Table of Contents
The Kaplan MCAT 528 Team vii
How This Book Was Created viii
Using This Book viii
Part 1 MCAT Basics And Test Strategy 1
Chapter 1 The Path to Medical School 3
1.1 The MCAT 3
1.2 Medical School Admissions 12
Chapter 2 Reading the Kaplan Way 21
2.1 How to Read Strategically Using Keywords 21
2.2 How to Analyze Passages Critically 27
2.3 How to Attack Different Passage Types 36
2.4 Concept and Strategy Summary 39
Chapter 3 Kaplan's Question and Answer Strategies 43
3.1 Kaplan Method for Questions 43
3.2 Wrong Answer Pathologies 49
3.3 Signs of a Healthy Answer 51
3.4 Getting the Edge Using the Question Strategy 53
3.5 Concept and Strategy Summary 53
Part 2 Scientific Inquiry And Reasoning Skills 55
Chapter 4 Skills 1 and 2 57
4.1 What Are Skills 1 and 2? 57
4.2 How Will Skills 1 and 2 Be Tested? 61
4.3 Getting the Edge in Skill 1 and Skill 2 Questions 63
Chapter 5 Skill 3 65
5.1 What Is Skill 3? 65
5.2 Fundamental Concepts of Skill 3 66
5.3 How Will Skill 3 Be Tested? 72
5.4 Getting the Edge in Skill 3 Questions 73
Chapter 6 Skill 4 75
6.1 What Is Skill 4? 75
6.2 Fundamental Concepts of Skill 4 77
6.3 How Will Skill 4 Be Tested? 85
6.4 Getting the Edge in Skill 4 Questions 86
Part 3 Science Subject Review 87
Chapter 7 Science Unit Overview 89
Chapter 8 Behavioral Sciences 91
8.1 Reading the Passage 91
8.2 Answering the Questions 94
8.3 Getting the Edge in Behavioral Sciences 96
8.4 Preparing for the MCAT: Behavioral Sciences 97
8.5 Behavioral Sciences Worked Examples 116
8.6 Behavioral Sciences on Your Own 132
Behavioral Sciences Practice Passage Explanations 134
Chapter 9 Biochemistry 135
9.1 Reading the Passage 135
9.2 Answering the Questions 139
9.3 Getting the Edge in Biochemistry 141
9.4 Preparing for the MCAT: Biochemistry 141
9.5 Biochemistry Worked Examples 162
9.6 Biochemistry on Your Own 182
Biochemistry Practice Passage Explanations 186
Chapter 10 Biology 189
10.1 Reading the Passage 189
10.2 Answering the Questions 192
10.3 Getting the Edge in Biology 194
10.4 Preparing for the MCAT: Biology 195
10.5 Biology Worked Examples 228
10.6 Biology on Your Own 244
Biology Practice Passage Explanations 246
Chapter 11 General Chemistry 249
11.1 Reading the Passage 249
11.2 Answering the Questions 252
11.3 Getting the Edge in General Chemistry 254
11.4 Preparing for the MCAT: General Chemistry 255
11.5 General Chemistry Worked Examples 272
11.6 General Chemistry on Your Own 290
General Chemistry Practice Passage Explanations 292
Chapter 12 Organic Chemistry 295
12.1 Reading the Passage 295
12.2 Answering the Questions 297
12.3 Getting the Edge in Organic Chemistry 299
12.4 Preparing for the MCAT: Organic Chemistry 300
12.5 Organic Chemistry Worked Examples 320
12.6 Organic Chemistry on Your Own 338
Organic Chemistry Practice Passage Explanations 340
Chapter 13 Physics 343
13.1 Reading the Passage 343
13.2 Answering the Questions 346
13.3 Getting the Edge in Physics 348
13.4 Preparing for the MCAT: Physics 349
13.5 Physics Worked Examples 368
13.6 Physics on Your Own 384
Physics Practice Passage Explanations 386
Part 4 Critical Analysis And Reasoning Skills 389
Chapter 14 Arguments and Formal Logic 391
14.1 What is an Argument? 391
14.2 What Are the Elements of Arguments? 392
14.3 How Will Arguments Be Tested? 393
14.4 What Is Formal Logic? 394
14.5 What Are the Elements of Format Logic? 394
14.6 How Will Formal Logic Be Tested? 396
14.7 Getting the Edge Using Arguments and Formal Logic 396
Chapter 15 CARS Question Types 397
15.1 What Kinds of Questions Will You Be Asked? 397
15.2 Foundation of Comprehension Questions 397
15.3 Reasoning Within the Text Questions 401
15.4 Reasoning Beyond the Text Questions 404
15.5 How Will the CARS Question Types Appear on the Exam? 407
15.6 Getting the Edge Using the CARS Question Types 407
Chapter 16 Practicing with CARS Passages 409
16.1 CARS Worked Example I 410
16.2 CARS Worked Example II 422
16.3 CARS Practice Passage I 434
16.4 CARS Practice Passage II 436
