MCAT phase 1

email - please focus on how content….

Please focus on how content will be conceptually framed for the science sections (Foundational Concepts - Total of Ten) and the Critical Thinking Skills (Cognitive Skills - total of four for the science sections; and, a total of three for the non-science section) that will be assessed in the test question constructs. Moreover, there is a percentage breakdown of the foundational concepts and thinking skills level for the science sections, so you can appropriately assign the right amount of time to the respective exam preparation areas.

master the Foundational Concepts, Critical Thinking Skills, and the percentage breakdown of concepts and skills related to the science sections of the MCAT, as well as the specialized skills for the non-science section entitled Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS). You must also master the core structure of each exam section with respect to question type, number of questions, and time allocated for a practical test strategy

email bullet points

• master MCAT AME phase 1

• pay attention to format and academic skills of NEW MCAT

• focus on how content will be conceptually framed for science sections: foundational concepts and critical thinking skills, and percentage breakdown of concepts and skills related to science sections, specialized skills for CARS

• master core structure of each exam section w repsect to question type, number of questions, and time allocaled for practical test strategy

• goal of pres: summarize key elements of MCAT test blueprint, highlight academic skills

MCAT 4 sections

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (BBFLS)

Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (CPFBS)

Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (PSBFB)

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

first 3 sections

big ideas in science, emphasize deep knowledge of important scientific concepts

last section

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

made of passages followed by questions that test ability to comprehend and analyze what you read

wide range in social sciences and humanities- ethics, philosophy, cultures, pop health

general math to know

• recognize and interpret linear, semilog, and log-log scales, calculate slopes

• understand sigfigs

• use metric units, convert them

• probability, proportion, ratio, percentage, square root

• basic algebra→ logs, scientific notation

• trig → sin, cos, tan

• vector addition and subtraction

4 scientific inquiry & reasoning skills needed throughout sections 1-3

• knowledge of scientific concepts and principles

• scientific reasoning and problem solving

• reasoning about the design and execution of research

• data-based and statistical reasoning

Knowledge of scientific concepts and principles skill (1)

demonstrating understanding of scientific concepts and principles

identifying the relationships btw natural, behavioral, and social sciences

questions may ask: define concept, identify a scientific fact, identify relationship btw 2 statements, identify examples of natural or data-driven observations that illustrate scientific principles, may give math eq and use to solve problem

skill 1 questions from PSBFB

• recognize principle of retroactive interference

• identify behavioral change that occurs when learned response is no longer followed by reinforcer

• or recognize conditions that result in learned helplessness

Scientific reasoning and problem solving (2)

reasoning about scientific principles, theories, and models

analyzing and evaluating scientific explanations and predictions

question may ask: solve problems by - reasoning scientific principles/theories to make predictions or determine consequences, analyze validity or credibility of scientific explanations and predictions, evaluating arguments about causes and consequences to determine most valid argument, using scientific formulas to solve problems, identifying bond forming btw 2 adjacent structures

skill 2 questions from PSBB

• using mainpremises of symbolic interactionism use reasoning in observational study of physician-patient interactions to describe how the premises are connected to perceive patient compliance

• predict how individual will react to cognitive dissonance

• explaining when an anorexic tennager restricts eating to satisfy esteem needs is compatible with the premises of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Reasoning about the design and execution of research (3)

demonstrating understanding of important components of scientific research

reasoning about ethical issues in research

questions may ask: identifying role of theory past finding and observations in scientific questioning, identifying testable research questions and hypotheses, using reasoning to evaluate the appropriateness, precision, and accuracy of tools used to conduct research in natural sciences

skill 3 questions from PSBB

• identify basic components of survey method, ethnographic methods, experimental methods, in psychology and sociology, selecting a hypothesis about semantic activation

• Identifying the extent to which a finding can be generalized to the population when given details about how participants were recruited for an experiment in language development

Data Based and Statistical Reasoning (4)

interpreting patterns in data presented in tables/figures/graphs

reasoning about data and drawing conclusions from them

? may ask: using analyzing and interpreting data in figures to draw a conclusion about expected results if experiment was to be completed again, determining implications of results for real-world situations, using data to explain relationships btw 2 variables

skill 4 questions from PSBB

• identify correlation btw a demographic variable (race,gender) and life expectancy or other health outcome

• Using reasoning about the type of comparisons made in an experimental study of cognitive dissonance and evaluating what the findings imply for attitude and behavior change

• Drawing conclusions about the type of memory affected by an experimental manipulation when you are shown a graph of findings from a memory experiment

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (1st section)

asks u to solve ? by combining knowledge about biological and biochemical concepts w scientific inquiry and reasoning skills (growing & reproducing, homeostasis, organ systems)

59 questions → discrete and passage-based, 95 MINUTES

breakdown of topic percentages for BBFLS section

intro bio→ 65% (BIO)

biochem→ 25% (BC)

general chemistry→ 5% (GC)

organic chemistry→ 5% (OC)

breakdown of percentages for concepts & skills for BBFLS

foundational concept 1→ 55%

foundational concept 2→ 20%

foundational concept 3→ 25%

skill 1→ 35%

skill 2→ 45%

skill 3→ 10%

skill 4→ 10%

Foundational concepts 1

biomolecules have unique properties that determine how they contribute to structure and function of cells and how they participate in the processes necessary for life

