MCAT Exam Syllabus 2026: Complete Guide (Section-wise Topics, Weightage, Time, Dates & Prep Plan)
- Rajesh Kulkarni
- 5 days ago
- 8 min read
If you’re preparing for the MCAT in 2026, the smartest first step is understanding the official MCAT blueprint—what’s tested, how it’s tested, and how the exam time is divided. The MCAT isn’t a “memorize facts” exam. It’s designed to test how well you apply core science concepts + reasoning skills to passages, experiments, data tables, and real-world scenarios.
This guide explains the MCAT exam syllabus 2026 in a clean, section-wise format, including:
Exact exam structure (questions + time)
Official content framework (foundational concepts + skills)
Topic-wise syllabus for all 4 sections
Real 2026 test dates + score release examples
A practical study approach aligned with the syllabus
MCAT 2026 exam overview (structure + timing)
AAMC confirms the MCAT is a computer-based exam with 4 multiple-choice sections, with total content time = 6 hours 15 minutes and total seated time ≈ 7 hours 30 minutes (excluding check-in).
MCAT 2026 pattern (official)
MCAT Section | Questions | Format | Time |
Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys) | 59 | 10 passage sets (4–6 Qs each) + 15 independent Qs | 95 min |
Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills (CARS) | 53 | 9 passage sets (5–7 Qs each) | 90 min |
Biological & Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/Biochem) | 59 | 10 passage sets + 15 independent Qs | 95 min |
Psychological, Social & Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc) | 59 | 10 passage sets + 15 independent Qs | 95 min |
Total = 230 questions across the 4 sections.
MCAT exam syllabus 2026: how the syllabus is organized (AAMC framework)
AAMC explains the science sections are built around:
Foundational concepts (big ideas)
Content categories (specific topic groups)
Scientific Inquiry & Reasoning Skills (SIRS)—how you use the content (data interpretation, research design, etc.)
AAMC also notes the test content draws from coursework typically covered in:
year-long general chemistry, organic chemistry, intro physics, intro biology
plus biochemistry, psychology, and sociology
So when people ask “MCAT syllabus,” it’s not just a topic list—it’s topics + reasoning skills + integration.
Section 1 Syllabus: Chemical & Physical Foundations (Chem/Phys)
This section tests how chemical and physical principles apply to the human body and biological systems—mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of tissues and organ systems.
What you study in Chem/Phys (2026)
Core subjects
General Chemistry: atomic structure, periodic trends, bonding, gases, solutions, equilibrium, acids/bases, electrochemistry
Physics: kinematics, forces, work/energy, fluids, hydrostatics, circuits, magnetism, optics, waves, sound
Organic Chemistry: functional groups, stereochemistry, reactions, lab techniques
Biochemistry (selected): enzymes, amino acids/proteins, membranes, metabolism basics (where it overlaps with passages)
High-yield content clusters (how it appears on MCAT)
Cluster | What MCAT typically tests |
Fluids + pressure | blood flow logic, continuity, Bernoulli, hydrostatic pressure |
Energy + thermo | metabolic efficiency, enthalpy/entropy, work-energy relationships |
Electrochem + circuits | membrane potential logic, current/voltage/resistance concepts |
Acid-base + buffers | pH, Henderson–Hasselbalch reasoning, physiological buffers |
Lab & data skills | graphs, units, dimensional analysis, experiment interpretation |
Important reality: Chem/Phys is often passage-driven physics + chemistry applied to biology—so practice interpreting figures and experimental setups is part of the syllabus.
Section 2 Syllabus: CARS (Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills)
CARS is not about memorized content. It tests your ability to read, understand, analyze, and reason from passages across social sciences and humanities.
What CARS tests (skills-based syllabus)
AAMC’s CARS design focuses on comprehension and reasoning needed for medical school success.
Core CARS skill areas (AAMC framing)
Foundations of comprehension (main idea, author’s purpose, tone)
Reasoning within the text (logic, evidence, inference)
Reasoning beyond the text (apply ideas to new contexts)
CARS passage themes (common)
Ethics and philosophy
History and politics
Culture and society
Arts and literature
Science writing for general audiences
Syllabus tip: CARS improves through daily timed passage practice, not content notes.
Section 3 Syllabus: Biological & Biochemical Foundations (Bio/Biochem)
This section tests processes unique to living organisms—growth, reproduction, homeostasis, energy use, response to environment, and adaptation—using biological + biochemical reasoning.
What you study in Bio/Biochem (2026)
Biology
Cell structure and function
Genetics and inheritance
Evolution and diversity
Organ systems (integration + homeostasis)
Biological molecules and membranes
Biochemistry
Proteins and enzymes (kinetics, inhibition)
Metabolism (glycolysis, TCA, ETC—conceptual focus)
DNA/RNA, transcription/translation (conceptual + experimental)
High-yield Bio/Biochem content clusters
Cluster | What MCAT usually asks |
Enzymes & kinetics | Km/Vmax trends, inhibitors, graphs |
Molecular biology | experiments, gene expression, mutations |
Membranes & transport | diffusion/osmosis, channels, gradients |
Metabolism logic | rate-limiting steps, energy yield reasoning |
Physiology integration | organ systems in scenarios, homeostasis |
AAMC’s official content outline documents also show that topic lists are provided to question writers and are meant to guide preparation by content categories.
