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The MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) is a standardized test that uses scaled scores for each of its four sections. Section scores are scaled from 118-132, totaling an overall MCAT score between 472-528.
A “good” score depends heavily on the medical school(s) you’ve chosen to apply to and on other factors that will appear on your primary application.
In the 2023/24 application cycle, the average MCAT scores were:
- All test-takers: 501.3
- All allopathic (MD) applicants: 506.3
- Allopathic (MD) matriculants: 511.7
- All osteopathic (DO) applicants: 503.0
- Osteopathic (DO) matriculants: 503.9
The MCAT exam is administered by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). This exam is broken into 4 sections: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior.
Below, I walk you through how MCAT scoring works, how to know if your score is commensurate with the healthcare program of your choice, and a few tips for achieving the highest score possible.
Stuck at the same MCAT score? Break the plateau fast with 1-on-1 expert instruction from 99th percentile MCAT tutors.
How MCAT Scores Are Calculated
Your raw score for each section is converted to a scaled score ranging from 118 (lowest) to 132 (highest).
For instance, if you got 36 out of 59 questions correct in a section, 36 would be your raw score for that section. Depending on the difficulty of your particular exam, a raw score of 36 would then convert to a certain scaled score — say, 121 out of 132.
The AAMC does not share raw scores with MCAT test-takers, though students are shown their scaled score for each section (as well as their total scaled score) in their MCAT score report. According to the AAMC, the purpose of converting raw scores to scaled scores is to account “for small variations in difficulty” between different exam versions. That way, everyone’s MCAT score provides a stable measure of performance, regardless of which test form they received.
To get your total MCAT score, the scaled scores of all four MCAT sections (Chem/Physical, CARS, Bio/BioChem, and Psych/Soc) are added together. The highest MCAT score possible is 524, while the lowest is 472.
MCAT Percentiles (2023/24 Cycle)
An MCAT percentile tells you how well you did compared to all other test-takers from the past 3 years.
For example, if you scored in the 52nd percentile, you scored the same as or above 52% of test-takers. If you scored in the 97th percentile, you scored the same as or above 97% of the other test-takers.
It’s important to know and understand your percentile because some schools may have a preference for students at or above a certain percentile threshold.
| Total MCAT Score | MCAT Percentile Rank |
| 524-528 | 100 |
| 523 | 99 |
| 522 | 99 |
| 521 | 98 |
| 520 | 97 |
| 519 | 96 |
| 518 | 95 |
| 517 | 94 |
| 516 | 92 |
| 515 | 90 |
| 514 | 88 |
| 513 | 86 |
| 512 | 83 |
| 511 | 81 |
| 510 | 78 |
| 509 | 75 |
| 508 | 72 |
| 507 | 69 |
| 506 | 66 |
| 505 | 62 |
| 504 | 59 |
| 503 | 56 |
| 502 | 52 |
| 501 | 49 |
| 500 | 46 |
| 499 | 43 |
| 497 | 36 |
| 496 | 33 |
| 495 | 31 |
| 494 | 28 |
| 493 | 25 |
| 492 | 23 |
| 491 | 20 |
| 490 | 18 |
| 489 | 16 |
| 488 | 14 |
| 487 | 12 |
| 486 | 11 |
| 485 | 9 |
| 484 | 8 |
| 483 | 6 |
| 482 | 5 |
| 481 | 4 |
| 480 | 3 |
| 479 | 3 |
| 478 | 2 |
| 477-475 | 1 |
| 474-472 | <1 |
Average MCAT Scores (2023/24 Cycle)
These are the average MCAT scores through the 2023/24 application cycle provided by the AAMC and AACOMAS. Averages are split between MD and DO applicants and matriculants (students accepted and enrolled) in those program types.
| MD Applicants | DO Applicants | MD Matriculants | DO Matriculants | |
| Total MCAT | 506.3 | 503.0 | 511.7 | 503.9 |
| CPBS | 126.4 | 125.5 | 127.8 | 125.7 |
| CARS | 125.8 | 125.0 | 127.0 | 125.2 |
| BBLS | 126.6 | 125.8 | 128.1 | 126.1 |
| PSBB | 127.4 | 126.7 | 128.9 | 126.9 |
What Is a Good MCAT Score?