• structure and function of AAs and proteins

• dna from gene to protein

• meiosis/DNA rep and processes that increase genetic diversity

• principles of bioenergetics and fuel molecule metabolism

FC 1A includes

AA:

• configuration at AC, hydrophlic or phobic, acidic or basic, sulfur linkages, peptide linkages, hydrolysis

• structure 1,2,3,4, stability, denaturing/folding, hydrophobic interactions, isoelectric point

Protein Func:

• binding, immune system, motors

Enzyme struc & func:

• function of enzymes in catalyzing bio rxns, enzyme classification by rxn type, reduction of AE, active site model, induced fit model, cofacts/coenzymes

Enzyme activity:

• kinetics, feedback regulation, inhibition type, regulatory enzymes

FC 1B

Nucleic Acid struc & func:

• nucleotides/sides, pyrimidine & purine residues, DNA, base pairing, function of them in transmitting DNA, DNA denaturation/reannealing/hybridization

DNA replication:

• mechanism of replication (sep strands, recoupling), semiconservative nature of rep, enzymes involved, origins of rep (multiple in eukaryotes), rep ends of DNA

Repair DNA:

• repair during rep, repair mutations

Genetic code:

• central dogma, triplet code, codon-anticodon, degenerate code, wobble pairing, missense & nonsense, initiation & termination, mRNA

transcription:

• snRPS, snRNA, tRNA, rRNA, mechanism, introns & exons

translation:

• mRNA tRNA rRNA roles, roles/struc of ribosome, initiation/termination co-factors

Eukaryotic chromosome organization:

• chromosomal proteins, single vs repetitive DNA, supercoiling, heterochromatin vs euchromatin, telomeres/centromeres

control of gene expression in Prokaryotes:

• operon concept, jacob-monod model, gene repression in bacteria, positive control in bacteria

control of gene expression in Eukaryotes:

• transcriptional regulation, DNA binding proteins, TFs, gene amplifications and duplication, post-transcrip control, splicing, cancer, regulation of chromatin

Recombinant DNA and biotechnology:

• gene cloning, restriction enzymes, DNA libraries, generation of cDNA, hybridization, stem cells, gene expression & func, southern blotting gel electrophoresis

FC 1C

medelian concepts

meiosis

analytic methods:

• H-W principle, testcross, gene mapping

evolution:

• NS, speciation

FC 1D

principles of bioenergetics:

• bioenergetics/thermodynamics

• free energy, concentration, endothermic vs exo, Phosphoryl group transfers and ATP

carbohydrates:

• description, nomenclature, absolute configuration, hydrolysis of glycoside linkage, monosacc/di/poly

glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and pentose phosphate pathway

principles of metabolic regulation

citric acid cycle

metabolism of fatty acids

oxidative phosphorylation

hormonal regulation & integration of metabolism

foundational concept 2

highly organized assemblies of molecules, cells, and organs interact to carry out the functions of living organism

• assemblies of molecules, cells, groups of cells in single celled and multicelled organisms

• the structure, growth, physiology, and genetics of prokaryotes and viruses

• processes of cell division, differentiation, and specialization

FC 2A

plasma membrane

membrane bound organelles and defining characteristics of EUcells

cytoskeleton

tissues formed from eukaryotic cells

FC 2B

cell theory

classification and structure of prokaryotic cells

growth and physiology of PROcells

genetics of PROcells

virus structure

viral life cycle

FC 2C

mitosis

reproductive signaling

biosignaling: apoptosis, oncogenes

embryogenesis

mechanisms of development

foundational concept 3

complex systems of tissues and organs sense the internal and external environments of multicellular organisms and maintain homeostasis

• structure and function of the nervous and endocrine systems and ways these systems coordinate the organ systems

• structure and integrative functions of the main organ systems

FC 3A

nervous system struc & func

nerve cell

electrochemistry

biosignaling

lipids

endocrine system hormones and their sources

endocrine system mechanisms of hormone action

FC 3B

respiratory system func & struc

circulatory, lymphatic, immune, digestive, excretory, reproductive, muscle, skeletal, skin systems

muscle cells

Chemical and Physical foundations of Biological Systems

?s about intro BIO, OC, GC, and PHY→ research methods, statistics concepts

59 questions→ passage based and discrete, 95 MINUTES

breakdown of topic percentages for CPFBS

GC→ 30%

BC→ 25%

PHY→ 25%

OC→ 15%

BIO→ 5%

breakdown of percentages for concepts & skills for CPFBS

FC 4→ 40%

FC 5→ 60%

skill 1→ 35%

skill 2→ 45%

skill 3→ 10%

skill 4→ 10%

foundational concept 4

organisms transport materials, sense their environment, process signals, and respond to changes using processes

