MCAT Test Biological Sciences Section - Organic Chemistry Topics Covered

The biological sciences section of the MCAT test is designed to assess an individual's knowledge of basic scientific concepts related to biology and organic chemistry. The topics specifically related to organic chemistry covered in the biological sciences section of the exam include acid derivatives, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, amines, amino acids and proteins, carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, covalent bonds, aliphatic hydrocarbons with a specific focus on alkanes, keto acids and esters, lipids, molecular structure and spectra, phosphorous compounds, and separations and purifications. This section of the exam also covers some general organic chemistry concepts including the classification of organic compounds, IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds, multistep synthesis/retrosynthesis, principles involved in reactions, reactions and reaction mechanisms, and the structure and stereochemistry of organic compounds. The organic chemistry questions included in the biological sciences section of the MCAT test are not designed to determine if an individual has an in-depth knowledge of each topic, but are instead designed to determine if an individual has a basic understanding of the most important material. As a result, it is more important for an individual to understand the key concepts related to each topic covered on the exam than it is for that individual to have an advanced understanding of a particular topic.

Biology Topics Covered
Informational and Research Passages
Problem Solving Questions
Argument Evaluation Questions