In this blog, we’ll review challenging MCAT CARS questions and answers; we’re providing practice passages with expert analysis and tips for how to review your MCAT CARS section. These are the same exact strategies we use to help our own students achieve high scores on the MCAT as part of our MCAT prep programs. We're not holding back. Let's dive in!
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MCAT CARS Practice Passage #1
Heralded as the father of existentialism, Kierkegaard’s debut work of influence Either/Or presents the categorical existence of two spheres, the aesthetic and the ethical. The hedonistic, distractible stage of aesthetic living is governed by circumstances of moment, where one fleeting event – such as the smile of a pretty girl – leads to the next and so too does the motif for the aesthetics' fantasy. The ethical sphere is entered when the nature and judgments of one’s choices are considered. Individual agency, whilst present before, truly manifests in bearing the responsibility of one’s good or bad choices.
For Kierkegaard, the ethical sphere was intimately connected with the religious sphere explored in his subsequent works. Whilst the ethical has a commitment with morality, the religious is a covenant with God. It is based on faith; Christianity is seen as truth, although Kierkegaard admits it to be paradoxical and oppositional to logic. It is through conscious choice that movement from the ethical sphere to the religious occurs – with a leap of faith. Despite a seeming progression implied in Kierkegaard’s works, the spheres are not independent entities exclusive of each other. One who lives primarily in the religious sphere, for example, will still have aspects of her being enjoying fleeting moments of beauty and have morality govern her choices.
Kierkegaard’s leap of faith is denounced by his successor, Sartre, who rejects the notion of divine orchestration, tarring such leaps as bad faith. Moreover, Sartre vehemently argues for the oppressive nature of social constructs and collectivist forces that usher the individual into rejecting his or her innate freedom for that of the greater good. It is this narrowing and limiting of choice that Sartre defined as bad faith. In a manner, any and all external influences that cause one to live in an inauthentic fashion – such as the social scripts followed on a first date, in a restaurant – are judged to be guilty and worthy of re-examination.
The core of Sartre’s philosophies hinge upon the oft quoted adage, “existence proceeds essence.” It is man who first and foremost is before he defines the parameters of that existence through conscious and deliberate choice. It is therefore of no consequence the station, nature, and parameters surrounding one’s birth when considering the nature of one’s being. Essence is defined through choice. But how can one make such a choice when the options are seemingly limitless and each has unbeknownst consequences? Indeed, it is so daunting an experience that Sartre dubbed this Existential Angst.
In an elegant application of existential philosophy, a former concentration camp prisoner, Frankl, posits that regardless of how harsh, cruel, and inhumane the external environment may be, one’s inner state and reaction is defined by agency. He defines this internal state and motivation as one’s attitude in relation to outside circumstance. Of paramount importance for Frankl is finding and making meaning of the circumstances in one’s life. The application of his philosophy in action is what gives Frankl’s narrative its power. Where Kierkegaard and Sartre’s philosophies were also deeply personal and practical, they were nonetheless born out of academia. Frankl’s insightful analysis and presentation of the prisoner’s internal state was a lived experience, lending it to be more accessible for the layperson.
Questions for MCAT CARS Practice Passage #1
1. What is Existential Angst (paragraph 4)?
a. The feelings one has when confronted with a choice
b. The state of desperation when contemplating that existence precedes essence
c. The task of making seemingly limitless choices
d. The anxiety and regret associated with having made a choice
2. The author would most agree with which of the following statements:
a. Existentialism is a philosophy about agency and choice, best introduced through reading passages such as this one
b. Frankl’s philosophy is better than Kierkegaard's and Sartre’s
c. Kierkegaard's and Sartre’s philosophies were impractical when compared to Frankl’s philosophy
d. Applying the principles of existentialism to everyday life is better than just talking about it
3. Which of the following best describes the main goal of the passage?
a. To compare the different philosophies of Kierkegaard, Sartre, and Frankl
b. To show a progression of existential philosophy
c. To demonstrate how existentialism has changed with time
d. To offer an introduction to existential philosophy
4. According to the passage’s depiction of Kierkegaard, which of the following policies would he most support?
a. That students should have the choice to attend either a secular or religious school
b. That Existentialism should be taught in schools
c. That World Religions should be taught in schools
d. That public funding should be provided for religious school boards
5. Which of the following statements is least supported by the passage?
a. Sartre believed men and women were equals
b. Sartre supported laws to prevent discrimination
c. Sartre believed that a poor man could become rich if he worked hard enough
d. Sartre was denounced by the church
Answers for MCAT CARS Practice Passage #1
MCAT CARS Practice Passages #2 and #3
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How to Approach MCAT CARS Practice Passages
With your MCAT score being such a critical factor in determining medical school acceptance rates, you need to ensure you spend sufficient time practicing with MCAT CARS passages before taking the exam. To get a good MCAT score you must therefore incorporate MCAT CARS practice into your MCAT study schedule.
