Did you take the AAMC’s free MCAT sample test? Use this MCAT score calculator to enter your raw score (the number of correct answers you got) and convert it to a scaled simulated MCAT score and what percentile it falls into.
If you are already a MedSchoolCoach student, your MCAT tutor will review your sample test score to understand where you need the most help. Taking a free sample test as a diagnostic prior to beginning tutoring allows you and your tutor to hit the ground running during your very first session!
How Is the MCAT Scored?
Each MCAT section has either 53 (CARS) or 59 questions (all other sections). Correct answers are converted to a scaled score between 118 and 132, then all section scores are added together for a total score between 472 and 528. This is done to account for variances in difficulty that happen across different test days so that test takers aren’t disadvantaged by more difficult test versions.
What to Do if Your Score Was Lower Than Expected
To be competitive for most medical programs, we recommend aiming for an MCAT score of 511 or higher. (We also created a breakdown of what defines a good MCAT score depending on the program type and institution.)
Your MCAT exam score is one of the most important factors in your medical school application, and a score in a lower percentile can absolutely make the difference between an acceptance or rejection. In some cases, a retake makes sense if you can significantly improve your score the second time.
If your score was significantly lower than you hoped, it’s time to start studying! Fortunately, there are many ways to improve your MCAT preparation and make sure you’re ready when your test date arrives.
Study Tips & Resources
Our experienced MCAT experts and tutors have created plenty of resources to help you create and excel with a study plan that works for you. Check out our best MCAT resources for pre-meds:
- MCAT Go: A self-guided audio MCAT learning experience
- MCAT Prep App: A mobile app to help you study anywhere, anytime
- MCAT CARS Mastery: A video course to prepare you for the toughest MCAT section
- MCAT Practice Exams: Test your progress with the most accurate practice tests available
- MCAT Masterclass: Free articles, videos, and practice questions on the most important MCAT content
- MCAT Tutoring: Get one-on-one tutoring with 99th percentile-scoring tutors
Students who do well on the MCAT typically spend between 200-300 hours preparing if they go it alone. As many as 50% of students take the MCAT a second or third time due to inadequate preparation or the desire to increase their score.
Because every student’s studying habits are different, a professional MCAT tutor can increase your chance of success. All the tutors at MedSchoolCoach scored between 130-132 (that’s 99th percentile) on the MCAT sections they tutor.
The aveage student who uses MedSchoolCoach spends about 40+ hours studying with a personal tutor and raises their MCAT score by 12 points. Our tutors can help you identify the highest-yield topics for the most efficient use of your study time.
Get access to the best MCAT tutors in the world and raise your score by an average of 12 points.
What Are Your Chances of Getting Into Medical School?
Your MCAT score is an important part of your application, but it’s only one piece of the admissions picture. Once you have a sense of where you stand academically, the next step is making sure the rest of your application is just as strong. If you want to see how successful applicants present their stories on paper, explore our Med School Personal Statement Premium Example Hub, where you can study 220+ real personal statement examples with expert paragraph-by-paragraph analysis.
Ken Tao, PhD
Ken is the Director of MCAT and Research 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.
