PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE MATERIALS
AAMC MCAT Practice Exam 1
250+ (2026/27) Exam Solutions | Answer Key with Rationales
Verified Answers Exam Ready With Rationales 256 Questions
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
This document, "AAMC MCAT Practice Exam 1", provides a comprehensive review of
various topics, including biology, chemistry, and social sciences. Specifically, it covers
cellular biology (telomeres, prokaryotic chromosomes), metabolism (ethanol
metabolism, acetyl coenzyme A), sociology (gentrification, cultural studies), and
biochemistry (nucleotide bonding). With 256 questions and correct answers provided,
students can use this document to study, review, and gain a deeper understanding of
these concepts, ultimately aiding in exam preparation and knowledge retention.
EXAM QUESTIONS
Q1. In general, telomeres are NOT important to bacterial cells because most bacterial
chromosomes:
A) do not replicate
B) are circular.
C) replicate quickly and efficiently.
D) are composed of single-stranded DNA
CORRECT ANSWER
, B) are circular.
The answer to this question is B because in most prokaryotes, DNA is circular
and therefore does not have the repetitive, non-coding nucleotide
sequences called telomeres that occur in eukaryotic DNA.
Q2. obedience
CORRECT ANSWER
compliance with an order, request, or law, or submission to another's
authority
Q3. CT scan
CORRECT ANSWER
an X-ray image made using a form of tomography in which a computer
controls the motion of the X-ray source and detectors, processes the data,
and produces the image.
Q4. CARS: The single change to the observed ritual at Mariani that would most
weaken the author's distinction between Mariani and Nansoucri voodoo would
be a situation in which:
A) all possessions were outwardly apparent
B) rituals included elements of danger
C) audience members were invited to dance with the hounsis
D) one or more audience members became possessed
, CORRECT ANSWER
D) one or more audience members became possessed
The answer is D, because the author's distinction between the two voodoo
forms turns on the fact that the Mariani session is a "theatrical" session, in
which the audience essentially watches the action from a "distance . . . that
disallows real transformation (inadvertent possession)" (paragraph 3). Thus,
if audience members at Mariani did indeed become possessed, the author's
distinction between Mariani voodoo and the more participatory, ritual form
of voodoo at Nansoucri would break down.
Q5. Semantic memory
CORRECT ANSWER
refers to a portion of long-term memory that processes ideas and concepts
that are not drawn from personal experience.
Q6. CARS: Which of the following facts cited in the passage gives the strongest
support for the claim that Portuguese liberals were in the minority politically?
A) The queen and her son were opposed to them.
B) Several important liberals were jailed by John.
C) The Inquisition was still active in Portugal.
D) The commoners were politically conservative.
CORRECT ANSWER
D) The commoners were politically conservative.
The correct answer is D, because paragraph 2 defines the components of the
commoners as a highly inclusive segment of the populace: "peasants,
craftspeople, tradespeople, soldiers." The aggregate number of their ranks
would, therefore, vastly outnumber the relatively few groups of individuals
, (including scientists and poets) that comprise the liberal faction alluded to
in the passage (paragraph 3).
Q7. Pellagra also results from a deficiency of nicotinamide, which is synthesized from
tryptophan. Nicotinamide nucleotides are neither oxidized nor reduced during
which step of cellular respiration?
A) Glycolysis
B) Chemiosmosis
C) Citric acid cycle
D) Electron transport chain
CORRECT ANSWER
B) Chemiosmosis
The answer is B because NAD+ is the oxidized form, and NADH is the reduced
form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. NAD+ is neither reduced to form
NADH, nor is NADH oxidized to form NAD+ specifically during
chemiosmosis.
Q8. What is the function of the Na+K+ ATPase during a neuronal action potential?
