension. These questions will test if you have a fundamental understanding of the meaning of the passage. The next 30% of questions fall under Reasoning Within the Text. These questions go a step further and ask test takers to synthesize multiple parts of the text to come to a reasonable conclusion. The remaining 40% of questions fall under Reasoning Beyond the Text. As the name implies, these questions will require you to take the passage information and extrapolate to a broader meaning or to apply the information to a different context. The latter types of questions are typically the most difficult, but with continued practice and the right strategies, you will be able to successfully answer them.

MCAT CARS: Strategies from a 528 Scorer

High-yield tips to help you improve your MCAT CARS score, plus a practice passage

Part 1: Introduction to MCAT CARS

Part 2: MCAT CARS Section Breakdown

Part 3: MCAT CARS Strategies

Part 4: How to arrive at the correct answer

Part 5: MCAT CARS Practice Passage

Part 6: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Part 1: Introduction to MCAT CARS

The MCAT is a hard test, but for many premeds, the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Section (CARS) can be the most mysterious and difficult section of the exam to prepare for. How do you prepare for a section that may give you a passage on topics that range all the way from history to philosophy? You can’t memorize any content to improve on the CARS section, but the section counts just as much as the other sections!

Medical schools value applicants who know not just how to memorize and regurgitate scientific facts but also how to think and read critically on a variety of topics. In fact, a number of Canadian medical schools have minimum MCAT CARS scores required for admission and no minimums for any of the other sections.

Unlike the other three sections of the test, CARS requires no outside knowledge or prior memorization of subject material, making it a much more difficult section to study for. Test takers must be able to read a passage on any subject, quickly synthesize and interpret the key information, and answer the corresponding questions.

Importantly, you think differently from other people because you are a unique student, so there is no one universal CARS strategy that will work for every person. In fact, there are several different strategies that you can use to succeed on CARS, and the key is finding which is most effective for you. In this guide, we will outline the different components of the MCAT CARS section and the main strategies that can help you ace it.

Part 2: MCAT CARS Section Breakdown

The MCAT CARS section is 90 minutes and contains 53 multiple choice questions, making it 5 minutes and 6 questions shorter than each of the other 3 sections on the exam. It also contains 9 passages, so there is an average of 5-6 questions per passage. This means that you should average no more than 10 minutes per passage, including the questions.

Like we mentioned earlier, CARS requires no prior knowledge from test takers. Everything that is needed to answer the questions is in the passages (this is a helpful fact to remember), and it helps immensely to have good critical reading skills or develop them as you prepare for the exam. According to the test writers at the AAMC, 50% of passage content covers the Humanities, which can include subjects like Architecture, Art, Dance, Ethics, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Popular Culture, Religion, and Theater. The other 50% of passage content includes the Social Sciences, which can include Anthropology, Archaeology, Economics, Education, Geography, History, Linguistics, Political Science, Population Health, Psychology, Sociology, and Studies of Diverse Cultures. Again, familiarity with these subjects is not necessary, but the ability to extract important information from the passage in front of you will help you succeed on this section.

Moving past the content of the passages, let’s look at the questions themselves. The questions are broken down into three main types. 30% will fall under the category of Foundations of Comprehension. These questions will test if you have a fundamental understanding of the meaning of the passage. The next 30% of questions fall under Reasoning Within the Text. These questions go a step further and ask test takers to synthesize multiple parts of the text to come to a reasonable conclusion. The remaining 40% of questions fall under Reasoning Beyond the Text. As the name implies, these questions will require you to take the passage information and extrapolate to a broader meaning or to apply the information to a different context. The latter types of questions are typically the most difficult, but with continued practice and the right strategies, you will be able to successfully answer them.

