MCAT Scores for Medical School Admissions

MCAT scoring

MCAT scores range from a low of 118 to a high of 132, with a midpoint of 125 for each of the four sections: (1) Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; (2) Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS); (3) Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; and (4) Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior.

This MCAT scoring range follows a 15-point scale. These 4 MCAT scaled scores are combined to create a total score that will range from a lowest possible score of 472 to a highest possible score of 528, with a midpoint of 500.

Achieving the highest possible scaled MCAT score (528) is rare but achievable. Medical school admission committees only use scaled scores to evaluate the MCAT component of the admissions process (not percentage, not percentile)

MCAT score report

The AAMC's MCAT score report will reflect:
1. The scaled score for each of the 4 MCAT sections and the total score
2. Confidence bands that show the ranges where one's true MCAT scores lie
3. Percentile ranks to show how you fared compared to other exam takers (for example, the 80th percentile indicates that your MCAT score is better than 80% of other exam takers)
4. Score profile showing the MCAT score range - from 118 to 132 with a midpoint of 125

MCAT scores release

The MCAT scores for the 2021 MCAT test dates are released 30-35 days after the exam date and at 5 pm of the release date. If you think that there is an error in your score, you may request the AAMC for a rescore.

Next: What is a good, average or high MCAT score?

How to convert MCAT raw score to scaled score

Your MCAT score in each section is based on the numbers of questions that you answered correctly. Then, these section scores are converted to scaled scores.

Considering that each section of the MCAT exam has different sets of questions and level of difficulty, a student's performance on the MCAT is more likely to be accurately assessed by converting raw scores to scaled scores. The scaled score is reported on a 15-point scale.

There is no simplistic way to convert a percentage to a scaled score. It is a complex calculation that is dependent on the cohort and cannot be replicated with precision for any random practice exam. For example, a 50% raw score (i.e. the percent of correct answers) in a section does NOT represent 125 (a midpoint MCAT scaled score). Consider the table below.

Example of approximate percent correct MCAT score conversion for the Official AAMC MCAT Practice Exam (Scored) 1

Note: A score of 80% correct for each of the 4 exam subsections translates to an MCAT scaled score of 127, which further underlines the fact that the relationship between percent correct and scaled scores is not straightforward and the changes are not consistent across exam sections (there is a correlation, but they are not proportional). Again, the numbers above only apply to this one exam and cannot be blindly applied to other practice materials. As an example, Gold Standard MCAT practice exams required thousands of student submissions to develop an exam-specific scale score which continues to be adjusted as segments of the cohort's exam preparation improves over the years.

Next: MCAT scoring based on subjects

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A good MCAT score is 127 out of 132 in any one section, or 508 out of 528 for all 4 sections. The latter represents the average score of students admitted to medical schools nationwide in the 2019 admissions cycle. Of course, an average score is not the same as a minimum score, nor does it provide information about specific medical schools (which we have compiled here). For a summary of the high, good and average MCAT scores acceptable to medical school, see the table below.

High, Good and Average MCAT scores

Note: the expression "average score" does not have the same meaning as cutoff or minimum score. Rather it refers to the simple average of students accepted to medical school (historic and predicted averages). Having an acceptable MCAT score in no way guarantees medical school admissions since acceptance is also contingent on GPA and non-academic factors (i.e. personal statement and/or autobiographical material, letters of reference, and the medical school interview).

* percentile does not refer to the percent, which relates to the ratio of correct answers to the total number of questions. The percentile rank records the percentage of students whose scores were lower than yours. Percentile ranks are not used as medical school admissions criteria. Only the scaled score matters for medical school admissions.