FC 4A

translational motion, forces, work, energy, equilibrium in living organisms

translational motion, force, equilibrium, work, energy of point object systems, energy of point object systems, periodic motion

FC 4B

importance of fluids for circulation of blood, gas, and gas exchange

fluids, circulatory system, gas phase

FC 4C

electrochemistry and electrical circuits and their elements

electrostatics, circuit elements, magnetism, electrochemistry, specialized nerve cells

FC 4D

how light and sound interact w matter

sound, light electromagnetic radiation, molecular structure and absorption spectra, geometrical optics

FC 4E

atoms, nuclear decay, electronic structure, and atomic chemical behavior

atomic nucleus, electronic structure, periodic table, stoichiometry

foundational concept 5

principles that govern chemical interactions and reactions form the basis for a broader understanding for living systems

FC 5A

unique nature of water and its solutions

acid-base equilibria, ions in solution, solubility, titration

FC 5B

nature of molecules and intermolecular interactions

covalent bond, liquid phase, intermolecular forces

FC 5C

separation and purification methods

separations and purifications, chromatography

FC 5D

structure, function, and reactivity of biologically relevant molecules

nucleotides and nucleic acids, amino acids, peptides, proteins, 3d protein struc, nonenzymatic protein func, lipids, carbohydrates, aldehydes and ketones, alcohols, carboxylic acids, acid derivatives (amides, esters, anhydrides)

FC 5E

principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics

enzymes, principles of bioenergetics, energy changes in chemical rxns, rate processes in chemical rxns

Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

?s about mental processes and behavior, research methods and statistics concepts

59 questions→ 59 discrete & passage based, 95 MINUTES

breakdown of topic percentages for PSBFB

intro PYSch→ 65%

intro SOC→ 30%

intro BIO→ 5%

breakdown of percentages for concepts & skills for PSBFB

FC 6→ 25%

FC 7→ 35%

FC 8→ 20%

FC 9→15%

FC 10→ 5%

skill 1→ 35%

skill 2→ 45%

skil 3→10%

skill 4→10%

foundational concept 6

biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors influence the ways that individuals perceive and react to the world

FC 6A

sensing the environment

sensory processing, vision, hearing, other senses, perception

FC 6B

making sense of the environment

attention, cognition, consciousness, memory, language

FC 6C

responding to the world

emotion, stress.

foundational concept 7

biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors influence behavior and behavior change

FC 7A

individual influences on behavior

biological bases of behavior, personality, psychological disorders, motivation, attitudes

FC 7B

social process that influence human behavior

how presence of other affects individual behavior, group decision making processes, normative and nonnormative behavior, socialization

FC 7C

attitude and behavior change

habituation and dishabituation, associative learning, observational learning, theories of attitude and behavior change

foundational concept 8

biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors influence the way we think about ourselves and others, as well as how we interact w others

FC 8A

self identity

self concept/identity, social identity, formation of identity

FC 8B

social thinking

attributing behavior to persons or situations, prejudice and bias, processes related to stereotypes

FC 8C

social interactions

elements of social interactions, self presentation and interacting w others, social behavior, discrimination

foundational concept 9

cultural and social differences influence well-being

FC 9A

understanding social structure

theoretical approaches, social institutions, culture

FC 9B

demographic characteristics and processes

demographic structure of society, demographic shifts and social change

foundational concept 10

social stratification and access to resources influence well-being

FC 10A

social inequality

spatial inequality, social class, health disparities, health care disparities

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

?s ask you to use reasoning skills and analyze information in passages

takes excerpts from college level reading either social science or humanities

• social science passages: more scientific in tone, ex: how basic physc and soc assumptions help scholars reconstruct patterns of prehistoric civilization, topics: economics, anthropology, archaeology, education

• humanities passages: focus on relationship btw ideas, conversational, topics: art, dance, ethics, literature

53 ?s all passage based→ 90 MINUTES

breakdown of topic percentages & skills for CARS section

humanities→ 50%

social sciences→ 50%

foundations of comprehension→ 30%

reasoning within the text→ 30%

reasoning beyond the text→ 40%

critical thinking skills for CARS

• foundations of comprehension

• reasoning within text

• reasoning beyond the text

foundations of comprehension

understanding the basic components of the text:

• asks about author’s thesis, main point/theme, meanings of words/phase

inferring meaning or intent from immediate sentence context

• asks infer meanings, interpret rhetorical devices, cause and effect relationships, tone

reasoning within the text

asks about integrating distant passage components into a general interpretation of passage meaning

integrating distant components of the text:

• determine authors message/purpose/pov, ask about contradictions or inconsistencies that can be detected across passage

recognizing and evaluating arguments:

• how diff parts of passage support authors central thesis, CER stuff, language/stance/purpose

reasoning beyond the text

applying or extrapolating ideas from the passage to new contexts:

• asks how info in passage can be extended to other fields, correct answer is most likely/ most reasonable

assessing the impact of incorporating new info on ideas from the passage:

• asks to consider a specific info to assess how ideas in passage are affected by it, reinterpret and reassess passage content w additional idea