Section guide · CARS
MCAT CARS
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills tests reading, not prior knowledge. Every answer is supported by the passage itself, which is why fresh, unfamiliar passages are the best practice.
Practice CARS free 53 questions · 90 min
How the section is built
Nine passages of roughly 500–600 words, about half from the humanities and half from the social sciences, each with 5–7 questions. There are no standalone questions.
What it tests
- Find the author's main point and tone
- Separate claims from the evidence offered for them
- Apply the passage's reasoning to a new situation
- Judge which new information would weaken or strengthen an argument
How to practice it
- Read for the argument, not for the details; you can look details up
- Name the author's view in one line before you start the questions
- Justify every answer with a phrase from the passage
- Practice with passages you have never seen; recycled passages inflate scores
MCAT CARS questions
How many questions are in MCAT CARS?
53 questions in 90 minutes on the real exam, the same as our practice section.
How do I practice MCAT CARS?
Take a timed section, then review every miss by type. Our free CARS section has 9 passages and explanations for every answer choice.
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