Med-Pathway Checkout

This testing module emulates the CARS section of the MCAT and contains 36 full passages with questions that fall under the categories of comprehension, reasoning within the text, and reasoning beyond the text. This module is greater than four CARS sections on the MCAT. The passages are classified according to: 1) Science & Public Health Policy;  2) History & Poltical Science; and 3) The Humanities, including Culture, Art, & Literature.

BIG PICTURE: Stereochemistry is a high yield topic on the MCAT as it is important in drug design and its application to medicine. It is also a notoriously tricky subject on the MCAT, particularly because the learner is challenged to derive 3D spatial arrangements from 2D representations. This module will definitely increase your MCAT Stereochemistry knowledge and skills through a series of Free Standing Questions and Passages covering all of the principles of Stereochemistry and Isomers listed on the AAMC MCAT Content Guideline (available for free in checklist format on our site). Additionally, a complete Content Review of Stereochemistry is available for FREE on the med-pathway.com website. 

The questions/passage are grouped into separate sections, allowing for topic-specifc studying for the MCAT. 

BIG PICTURE: This diagnostic testing module includes a combination of high yield biochemical, physical, and chemical concepts presented in the context of the experimental design and analysis expected of you on the MCAT. 

This module applies foundational scientific principles outlined in the AAMC MCAT Content Guideline and covered in various undergraduate courses to highly relevant clinical problems concerning pathological states including sickle cell anemia, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, jaundice, cystic fibrosis, glaucoma, and pulmonary fibrosis.

This Passage and Question/Answer Bank focuses on 4 major testing areas of the MCAT that are grouped in separate sections, allowing for topic-specifc studying for the MCAT. 

1. Kinematics: Translational Motion, Forces, Work, Energy, and Equilibrium

2. Fluids and Gases including Density, Viscosity, Blood Pressure and Flow, Gas Phase, Ideal Gases, Partial Pressure, Heat Capacity

3. Light and Sound including Electrochemistry and Electrical Circuits, Capacitance, Magnetism, Galvanic Cells, and Batteries; Light and Sound, Doppler Effect, Ultrasound, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Absorption Spectra and Spectroscopy, Optics,

4.  Atomic and Electronic Structure & Nuclear Decay

BIG PICTURE: This diagnostic testing module contains Passages and Free Standing Questions that include the experimental design and analysis expected of you on the MCAT. All of the high yield laboratory techniques and experimental set up are presented. The passages apply foundational scientific principles outlined in the AAMC MCAT Content Guideline and covered in multiple undergraduate courses (i.e. Biochemistry, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics) to various clinically relevant diseased states often encountered by physicians. This includes gallstones, gout, tumor hypoxia, cancer and chemotherapy, and phenylketonuria.

This Passage/Q Bank covers the following major testing areas tested on the MCAT:

Section 1) Unique Nature of Water and its Solutions: Acid/Base Equilibria, Ions in Solution, Solubility, Titration

Section 2) Nature of Molecules and Molecular interactions: Covalent bonds, Intermolecular interactions, Stereochemistry (Note that med-pathway also offers a separate, in depth Content Review and Diagnostic Test on Stereochemistry)

Section 3) Separation and Purification Techniques: Including Proteins, Amino Acids): Extraction, Distillation, Chromatography (Ion Exchange, Gel Filtration, Affinity), Electrophoresis

Section 4) Structure/function of Biomolecules: Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry of Enzyme mechanisms, Amino Acids and Proteins, and Chemistry of Key Functional Groups and Important Reactions (Note that med-pathway also offers a separate, in depth Content Review and Diagnostic Tests for Amino Acids/Proteins as well as Organic Chemistry).

Section 5) Principles of Chemical Kinetics & Thermodynamics: Enzymes (Substrate Specificity and Mechanism of Action, including Michaelis-Menten, Cooperativity, and Kinetics of Inhibition), Principles of Bioenergetics, Free Energy, K_eq and Laws of Mass Action, Biological Half Reactions & Electron Transport, Thermodynamics, Enthalpy, Entropy, Kinetics (Reaction Rates, Rate Laws, Energy Profiles).

