If You Get 29/35 on This Quiz, You Can Fake Your Way Through the MCAT

By: John Miller
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
If You Get 29/35 on This Quiz, You Can Fake Your Way Through the MCAT
Image: shutterstock

About This Quiz

The Medical College Admission Test, commonly known as the MCAT, is a tough test that probes the minds and knowledge of prospective medical school students. Spanning multiple disciplines, it requires deep knowledge of biology, chemistry, critical thinking skills, and reasoning ability. Do you think you have what it takes to tackle topics covered on the MCAT? This quiz will let you know.

First started in the post-WWI era, the MCAT is a rigorous exam. Most students need an entire workday to complete the test. If you fail, you can try again … but only up to three times per year. That means a low score can delay your med school plans by months or even years, or it may permanently delay your dreams of becoming the next Doogie Howser or Hawkeye Pierce. Fail the MCAT seven times and you’ll never be accepted to a medical institution in the United States.

Although the test covers a wide range of topics, it really emphasizes biochemistry. You’ll also see many questions about cell biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and everyone’s favorite – statistics. Behavioral sciences are also critical.

How badly do you want that shiny new stethoscope? Grab your scalpel and dig into the guts of this MCAT quiz now!


What is the MCAT?
Marine Cadet Arms Test
Military Corps Allegiance Test
Medical College Admission Test
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The MCAT is the Medical College Admission Test used by institutions in the United States. If you want to be a medical student, you have to pass this critical exam.

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What's the main function of the spleen?
to make eggs
to create immune cells
to provide a target for the fists of childhood bullies
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Most vertebrates have a spleen, and one of its primary functions is in support of the immune system. It creates antibodies that ward off infections.

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The cytoskeleton is very important to the ____ of cells.
color
acidity
structure
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In a lot of living cells, scientists find protein tubules and filaments that make up the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton gives the cell shape and structure.

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Some scientists estimate that about 90 percent of cells in the human body are ____.
made of wheat
salmonella
bacteria
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You don’t need to wash your hands, ever. You're already teeming with other lifeforms. Some scientists estimate that 90% of the cells in a human body are bacteria.

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The neural plate is a fundamental aspect of the _____.
eyes
nervous system
liver
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As vertebrate embryos develop, the nervous system grows and evolves. Neural plates turn into neural tubes, and the central nervous system begins to take shape.

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Which system helps the human body rid itself of various waste and other unwanted materials?
respiratory system
lymphatic system
nervous system
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The lymphatic system is an often unsung hero of the human body. With its nodes and ducts, it transfers toxins and wastes​ out of the body before it can do serious harm.

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Which parts of a cell lean heavily on a process called "oxidative metabolism."
gametes
mitochondria
Golgi Complex
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mitochondria are often called the powerhouses of the cell. They use oxidative metabolism to turn food into energy that organisms need to survive.

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What happens to the body in immunodeficiency?
The brain loses too much iron.
The body struggles to fight off infections.
You sneeze around cats.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When the body loses some (or all) of its ability to fight of critters like harmful bacteria or viruses, it's in a state of immunodeficiency. Severe immunodeficiency often causes death.

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What are "motile objects"?
organisms that can move independently
obstructions of the respiratory system
hemoglobin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cells are basic blocks of life, and all cells are motile objects thanks to their ability to divide into new cells. They are organisms that can move independently.

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An angiotensin II drug typically works on which part of the human body?
circulatory system
respiratory system
nervous system
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Angiotensin II can be used to help with hypotension in the circulatory system. Hypotension can often happen due to septic shock.

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Swarming motility is common in what?
plants
bacteria
badgers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the right conditions, certain types of bacteria can move across surfaces using what's called swarming motility. Plentiful food and moderate temperates make many bacteria thrive.

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Electroencephalograms and mechanomyograms are both methods of measuring ____.
social cues
biosignals
intelligence
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Biosignals are any measureable signal in organisms. EEGs and MMGs are methods used to measure brain activity and muscle contraction, respectively.

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Medicare is mostly utilized by which segment of the U.S. population?
illegal immigrants
older people
smaller people
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the U.S., Medicare is a vital tool for many older Americans who would otherwise go without health care. Medicaid, on the other hand, is often meant for anyone who doesn't have the resources to get regular health care out of pocket or perhaps through an employer.