Part 3: MCAT CARS Strategies

This section will outline seven useful strategies that you can use to approach each CARS passage. We recommend that you begin with the first strategy, see how it works, and try each subsequent strategy until you find the one or the combination that is most effective for you. Below is an example passage, and what follows will be the seven different strategies and examples of how to employ them for this passage:

In the second century of the Christian Era, the empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilized portion of mankind. The frontiers of that extensive monarchy were guarded by ancient renown and disciplined valor. The gentle but powerful influence of laws and manners had gradually cemented the union of the provinces. The image of a free constitution was preserved with decent reverence: the Roman senate appeared to possess the sovereign authority, and devolved on the emperors all the executive powers of government.

During a happy period of more than fourscore years, the public administration was conducted by the virtue and abilities of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and the two Antonines. It is the design of this to describe the prosperous condition of their empire; and afterwards, from the death of Marcus Antoninus, to deduce the most important circumstances of its decline and fall; a revolution which will ever be remembered, and is still felt by the nations of the earth.

The principal conquests of the Romans were achieved under the republic; and the emperors, for the most part, were satisfied with preserving those dominions which had been acquired by the policy of the senate, the active emulations of the consuls, and the martial enthusiasm of the people. The seven first centuries were filled with a rapid succession of triumphs; but it was reserved for Augustus to relinquish the ambitious design of subduing the whole earth, and to introduce a spirit of moderation into the public councils.

The only accession which the Roman empire received, during the first century of the Christian Aera, was the province of Britain. In this single instance, the successors of Caesar and Augustus were persuaded to follow the example of the former, rather than the precept of the latter. The proximity of its situation to the coast of Gaul seemed to invite their arms; the pleasing though doubtful intelligence of a pearl fishery, attracted their avarice; and as Britain was viewed in the light of a distinct and insulated world, the conquest scarcely formed any exception to the general system of continental measures.

The various tribes of Britain possessed valor without conduct, and the love of freedom without the spirit of union. They took up arms with savage fierceness; they laid them down, or turned them against each other, with wild inconsistency; and while they fought singly, they were successively subdued. At the very time when Domitian, confined to his palace, felt the terrors which he inspired, his legions, under the command of the virtuous Agricola, defeated the collected force of the Caledonians, at the foot of the Grampian Hills; and his fleets, venturing to explore an unknown and dangerous navigation, displayed the Roman arms round every part of the island.

The conquest of Britain was considered as already achieved; and it was the design of Agricola to complete and ensure his success, by the easy reduction of Ireland, for which, in his opinion, one legion and a few auxiliaries were sufficient. The western isle might be improved into a valuable possession, and the Britons would wear their chains with the less reluctance, if the prospect and example of freedom were on every side removed from before their eyes.

Material used in this test passage has been adapted from the following source:

Edward Gibbon. (1776). The History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire. Strahan & Cadell, London. Project Gutenberg. Retrieved February 11, 2020, from http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25717.

MCAT CARS Strategy #1: Passage Outline

In the first strategy, as you make your way through the passage, you should quickly jot down the main idea of each paragraph in four or five words, and at the end of the passage, take between 5 and 15 seconds to think about and/or write down the main idea of the entire passage.

The point of this method is not to make a detailed outline and refer back to it often when answering questions. The point is to challenge yourself to engage critically with the text as you are reading through it. If you know you have to come up with a short summary after reading a paragraph, you’re more likely to actively listen!

As a result, you should avoid taking more than a few seconds after each paragraph to write down the main idea. It’s often useful to use shorthand when jotting these ideas down, and the most important part is taking time to quickly think through the point of the entire passage when you’re done reading it.

Here’s an example of how to employ this strategy on the passage above:

Paragraph 1: Roman empire used government effectively

Paragraph 2: Passage will track rise and fall

Paragraph 3: Augustus introduced moderation

Paragraph 4: Romans wanted to invade Britain

Paragraph 5: Romans had Britain subdued

Paragraph 6: Sights set on Ireland conquest

End of Passage: The Roman empire had a robust system of government that allowed them to expand their territory through conquest for many centuries. Augustus was the first emperor to encourage moderation, but his successors broke that precedent and invaded Britain using an invasion of Ireland for strategic purposes.

Notice how this “outline” does not try to include every small detail of the passage, but rather it just identifies the overall flow of ideas. This way, you can maximize your efficiency by balancing the time constraints with thorough comprehension of the passage.

