Preparing for the MCAT often involves making decisions about passage strategy. After all, most questions on the exam are associated with a passage, and these passages may be dense or difficult to read. This problem can be especially relevant to the Biological and Biochemical Foundations section. Imagine clicking “Next” on your exam and seeing something like this:
HMG-CoA reductase catalyzes the rate-limiting step of cholesterol biosynthesis. Synthesis of the enzyme is controlled by a family of insulin- and sterol-responsive, ER membrane-bound proteins termed sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs). Inactive SREBP precursor proteins are transferred from the ER into the Golgi, along with a second ER membrane protein, SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP). In the Golgi, inactivated SREBPs are activated by two constitutively active mammalian proteases, S1P and S2P…
Have trouble focusing on that paragraph above? You’re not alone! MCAT bio/biochem passages often include a seemingly infinite number of proteins, compounds, or medications, each with its own confusing acronym. These compounds may have numerous relationships with each other. It can seem impossible to keep track of all of them.
But never fear! Below are a few strategies to use when attacking a bio/biochem passage that may look terrifying at first glance. Try them out on your next practice MCAT exam!
Sign up to get expert tips and exclusive invites to free MCAT classes and medical school admissions workshops!
Strategies For Difficult MCAT Bio/Biochem Passages
1. Focus On the Familiar, Not the New
It’s tempting to highlight each new acronym you see in a passage (HMG-CoA reductase? SREBP? SCAP?). However, this is generally ineffective! The MCAT exists to test you on material that you have studied – the material that you’d see in any MCAT prep book. Any questions about SREBP or SCAP are likely to relate to that material. For this reason, highlight the terms that are familiar, like “cholesterol,” “insulin,” or “ER membrane.”
2. Don’t Try To Absorb Everything During Your Initial Read-Through
For many MCAT passages, it is virtually impossible to fully understand and remember the material in three minutes or less. Good news! You don’t need to! Much of the material may not appear in the questions at all. So, time spent digesting it while reading is not productive. Don’t rush the reading, but don’t try to memorize every word either; move through the passage in 3 minutes or less, then go on to the questions.
3. Don’t Remember Something? Go Back.
If you’re reading passages properly in 3 minutes or less, you’re bound to have to go back to answer some questions. This is a good thing. Better to return to the passage than to answer from memory and risk misremembering!
When deciding which part of the passage to consult, the question stem should be key. Try to be as specific as possible. If the question asks about “the inhibitor of compound A,” don’t just return to any random mention of compound A. Go back to the discussion of its inhibitor.
Finally, if you’re completely uncertain, start at the first place where the compound/enzyme was introduced and look for useful information.
4. Finally, Don’t Panic!
Remember that passage content is often supposed to seem unfamiliar, and that many other students probably feel just as you do. Stay calm, learn what you can from the passage, and then use your existing knowledge to do your best on the questions. With enough practice, you may soon wonder why you ever found these passages so intimidating.
If you need more help with biochem passages, we’ve got your back. Blueprint MCAT students see an average score increase of 15 points! Whether you need the flexibility of a Self-Paced Course, the instruction of a Live Course, or 1:1 assistance of a private MCAT tutor, Blueprint MCAT has the MCAT prep option that works for your learning style!
Get started with a free MCAT diagnostic, one free practice exam, and tons more MCAT prep resources.