How many sections are on the MCAT?

The MCAT has 4 scored sections: Chemistry/Physics, CARS, Biology/Biochemistry, and Psychology/Sociology. They always appear in this fixed order on test day.

How long is the MCAT?

The MCAT is about 7 hours 30 minutes total seated time, including breaks. Content time (the 4 sections combined) is about 6 hours 15 minutes.

How many questions are on the MCAT total?

230 scored questions: 59 in Chem/Phys, 53 in CARS, 59 in Bio/Biochem, and 59 in Psych/Soc. A small number of unscored experimental questions may also appear.

Can you take MCAT sections in a different order?

No. The MCAT section order is fixed and identical for every test taker: Chem/Phys, then CARS, then Bio/Biochem, then Psych/Soc.

MCAT Sections

The MCAT is four sections, seven and a half hours, and one fixed order — knowing it changes how you pace.

The MCAT always runs in the same section order with the same timing. Once you internalize the structure — how many questions per section, how much time you get, and when the breaks land — pacing decisions on test day stop being emotional and start being mechanical.

The MCAT has 4 scored sections and always runs in the same fixed order.
Each section is 90-95 minutes with 230 total scored questions.
Total seated time is roughly 7 hours 30 minutes including breaks and check-in.

Section 1

Chemistry & Physics (Chem/Phys): 95 minutes, 59 questions.

The first scored section of the day. Roughly 25% biochemistry, 30% general chemistry, 25% physics, and 15% organic chemistry. Passage-heavy, with 10 passages and 15 discrete (standalone) questions.

10 passages × ~4-6 questions = ~44 passage-based questions.
~15 discrete questions scattered throughout.
Target: ~9-10 minutes per passage, ~1 minute per discrete.

Section 2

CARS (Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills): 90 minutes, 53 questions.

The only section with zero science content — pure passage analysis. Nine passages drawn from humanities and social sciences, each with 5-7 questions.

9 passages × ~5-7 questions each.
Target: ~10 minutes per passage including questions.
Do not skim — CARS punishes speed more than any other section.

See our full MCAT CARS Strategy Guide for passage attack patterns.

Section 3

Biology & Biochemistry (Bio/Biochem): 95 minutes, 59 questions.

The section most premeds feel most confident in — and often lose easy points on. Roughly 65% biology, 25% biochemistry, and 5-10% general/organic chemistry. Same structure as Chem/Phys: 10 passages plus 15 discretes.

10 passages × ~4-6 questions.
~15 discrete questions.
Experiment-heavy passages: identify the variable and expected result first.

Section 4

Psychology & Sociology (Psych/Soc): 95 minutes, 65 questions.

The last section of the day and the most vocabulary-dense. Roughly 65% psychology, 30% sociology, and 5% biology. Highest question count of any section.

10 passages × ~4-6 questions = ~44 passage questions.
~15 discrete questions.
Vocabulary recognition + one-line definitions is the fastest score lever.

Breaks

Test day structure: sections, breaks, and total seated time.

The AAMC schedules the day tightly. Optional breaks are 10 minutes each, and skipping them does not add time to your sections.

Tutorial: 10 min (optional).
Section 1 (Chem/Phys): 95 min.
Break 1: 10 min (optional).
Section 2 (CARS): 90 min.
Mid-exam break: 30 min (optional).
Section 3 (Bio/Biochem): 95 min.
Break 2: 10 min (optional).
Section 4 (Psych/Soc): 95 min.
Void/survey: ~10 min.

Total seated time: ~7h 30m. Total content time: ~6h 15m.