BIG PICTURE: We present an Organic Chemistry Passage/Q bank module with over 100 challenging high yield MCAT-style questions to prepare you for O Chem mastery. The question bank has been been derived from a careful consideration of the AAMC MCAT Content Guideline. All of the important molecules and functional groups and their chemistries (including their kinetics and solvents) are covered.

The Questions/Passages are gouped by subject specific topics to facilitate focused testing/learning. This includes:

Section I: Hydrocarbons 

Section II: Functional Groups & Reactivity Including Esters, Amides, Acids, Anhydrides, Aldehydes and Ketones, Lipids, Vitamins, and Carbohydrates are included. A companion Free O Chem Content Review is available on our website.

Section III: Biomolecules including carbohydrates, fats, amino acids

Section IV: Kinetics & Stereochemistry Although test questions involving Stereochemistry and Amino Acids/Proteins are presented here, more detailed discussions and testing modules for these topics are separately available on our website. And of course, the comprehensive Content Review for these topics is always freely available as PDF files. Further, as O Chem is closely linked to Biochemistry, additional O Chem application questions can be found on our site, especially in Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Exam #2. Further, this module does not cover spectroscopy. Rather, Spectroscopy Content Review is covered in the Free Lab Techniques Content Review and tested in the Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Exam #1 as this material is formally listed in the AAMC MCAT Content Outline under "How light and sound interact with water".

Big Picture: Human behavior is highly impacted through disease as well as its corresponding treatment with therapeutics, making the understanding of behavioral sciences a key foundational topic for practicing medicine. This section contains Passages and Free Standing Questions that examine your proficiency in the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section of the MCAT.

The material covered in this testing module includes high yield concepts described in the AAMC MCAT Content Outline for the Behavioral Sciences. Topics examined in this module include learning and memory, intelligence, language, sensation and perception, and various aspects of cognition. This also includes psychology and sociology such as developmental psychology, personality disorders, behavioral tolerance, sociology of culture, medical/health sociology, self identity and development, social stratification and inequality, and public health.

BIG PICTURE: The MCAT loves the high yield topic of amino acids and proteins because of their high relevance in research and clinical medicine. This testing module consists of challenging passages and free standing questions that focus on multiple biochemical aspects of amino acids and proteins. Free Content Review designed around the AAMC MCAT Content Outline is also available on our web site.

Topics examined here include:

Section I: Amino Acid/Peptides Synthesis, side chain chemistry, titrations, pK_a and isoelectric point, anabolic and catabolic pathways including the role of nitrogen.

Section II: Proteins Structure/function, folding and denaturation, post translational modifications, chromatography and purification, binding, allosterism and Hill coefficient (hemoglobin/myoglobin).

BIG PICTURE: This diagnostic testing module contains high yield questions in the form of Passages and Free Standing Questions that include the experimental design and analysis expected of you on the MCAT. Multiple biochemical and molecular biological laboratory techniques and experimental scenarios are presented. The passages apply foundational scientific principles outlined in the AAMC MCAT Content Guideline and covered in various undergraduate courses to various clinically relevant diseased states including breast cancer, xeroderma pigmentosa, muscular dystrophy, and mantle cell lymphoma.

This Passage/Q Bank covers 4 major testing areas of the MCAT that are grouped in separate sections, allowing for topic-specifc studying for the MCAT. 

Section 1. Protein/Enzyme Structure & Function including amino acids and inhibition. This topic is on every single MCAT exam and appears in both the biological and physical sciences sections. A deeper dive on amino acids and proteins is also presented in our Amino Acids and Proteins module. As enzymes and kinetics are also listed in the AAMC MCAT Content Outline as part of the physical sciences, this topic is also covered in the Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems #2 Test.