But after reading some MCAT CARS practice passages, you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed. Here are some tips from our experts on how to approach MCAT CARS passages:
1. Make Time…and Take Your Time
The best MCAT CARS strategy is reviewing challenging passages and learning from your mistakes so you can do better with each practice run. To get a good MCAT score you must therefore incorporate MCAT CARS practice into your MCAT study schedule.
Our consultants believe that routine practice was the most important habit when it comes to CARS prep:
“It was important I became accustomed to reading long passages and be able to answer the questions afterwards. With repetition, I became better and better at reading, understanding, and ultimately extracting relevant information in a short period of time.” – Dr. Tony Huynh, DO
“I equate CARS to going to the gym–you can’t expect the day before a strength or endurance competition that you will suddenly perform well; it requires longevity in your training. I promised myself when I started preparing for the exam that every day (regardless of my commitments), I would read 1 CARs passage and try to struggle through it. It took several months to see this payoff, but slowly, my score started to bump up, and I started recognizing the patterns.” – Dr. Shaughnelene Smith, DO
2. Focus on Reading Comprehension Skills
The key to scoring well on CARS is regular practice and good MCAT reading comprehension skills. Knowing how to break down and understand complex passages (in a timed setting) isn’t easy, but as we said above, practice makes perfect!
Here’s what our admissions experts want you to know:
“Reading the passage and being able to answer all the associated questions within a limited time frame was most challenging, especially since most of the passages were quite tedious and it was difficult to stay focused throughout … Summarizing each paragraph into my own words and using that to guide the main idea of the passage was most helpful …[Regular practice] helped me to become familiar with the type of questions, and concentration needed, to excel at CARS.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD
“I think the best habits were just to dive back into critical reading skills. Breaking down the major passage themes and working through them systematically. One of the best strategies for me was answering the question before reading the answer choices. This way I didn’t get swayed if my initial analysis had a choice I almost always stuck with it ... Learning the best strategies and moving quickly as it can often be a section where you are pressed for time will help you do well.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD, University of Maryland School of Medicine.
3. Seek Assistance to Improve Your Score
Some people are naturally disciplined and are able to succeed in preparing for their MCAT CARS with ease…but most premeds tend to benefit from working with a study group, a trusted MCAT prep professional, or even a tutor.
Pacing yourself (and giving yourself a LOT of time to prep) is key, but if you feel like you aren’t making progress, don’t be afraid to look for other resources and options to help you make the most of your practice.
But, be careful of forums like MCAT reddit that might have some biased information – as a rule of thumb, it’s best to seek advice from a trusted source.
FAQS
1. How should I practice for MCAT CARS?
Your number one practice strategy should involve reading as much complex and challenging material as possible. As you read, ask yourself what arguments the authors are making, analyze if their arguments are strong, etc. To improve, try reading classics of literature and philosophy, as well as academic and scholarly journals.
2. What if I see no improvement in my CARS practices?
You need to keep practicing with CARS sample passages and external reading consistently. Most students need at least 3 or 4 months (ideally 6 months) of preparation. Only constant practice will help you improve.
3. How much time should I take to complete a CARS passage?
Ideally 10 minutes per passage, but this can vary depending on the difficulty of the passage and the questions.
4. During MCAT CARS practice, what should I aim to score for each passage?
When you take the MCAT diagnostic test, you should aim for a score in the 90th percentile, which is approximately a 128 section score. However, this is a guide only as the MCAT is scored on a curve relative to how other students do and the MCAT can vary in difficulty from one test date to another. This is why doing AAMC practice tests is key, as they provide a score in the 118-132 range per section.
5. How many CARS question types can I expect in the exam?
There are only three CARS question formats: Foundations of Comprehension, Reasoning Within the Text, and Reasoning Beyond the Text.
6. Will my MCAT CARS score greatly affect my chances of getting into medical school?
Most medical schools put a lot of weight into your CARS score. Some schools only consider your CARS score during application review.
7. What should I use for MCAT CARS practice?
Aside from practice MCAT CARS passages and questions like the ones above, you can use any challenging texts to improve your reading comprehension, critical analysis and reasoning. Try reading articles in scientific journals, classic literature, newspapers and magazines that cover topics commonly seen on CARS.
8. How do I get better at MCAT CARS?
If you find that MCAT self-prep isn’t giving you any improvement in your practice test scores on CARS, consider enrolling in an MCAT prep course or hiring an MCAT CARS tutor, who can provide you with expert feedback and guidance on CARS passages.
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