MCAT Biology

Tutor the People provides expert MCAT tutoring in the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section of the MCAT, in addition to all MCAT sections. We will help you grasp the material and increase your scores.

Content tested on this section is drawn from introductory organic (5%) and general chemistry (5%), introductory biology (65%), and first semester biochemistry (25%). Students are expected to understand Genetics, Cell Biology, Physiology Content, and Biochemistry in this section.

Foundational Concept 1 (50% of the questions):

You should be familiar with such topics as structure and function of proteins and their respective amino acids, transmission of genetic information from the gene to the protein, transmission of heritable information from generation to generation and the processes that increase genetic diversity, principles of bioenergetics and fuel molecule metabolism.

Foundational Concept 2 (25% of the questions):

Topics include assemblies of molecules, cells, and groups of cells within multicellular organisms, structure, growth, physiology, and genetics of prokaryotes and viruses, and processes of cell division, differentiation, and specialization.

Foundational Concept 3 (25% of the questions):

You should be familiar with such topics as structures and functions of the nervous and endocrine systems and ways in which these symptoms coordinate the organ systems and structure and integrative functions of the main organ systems.

Scientific Inquiry & Reasoning Skills (SIRS):

Topics include knowledge of scientific principles & concepts, problem solving and scientific reasoning, data-based and statistical reasoning, and reasoning about the design and execution of research.

How Our Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems Tutors Can Help:

Although the concepts listed constitute the background knowledge you will need in order to answer all of the questions, they are difficult because you have to deal with situations or problems you have not yet previously encountered under strict timing conditions. Our tutors will work with you to gain a mastery of the required knowledge and biological foundations, and a strategy for encountering these new situations on test day so there is no problem you cannot manage. Together you will work on real MCAT biology questions, along with other MCAT sample questions so that you will be able to apply your learned strategy to the content.

On the test, you’ll see passages that describe experiments, situations, or ideas from which questions are drawn. The information may be presented in the guise of journal or textbook articles, experimental research, data analysis, or scientific-style editorials. This passage-and-question structure allows you to demonstrate your understanding of the science presented in the passage, no matter how obscure or foreign. In addition the format tests your ability to quickly assess the kinds of situations feasible given the information in the passage. Our tutors can provide reading materials and strategies that will familiarize you with the language of these types of passages, and how to approach each type of question. This prerequisite familiarity will result in increasing your speed and accuracy on test day.

Need Help Preparing for the Biological and Biochemical Foundations Portion of the MCAT?

Let one of our MCAT tutors help you with preparing for MCAT! Call us today at 800-277-5508 and let us help you better prepare for Biological and Biochemical foundations portion. You can also fill out our online contact form. Working with a private tutor is the best way improve your performance on Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems.