How to Approach MCAT CARS Practice Passages

How to Approach MCAT CARS Practice Passages?

At BeMo, we have developed an approach to these difficult passages – both for how to approach them on the test and how to study for them. Firstly, should you encounter a difficult passage on the test, don’t panic! Read the passage like you would a badly written novel or newspaper article – in other words, don’t worry about understanding specific words or phrases, instead read for the general gist/thesis of the passage. Take the passage one paragraph at a time, pausing for a moment after each paragraph and ask yourself what that paragraph was about. Then, try to link each of the paragraphs together at the end into a general understanding of the entire passage.

If a paragraph gives you some difficulty when you first approach it, don’t worry! Write down some keywords from the passage and move on. Having a general context for the rest of the passage will often help you understand its separate paragraphs better.

To study for these kinds of passages, the best thing to do is to prepare by trying out MCAT CARS practice passages, such as the ones we've provided above. These difficult and often unfamiliar reading materials and practice samples will help you practice summarizing individual paragraphs and sections. It is helpful to get feedback on your summaries from an MCAT tutor or a medical school advisor, who can identify what you need to work on and how to improve. Some people even choose to join an MCAT prep course to get professional coaching. You should consider your personal requirements and timeline to see if you want to take on expert help. If you're wondering when you should write the MCAT, check out our MCAT test dates blog.

Generally, you should spend no more than 10-12 minutes on each individual passage in the CARS section. That being said, it is entirely reasonable to spend more time on difficult passages (as you will most likely spend less time on easier passages).

You’ll get the most of this exercise if you do it as you would the real MCAT. Find a quiet but not silent place (e.g. coffee shop, common room in a library) to do this passage. Don’t look at the answers until you have answered all the questions and are ready to submit (i.e. they are your final answers). Remember, if you make a “silly mistake” in practice, chances are you will make them on the real MCAT as well!

Though these passages may seem daunting at first, over time, you'll find it easier and easier to answer MCAT CARS questions. With sufficient practice, your critical analysis, reasoning, and information synthesis skills will develop and you'll take lesser time to understand each passage and parse your answers. So don't be discouraged if you find this section tough at first, and just start practicing!