How Difficult Is the MCAT?

Factors That Make the MCAT Challenging

The MCAT is intentionally designed to test multiple dimensions of a student’s readiness for medical school. From the length of the exam to the wide range of content it covers, every element pushes students to demonstrate their stamina, knowledge, and critical thinking. 

Length and Mental Endurance

One of the biggest challenges of the MCAT is its length. The exam itself takes just over six hours of testing time, but your total seated time is around 7.5 hours. That includes 10-minute breaks in between sections of the MCAT, a 30-minute lunch, and pre- and post-test procedures.

For comparison’s sake, the LSAT is about three hours long. The new, shorter GRE takes under two hours. Without prep to build your stamina and timed study sessions, the duration of the MCAT can feel overwhelming. Luckily, you can build and strengthen your test-taking muscles.

Extensive Range of Content

Another reason the MCAT is so difficult is the sheer breadth of material it covers. The MCAT is divided into four sections: 

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (59 questions)
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) (53 questions)
• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (59 questions)
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (59 questions)

Each section draws from high-yield topics in the sciences, psychology, and sociology, requiring students to integrate knowledge across disciplines. Excelling in just one area isn’t enough. A good MCAT score demands that you’re proficient in all four. 

CARS is typically considered the toughest section. While it’s slightly shorter than some of the others, it’s essentially a reading comprehension test that requires critical thinking and reasoning skills to respond to prompts. The complex passages rarely relate to medicine. For example, you may read passages involving ethics, philosophy, and history.

This wide scope of skills required ensures that students are evaluated not only on their science foundations but also on their reasoning and problem-solving abilities. These skills are all essential for future physicians, but they do make the MCAT hard.

Question Formatting

Another layer of difficulty comes from the way MCAT questions are structured. Some questions are discrete and more direct, requiring you to recall information without interpreting text in front of you. They test your understanding of certain areas in science, like biochemistry, organic chemistry, and physics.

Other questions, as in every prompt in the CARS section, are passage-based. These questions require test takers to extract key information, interpret data, and integrate multiple ideas before arriving at a correct answer.

You’ll also be asked to do some math on the exam, mainly arithmetic, ratios, and scientific notation, without the use of a calculator. While the math isn’t advanced, performing quick calculations under time pressure can add another layer of challenge.

Without proper preparation, the format itself can feel overwhelming. But with practice, you can train yourself to approach MCAT questions methodically and confidently.

The Pressure to Score High

Beyond its length and what it tests, the MCAT is difficult because students feel pressure to get the best possible score.

A highly competitive score typically falls within the 509-514 range, or the top 25% of all test takers. A score of 500 is right around the national average each year. This lands a test taker near the 45th-50th percentile, which can limit options for med school admission. (For comparison, students accepted to medical programs average over 511 for MD students and 503 for DO students.)

The most competitive medical schools, including those in the Ivy League, may exclusively accept students with average MCAT scores in the 516-520 range. 

Since only about 40-45% of applicants are accepted to medical school each year, pre-med students know that every point they score on the MCAT matters. The pressure to outperform their peers with a high score can amplify test-day anxiety, making the exam feel harder.

Thankfully, with structured preparation, practice exams, and effective test-day strategies, you can manage this pressure and perform your best. 

Strategies for Nailing the MCAT

Success on the MCAT isn’t just about mastering content. It’s about approaching the exam strategically. Developing effective study time habits, building mental stamina, and practicing under realistic conditions can make a huge difference.

1. Prep Early, Study Smart

Starting your MCAT study prep early is one of the most effective ways to feel more confident on test day. Three-month study plans are the most common for my tutoring clients, but taking a full-length practice exam to start can help you identify a strategy for your test prep. 

Creating a structured study schedule from there can help you identify which sections you’re already comfortable with and which areas need extra attention. Early preparation gives you time to review challenging topics, build stamina, and reduce last-minute stress.  

Studying smart isn’t just about putting in the hours, though, or finding the right MCAT prep course. It’s about using your time strategically to address weaknesses, reinforce your strengths, and help you feel as ready as you can be on the day of the exam.

Note: If you need special accommodations for the MCAT, such as extended time or a separate testing environment, file for that request about four months before your test date. That gives you enough time to appeal a decision, if needed. 

2. Utilize High-Quality Practice Tests

High-quality practice tests do more than check your knowledge on covered topics. They simulate the pacing and endurance required for the real test. You can start with one of the free MCAT tests offered by the AAMC, but save their official practice exams for the end of your prep.

Practice tests help you identify which areas you’ve mastered and which topics need more focused review, allowing you to refine your strategy. They also build familiarity with question formatting so you won’t be caught off guard by passage-based or critical-thinking prompts. 

Sitting through full-length exam conditions also prepares your mind and body for test day. With tutoring students on a three-month study schedule, I recommend one realistic full-length practice test per week, by week seven, with off-days in between to review any incorrect answers. 

By week 10, you can take each of the AAMC practice tests. Your final attempt should be no closer than a few days before your MCAT to give yourself some time to rest.  

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