MCAT / MDCAT Practice Test
Instructions: Select the correct option for each question.
A. Biology Section
1. The basic structural and functional unit of life is:
A. Tissue
B. Organ
C. Cell
D. Organelle
2. Which organelle is known as the powerhouse of the cell?
A. Ribosome
B. Nucleus
C. Mitochondrion
D. Golgi apparatus
3. Which biomolecule stores genetic information?
A. Lipids
B. Carbohydrates
C. Proteins
D. Nucleic acids
4. The process of diffusion does not require:
A. Concentration gradient
B. Energy
C. Movement of particles
D. Semi-permeable membrane
5. Which phase of mitosis involves alignment of chromosomes at the equator?
A. Prophase
B. Metaphase
C. Anaphase
D. Telophase
6. Which kingdom includes organisms lacking a true nucleus?
A. Protista
B. Fungi
C. Plantae
D. Monera
7. DNA replication occurs during:
A. G1 phase
B. S phase
C. G2 phase
D. M phase
8. Which scientist proposed the theory of natural selection?
A. Mendel
B. Darwin
C. Lamarck
D. Watson
9. The movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane is called:
A. Diffusion
B. Active transport
C. Osmosis
D. Endocytosis
10. Which blood cells are responsible for immunity?
A. RBCs
B. Platelets
C. WBCs
D. Plasma cells
11. The site of photosynthesis in plant cells is:
A. Vacuole
B. Chloroplast
C. Ribosome
D. Nucleus
12. The human heart has:
A. Two chambers
B. Three chambers
C. Four chambers
D. Five chambers
13. Which enzyme digests proteins in the stomach?
A. Amylase
B. Lipase
C. Pepsin
D. Trypsin
14. The functional unit of kidney is:
A. Neuron
B. Alveolus
C. Nephron
D. Osteon
15. Which gas is released during photosynthesis?
A. Carbon dioxide
B. Nitrogen
C. Oxygen
D. Hydrogen
16. The pH of human blood is approximately:
A. 5.5
B. 6.0
C. 7.4
D. 8.5
17. Which hormone regulates blood sugar level?
A. Thyroxine
B. Insulin
C. Adrenaline
D. Estrogen
18. Which part of the brain controls balance?
A. Cerebrum
B. Medulla
C. Cerebellum
D. Hypothalamus
19. The genetic makeup of an organism is called:
A. Phenotype
B. Genotype
C. Allele
D. Trait
20. The universal donor blood group is:
A. A
B. B
C. AB
D. O
21. Which tissue transports water in plants?
A. Phloem
B. Cortex
C. Xylem
D. Epidermis
22. ATP is mainly synthesized in:
A. Ribosomes
B. Lysosomes
C. Mitochondria
D. Vacuoles
23. The opening and closing of stomata is controlled by:
A. Companion cells
B. Guard cells
C. Xylem cells
D. Root hairs
24. Which vitamin is synthesized in the skin by sunlight?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin B
C. Vitamin C
D. Vitamin D
25. Which blood vessel carries oxygenated blood from lungs to heart?
A. Pulmonary artery
B. Aorta
C. Pulmonary vein
D. Vena cava
26. The process of formation of gametes is called:
A. Fertilization
B. Mitosis
C. Meiosis
D. Budding
27. Which structure is absent in animal cells?
A. Cell membrane
B. Mitochondria
C. Cell wall
D. Ribosomes
28. Which scientist is known as the father of genetics?
A. Darwin
B. Mendel
C. Pasteur
D. Hooke
29. Which process produces identical daughter cells?
A. Meiosis
B. Fertilization
C. Mitosis
D. Crossing over
30. RNA differs from DNA because RNA contains:
A. Thymine
B. Deoxyribose sugar
C. Uracil
D. Double helix
31. Which organ removes urea from blood?
A. Liver
B. Kidney
C. Spleen
D. Pancreas
32. The largest artery in the human body is:
A. Pulmonary artery
B. Coronary artery
C. Aorta
D. Renal artery
33. The process by which green plants make food is:
A. Respiration
B. Digestion
C. Photosynthesis
D. Fermentation
34. Which component of blood helps in clotting?
A. RBCs
B. Plasma
C. Platelets
D. Lymphocytes
35. The site of aerobic respiration is:
