MCAT Test Biological Sciences Testing Tips - Problem Solving Questions
The biological sciences section of the MCAT test consists of four primary types of questions, which includes comprehension questions related to informational passages, comprehension questions related to research passages, problem-solving questions, and argument evaluation questions. The problem-solving questions in this section of the MCAT test are specifically designed to determine whether or not an individual is capable of identifying the cause of a problem or the solution to a scientific equation using basic biology and organic chemistry concepts. The presence of problem-solving questions in the biological sciences section of the exam may make this section appear extremely daunting, but there are certain key pieces of information about these questions that an individual may want to keep in mind. First, it is extremely important to realize that most of the questions in the biological sciences section of the exam are not problem-solving questions and most of the questions that require the individual to solve a problem do not require the knowledge of any formulas. In fact, most of the problem-solving questions in this section require the individual to identify the cause of a particular situation rather than compute a solution.
Secondly, even if a question does require some mathematical knowledge in order to find the solution, it is important to remember that almost all of these questions will only require the use of basic mathematics. The exam does not require the use of calculus or any other advanced mathematics so if a question looks like it requires complex calculations in order to solve the problem, you should try to find a shortcut or a way to make a logical estimation. The exam's designers realize that each exam-taker will only have an average of a minute and ˝ to answer each question in the biological sciences section so there is usually a simple way of finding the answer to each problem-solving question. Finally, most of the problem-solving questions in this section of the exam that require the knowledge of specific formulas are related specifically to genetics and determining the likelihood of a specific gene being passed on to the next generation. As a result, it may be a good idea to focus your studying on formulas related to genetics, such as the formula for the Hardy-Weinberg Law, as these formulas will be invaluable for this section of the exam.
Biology Topics Covered
Organic Chemistry Topics Covered
Informational and Research Passages
Argument Evaluation Questions