What is a common trap that test-takers fall into while answering CARS questions?

Relying too heavily on personal opinions instead of the passage's content is a common pitfall for test-takers in the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section. The CARS portion of the MCAT emphasizes understanding and interpreting the text presented in the passages. When test-takers allow their personal experiences or beliefs to influence their answers, they may overlook or misinterpret the specific arguments, evidence, and ideas that the author presents.

Effective performance in the CARS section requires a close reading of the passage and an understanding of the author's perspective as well as the evidence provided. Since the questions are designed to assess comprehension and critical thinking about the text, straying from the passage's content can result in incorrect answers. Those who successfully navigate this section focus on the text itself and use it as the primary basis for developing their understanding and answering questions. This approach ensures alignment with the author's intent and the structure of the argument laid out in the passage.