Section 2. Nucleic Acids: Biochemical structure and function, molecular biological techniques including quantitative PCR, Flow Cytometry, Northern and Southern blotting, and DNA sequencing, DNA Polymerase and DNA Replication, Crick's Central Dogma, Genetic code

Section 3. Gene Expression: Chromatin, Histones, Epigenetics, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation, mRNA processing, Promoters and Operators, RNA Polymerase

Section 4. Genetics/Evolution: Mendelian Inheritance and Linkage, Epistasis, Cell Cycle, Lactose Operon, Evolution of Lactose Intolerance, Pedigree Analysis, Mutational Analysis

BIG PICTURE: This Passage/Q Bank testing module contains Passages and Free Standing Questions that cover various aspects of Biochemistry & Microbiology/Immunology for the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section of the MCAT. The questions are derived from the AAMC MCAT Content Outline that is available as a free download on our web site. As many pre-med students opt out of taking formal immunology and microbiology courses, this testing module as well as our companion free content review  serves as a solid foundation for MCAT microbiology and immunology.

The content area covered consists of the following Key Concepts: 

Section I: Structure, Growth, Physiology, and Genetics of Prokaryotes and Viruses

Section II: Innate & Adaptive Immunity (Macrophages, Phagocytes, B and T lymphocytes), Antigen and Antibody, Clonal Selection, Self vs Non-self and Autoimmunity, Major Histocompatibility Complex

BIG PICTURE: Understanding metabolism is important in numerous aspects of clinical medicine and health. This includes exercise physiology, nutrition and diets, as well as metabolic disorders such as diabetes and ketoacidosis. This Passage/Q bank section provides Free Standing Questions and Passages related to various aspects of Metabolic Biochemistry and Physiology that are covered in the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section of the MCAT. Free Content Review for this material is available on our web site. 

The following topics are covered and discussed: Bioenergetics, Carbohydrate metabolism (Glycolysis, Gluconeogenesis, TCA, and the Pentose Phosphate Shunt), Fatty Acid and Protein Metabolism and Urea Cycle, Oxidative Phosphorylation and Hormonal Integration of Metabolism. 

BIG PICTURE: This diagnostic testing module contains Passages and Free Standing Questions that include the experimental design and analysis expected of you on the MCAT. Multiple laboratory techniques and experimental set up are presented. The passages apply foundational scientific principles outlined in the AAMC MCAT Content Guideline and covered in various undergraduate courses to various clinically relevant diseased states including coronavirus and pulmonary dysfunction, lysosomal storage disorders, mast cell dysfunction, sphingolipid disorders, spinal muscular atrophy, pancreatitis, and vitamin deficiency.

This Passage/Q Bank covers 3 major testing areas of the MCAT and is divided into separate chapters to allow for subject-specific testing:

Section 1: Cell Biology:  Includes Autophagy, Organelles, Lysosomes, Cell Signaling & Oncogenes

Section 2: Developmental/Reproductive Rights: Includes Oocyte Maturation, Cell Cycle, Hormonal Control, Mucins, Gametes, Germ Layers

Sections 3-8: Organ Systems/Hormonal control: Includes Endrocrine,  Renal, Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Neuro/Musculoskeletal, Pulmonary System

Med-pathway offers multiple testing options including full length exams, subject specific exams as well as focused diganostic exams in various disciplines including biochemistry, organic chemistry, stereochemistry, micro/immuno, and biology.

This MCAT Test examines all four subject areas tested on the MCAT and consists of 230 questions. The MCAT style passages presented here are a sampling from the med-pathway Q/Passage bank and include the data analysis and interpretation expected of you on the MCAT. All presented topics are derived from the AAMC MCAT Content Outline (available as a free resource in checklist format on our web site).  

This challenging practice exam emulates a full length MCAT exam (230 questions) with all four subject areas and is scored in a manner consistent with how the AAMC scores the MCAT (See our free resource "How the MCAT is Scored"). 

1. An optional tutorial session to familiarize yourself with the features available on the test (i.e. strike out, highlighting, and flagging questions). 

2. Both normal and accommodation timing is available as is pausing the exam. 

3. Any breaks in between exams are set by the test taker.

4. The "Navigation" and "Section Review "features can be accessed at anytime during the exam and shows unanswered and flagged questions and provides a method to submit the questions and for moving to the next section.  The test is submitted through the dashboard feature. 

5. The exam can be taken in tutor or non-tutor mode. Detailed annotations (Review) are available through the Results Report after the exam has been submitted for scoring.