A) Stimulation of the action potential
B) Depolarization of the membrane
C) Hyperpolarization of the membrane
D) Restoration of the resting potential
CORRECT ANSWER
D) Restoration of the resting potential
The answer is D because the Na+K+ ATPase functions to restore the resting
AAMC MCAT Practice Exam 1
250+ (2026/27) Exam Solutions | Answer Key with Rationales
Verified Answers Exam Ready With Rationales 256 Questions
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
This document, "AAMC MCAT Practice Exam 1", provides a comprehensive review of
various topics, including biology, chemistry, and social sciences. Specifically, it covers
cellular biology (telomeres, prokaryotic chromosomes), metabolism (ethanol
metabolism, acetyl coenzyme A), sociology (gentrification, cultural studies), and
biochemistry (nucleotide bonding). With 256 questions and correct answers provided,
students can use this document to study, review, and gain a deeper understanding of
these concepts, ultimately aiding in exam preparation and knowledge retention.
EXAM QUESTIONS
Q1. In general, telomeres are NOT important to bacterial cells because most bacterial
chromosomes:
A) do not replicate
B) are circular.
C) replicate quickly and efficiently.
D) are composed of single-stranded DNA
CORRECT ANSWER
, B) are circular.
The answer to this question is B because in most prokaryotes, DNA is circular
and therefore does not have the repetitive, non-coding nucleotide
sequences called telomeres that occur in eukaryotic DNA.
Q2. obedience
CORRECT ANSWER
compliance with an order, request, or law, or submission to another's
authority
Q3. CT scan
CORRECT ANSWER
an X-ray image made using a form of tomography in which a computer
controls the motion of the X-ray source and detectors, processes the data,
and produces the image.
Q4. CARS: The single change to the observed ritual at Mariani that would most
weaken the author's distinction between Mariani and Nansoucri voodoo would
be a situation in which:
A) all possessions were outwardly apparent
B) rituals included elements of danger
C) audience members were invited to dance with the hounsis
D) one or more audience members became possessed
, CORRECT ANSWER
D) one or more audience members became possessed
The answer is D, because the author's distinction between the two voodoo
forms turns on the fact that the Mariani session is a "theatrical" session, in
which the audience essentially watches the action from a "distance . . . that
disallows real transformation (inadvertent possession)" (paragraph 3). Thus,
if audience members at Mariani did indeed become possessed, the author's
distinction between Mariani voodoo and the more participatory, ritual form
of voodoo at Nansoucri would break down.
Q5. Semantic memory
CORRECT ANSWER
refers to a portion of long-term memory that processes ideas and concepts
that are not drawn from personal experience.
Q6. CARS: Which of the following facts cited in the passage gives the strongest
support for the claim that Portuguese liberals were in the minority politically?
A) The queen and her son were opposed to them.
B) Several important liberals were jailed by John.
C) The Inquisition was still active in Portugal.
D) The commoners were politically conservative.
CORRECT ANSWER
D) The commoners were politically conservative.
The correct answer is D, because paragraph 2 defines the components of the
commoners as a highly inclusive segment of the populace: "peasants,
craftspeople, tradespeople, soldiers." The aggregate number of their ranks
would, therefore, vastly outnumber the relatively few groups of individuals
, (including scientists and poets) that comprise the liberal faction alluded to
in the passage (paragraph 3).
Q7. Pellagra also results from a deficiency of nicotinamide, which is synthesized from
tryptophan. Nicotinamide nucleotides are neither oxidized nor reduced during
which step of cellular respiration?
A) Glycolysis
B) Chemiosmosis
C) Citric acid cycle
D) Electron transport chain
CORRECT ANSWER
B) Chemiosmosis
The answer is B because NAD+ is the oxidized form, and NADH is the reduced
form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. NAD+ is neither reduced to form
NADH, nor is NADH oxidized to form NAD+ specifically during
chemiosmosis.
Q8. What is the function of the Na+K+ ATPase during a neuronal action potential?
A) Stimulation of the action potential
B) Depolarization of the membrane
C) Hyperpolarization of the membrane
D) Restoration of the resting potential
CORRECT ANSWER
D) Restoration of the resting potential
The answer is D because the Na+K+ ATPase functions to restore the resting
