MCAT Biological Sciences

AAMC provides the following list of content evaluated by the MCAT.

BIOLOGY

  1. Molecular Biology

  2. Microbiology

  3. Generalized Eukaryotic Cell

  4. Specialized Eukaryotic Cells and Tissues

  5. Nervous and Endocrine Systems

  6. Circulatory, Lymphatic, and Immune Systems

  7. Digestive and Excretory Systems

  8. Muscle and Skeletal Systems

  9. Respiratory and Skin Systems

  10. Reproductive System and Development

  11. Genetics and Evolution

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

  1. Biological Molecules

  2. Oxygen-containing Compounds

  3. Amines

  4. Hydrocarbons

  5. Molecular Structure of Organic Molecules

  6. Separation and Purification

  7. Use of Spectroscopy in Structural Identification

If we look at the frequently asked questions in the AAMC sample exams we find the eight most important areas are (in order):
I, XV, XI, III, XIII, (X, VII, V, II, tie)

In terms of Kaplan chapters containing solutions to the AAMC sample exams the top eight chapters are (in order):
KapB-1, KapB-14, KapB-10, KapB-3, KapB-2, KapO-5, KapB-9, KapB-13

However, easy question (which everybody gets) and super hard questions (which nobody gets) are less important in determining your rank. If we rank questions according to their ability to separate students we find the most important areas are:
I, XV, XI, XIII, III, V, II, VII

KapB-1, KapB-14, KapB-2, KapB-3, KapB-10, KapB-11, KapB-13, KapO-5

Here are some commonl keywords and problem-solving-advice in the sample exams:
read question carefully!, structure/function, reaction, eliminate possible answers!, enzyme, reaction, reproductive, kidney, glycolsis, DNA, transport, pH, microbiology, hormones, genetics, evolution, cell, bone, acid, virus, steric, mutation