The Ultimate MCAT CARS Strategy (8 Tried and True Methods)

The MCAT is a monumental test made up of four challenging sections. Three of those sections test your knowledge of science and require a great deal of study and memorization. The remaining section—CARS—evaluates your reading comprehension and analytical reasoning, which requires a completely different approach to studying. An MCAT CARS strategy doesn’t include any memorization. Instead, preparing for CARS requires you to build and continually practice the skills you will be tested on.

We compiled a list of 8 effective CARS strategies to help you prepare for this challenging section of the MCAT.

MCAT Format

The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is divided into 4 sections, each worth 132 points for a total perfect MCAT score of 528.

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/BioChem)
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys)
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc)
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

While the CARS section is weighted no differently than the other three sections, it’s often singled out as the most challenging since it evaluates your deduction and reasoning skills and reading comprehension as opposed to your knowledge of science. Strong analytical skills are just as essential to your success in medical school as your understanding of science. To do well on the CARS section, you need to be able to quickly understand, analyze, and evaluate what you read.

The MCAT CARS Section

The MCAT CARS section comprises 9 passages, and each is usually between 500 and 600 words. Each passage has 5-7 questions attached to it, making a total of 53 questions.

The section is divided into three categories of critical analysis and reasoning skills, which cover a wide range of topics in the Humanities and Social Sciences. The three categories are Foundations of Comprehension, Reasoning Within the Text, and Reasoning Beyond the Text.

Foundations of Comprehension (30%)

The questions in this section evaluate your comprehension of the basic components of the text in the passage. What’s the author trying to say without stating it explicitly? Read between the lines to assess how the author’s choice of words, tone, and rhetorical devices infer the meaning of the passage.

Reasoning Within the Text (30%)

The questions in this section challenge you to evaluate the persuasiveness of the author’s arguments, and it is important to note that your answers should not be based on your opinion. Point to the specific pieces of evidence used in the passage that either most support or detract from the author’s central thesis. Objectively, is the author’s conclusion sensible, or are they biased and making assumptions?

Reasoning Beyond the Text (40%)

The questions in this section challenge you to take the information and ideas you inferred from the passage and apply them to different contexts and situations, and they may also give you new information that shows the author’s arguments in a different light. How does this new information change or challenge the point the author was trying to make?

The MCAT CARS Strategy

1 | Practice Active Reading

Active reading is the opposite of passive reading, such as when we skim an article on our phones or space out for paragraphs at a time when we’re reading for pleasure. When we read passively, we’re not making any personal connections to the text or challenging any of the arguments presented.

Active reading requires us to enthusiastically engage with the text by reading slowly and deeply. If there’s anything you don’t understand, reread it. Don’t move on from confusing sentences or arguments until you fully comprehend them. What’s the deeper meaning of the text? What is the author implying without saying outright?

Active reading trains our brains to connect with and evaluate everything we read—an essential skill to sharpen and improve before taking the MCAT. When you read anything, connect it with your own personal experiences and knowledge. Ask questions that probe the deeper implications of what the author is trying to convey, and always seek to deduce every key concept, idea, and important detail.

For more tips, read our actionable strategies for how to improve your reading comprehension.

2 | Explain the Passage to Someone Else

Practice reading a passage and then explaining it to someone. Just the act of explaining something to someone else increases our own understanding of it.

Explaining a passage to a child or someone with less of an academic background than you is even better; it forces you to simplify the passage and distill only the most important information. What’s the gist of the passage? Which details absolutely have to be conveyed in order for someone to comprehend what the author is trying to say?

If you don’t have anyone nearby, imagine explaining the passage to a child. What’s the quickest, easiest way you can explain the passage that doesn’t leave any important information on the cutting room floor?

3 | Summarize Each Paragraph

Practice summarizing each paragraph into one sentence. As you read, jot down a short, four or five word summary of each paragraph. By the end of the passage, you should have a list of short sentences that outline everything you just read.

