Table of Contents
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, you can expect your Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) results 30-35 days after your exam date.
MCAT preparation takes time, from content review to taking practice exams. To help you with your MCAT prep and study schedule, we’ve laid out each test date, along with the deadlines to sign-up and the score release date.
What’s the latest I should take the MCAT if I want to apply this year?
May 24, 2024 is the the latest date of the 2024/25 cycle to take the test to give yourself a shot at an acceptance. The latest date you can technically take the MCAT in 2024 is September 14, but this is only useful for students planning on taking a gap year or who know they’ll retake the test the following spring.
Primary applications (which include your MCAT scores) are transmitted to schools on June 30th, 2024 at the earliest. Taking the MCAT on May 24th allows enough time for your score to be processed to be sent to admissions committees as early as possible.
If you take the test any later than May 24th, your score will be processed after June 30th, which means schools won’t be able to consider your application until later. This option isn’t ideal, since your chances of landing an interview are higher the earlier your application is considered by schools.
If you can’t take the MCAT before June 2024, it might be best to wait to apply in the next application cycle.
That said, your decision on when to take the MCAT exam will be individualized based on personal factors.
2024 MCAT Test & Score Release Dates
See below MCAT test dates and MCAT score release dates for 2024, as published by on the AAMC website.
Note the 60, 30, and 10 day rescheduling fee deadlines. In 2024, rescheduling costs:
- $50: 60 or more days before the exam
- $100: 30-59 days before the exam
- $200: 10-29 days before the exam
10 days prior to test day is the last day you can reschedule your exam.
2024 MCAT Test Dates
| 2024 Test Date | Score Release Date | Registration Open? | Suggested Prep Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 12 | Feb. 13 | Open | October - January |
| January 13 | Feb. 13 | Open | October - January |
| January 18 | Feb. 20 | Open | October - January |
| January 26 | March 1 | Open | October - January |
| March 9 | April 9 | Open | December - March |
| March 22 | April 23 | Open | December - March |
| April 12 | May 14 | Open | January - April |
| April 13 | May 14 | Open | January - April |
| April 26 | May 29 | Open | January - April |
| April 27 | May 29 | Open | January - April |
| May 4 | June 4 | Open | February - May |
| May 10 | June 11 | Open | February - May |
| May 11 | June 11 | Open | February - May |
| May 16 | June 18 | Open | February - May |
| May 24 | June 25 | Open | February - May |
| June 1 | July 2 | Open | March - June |
| June 14 | July 16 | Open | March - June |
| June 15 | July 16 | Open | March - June |
| June 22 | July 23 | Open | March - June |
| June 27 | July 30 | Open | March - June |
| July 13 | Aug. 13 | Open | April - July |
| July 26 | Aug. 27 | Open | April - July |
| August 2 | Sept. 4 | Open | May - August |
| August 17 | Sept. 17 | Open | May - August |
| August 23 | Sept. 24 | Open | May - August |
| August 24 | Sept. 24 | Open | May - August |
| September 5 | Oct. 8 | Open | June - September |
| September 6 | Oct. 8 | Open | June - September |
| September 13 | Oct. 15 | Open | June - September |
| September 14 | Oct. 15 | Open | June - September |
Read Next: MCAT Math Strategies from the Nation’s Leading Tutor
Why does it take so long to get my score?
It takes so long to get your MCAT score because MCAT scores are scaled (converted from a raw score) and equated (adjusted for minor differences in difficulties in various questions/sections on other test dates). This process takes 30-35 days.
Does that mean the MCAT is graded on a curve? No, the MCAT is not graded on a curve, meaning your score does not change based on when you took the test or who you took it with.
High-stakes exams like the MCAT have multiple test forms in any given testing year for security. Because one form may be slightly more difficult or easier than the other, scores are adjusted (equated) to indicate the same performance.
In addition, the gap in time between taking the test and the score release allows for the test taker to raise any concerns they had when taking the test. The AAMC reviews these issues to be sure they haven’t made an impact on the MCAT score.
Can I get my raw MCAT score? No, the AAMC does not release raw MCAT scores or tell you which questions you got incorrect.
Read Next: The Best Pre-Med Majors & How To Choose
What time of day do MCAT scores come out?
The MCAT score reports are available to view by 5 PM EST on the scheduled score release date. Scores may be released earlier on the scheduled day, but if you don’t see your score just be patient and know it will be there by 5 PM.
