Blueprint MCAT Blog: MCAT CARS

Why Is My CARS Score Low? Five Fatal Mistakes with CARS

By: Nikhil Jaganathan CARS – four letters that almost every pre-med student despises with a passion. The Critical Analysis and Reading Section of the Medical College Admission Test, also known as the MCAT, is notorious for its passages with complex arguments and vocabulary built on top of unforgiving time limits. The MCAT CARS section is READ MORE

Jan 10, 2019

Why CARS Is Not Your Typical MCAT Section

Written By: Phil Hawkins When I started prepping for the MCAT, the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section (typically abbreviated as CARS) of the MCAT was my weakest area. And in a way, it was my fault. Why? Because I tried to treat it the same as the other sections of the test. In reality, READ MORE

Sep 24, 2018

MCAT CARS Super Review – September 2018

A common area of concern for pre-med students is the CARS section (Critical Analysis and Reasoning Section). Unlike the other sections, there is no foundation of content to rely on. The CARS section does not rely on rote memorization, instead it relies on a set of skills. Phil Hawkins, one of Next Step’s MCAT Course READ MORE

May 14, 2018

May 2018 MCAT Super Review – CARS

The CARS section of the MCAT exam is significantly different than the other sections you will face on Test Day. Unlike the other sections, there is no foundation of content to rely on. The CARS section does not rely on rote memorization, instead it relies on a set of skills. So, it should come as READ MORE

Aug 01, 2017

CARS Strategy: I Always Run Out of Time, What Should I Do?

The MCAT is a strictly-timed test; on the CARS section, you must complete 9 passages containing 53 questions in 90 minutes, meaning that you have an average of 10 minutes per passage or about 100 seconds per question. This timing is quite tight, and many students have trouble completing the section on time. So, if READ MORE

May 24, 2017

MCAT Public Office Hours – CARS Strategy Review

The webinar session was run by Clara Gillan, one of our lead instructors and content developers. Clara discussed strategies that will help students conquer this difficult section of the exam. Unlike the science sections of the MCAT, there is no foundation of content you can build. CARS is testing a skill, not knowledge, which makes READ MORE

Mar 20, 2017

Avoiding Extreme Answers in CARS

Why Is This So Important? If you’ve been preparing for the MCAT for more than a few weeks – whether you’re taking a course, reading prep books on your own, or working with a tutor – you’ve probably heard this piece of CARS advice: “Don’t choose an extreme answer!” But what makes a CARS answer READ MORE

Feb 23, 2017

Advisor Office Hours – CARS

Dr. Anthony LaFond, one of our course instructors and a senior content developer, discusses the difficult CARS section of the MCAT. In this session, he gives an overview of the section, which is often viewed as the toughest on the exam. You will learn what is being tested and what subjects students will likely face READ MORE

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