Section 4 Syllabus: Psych/Soc (Psychological, Social & Biological Foundations)
This section tests how psychological, social, and biological factors influence behavior, perception, well-being, and how social conditions affect health outcomes.
What you study in Psych/Soc (2026)
Psychology
Learning, memory, cognition
Motivation, emotion, stress
Psychological disorders (conceptual understanding)
Identity, personality, attitudes, behavior change
Sociology
Culture, socialization, demographics
Social inequality, stratification, institutions
Health disparities and access to resources
Social interactions and group behavior
Biology overlap
Nervous system basics relevant to behavior and perception
High-yield Psych/Soc clusters
Cluster | What MCAT usually asks |
Research methods | study design, variables, bias, ethics |
Stats & interpretation | correlation vs causation, graphs/tables |
Social inequality | how stratification impacts health outcomes |
Behavior change | attitudes, norms, identity, motivation |
Perception & cognition | sensation/perception, attention, memory |
AAMC emphasizes this section is important for understanding behavioral and sociocultural determinants of health and serving diverse populations.
MCAT scoring (quickly, because it affects how you study the syllabus)
Your four section scores combine into a total score range of 472–528, with 500 as the midpoint.
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MCAT exam syllabus 2026: how the syllabus is organized (AAMC framework)
AAMC explains the science sections are built around:
Foundational concepts (big ideas)
Content categories (specific topic groups)
Scientific Inquiry & Reasoning Skills (SIRS)—how you use the content (data interpretation, research design, etc.)
AAMC also notes the test content draws from coursework typically covered in:
year-long general chemistry, organic chemistry, intro physics, intro biology
plus biochemistry, psychology, and sociology
So when people ask “MCAT syllabus,” it’s not just a topic list—it’s topics + reasoning skills + integration.
Section 1 Syllabus: Chemical & Physical Foundations (Chem/Phys)
This section tests how chemical and physical principles apply to the human body and biological systems—mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of tissues and organ systems.
What you study in Chem/Phys (2026)
Core subjects
General Chemistry: atomic structure, periodic trends, bonding, gases, solutions, equilibrium, acids/bases, electrochemistry
Physics: kinematics, forces, work/energy, fluids, hydrostatics, circuits, magnetism, optics, waves, sound
Organic Chemistry: functional groups, stereochemistry, reactions, lab techniques
Biochemistry (selected): enzymes, amino acids/proteins, membranes, metabolism basics (where it overlaps with passages)
High-yield content clusters (how it appears on MCAT)
Cluster | What MCAT typically tests |
Fluids + pressure | blood flow logic, continuity, Bernoulli, hydrostatic pressure |
Energy + thermo | metabolic efficiency, enthalpy/entropy, work-energy relationships |
Electrochem + circuits | membrane potential logic, current/voltage/resistance concepts |
Acid-base + buffers | pH, Henderson–Hasselbalch reasoning, physiological buffers |
Lab & data skills | graphs, units, dimensional analysis, experiment interpretation |
Important reality: Chem/Phys is often passage-driven physics + chemistry applied to biology—so practice interpreting figures and experimental setups is part of the syllabus.
Section 2 Syllabus: CARS (Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills)
CARS is not about memorized content. It tests your ability to read, understand, analyze, and reason from passages across social sciences and humanities.
What CARS tests (skills-based syllabus)
AAMC’s CARS design focuses on comprehension and reasoning needed for medical school success.
Core CARS skill areas (AAMC framing)
Foundations of comprehension (main idea, author’s purpose, tone)
Reasoning within the text (logic, evidence, inference)
Reasoning beyond the text (apply ideas to new contexts)
CARS passage themes (common)
Ethics and philosophy
History and politics
Culture and society
Arts and literature
Science writing for general audiences
Syllabus tip: CARS improves through daily timed passage practice, not content notes.
Section 3 Syllabus: Biological & Biochemical Foundations (Bio/Biochem)
This section tests processes unique to living organisms—growth, reproduction, homeostasis, energy use, response to environment, and adaptation—using biological + biochemical reasoning.
What you study in Bio/Biochem (2026)
Biology
Cell structure and function
Genetics and inheritance
Evolution and diversity
Organ systems (integration + homeostasis)
Biological molecules and membranes
Biochemistry
Proteins and enzymes (kinetics, inhibition)
Metabolism (glycolysis, TCA, ETC—conceptual focus)
DNA/RNA, transcription/translation (conceptual + experimental)
Bioenergetics and regulation
High-yield Bio/Biochem content clusters
Cluster | What MCAT usually asks |
Enzymes & kinetics | Km/Vmax trends, inhibitors, graphs |
Molecular biology | experiments, gene expression, mutations |
Membranes & transport | diffusion/osmosis, channels, gradients |
Metabolism logic | rate-limiting steps, energy yield reasoning |
Physiology integration | organ systems in scenarios, homeostasis |
AAMC’s official content outline documents also show that topic lists are provided to question writers and are meant to guide preparation by content categories.