The MCAT Scoring Process
Your score is based on the number of questions answered correctly, with no extra penalty for incorrect answers. There are 4 multiple choice sections of the MCAT:
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
For each section, you’ll be scored based on the number of correct answers. That score will then be converted to a scaled score. The scaled scores of the 4 sections are then added together for your total score.
What is a good MCAT score? Aim to score at least 128 out of 132 in every section, totaling 511 out of 528 across all four sections. A score of 511 and up will put you above the 80th percentile, giving you a competitive edge over other potential medical students.
But there is no hard and fast rule to define a “good” MCAT score, because it’s absolutely possible to be accepted into medical school with a score under 511. In 2022, the average MCAT score of the incoming class was 512.
Keep in mind: While a 500 score is average, only 36% of medical school applicants get accepted into medical school, so you need to perform significantly better than average.
That’s where personalized MCAT tutoring can help.
3 Scenarios For When to Take the MCAT and Apply to Medical School
Scenario 1: Taking the MCAT just once and applying ASAP
The most ideal scenario is that you achieve your goal MCAT score by the time the med school applications open up in early June. This means taking your MCAT either in the winter/early spring (Jan – April test dates) or in the year prior (remember that MCAT scores remain valid for two or three years, depending on the school).
If you opt to take the test during the Spring semester, keep in mind that things will become busy (e.g., classes, MCAT, application, practice tests, extracurriculars). Depending on your semester workload, it might be best to take the MCAT during the summer prior to applying or during a gap year. That way, it’s not as difficult to carve out MCAT study time.
Read Next: High-Yield MCAT Topics and How to Study
Scenario 2: Taking the MCAT just once and applying without an MCAT score
This scenario is fairly common for test takers who take the MCAT in the later spring/early summer.
If you take your MCAT any time after late May, you won’t have your score back before June 30th, the date that schools will begin receiving primary applications. You can still submit your AMCAS application to schools without an MCAT score. Keep in mind that they generally won’t review your application until your score is released.
This may not be the absolute end of the world if you take the MCAT early June and your score comes out early July.
But remember that the later schools are considering your application, the lower your odds are of receiving an interview invite. This means it’s generally best to have already received your score prior to June 30th so your application can hit the desk of medical school admissions committees as soon as possible.
Scenario 3: Taking the MCAT multiple times
If you weren’t happy with your scores, or you just really like the test center, you can take the MCAT more than once.
This is another reason why it’s better to take the MCAT in the winter/early spring or in the year prior to application. With these test dates, it’s possible to retake the MCAT if you don’t achieve the score you’re looking for prior to submitting your application.
If, on the other hand, you take the MCAT in June and apply without your test score, you won’t be able to retake it soon enough if it doesn’t turn out as you hoped. By then, your score will already have been released to schools and you may have set yourself up for rejection by admissions committees.
Ultimately, it’s probably best for most students to take the MCAT in the year prior to applying or early in the spring/winter. This gives you plenty of time to retake it if you don’t achieve the score you’re looking for.
READ NEXT: MD vs. DO: What’s The Difference?
Next Steps After Receiving Your MCAT Score
After you have your MCAT scores, you will have a better idea of your admissions competitiveness. Take a look at your target schools and start your applications for AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TMDSAS.
How do I get my MCAT re-scored if there was an error? You can request a rescore if you believe there was an error. To do this, submit an MCAT Rescore Request through the MCAT Registration System. Time is of the essence in requesting a rescore (no later than 30 days after receiving your score), and the cost for an independent rescore is $65.
Need Help Studying for the MCAT?
MedSchoolCoach offers personalized, one-on-one MCAT tutoring to help you achieve your goal score. Our tutors scored in the 99th percentile on their MCAT, and are highly trained to help you nail your test!
Ken Tao, PhD
Ken is the Director of MCAT at MedSchoolCoach. He is an alumnus of UC Berkeley and Harvard University, boasts degrees in Bioengineering, Molecular and Cell Biology, and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. Ken previously worked with undergraduate students at Princeton Review where he was the only tutor certified in all subjects. Ken was one of the highest rated MCAT tutors ever and a teacher trainer. He founded Magoosh's MCAT division and has written content for dozen's of MCAT books and guides.
