These are the 8 classes to take before the MCAT, based on what the AAMC says the exam draws from. None are required to sit the test, but the science sections are built on these courses, so taking them is the most reliable way to be ready. I’ve noted how much of each section every class covers and which ones you can self-study.
8 Classes to Take Before the MCAT
| Class | How much to take |
|---|---|
| 1. Biology | 1 year, plus an upper-level course if you can |
| 2. General Chemistry | 1 year |
| 3. Organic Chemistry | 1 year |
| 4. Physics | 1 year |
| 5. Biochemistry | 1 semester |
| 6. Psychology | 1 semester (a year is better) |
| 7. Sociology | 1 semester |
| 8. Statistics | 1 semester (recommended) |
The percentages below come from the AAMC’s section outlines. They’re rounded to the nearest 5% and vary a little from one test to the next.
1. Biology
Biology is tested in all three science sections: about 65% of Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/Biochem), plus about 5% each of Chem/Phys and Psych/Soc. That makes it the most heavily weighted subject on the exam.
Take a year of introductory biology, which covers cell and molecular biology, genetics, physiology, microbiology and immunology. If you can fit in an upper-level course too, physiology or genetics is the most useful, because MCAT passages assume you can follow research on organ systems and inheritance.
Related: Biology coloring books for MCAT prep
2. General Chemistry
A year of general chemistry covers about 30% of Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys), its biggest single discipline, and about 5% of Bio/Biochem. Acids and bases, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium and electrochemistry all come up.
3. Organic Chemistry
A year of organic chemistry covers about 15% of Chem/Phys and 5% of Bio/Biochem. The MCAT cares less about memorizing long synthesis routes than about functional groups, reaction types and lab techniques like separation and spectroscopy.
Related: Organic chemistry study guides
4. Physics
A year of introductory physics covers about 25% of Chem/Phys: mechanics, fluids, electricity, circuits, light, sound and atomic physics, usually applied to the body. The math stays at algebra and trigonometry, and you get no calculator, so practice estimating.
5. Biochemistry
One semester of biochemistry is the best-value class on this list. It covers about 25% of Bio/Biochem and about 25% of Chem/Phys: amino acids and proteins, enzymes, metabolism and bioenergetics. If you can only add one class before your test date, add this one.
6. Psychology
Introductory psychology covers about 65% of Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc), and the AAMC adds that about 5% of that section is psychology with a biological angle. The AAMC bases the exam on one introductory semester, but given how much of a section rides on it, I’d take a full year if you can.
7. Sociology
One semester of introductory sociology covers about 30% of Psych/Soc. It’s also the class students most often skip and self-study, which works as long as you put the time in.
8. Statistics
Statistics isn’t one of the AAMC’s content disciplines, but data-based and statistical reasoning is about 10% of every science section: reading graphs and tables, judging study designs, and interpreting results. A semester of statistics or research methods makes those questions much faster.
Related: The best MCAT Anki decks
What’s Tested on the MCAT?
The MCAT has four sections of 53–59 questions each. Content time is 6 hours 15 minutes, and you’ll be seated for about 7 hours 30 minutes in total. Here’s what each section draws from, per the AAMC’s content outline:
| MCAT section | What it draws from |
|---|---|
| Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems | Biology 65%, biochemistry 25%, general chemistry 5%, organic chemistry 5% |
| Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems | General chemistry 30%, physics 25%, biochemistry 25%, organic chemistry 15%, biology 5% |
| Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior | Psychology 65%, sociology 30%, biology 5% |
| Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) | Foundations of Comprehension 30%, Reasoning Within the Text 30%, Reasoning Beyond the Text 40%; passages split evenly between humanities and social sciences |
Related: How long is the MCAT?
Classes That Help With CARS
CARS doesn’t test any outside knowledge, so no single class prepares you for it. What helps is practice reading dense, argument-driven writing. Half the passages come from the humanities and half from the social sciences, so courses like philosophy, history, literature, ethics, economics or political science are good choices, and so is a habit of reading long-form journalism and essays outside class.
Are There Required Classes for the MCAT?
No. There are no course requirements to take the MCAT. What the AAMC does require is that you’re preparing to apply to a program that accepts MCAT scores, such as MD, DO, podiatric medicine or veterinary programs, and that you aren’t already enrolled in one. If you want to take the test for any other reason, or to switch schools after you’ve enrolled, you have to request special permission first (AAMC eligibility rules).
Medical schools are a different matter: most list prerequisites that overlap heavily with the classes above, so check the schools you’re applying to.
Classes to Take Before the MCAT FAQ
Are there required classes for the MCAT?
No. The AAMC doesn’t require any courses to sit the exam, but its content is drawn from year-long courses in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics, plus introductory biochemistry, psychology and sociology. Medical schools set their own prerequisites, so check those separately.
Is one year of biology enough for the MCAT?
One year of introductory biology is what the AAMC builds the exam around, so it covers the content. An upper-level course such as physiology, genetics or cell biology makes the biology passages easier to read quickly, which is why I’d add one if your schedule allows.
Which class is most important for the MCAT?
Biology carries the most weight overall, but first-semester biochemistry is the best value: one semester covers about 25% of both the Bio/Biochem and Chem/Phys sections.
What section is the hardest on the MCAT?
Many students find Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) the hardest, because there’s no content to memorize. The AAMC says it requires no specific content knowledge, so the way to improve is regular practice reading dense humanities and social science passages.
Can I self-study instead of taking these classes?
For one-semester subjects like sociology, psychology or statistics, yes, with a good prep book or course. I wouldn’t self-study the year-long sciences. They’re the bulk of the exam and medical school prerequisites anyway. A MCAT prep course can fill smaller gaps.
The Bottom Line
Take a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics, and a semester each of biochemistry, psychology and sociology. Add statistics if you can. Then take full-length MCAT practice tests to find the gaps your classes left.