For many students preparing for the MCAT exam, the CARS section (Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills) can be the most unpredictable. Unlike the science sections—Biological and Biochemical Foundations, Chemical and Physical Foundations, and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations—CARS does not test scientific knowledge or formulas. Instead, it challenges test-takers on their reasoning skills, comprehension, and ability to extract meaning from dense, often abstract texts.
One of the most common questions asked by students is: how many CARS passages on MCAT should you expect? The answer is simple but requires context.
The CARS section of the MCAT includes nine passages. These passages span across disciplines like philosophy, ethics, humanities, political science, population health, and social sciences. Each passage is followed by 5 to 7 questions, totaling 53 questions for the section. To answer all of them, students are given 90 minutes, so knowing how much time to spend per passage is essential.
Early in your MCAT prep, it’s important to understand the format of the reasoning section. Each passage is typically 500–600 words long and requires critical engagement with the text. You will not be able to rely on prior knowledge, as the MCAT is designed to test how well you analyze and reason based solely on the material provided. This makes the critical analysis and reasoning component especially tricky for students used to fact-based testing.
To familiarize yourself with the passage style and timing, it helps to work with practice questions that mimic MCAT-style content. High-quality resources for the CARS section can help you build endurance and accuracy by replicating the real test environment and question structure.
What Makes the CARS Section Unique
The MCAT CARS section is unlike any other portion of the exam. While the other sections rely heavily on scientific knowledge—covering biological systems, biochemical foundations, chemical reactions, and physical foundations—CARS is all about processing complex written material and applying critical thinking. That’s why the skills developed here are considered vital by most medical schools.
Since the CARS passages are written in styles unfamiliar to many science majors, test-takers must adapt to new patterns of logic, tone, and structure. You might find yourself reading about 18th-century ethics, or dissecting a text on political science or philosophy. The ability to identify the main idea, follow the author’s argument, and understand their assumptions is key.
Unlike other MCAT sections, CARS has no graphs, figures, or outside facts to help you. It’s a purely text-based section. Questions might ask about the tone, purpose, implications, or reasoning behind an argument, and it’s up to you to answer based solely on the information in the passage.
Why Does the Number of Passages Matter?
Understanding how many passages in CARS MCAT will appear helps you design a realistic pacing strategy. You’ll have about 10 minutes per passage—including reading and answering time. However, some passages will be more complex, requiring you to slow down, while others might be more straightforward.
Having a feel for the next passage and how difficult it might be comes with practice and pattern recognition. That’s why it’s so important to go beyond memorization and build real analysis and reasoning skills.
Strategy for a Competitive Score
Achieving a competitive score in CARS can significantly boost your overall MCAT score. Since most medical schools consider the CARS section an indicator of your future clinical reasoning and communication skills, a weak performance can hurt your chances—especially in Canada, where some schools heavily weigh CARS.
Practice consistently. Don’t just go through questions. Analyze your mistakes. Learn why a particular MCAT question was wrong and how a better application of reasoning would have led to the correct answer. Avoid relying on shortcuts or outside references. Instead, build up your comfort with abstract and nuanced arguments.
One approach is to simulate full-length MCAT exams with the total seated time, not just isolated passages. This builds test stamina and helps you better manage your mental energy on exam day. To structure your studies more effectively, many students refer to targeted CARS MCAT preparation strategies found at https://boosterprep.com/cars . One such tool is CARSBooster, which provides full-length timed exams, targeted drills, and analytics to help identify and improve weak areas.
A strong CARS performance reflects well-rounded skills. It tells medical schools that a student is not only competent in science but also capable of navigating real-world problems that require analysis, empathy, and communication. These are key traits for success in patient care.
Key Tips to Maximize Performance
- Prepare early: Don’t leave CARS for the final weeks. Build familiarity with the structure from the start.
- Note recurring question types: e.g., author’s tone, function of a sentence, implied meaning.
- Practice under timed conditions to simulate real test day pressure.
- Learn to read actively: Engage with the author, identify their argument, and predict where they’re heading.
- Focus on main ideas rather than memorizing details.
The goal isn’t just to get the right answer, but to develop mental habits that mirror the logic expected in the test. Even questions with more questions than usual can be managed if you stay engaged and disciplined.
Final Thoughts
The CARS section challenges your comprehension, analysis, and reasoning under pressure. Understanding how many CARS passages are there on the MCAT, knowing how to pace yourself, and training your brain for abstract thought can turn this challenging section into an area of strength. Remember, it’s not about being fast—it’s about being accurate and thoughtful.
The path to a strong MCAT CARS score isn’t found in shortcuts. It’s built on habit, insight, and reflection. And it begins with your commitment to practice—not just to read, but to understand. That is what medical schools are truly looking for.
Use high-quality practice questions, invest time in analysis, and stay consistent. With deliberate effort, you can improve both your performance and confidence for test date.
Tools like CARSBooster can support this growth by helping students train with realistic practice questions, identify patterns, and track their reasoning progress over time. Success in CARS means you’ve mastered not just reading, but reasoning—and that’s a skill for life.
