What's Tested on the MCAT: Chemistry and Physics
The Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section of the MCAT, often abbreviated as the Chem/Phys section, requires you to solve problems based on knowledge of chemistry, physics, and organic chemistry. The content on this section of the MCAT also includes biochemistry and a small amount of biology. In addition, you’ll need to be familiar with basic math, which must be managed without a calculator.
Remember that the MCAT requires more than just an understanding of science content. The MCAT is primarily a test of critical thinking, and you are required to use four specific Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills (SIRS). Knowing how to use chemistry and physics information to interpret and solve harder problems is key to a good MCAT score. Without a strong knowledge of foundational content in the sciences, it is difficult to do well on the MCAT.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- MCAT Chemistry & Physics: Overview
- MCAT Chemistry & Physics: Disciplines
- MCAT Chemistry & Physics: Foundational Concepts
- MCAT Chemistry & Physics: Critical Reasoning (SIRS)
- MCAT Chemistry & Physics: Structure of the Section
- MCAT Chemistry & Physics: Section Scoring
MCAT Chemistry & Physics: Overview
The Chem/Phys section is the first section you’ll encounter on the MCAT and is followed by a 10-minute break.
| MCAT Section | Number of Questions | Time Limit | Section Score Range |
| Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems MCAT Section | 59 total (10 passages, 44 passage-based questions, 15 discrete questions) | 95 minutes | 118-132 |
Exam content in the Chem/Physics section will draw from chemistry and physics disciplines, Foundational Concepts #4 and #5, and Scientific Reasoning and Inquiry Skills #1-4. Each type of exam content is explained in detail below.
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MCAT Chemistry & Physics: Disciplines
The undergraduate courses that are reflected in the Chem/Phys section of the MCAT include:
- Introductory General Chemistry (30%)
- First-semester Biochemistry (25%)
- Introductory Physics (25%)
- Introductory Organic Chemistry (15%)
- Introductory Biology (5%)
General Chemistry Subjects to Study for the MCAT
In order to study effectively for the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Living Systems section of the MCAT, you should thoroughly understand these chemistry topics:
- Acids and Bases
- Atomic Structure
- Bonding and Chemical Interactions
- Chemical Kinetics
- Electrochemistry
- Equilibrium
- Solutions
- Stoichiometry
- The Gas Phase
- Thermochemistry
- Redox Reactions
General Physics Subjects to Study for the MCAT
In order to study effectively for the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Living Systems section of the MCAT, you should thoroughly understand these physics topics:
- Atomic and Nuclear Phenomena
- Circuits
- Electrostatics
- Fluids
- Kinematics
- Light and Optics
- Magnetism
- Thermodynamics
- Units and Dimensional Analysis
- Waves and Sound
- Work and Energy
General Organic Chemistry Subjects to Study for the MCAT
In order to effectively study for the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Living Systems section of the MCAT, you should thoroughly understand these organic chemistry topics:
- Alcohols and Ethers
- Aldehydes and Ketones
- Bonding
- Carboxylic Acids and Derivatives
- Isomers
- Laboratory Techniques and Separations
- Nitrogen-Containing Compounds
- Nomenclature
- Nucleophiles and Electrophiles
- Phosphorus-Containing Compounds
- Redox reactions
- Spectroscopy
General Biochemistry Subjects to Study for the MCAT
In order to study effectively for the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Living Systems section of the MCAT, you should thoroughly understand these biochemistry topics:
- Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins
- Biological Membranes
- Carbohydrate metabolism
- Carbohydrate structure
- DNA & RNA
- Enzymes
- Lipids and lipid metabolism
- Non-enzymatic proteins
- Regulation of metabolism
You’ll also need to be familiar with biology topics. Visit our guide to what’s tested on the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section of the MCAT to learn more.
MCAT Chemistry & Physics: Foundational Concepts
The AAMC provides specific descriptions of the topics covered within the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section of the MCAT. These topics are subdivided into Foundational Concepts 4 and 5, each of which has several sub-categories. These two foundational concepts are detailed below.
Foundational Concept 4: Physical Processes
This foundational concept is about the physical processes that enable complex organisms to transport materials, sense their environment, process signals, and respond to changes. The science tested in this foundational concept comprise 40% of the questions in the Chem/Phys section. This is further subdivided into five categories:
- Translational motion, forces, work, energy, and equilibrium in living systems
- Importance of fluids for the circulation of blood, gas movement, and gas exchange
- Electrochemistry and electrical circuits and their elements
- How light and sound interact with matter
- Atoms, nuclear decay, electronic structure, and atomic chemical behavior
Foundational Concept 5: Chemical Interaction and Reaction Principles
This foundational concept is about the principles that govern chemical interactions and reactions which form the basis for a broader understanding of the molecular dynamics of living systems. The science tested in this foundational concept comprises 60% of the questions in the Chem/Phys section. This is further subdivided into five categories:
- Unique nature of water and its solutions
- Nature of molecules and intermolecular interactions
- Separation and purification methods
- Structure, function, and reactivity of biologically-relevant molecules
- Principles of chemical thermodynamics and kinetics
MCAT Chemistry & Physics: Critical Reasoning (SIRS)
The AAMC has defined the four critical thinking skills required on the MCAT as Scientific Reasoning and Inquiry Skills, or SIRS. These four skills are tested in all of the science sections of the MCAT (Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, and Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior).
MCAT Chemistry & Physics: Structure of the Section
The MCAT will present you with ten passages based on chemistry and physics subjects, and then present four to six questions about each passage. The questions will address the four SIRS listed above, although different passages will focus on different skills. You will also be asked 15 discrete questions that are completely separate from the ten passages. These discrete questions test both your science knowledge and application of that knowledge based on these four skills, although they tend more toward Skill 1.
H2: MCAT Chemistry & Physics: Section Scoring
The Chem/Phys section of the MCAT is scored on a scale of 118-132, with the median score of all test-takers set to be 125. A given scaled score does not correspond to any specific number of right or wrong questions. According to the AAMC, “The MCAT exam is not graded on a curve. Instead, the MCAT exam is scaled and equated so that scores have the same meaning, no matter when you test or who tests at the same time you did.” The score for this section of the test is combined with the other three sections to provide your overall MCAT score which ranges from 472 to 528.
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Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Aeri Kim and Logan Emlet. Aeri Kim has been teaching MCAT prep at Kaplan for over eight years and also works on the MCAT content development team, helping optimize our courses to better suit student needs in real-time. She holds a BS in Biological Sciences as well as a PhD in Structural Biochemistry. Logan Emlet serves as an MCAT Product Manager at Kaplan North America. Since beginning his journey with Kaplan in 2013 as a teacher, he has guided thousands of students through the complexities of the MCAT.
