AAMC MCAT Question Packs & Section Banks

When it comes to MCAT practice questions, one source matters more than all others: the AAMC. The Association of American Medical Colleges — the organization that develops, writes, and administers the actual MCAT exam — sells a collection of question bank products that are universally regarded as the most important practice material you can buy.

This review covers every AAMC question bank product: the Section Banks, Question Packs, CARS Diagnostic Tool, Independent Question Bank, and the free questions that come bundled with other AAMC resources.

Summary Table

AAMC Question Bank Products Overview

The AAMC sells 10 individual question bank products, plus offers free questions through other resources:

Section Banks (The Must-Haves)

The Section Banks are widely considered the single most important purchase for MCAT prep after practice exams. Each volume contains 300 passage-based questions across Chem/Phys, Bio/Biochem, and Psych/Soc. They're intentionally harder than the real MCAT, designed to build the high-level reasoning skills that separate good scores from great scores.

Question Packs

The Question Packs are subject-specific sets that use questions from previously administered MCAT exams. They're easier than the Section Banks and closer to the difficulty level of the real exam. The Question Pack Bundle at $76.50 saves you $13.50 compared to buying all 6 individually.

Specialty Products

The CARS Diagnostic Tool provides targeted CARS practice with 169 questions designed to identify your specific CARS weaknesses. The Independent Question Bank contains 150 standalone (non-passage-based) questions — useful for quick content checks.

Free AAMC Questions (~144)

You also get approximately 144 free questions through other AAMC resources:

• 12 questions from the MCAT Sample Question Guide (3 per section with explanations)
• 120 questions from the retired Official Guide (in the Content Outline Course)
• 12 questions from the Practice with Exam Features Tool

AAMC Question Packs & Section Banks Review For 2026

Why AAMC Questions Are Non-Negotiable

Every MCAT tutor, every high-scoring student, and every prep company will tell you the same thing: complete all AAMC materials before test day. The reason is simple — these are the only practice questions written by the people who write the actual MCAT.

Third-party question banks from Blueprint, Kaplan, or Jack Westin approximate the MCAT's style, but there's always a subtle difference. AAMC questions have a particular way of constructing passages, phrasing questions, and designing answer choices that third-party writers can't perfectly replicate. Practicing with AAMC material ensures you're trained on the real thing.

Section Banks: The Gold Standard

The Section Banks deserve special attention because they're the most impactful question bank products the AAMC sells. Here's why:

They're intentionally harder than the real MCAT. The Section Banks feature complex, multi-layered passages that require integrating information from multiple experiments, making connections across disciplines, and reasoning through novel scenarios. Most students score 10–20% lower on Section Bank questions than on their real MCAT.

This difficulty is a feature, not a bug. By training on harder material, you build the reasoning skills that make the real MCAT feel more manageable. Students who complete both Section Bank volumes consistently report that the actual exam felt less intimidating by comparison.

How to use them: Don't take Section Banks early in your prep — they'll just frustrate you. Wait until you've completed most of your content review and have already worked through the Question Packs. Most students tackle Section Banks 3–5 weeks before their exam date, reviewing each wrong answer in detail.

Question Packs: The Volume Play

The Question Packs are your source of official AAMC practice volume. At 120 questions each across 6 subjects, the 720 total questions give you enough material for weeks of targeted practice.

The difficulty level is closer to the actual MCAT than the Section Banks, making them a better gauge of your current performance. They're ideal for the middle phase of your prep — after initial content review but before your final exam push.

The CARS Question Packs (Volumes 1 and 2) are especially valuable because CARS is the section where third-party materials diverge most from the real exam. AAMC CARS questions have a unique reasoning style that you need to experience before test day.

CARS Diagnostic Tool

The CARS Diagnostic Tool is a specialized product designed to pinpoint your specific CARS weaknesses. It analyzes your performance across different reasoning types and passage categories, helping you understand exactly where you're losing points.

At $25 for 169 questions, it's a worthwhile investment for students who consistently struggle with CARS and need targeted diagnostic data to guide their improvement.

How AAMC Compares to Third-Party Question Banks

Pricing Strategy

Here's how to approach AAMC question bank purchases based on your budget:

Budget option ($90): Section Bank Vol. 1 ($45) + Section Bank Vol. 2 ($45) — the two most essential products.

Recommended option ($166.50): Both Section Banks ($90) + Question Pack Bundle ($76.50) — 1,320 official questions covering all sections.

Complete option ($323.70): Online-Only Bundle — includes all question banks, all practice exams, CARS Diagnostic Tool, and everything else AAMC sells. Best value per question.

FAP recipients: All products are free through the Fee Assistance Program. If there's any chance you qualify, apply before purchasing anything.

Who AAMC Question Banks Are Best For

• Every serious MCAT student — these are non-negotiable regardless of what else you use
• Students in the middle-to-late phase of prep who need official practice material
• CARS-focused students who need authentic AAMC CARS practice
• Students who want the most accurate representation of real MCAT question style
• FAP-eligible students who can access everything for free

When You Might Look Elsewhere

• If you need high-volume practice (1,600 questions isn't enough for months of study) — supplement with Blueprint, Kaplan, or Jack Westin
• If you want adaptive features and AI-powered recommendations — third-party QBanks offer more technology
• If you're very early in prep and aren't ready for exam-level questions — start with content review first
• If cost is a barrier — check your FAP eligibility first, and use Jack Westin's free QBank while you save

Final Verdict

The AAMC Question Packs and Section Banks are the most important question bank purchase you'll make for the MCAT. Period. No third-party question bank — no matter how many questions it contains or how advanced its AI — can replicate the authentic experience of practicing with questions written by the actual test developers.

The Section Banks build the reasoning skills that separate good scores from great ones. The Question Packs provide official practice volume across every subject. And the CARS products give you the most authentic CARS practice available anywhere.

Browse all AAMC question bank products at the AAMC Store.

AAMC Question Banks FAQs

How Much Do AAMC Question Packs Cost?

Individual Question Packs are $15 each, Section Banks are $45 each, the CARS Diagnostic Tool is $25, and the Independent Question Bank is $10. The Question Pack Bundle (6 packs) is $76.50. The Online-Only Bundle (all products) is $323.70. FAP recipients get free access to everything.

Are AAMC Section Banks Harder Than the Real MCAT?

Yes. The Section Banks are intentionally more difficult than the actual exam to build advanced reasoning skills. Most students score 10–20% lower on Section Bank questions than on their real MCAT. This is normal and expected — the difficulty is a training feature.

Should I Buy Individual Packs or the Bundle?

If you plan to buy 3 or more Question Packs, the Question Pack Bundle at $76.50 is a better deal than buying individually ($90 for all 6). If you plan to buy everything (question packs, section banks, practice exams), the Online-Only Bundle at $323.70 offers the best value overall.

When Should I Start AAMC Question Packs?

Start the Question Packs after you've completed your initial content review — typically 6–8 weeks before your exam date. Save the Section Banks for 3–5 weeks before your exam. Using AAMC materials too early wastes their predictive value.

What Is the AAMC Fee Assistance Program?

The FAP provides free access to all AAMC official prep products for eligible students based on family income. If you qualify, you get every question bank, practice exam, and study tool for free. Apply at the AAMC FAP page before purchasing anything.

How Many Total AAMC Practice Questions Are There?

The paid products contain approximately 1,639 questions total. You also get ~144 free questions through other AAMC resources. Combined with the 6 practice exams (230 questions each = 1,380 questions), the complete AAMC ecosystem offers over 3,000 official MCAT practice questions.