Science Classifications to Study for the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

Science and math aren’t the most prevalent topics on the MAT, but they are tested. The classification of living things is a fairly common MAT topic, so you should take the time to become familiar with its common terms.

Science classifications that appear on the MAT test

Brush up on your knowledge of science classifications by studying these terms and their definitions.

• Kingdom: One of five major classification units

• Phylum: Division of kingdom

• Class: Division of phylum

• Order: Division of class

• Family: Division of order

• Genus: Division of family; always italicized, with the first letter capitalized

• Species: Division of genus; smallest unit of classification; always italicized, with the first letter lower case

• Human example: Animal, Chordate, Vertebrate, Primate, Hominid, Homo, sapiens

• Animalia kingdom: Humans, dogs, fish, birds, reptiles

• Fungi kingdom: Yeasts, molds, mushrooms

• Monera kingdom: Unicellular organisms without a cell nucleus

• Plantae kingdom: Flowers, trees, ferns, mosses

• Protista kingdom: Microorganisms with a cell nucleus

Terms used to classify animals that appear on the MAT test

The MAT has also been known to test animal terms, even obscure ones, so knowing what to call male and female animals, their babies, and a group of that animal can pay off.