About the exam · CARS
Read the passage.
See the relationships.
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills asks you to understand an argument, examine its reasoning, and carry its ideas into new situations.
Explore the three skillsall passage-based
for the section
Humanities and social sciences. The information you need is in the passages and questions.
Rounded to the nearest 5%; varies by test.
01 / What the exam assesses
The same passage.
Different work.
These are the AAMC’s three official skill categories. Select one to see how the scope of the reasoning changes.
AAMC’s approximate question distribution: 30% / 30% / 40%. Rounded to the nearest 5%; the proportions vary by test. These are skill categories, not three steps to perform in order.
02 / Understanding your score
One section.
Part of a larger score.
CARS receives its own score. It also contributes to your total MCAT score, alongside the three science sections.
- Correct answers become a scaled score.
- AAMC converts the number correct using a process that accounts for small differences in test difficulty. The conversion varies by test form. The exam is not graded on a curve.
- A percentile compares scores.
- It tells you the percentage of test takers whose scores were the same as yours or lower. It does not tell you the percentage of questions you answered correctly.
AAMC updates percentile ranks each May 1 using the three most recent testing years. Use its current table when interpreting a score.
Current AAMC percentiles03 / Where to begin
Make the work
visible.
The book’s five stages organize what you do before, during, and after a section. They are the book’s teaching framework, distinct from the AAMC skill categories above.
- 01
Follow one question.
Compare two surviving answers in the worked inference study.
- 02
See the approach.
Explore the map, the five stages, and two complete pattern samples.
- 03
Learn from a miss.
Inspect a worked chart row, then download the free charting templates.
The complete instruction, twenty original passages, full explanations, and detailed schedules are in the book .
04 / A few useful distinctions
Before you begin.
Do I need background knowledge of the passage topic?
No specific subject knowledge or additional coursework is required for CARS. Base your answers on the passage and the information supplied in the question. AAMC overview
Does “Foundations” mean finding an exact quotation?
No. The category includes interpreting meaning and intent in context. Recognizing familiar words is not, by itself, evidence that an answer expresses the right claim. See the worked comparison.
Can I take the full Error Check here?
The full check is forthcoming. The current worked preview explores one pattern and what a selected answer can and cannot tell you.
Where should I check dates, policies, and official practice?
Use the AAMC’s current registration information and official preparation resources. The links below also explain the exam’s content and reasoning skills.
Is there a penalty for a wrong answer?
There is no additional penalty for an incorrect answer. Wrong answers and unanswered questions receive the same treatment in scoring. AAMC scoring guidance
05 / Go to the source
Official exam guidance.
Exam facts checked against AAMC guidance on November 13, 2026.
- CARS section overview Format, content, and approximate skill distribution.
- AAMC CARS content outline (PDF) Definitions and explanations of the three reasoning skills.
- Registration & MCAT Essentials Current exam policies and registration information.
- MCAT score scales Section scores, the total score, and their midpoints.
- How scoring works Raw scores, equating, and how to read a percentile.