Verbal reasoning is used to determine the test-taker's basic reading skills. There are 40 multiple-choice questions to test reading comprehension and to, in turn, use the information. The passages are 500 to 600 words long and are about humanities or social sciences or other academic fields. Following the statement are between five and 10 questions. The test-taker will have 60 minutes to complete this portion of the exam.
The physical sciences portion of the MCAT is made up of 52 multiple-choice questions geared to assess the test-taker's familiarity with topics related to chemistry and physics. A question may ask you to identify the strongest acid for a list of four acids or to chose a statement that best describes a theory of physics such as Newton's third law. The test-taker will have 70 minutes to complete this part of the exam.
In the writing portion of the MCAT, the individual answers two essay questions according to the directions following the questions. The test-taker will receive points based on establishment of the central idea and his defense of that idea and how clear and logical the facts are stated within the essay answer. The questions will not relate to the sciences. For instance, a topic may be "The simplest method is always the best." This exam has a time limit of 60 minutes.
The biological sciences portion of the MCAT consists of 52 multiple-choice questions and is intended to determine the individual's knowledge of biology and organic chemistry. A question may ask a student to complete the description of the mitosis process by selecting one of four of the listed choices or to define a term using the listed choices. This portion of the test is limited to 70 minutes.