What is CARS on the MCAT?
If you’re starting your MCAT prep, you’ve probably come across the term CARS and wondered, What exactly is it? The Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section is a unique part of the MCAT exam—and for many students, one of the most challenging.
Unlike the science sections that test your knowledge of biology, chemistry, or physics, the CARS section focuses purely on your reading comprehension, reasoning skills, and ability to analyze complex arguments. Every question is based entirely on the passage provided—meaning you can’t rely on memorized facts or prior knowledge. Instead, you’ll need to read closely, think critically, and make decisions based on subtle textual cues.
In this guide, we’ll break down what CARS on the MCAT really is, how it’s structured, why it matters, and what you can do to improve your performance. Whether you’re just beginning your prep or looking to refine your MCAT CARS strategy, understanding this section is a crucial first step.
I. What Is the CARS Section on the MCAT?
The Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section is a core component of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), designed to assess one of the most important abilities you’ll need in medical school and your future medical career: the ability to read, comprehend, and critically evaluate complex information. Unlike the science-heavy sections that test memorization and content mastery, CARS focuses on how you think, not what you know.
This section contains nine passages, each followed by 5–7 comprehension questions, for a total of 53 questions to be completed in 90 minutes. The content is drawn from a wide range of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, including philosophy, ethics, cultural studies, and political science. The language can be abstract, the arguments nuanced, and the vocabulary sophisticated—reflecting the type of reading and analysis you’ll encounter in medical school and professional practice.
What makes the MCAT CARS section especially challenging is that you are not allowed to use prior knowledge or outside information to answer the questions. All responses must be based strictly on what is written in the passage. This tests your comprehension skills, your ability to extract the main idea, follow complex reasoning, and identify the author’s intent—all under time pressure.
Whether you're a humanities major or a pre-med with a heavy science background, mastering the CARS section requires a shift in mindset—from studying facts to developing analytical and reasoning skills. To help you get started, explore high-quality CARS section tests, targeted drills, and expert-reviewed passages at CARSBooster.
II. What Does the CARS Section Cover?
The Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section of the MCAT is unlike any other part of the exam. Rather than testing your knowledge of science content, this section assesses your ability to interpret complex arguments, analyze written material, and apply logical reasoning—all under time pressure. It’s a pure test of comprehension skills, making it one of the most challenging sections for many students.
The CARS section is made up of passage-based questions drawn from disciplines within the social sciences and humanities, including philosophy, ethics, literature, art criticism, cultural studies, and political science. These texts are often abstract, opinionated, or subtly argumentative—requiring you to discern tone, evaluate assumptions, and unpack the author’s line of reasoning.
Each of the nine passages is followed by a set of 5 to 7 comprehension questions that fall into three main categories:
- Foundations of Comprehension – Testing your understanding of the text’s surface-level meaning, author intent, and structural flow
- Reasoning Within the Text – Asking you to dissect logic, analyze claims, and evaluate the coherence of arguments
- Reasoning Beyond the Text – Challenging you to apply ideas from the passage to new or hypothetical scenarios
What makes this section especially rigorous is that all questions must be answered using only the information in the passage. You cannot rely on outside knowledge or personal experience, which levels the playing field and places greater emphasis on raw critical thinking and reading comprehension. The CARS section ultimately evaluates your ability to think like a physician: to process unfamiliar information quickly, analyze nuanced data, and make informed judgments. That’s why medical schools view this section as a key indicator of readiness for both medical education and clinical decision-making.
III. How Many Passages and Questions Are in CARS?
The CARS section of the MCAT consists of a total of 9 passages, each followed by 5 to 7 questions, for a combined total of 53 questions to be completed in 90 minutes. Each passage is approximately 500–600 words long and reflects writing styles commonly found in academic or editorial sources from the humanities and social sciences.
This structure isn’t arbitrary—it’s designed to simulate the kind of dense reading and quick critical thinking required in medical school. You’ll need to efficiently process each passage, understand the author’s argument, and then answer the associated questions—all while staying on pace with the exam’s time constraints.
Since each question is worth the same, no passage carries more weight than another. However, some topics—such as abstract philosophy or political theory—may feel more difficult depending on your personal reading strengths. That’s why knowing how many passages and questions to expect can help you develop a timing strategy that allocates effort wisely across all nine sets.
Want to go deeper into this topic? Check out our full breakdown in: How Many CARS Passages Are on the MCAT?
