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How Many Questions Can You Miss on the MCAT CARS Section to Get a 128?

Published in MCAT CARS Scoring 2 mins read

On the MCAT CARS section, missing approximately 12 questions could potentially lead to a score of 127 or even 128. It's important to understand that MCAT scores are scaled, meaning the exact number of questions you can miss for a specific score can vary slightly depending on the difficulty of the particular exam and the overall performance of test-takers.

Understanding Missed Questions on the CARS Section

The Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section of the MCAT consists of 9 passages. Based on typical scoring patterns, a strong performance that could yield a 127 or 128 often involves a limited number of errors.

Consider the following scenario for aiming for a high score in CARS:

  • Scenario for a 127/128 Potential:
    • Missing one question for 6 of the 9 passages.
    • Missing two questions for the remaining 3 passages.
    • This totals 12 missed questions (6 passages 1 miss + 3 passages 2 misses = 6 + 6 = 12 misses).

This specific pattern of missed questions has been associated with achieving a solid 127 or potentially a 128 on the CARS section.

The Impact of Additional Missed Questions

While missing around 12 questions can keep you in the 127-128 range, increasing that number tends to shift your score downwards. If you begin to miss more than 13 questions on the CARS section, you will generally see a gradual decrease towards lower scores.

Key Considerations for CARS Scoring

  • Scaled Scoring: The MCAT uses a scaled scoring system, which means your raw score (the number of questions you answer correctly) is converted into a scaled score (between 118 and 132 for each section). This conversion accounts for variations in exam difficulty.
  • Passage Complexity: Some passages may be inherently more challenging, leading to a higher number of missed questions in those specific instances without necessarily devastating your overall score, especially if balanced by strong performance on other passages.
  • Consistency: Consistent performance across passages, minimizing errors, is crucial for achieving high scores like a 128.

In summary, while there isn't a hard "exact" number due to the nuances of scaled scoring, aiming to miss no more than about 12 questions on the MCAT CARS section, following a pattern like the one described, significantly increases your chances of securing a 128.