A. Cytoplasm
B. Nucleus
C. Mitochondria
D. Ribosome
36. Which hormone is secreted by thyroid gland?
A. Insulin
B. Thyroxine
C. Testosterone
D. Cortisol
37. The exchange of gases in lungs occurs in:
A. Bronchi
B. Trachea
C. Alveoli
D. Larynx
38. The study of insects is called:
A. Entomology
B. Herpetology
C. Ornithology
D. Ecology
39. Which blood group is universal recipient?
A. O
B. AB
C. A
D. B
40. Which process increases genetic variation?
A. Binary fission
B. Budding
C. Meiosis
D. Mitosis
41. Which nitrogenous base pairs with adenine in DNA?
A. Guanine
B. Cytosine
C. Uracil
D. Thymine
42. The normal human chromosome number is:
A. 23
B. 44
C. 46
D. 48
43. Which part of neuron receives impulses?
A. Axon
B. Dendrite
C. Myelin sheath
D. Synapse
44. Which organelle packages proteins?
A. Ribosome
B. Golgi apparatus
C. Lysosome
D. Nucleolus
45. Which disease is caused by deficiency of insulin?
A. Goiter
B. Diabetes mellitus
C. Rickets
D. Scurvy
46. The movement of molecules from low to high concentration is:
A. Osmosis
B. Diffusion
C. Active transport
D. Filtration
47. Which part of flower develops into fruit?
A. Ovule
B. Ovary
C. Stigma
D. Anther
48. Which scientist discovered penicillin?
A. Fleming
B. Jenner
C. Pasteur
D. Darwin
49. The outer protective covering of plant cells is:
A. Plasma membrane
B. Cell wall
C. Cytoplasm
D. Capsule
50. The process of breaking down glucose to release energy is:
A. Photosynthesis
B. Respiration
C. Digestion
D. Assimilation
51. Which structure carries hereditary information?
A. Ribosome
B. Chromosome
C. Centriole
D. Vacuole
52. The primary source of energy for ecosystems is:
A. Wind
B. Water
C. Sun
D. Soil
53. The process of losing water through leaves is:
A. Respiration
B. Guttation
C. Transpiration
D. Diffusion
54. Which part of the digestive system absorbs most nutrients?
A. Stomach
B. Large intestine
C. Small intestine
D. Esophagus
55. Which blood vessel carries deoxygenated blood to lungs?
A. Aorta
B. Pulmonary artery
C. Pulmonary vein
D. Coronary artery
56. The fluid mosaic model describes the structure of:
A. Cell wall
B. Cytoplasm
C. Plasma membrane
D. Nucleus
57. Which organelle contains hydrolytic enzymes?
A. Ribosome
B. Lysosome
C. Vacuole
D. Centriole
58. The inability to see in dim light is due to deficiency of:
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin B
C. Vitamin C
D. Vitamin K
59. Which process occurs in ribosomes?
A. DNA replication
B. Protein synthesis
C. Lipid digestion
D. Respiration
60. Which kingdom includes multicellular organisms with chitin cell wall?
A. Plantae
B. Fungi
C. Protista
D. Monera
61. Crossing over occurs during:
A. Prophase I
B. Metaphase I
C. Anaphase II
D. Telophase II
62. Which structure prevents backflow of blood in veins?
A. Septa
B. Valves
C. Nodes
D. Capillaries
63. The sequence of amino acids in proteins is determined by:
A. Lipids
B. DNA sequence
C. Vitamins
D. ATP
64. Which type of immunity develops after vaccination?
A. Passive natural
B. Passive artificial
C. Active artificial
D. Active natural
65. The blood filtration process in kidney occurs in:
A. Bowman’s capsule
B. Collecting duct
C. Loop of Henle
D. Ureter
66. Which hormone prepares the body for emergencies?
A. Insulin
B. Estrogen
C. Adrenaline
D. Thyroxine
67. What is the role of tRNA in protein synthesis?
A. Carries amino acids
B. Forms ribosomes
C. Replicates DNA
D. Stores energy
68. The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes is:
A. Mutation
B. Replication
C. Crossing over
D. Translation
69. Which part of the nephron is mainly responsible for reabsorption?
A. Glomerulus