IV. Is the CARS Section Difficult?
The CARS section is widely regarded as one of the most difficult parts of the MCAT, and for good reason. It doesn’t test science knowledge, equations, or memorized facts—instead, it challenges your ability to think critically, read analytically, and evaluate complex arguments in real time.
What makes CARS uniquely challenging is its unpredictability. Passages are drawn from unfamiliar and often abstract fields like philosophy, ethics, and cultural theory, and are written in dense, academic prose. You’re required to extract meaning, identify the author’s intent, and answer nuanced questions based only on the passage—no outside knowledge is allowed.
Adding to the difficulty is the time pressure. With 53 questions across 9 passages in just 90 minutes, you must read quickly, think clearly, and avoid common reasoning traps—all without losing focus.
Still, while CARS is challenging, it’s far from impossible. With consistent practice and a structured review strategy, students can significantly improve their performance. Many top scorers say that once they learned how to approach CARS passages methodically, what once felt like the hardest section became one of their most reliable strengths. For effective study strategies and a breakdown of how to review your CARS passages the right way, check out our guide: How to Review CARS Section for the MCAT?
V. What Is a Good Score in CARS?
A strong CARS score on the MCAT can make a significant difference in your medical school application—especially at schools that value critical thinking and communication skills. But what exactly counts as a “good” score?
The CARS section is scored from 118 to 132, with 125–126 being the national average. A score in the range of 127–129 is considered competitive and typically places you in the 85th to 90th percentile. This signals to admissions committees that you can interpret complex material and reason effectively—skills that are essential in both medical school and clinical settings.
A score of 130 or higher is exceptional and can give your application a strong edge, especially if you're applying to top-tier or research-intensive programs. Some schools give extra weight to the CARS section as part of their holistic admissions process, recognizing that strong verbal reasoning skills correlate with success in patient care and clinical communication.
Ultimately, a good CARS score is one that aligns with or exceeds the median scores of your target schools. Even a single point improvement can significantly boost your percentile and strengthen your overall profile. For a deeper look into score breakdowns, percentiles, and how CARS fits into your MCAT strategy, visit: What Is a Good CARS Score?
VI. Strategies to Improve Your CARS Performance
Raising your CARS score isn’t about volume—it’s about strategy. Top scorers focus on how they read, reason, and review. These proven techniques will help you build efficiency, accuracy, and confidence across all CARS passages:
- Read Actively and Strategically: Don’t skim. Focus on structure, tone, and flow. Identify the main idea, note argument transitions, and understand each paragraph’s role. This active reading mindset makes complex passages easier to navigate and reduces the need for re-reading.
- Know Your Question Types:
Familiarize yourself with the three core types:
● Foundations of Comprehension (main ideas, author intent)
● Reasoning Within the Text (logic, assumptions)
● Reasoning Beyond the Text (applying ideas elsewhere)
Knowing what each question is asking helps you respond more effectively. - Balance Timed and Untimed Practice: Use timed drills to simulate exam pressure, and untimed sessions to slow down and refine your reasoning. Review both correct and incorrect answers to understand your logic and spot patterns.
- Review to Reflect: Ask why you chose your answer and what led you astray. Analyze traps and rethink how you approached the passage. Keep an error log to track recurring issues and adjust your strategy accordingly.
- Read Widely: Supplement your prep with challenging texts in philosophy, ethics, and cultural analysis. Sources like The New Yorker or The Economist can train you to think critically in unfamiliar contexts—just like on the exam.
- Use Quality Tools: A platform like CARSBooster offers high-yield practice passages, analytics, and review tools to track your progress and sharpen your strategy with every session.
VII. FAQs
Q: How long is the CARS section?
A: The CARS section of the MCAT is 90 minutes long and includes 9 passages with a total of 53 questions. This means you'll have roughly 10 minutes per passage, which must include both reading and answering all related questions. Time management is critical, as pacing directly impacts performance.
Q: How many questions are in the MCAT CARS section?
A: There are 53 questions in the MCAT CARS section, all tied to the 9 reading passages. Each passage typically contains 5 to 7 questions, testing your comprehension, ability to analyze arguments, interpret meaning, and apply reasoning skills—all without relying on outside knowledge.
Q: When should I start preparing for CARS?
A: You should begin preparing for CARS at least 2 to 3 months before your test date. Because CARS success is built on skill development—like reading comprehension, pattern recognition, and critical reasoning—early, consistent practice is more effective than cramming. Ideally, include CARS in your weekly study schedule from the start of your MCAT prep.