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In hematopoiesis, the body creates which substance?
glia
blood
neurons
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In adults, bone marrow is the hub of hematopoiesis​, the creation of blood. One person might create 100 billion new red blood cells each day.

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True or false? Can cells be viewed without magnification?
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1665, Robert Hooke became the the first person to observe cells. His use of a primitive microscope altered the course of science, making it possible for humans to see very tiny cells.

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What's an example of a prokaryotic organism?
viruses
bacteria
politicians
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cacteria and archaeans are two type of prokaryotic organisms. They have a cell nucleus that isn't contained within a well-defined membrane.

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Ribonucleic acid is a closely linked to _____.
neurological disfunction
DNA
colon cancer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ribonucleic acid or RNA, is a lot like DNA. Both carry the genetic coding that's critical for instructing the activities of various body cells.

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What's a primary trait of extremophiles?
They cause instant death.
strange political leanings
an ability to live in very harsh conditions
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Extremophiles are microorganisms that can survive in harsh conditions, from very high or low temperatures, alkalinity, or wild chemical concentrations. They are typically archaeans.

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Eukaryotic cells have several types of _____.
rigor mortis
spermatozoa
organelles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and multiple types of organelles. Organelles ha​ve specific jobs, from creating energy to generating new hormones.

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Electrodermal activity has also been called what?
adaptive immune response
galvanic skin response
lymphoid tissue
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Electrodermal activity is a term used to describe the varying electrical traits of skin. It's is also commonly called galvanic skin response or skin conductance response, among other terms.

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Eukaryotic cells have well-defined ____.
nuclei
neurulation
boundaries
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Eukaryotes are cells that have a well-defined nucleus tucked away behind a membrane. These kinds of cells can reproduce either sexually or asexually.

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The stroma helps to support ____
the retinas
organs
your codependent child
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stroma is the structural tissue that helps organs maintain their shape and function. Parenchyma, on the other hand, describes the functional parts of the organ.

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If a patient arrives with paralysis in a hand and has zero indicators of physical problems, and seems more concerned about an argument with a work supervisor than the paralysis, he may be suffering from which condition?
generalized anxiety disorder
leukemia
conversion disorder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A conversion disorder is manifested by a sensory or motor problem … but it's one that has a psychological cause, not one that's rooted in issues with the body.

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The germinal centers are part of which organ?
liver
heart
spleen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Germinal centers are found within the lymphatic system and the spleen. They're incredibly important as part of the body's immune system.

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What is cultural capital?
Certain cultural markers associated with the upper class have more value in society.
the effects of race on health
Berlin and London
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cultural capital is a bit like monetary capital -- it's an advantage bestowed on the elite due to their standing in society.

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Chromosomal translocation is ____.
totally normal
an abnormality
a way to locate specific genes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When nonhomologous chromosomes have parts that are rearranged, you wind up with chromosomal translocation. It's an abnormality that can cause a variety of issues with extra or missing genes.

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If an adult American patient ends each doctor's visit by stroking the physician's arm and saying, "I love you," he's breaking ____
personal space
social norms
privacy laws
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Social norms are established rules of behavior that vary from culture to culture. In the U.S., no one tells their doctor or dentist they love them during a routine exam … unless they're family. Or, you know, nuts.

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In a normal adult, how many red blood cells die each second of every day?
2,000
20,000
2 million
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Feeling mortal yet? Each and every second, about 2 million of your blood cells die. If you listen closely, you may hear some of them screaming, "banazi!"

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Which of the following is NOT a trait of proteins?
often bind foreign materials
may act as hormones
can self-replicate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Proteins do all sorts of fantastic things in the human body. But they don't self-replicate like DNA.

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If you get food poisoning from hamburger and then feel ill whenever you smell cooked beef, you're witnessing an example of what phenomenon?
negative reinforcement
E. coli
generalization
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In generalization, a specific stimulus creates a conditioned response. In this example, you've learned to associate all cooked beef with the burger that made you violently ill.

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You Got:
/30
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