Section 4 Syllabus: Psych/Soc (Psychological, Social & Biological Foundations)
This section tests how psychological, social, and biological factors influence behavior, perception, well-being, and how social conditions affect health outcomes.
What you study in Psych/Soc (2026)
Psychology
Learning, memory, cognition
Motivation, emotion, stress
Psychological disorders (conceptual understanding)
Identity, personality, attitudes, behavior change
Sociology
Culture, socialization, demographics
Social inequality, stratification, institutions
Health disparities and access to resources
Social interactions and group behavior
Biology overlap
Nervous system basics relevant to behavior and perception
High-yield Psych/Soc clusters
Cluster | What MCAT usually asks |
Research methods | study design, variables, bias, ethics |
Stats & interpretation | correlation vs causation, graphs/tables |
Social inequality | how stratification impacts health outcomes |
Behavior change | attitudes, norms, identity, motivation |
Perception & cognition | sensation/perception, attention, memory |
MCAT scoring (quickly, because it affects how you study the syllabus)
Your four section scores combine into a total score range of 472–528, with 500 as the midpoint.
Why this matters for the syllabus: you can’t “skip” one section. Every section contributes to the final total.
2026 MCAT dates (real examples) + score releases
AAMC’s U.S. calendar shows:
standard start time 8:00 a.m. (unless stated otherwise)
scores released by 5:00 p.m. ET on score release date
deadlines are at 11:59 p.m. local test center time
2026 example dates (U.S. calendar excerpt)
Test Date (2026) | Score Release Date |
January 9 | February 10 |
January 15 | February 17 |
March 20 | April 21 |
April 10 | May 12 |
For international/territory testing, AAMC posts a separate 2026 schedule by country and instructs students to use the U.S. calendar for score releases.
How to use the MCAT syllabus for a 2026 study plan (simple + effective)
Here’s a syllabus-aligned approach that actually matches how MCAT questions are written:
Phase 1: Build foundations (Weeks 1–6)
Cover topics section-wise (Chem/Phys → Bio/Biochem → Psych/Soc)
Start CARS immediately (daily passages)
Make short notes + formula sheets + error log
Phase 2: Apply through passages (Weeks 7–10)
Shift to passage practice (because MCAT is passage heavy)
Do mixed sets: Chem/Phys + Bio/Biochem + Psych/Soc + CARS weekly
Focus on data interpretation and experiment logic (SIRS skills)
Phase 3: Full-length + refinement (Weeks 11–14)
Full-length tests under timed conditions
Review wrong answers deeply: content gap vs reasoning gap
Fix weak areas using the official outline headings (content categories)
Rule of thumb: If your practice is only “reading notes,” you’re not doing the MCAT syllabus properly—because the syllabus includes reasoning and research interpretation.
FAQ: MCAT Exam Syllabus 2026
1) What is the MCAT exam syllabus 2026?
The MCAT exam syllabus 2026 includes four sections—Chem/Phys, CARS, Bio/Biochem, and Psych/Soc—organized around foundational concepts, content categories, and scientific reasoning skills, with 230 total questions and 6 hours 15 minutes of content time.
2) Is the MCAT syllabus the same worldwide in 2026?
Yes—the content framework is the same. Only the test dates/locations differ by region; AAMC posts separate international calendars by country.
3) Does CARS have a defined syllabus?
CARS is skills-based rather than topic-based. It tests reading comprehension and reasoning from passages across humanities and social sciences; AAMC notes it requires no specific content knowledge.
4) How long is the MCAT in 2026?
AAMC lists total content time as 6 hours 15 minutes and total seated time as about 7 hours 30 minutes, excluding check-in.
CTA: Official resources to confirm the syllabus + plan your prep (links)
Use these official AAMC pages to match your prep exactly to the real exam:
What’s on the MCAT Exam (Official overview): https://students-residents.aamc.org/whats-mcat-exam/publication-chapters/whats-mcat-exam
Section overviews (Official):
Chem/Phys: https://students-residents.aamc.org/whats-mcat-exam/chemical-and-physical-foundations-biological-systems-section-overview
CARS: https://students-residents.aamc.org/whats-mcat-exam/critical-analysis-and-reasoning-skills-section-overview
Bio/Biochem: https://students-residents.aamc.org/whats-mcat-exam/biological-and-biochemical-foundations-living-systems-overview
Psych/Soc: https://students-residents.aamc.org/whats-mcat-exam/psychological-social-and-biological-foundations-behavior-section-overview
2026 MCAT test calendar + score releases (U.S.): https://students-residents.aamc.org/register-mcat-exam/us-mcat-calendar-scheduling-deadlines-and-score-release-dates-0
International/territories 2026 testing calendar: https://students-residents.aamc.org/register-mcat-exam/us-territories-and-international-mcat-testing-calendar
MCAT score scale (Official): https://students-residents.aamc.org/mcat-scores/mcat-exam-score-scale
If you want, tell me your target test month (2026) and current background (e.g., strong in bio, weak in
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