MCAT Physical Sciences

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

CHEMISTRY

  1. Stoichiometry

  2. Electronic Structure of Atoms and the Periodic Table

  3. Bonding

  4. Phases and Phase Equilibria

  5. Solution Chemistry

  6. Acids and Bases

  7. Thermodynamics and Thermochemistry

  8. Rate Processes in Chemical Reactions: Kinetics and Equilibrium

  9. Electrochemistry

PHYSICS

  1. Translational Motion

  2. Force and Motion, Gravitation

  3. Equilibrium and Momentum

  4. Work and Energy

  5. Wave Charactistics and Periodic Motion

  6. Sound

  7. Fluids and Solids

  8. Electrostatics and Electromagnetism

  9. Electric Circuits

  10. Light and Geometrical Optics

  11. Atomic and Nuclear Structure

If we look at the frequently asked questions in the AAMC sample exams we find the eight most important areas are (in order):
IV, XX, I, XIV, XIII, V, (XVI, VI, III: tie)

In terms of Kaplan chapters containing solutions to the AAMC sample exams the top eight chapters are (in order):
KapP-9, KapP-3, KapP-11, KapC-9, KapC-10, KapC-8, KapC-3, KapP-12.

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:
IV, XX, I, XIV, XIII, V, XVI, XI

KapP-9, KapP-3, KapP-11, KapP-12, KapC-10, KapC-8, KapC-3, KapC-9

Here are some commonl keywords and problem-solving-advice in the sample exams:
energy, read question carefully!, law, equation, eliminate possible answers!, Newton, pH, kinematics, energy jumps, electronegativity, dipole, acid/base, reaction, ray diagram, frequency, equilibrium, LeChatelier, valence, titration, reduction, projectile, potential, ion, heat, KE, fluids, work