** This assumes that current percentile rank predictions for the current MCAT are accurate (see link below) and that medical schools will choose to use MCAT scores in a similar manner to what they have been doing over the last 'generation' of MCAT exams/scores. This may or may not be the case. Because of the new scoring scale and data showing high rates of successful medical school matriculation and USMLE success even with average MCAT scores, some programs may choose to be more open to the middle of the scale while emphasizing other aspects of the admissions process. It is not possible to predict which medical schools would agree to give equal weight to the one section of the new MCAT which has no old MCAT equivalent: Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior. But, early data from the AAMC has shown that scores from the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section are valuable in the medical student selection process because they predict one's performance in courses that have behavioral and social sciences content. To view the validity studies of this MCAT section as well as the comparison of grades and scores between the old and the new MCAT exam, click here: MCAT Psychology and Sociology validity research. For percentile rank predictions and other details, read this 28-page MCAT scores guide from the AAMC. For the latest percentile ranks, read MCAT Score Percentiles for 2020-2021

Next: MCAT score conversion

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The average MCAT score and GPA requirements of medical schools in the United States and Canada as well as their application deadlines are found in the table below.

Next: Calculate your chances of getting into medical school

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The following graphic provides an approximation as to how your 4 MCAT scores - as well as your overall MCAT score - breaks down to the broad range of question types.

Of special note:

• the importance of Biology and Biochemistry;
• the importance of Psychology and Sociology (although, only time will tell to what degree medical schools will accept this new section with equal weight to the other three more established MCAT sections);
• the continued importance of 'Verbal Reasoning' (CARS);
• and finally, note that the 'non-science' aspect to your current MCAT score is not exactly 50% because one of the non-science MCAT sections also contains Biology (5%).

Next: MCAT scores and GPA requirements of medical schools

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You can take the MCAT up to three times in a single testing year, up to four times in two consecutive-year period and up to seven times in your lifetime.

Note: A voided exam and a 'no show' are counted as attempts in taking the exam. There is no required waiting period before you can retake the MCAT. But you may be able to register for a new MCAT date 48 hours after your exam day.

To determine if you should retake the MCAT, know the average MCAT score required by the medical school of your choice as well as their acceptance rates. If your score is competitive, the focus might not be on the need to retake the MCAT. You may need to evaluate your medical school interview, or autobiographical materials, or possibly your GPA. If your GPA is low, you may benefit from additional undergraduate or graduate studies (consult your premed advisor for additional insight), or you may benefit from a higher MCAT score.

If you feel that retaking the MCAT is the way to go, we have assembled MCAT prep courses and MCAT practice tests that would help you prepare better. Consider reading Finding the Courage to Retake the MCAT.

Next: How do medical schools handle your MCAT scores?

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If you have multiple MCAT scores because you have taken the MCAT more than once, the medical school to which you would apply may do any one of the following:

• Evaluate the most recent score
• Evaluate only the highest individual and/or set of scores
• Evaluate an average of the sets of scores
• Consider all scores equally and note the improvements

Contact the medical schools to which you intend to apply to determine how they would handle your multiple MCAT scores. Also, please note that many medical schools do not accept MCAT exam scores that are more than three years old. Review the AAMC's guide in using MCAT data in the 2021 medical student selection.

In addition to your MCAT score, admissions committees consider other factors in your medical school application including your GPA, personal and academic experiences, demographics, medical school interview, letters of evaluation or recommendation, and personal statement.

Next: Calculate your chances of getting into medical school

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Note: Individual circumstances may vary. Past patterns do not guarantee future admissions patterns. This webpage does not collect nor try to collect any personally identifiable data.

* To properly interpret the results of the medical school admissions calculator, keep in mind the following: (1) these are average statistics based on US rates of medical school admissions in the last 5 years as published online by the AAMC; (2) the above does not reveal the variations between specific universities or colleges: keep in mind that individual medical schools may be significantly more or less competitive than others; (3) as previously explained, it is unclear if medical schools will use new MCAT scores in the same way in the future as they have done in the past. The calculation above is based on the assumption that cumulative MCAT scores will continue to be used in a similar manner as recent history which may or may not be the case; (4) The overall statistical chance of admissions to medical school, though correlates best with numerical achievement in recent history, also varies based on personal experience. Such experience is transmitted through various tools of the admissions process. This non-academic part of medical school admissions can be revealed through your Personal Statement, letters of reference and the medical school interview. Consult your premed advisor and the admissions information for the specific medical schools which interest you to determine the weight given to the different aspects of the admissions process, as well as the cutoff and/or average GPA/MCAT scores for each medical school to which you intend to apply.

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