B. Bowman’s capsule
C. Tubules
D. Ureter
70. Which ecological relationship benefits both organisms?
A. Parasitism
B. Predation
C. Mutualism
D. Competition
71. In DNA replication, the enzyme responsible for joining Okazaki fragments is:
A. Helicase
B. Ligase
C. Primase
D. Polymerase
72. The oxygen released during photosynthesis comes from:
A. Carbon dioxide
B. Glucose
C. Water
D. Chlorophyll
73. Which phase of meiosis reduces chromosome number by half?
A. Prophase II
B. Metaphase II
C. Anaphase I
D. Telophase II
74. Which blood component transports oxygen?
A. Plasma
B. Platelets
C. Hemoglobin
D. Lymph
75. The site of light reaction in chloroplast is:
A. Stroma
B. Thylakoid membrane
C. Matrix
D. Cytoplasm
76. Which scientist gave the cell theory?
A. Schleiden and Schwann
B. Watson and Crick
C. Darwin and Wallace
D. Mendel and Morgan
77. Which hormone controls water balance in the body?
A. Growth hormone
B. ADH
C. Insulin
D. Thyroxine
78. The codon AUG codes for:
A. Stop signal
B. Methionine
C. Glycine
D. Leucine
79. The part of brain controlling involuntary actions is:
A. Cerebellum
B. Medulla oblongata
C. Hypothalamus
D. Cerebrum
80. Which vessel has the thickest walls?
A. Capillary
B. Vein
C. Artery
D. Venule
81. A person with genotype IAIB has blood group:
A. A
B. B
C. O
D. AB
82. The lac operon is associated with:
A. Photosynthesis
B. Respiration
C. Gene regulation
D. Digestion
83. Which structure is responsible for spindle formation in animal cells?
A. Ribosome
B. Centriole
C. Vacuole
D. Chloroplast
84. The Calvin cycle occurs in:
A. Cytoplasm
B. Grana
C. Stroma
D. Mitochondria
85. Which type of RNA carries genetic message from DNA to ribosome?
A. rRNA
B. tRNA
C. mRNA
D. snRNA
86. The process by which bacteria take up external DNA is called:
A. Translation
B. Transformation
C. Transduction
D. Conjugation
87. Which structure in flowers produces pollen grains?
A. Ovule
B. Style
C. Anther
D. Ovary
88. During glycolysis, glucose is converted into:
A. Acetyl CoA
B. Pyruvate
C. Lactate
D. Ethanol
89. The smallest taxonomic unit is:
A. Genus
B. Species
C. Family
D. Order
90. Which component of plasma membrane provides fluidity?
A. Proteins
B. Cholesterol
C. Carbohydrates
D. Cellulose
91. In Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, evolution does not occur when:
A. Mutations occur
B. Population is small
C. Random mating occurs
D. Natural selection acts
92. The enzyme RuBisCO functions in:
A. Glycolysis
B. Krebs cycle
C. Calvin cycle
D. Fermentation
93. Which process directly produces ATP in mitochondria?
A. Fermentation
B. Electron transport chain
C. Glycolysis
D. Photolysis
94. A mutation involving addition or deletion of nucleotides is called:
A. Silent mutation
B. Frameshift mutation
C. Point mutation
D. Inversion
95. Which hormone stimulates ovulation in females?
A. FSH
B. LH
C. Prolactin
D. Oxytocin
96. The immune response involving antibodies is mediated by:
A. T lymphocytes
B. Neutrophils
C. B lymphocytes
D. Macrophages
97. Which type of succession starts on bare rocks?
A. Secondary succession
B. Primary succession
C. Aquatic succession
D. Cyclic succession
98. The semiconservative model of DNA replication was proven by:
A. Watson and Crick
B. Hershey and Chase
C. Meselson and Stahl
D. Mendel and Morgan
99. Which event occurs during anaphase of mitosis?
A. Chromosomes align at equator
B. Nuclear membrane disappears
C. Sister chromatids separate
D. Cytokinesis occurs
100. The movement of substances through a membrane using carrier proteins without energy is:
A. Active transport
B. Facilitated diffusion
C. Endocytosis
D. Exocytosis