You’re not creating a detailed outline to fall back on for future reference. You’re quickly deducing the central idea of each paragraph to expand your reading comprehension. The act of summarizing forces you to consider the purpose or point of each paragraph, which helps you actively and critically engage with what you’re reading. The more you practice this, the quicker you’ll be able to understand what you read.

4 | Highlight the Most Important Information

Highlighting enables you to pull out key words, phrases, and data to quickly comprehend the central argument or idea of the passage. It’s important to be selective with what you highlight, as highlighting a lot of information is essentially the same as highlighting nothing at all.

Highlighting reduces the time it takes to reread something—which can be a major time suck on the CARS section. Highlight important dates, numbers, and other hard data, names of people, places, or theories, as well as what you believe the central thesis or idea to be.

Remember: practice makes perfect. Don’t be discouraged if you highlight a little too much when you first start out. As you continue to read more passages and discern what’s most important, highlighting will become that much more valuable.

5 | Practice With Less Time

Practicing with less time (1 or 2 minutes less than the normal 10 minutes) will get you used to completing practice passages and questions within a limited time window. By practicing with less time, you’ll see how you perform under pressure, and once you do move back to the full 10 minutes, the time limit will feel like a breeze.

6 | Practice With More Time

The opposite strategy is useful too. Practice reading passages and responding to questions without the stress of a timer. Take your time and make sure you don’t miss anything. The lack of a timer will reduce your stress and allow you to focus on fully understanding the passage and how the questions relate. As you practice, you will naturally be able to comprehend the passages more quickly and can gradually reduce the amount of time allotted.

7 | Read Complicated Texts

Reading complicated texts helps build your reading comprehension skills by forcing you to slow down and consider exactly what the words are trying to convey; otherwise, you won’t understand a thing. Pay close attention to each word and the meaning behind it. If you don’t know a word, take the time to look it up to make sure you understand what the author is trying to say.

Literary journals, dense magazine publications, or classic literature are all great options. Are you able to follow what’s going on? Continue this practice as often as possible. The more you read complicated texts, the better you will get at understanding them.

If you’re struggling to fit this practice into your routine, try taking a classic novel with you wherever you go. When you’re waiting for someone, commuting, etc., pull out the book instead of jumping to your phone.

Not sure where to start? The following ideas include magazines, classic literature, and philosophy texts.

Magazines:

Classic Literature:

• Animal Farm by George Orwell
• The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
• Dune by Frank Herbert
• Moby Dick by Herman Melville
• Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce
• The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
• Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
• The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Philosophy:

• Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
• Meditations on First Philosophy by René Descartes
• The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
• Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant

8 | Read Every Day

Whether you want to be a doctor, a stand-up comedian, a gymnast, or nothing at all, reading is good for you. Reading regularly and for pleasure builds your vocabulary, increases your understanding of other human beings, improves memory function, aids sleep, reduces stress, enhances brain connectivity, and—wait for it—helps with your CARS performance.

Now, you may not like to read. And while you’re perfectly entitled to live whatever life you want, what would you say to a future patient of yours who tells you that they don’t like vegetables and therefore won’t eat them?

Start reading regularly right away—and we don’t mean just your assigned textbooks. Figure out what you like to read, whether that be non-fiction, fantasy and science fiction, detective novels, biographies, what have you. What you choose doesn’t matter so long as you do it regularly. If you enjoy what you’re reading, you’ll want to do it more and actually look forward to sitting down with a good book.

Be intentional with your reading habits by building reading into your daily schedule. This way, you can turn reading into a habit. While habits are hard to form, they’re just as hard to break, so if you get into the habit of reading, you won’t want to stop anytime soon. This is an especially great thing for med school students since how often and how deeply you read are directly connected to your performance on the CARS section.

If your reading comprehension is lacking, CARS is going to be a significant and possibly impossible challenge. Start reading as much as you can as soon as possible to give yourself every advantage on the MCAT.

And keep the habit up after the MCAT! Reading regularly and for pleasure will help you craft a stellar personal statement and medical school application, make you a better medical student, and improve your quality of life.

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