CARS Strategy

🏥 Cars Strategy

Part 1 of 7 — CARS Overview & Approach

CARS = 53 questions in 90 minutes across 9 passages — NO outside knowledge needed.

Passages come from humanities, social sciences, ethics, philosophy, and cultural studies.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Read the passage FIRST, then answer questions — do not skim.

MCAT Tip: Build a mental outline: what is each paragraphs purpose?.

Concept Check 🎯

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Active Reading Techniques

Part 2 of 7 — Active Reading Techniques

Annotate mentally: identify the thesis, supporting arguments, and counterarguments.

Look for transition words: however, moreover, nevertheless, conversely — they signal shifts.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Note the authors tone: is it critical, supportive, neutral, ironic, or ambivalent?.

MCAT Tip: Paraphrase each paragraph in one sentence to ensure comprehension.

Concept Check 🎯

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Main Idea & Argument

Part 3 of 7 — Main Idea & Argument

The main idea is the central claim the author is making — not just the topic.

Distinguish main idea from supporting details — details support the main idea.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Wrong answers are often too narrow (one detail) or too broad (beyond the passage).

MCAT Tip: The thesis is usually in the first or last paragraph — but not always.

Concept Check 🎯

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Inference & Application

Part 4 of 7 — Inference & Application

Inference = what must be true based on the passage (not explicitly stated).

Application: how would the author respond to a new scenario?.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Stay close to the text — MCAT inferences are conservative, not speculative.

MCAT Tip: Strongly supported > possibly true; eliminate answers that go too far.

Concept Check 🎯

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Tone & Author Perspective

Part 5 of 7 — Tone & Author Perspective

Author attitude: positive, negative, neutral, mixed, or ironic.

Word choice reveals tone: clinical vs. passionate, dismissive vs. respectful.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Distinguish the authors view from views they are describing or critiquing.

MCAT Tip: Rhetorical purpose: why did the author include this example or argument?.

Concept Check 🎯

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Question Types & Traps

Part 6 of 7 — Question Types & Traps

Foundation: answer is directly stated in the passage.

Reasoning Beyond the Text: apply passage ideas to new situations.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Reasoning Within the Text: evaluate the logic and structure of the argument.

MCAT Tip: Common traps: extreme language, out of scope, opposite of the authors view, partially correct.

Concept Check 🎯

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Review & MCAT Practice

Part 7 of 7 — Review & MCAT Practice

Foundation: answer is directly stated in the passage.

Reasoning Beyond the Text: apply passage ideas to new situations.

Concept Check 🎯

Key Insight: Reasoning Within the Text: evaluate the logic and structure of the argument.

MCAT Tip: Common traps: extreme language, out of scope, opposite of the authors view, partially correct.

Concept Check 🎯

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