MCAT Section 2: Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
Simple Notes (Printable Sheet Format)
Purpose of CARS Section - Tests your ability to understand, analyze, and evaluate complex texts - No
outside content knowledge needed - Based on passages from humanities and social sciences
Structure of the Section - 90 minutes - 9 passages - About 53 questions total
Each passage is followed by 5–7 questions
Types of Passages - Humanities: literature, philosophy, ethics, art, religion - Social Sciences: sociology,
psychology, anthropology, political science
Types of Questions
1. Main Idea / Central Thesis
2. What is the author's main point?
3. Summary of the entire passage
4. Detail / Retrieval
5. What does the passage say about X?
6. Based on specific lines or paragraphs
7. Inference
8. What can be assumed but is not directly stated?
9. Read between the lines
10. Function / Purpose
11. Why did the author include this paragraph/example?
12. Author’s Tone and Attitude
13. Is the author supportive, critical, neutral?
1
Simple Notes (Printable Sheet Format)
Purpose of CARS Section - Tests your ability to understand, analyze, and evaluate complex texts - No
outside content knowledge needed - Based on passages from humanities and social sciences
Structure of the Section - 90 minutes - 9 passages - About 53 questions total
Each passage is followed by 5–7 questions
Types of Passages - Humanities: literature, philosophy, ethics, art, religion - Social Sciences: sociology,
psychology, anthropology, political science
Types of Questions
1. Main Idea / Central Thesis
2. What is the author's main point?
3. Summary of the entire passage
4. Detail / Retrieval
5. What does the passage say about X?
6. Based on specific lines or paragraphs
7. Inference
8. What can be assumed but is not directly stated?
9. Read between the lines
10. Function / Purpose
11. Why did the author include this paragraph/example?
12. Author’s Tone and Attitude
13. Is the author supportive, critical, neutral?
1