A good MCAT score is 511 or higher — this score will help you stand out as an applicant to allopathic schools. If you have a lower GPA (below 3.75), you need a higher MCAT score to be a competitive medical school applicant.
Here’s a breakdown of good MCAT scores based on where you’re applying:
- DO program (osteopathic) applicants: 506+
- MD program (allopathic) applicants: 512+
- Ivy League (Harvard, Columbia, etc.) applicants: 520+
Most US medical schools do not have a “minimum MCAT score requirement” for prospective students. However, they typically have an unstated MCAT score threshold, below which it is extremely difficult to gain acceptance.
To maximize your options for medical school, shoot for the highest MCAT score possible without neglecting other parts of your application. If you have a solid application, you can get away with a lower MCAT score. If your application is weak, however, you’ll need a better score to make up for it.
Raise your MCAT score by an average of 12+ points with expert coaching from a 99th-percentile tutor.
MCAT Test Dates
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
Check out our full-length guide to MCAT test day and release dates, including tips for when to select a date and how to register.
How to Access Your Scores
Access and view your MCAT scores on the AAMC website here. You will have to sign in.
MCAT scores are released 30-35 days after the test date, typically at 5:00 PM ET. Generally, AAMC does not email you about score updates.
Pro tip: follow the AAMC’s X account and turn on notifications.
MCAT Resources
Prepping for your MCAT exam? We’ve got you covered. Check out these resources from 99th-percentile tutors:
- AAMC Sample Test Score Calculator
- MCAT Practice Exams
- MCAT Go – An MCAT Audio Learning Experience
- MCAT Prep – iOS and Android Mobile MCAT Studying
- MCAT CARS Mastery Course
- Study Plan for the MCAT
- The Best Free MCAT Study Resources
- High-Yield MCAT Topics List & How to Study
- How to Create the Best MCAT Study Schedule
- MCAT Math Tips from the Nation’s Leading Tutor
- How to Beat the Chem/Phys Section of the MCAT
- MCAT Test Day Rules and What to Bring (And Not Bring)
FAQs
The highest possible MCAT score is 528, meaning every section has a perfect score of 132. The MCAT score range is 472-528.
For context, a score of 502 would put you above the 50th percentile, and a score of 518 would put you in the 95th percentile of test-takers.
You can take the MCAT 3 times in a calendar year, 4 times in 2 years, and 7 times in a lifetime. Retakes may impact your application, but most programs won’t penalize you for taking the MCAT 2-3 times as long as your score improves between exams.
The AAMC MCAT score report includes:
- Score in each section
- Confidence band for each score
- Percentile rank of each score
- Score “profile” of each score — simply putting each score on a line graph that shows the minimum and maximum scores for context
An MCAT score report is a more detailed view of a test-taker’s results, primarily meant for admissions committees to get a more useful look into an applicant’s performance. Below is a sample score report.
No, the penalty for a wrong answer is the same as for a blank question. It’s best to guess on each question before submitting your exam; don’t leave anything blank.
Use the MCAT “flag” feature to flag questions you’re unsure about, then move on. This allows you to move forward and not waste too much time on a single question. You’ll be able to come back to these flagged questions at the end of the section.
Try to take the MCAT no later than April of your application cycle (for 2024/25, take it by the end of April 2024). This means your score release date will be in May, allowing you to submit your primary application early in the cycle. Waiting longer than this may disadvantage your application.
Ideally, you’ll take the MCAT at the end of your junior premed year or at the end of senior year (if you plan to take a gap year to do a post-bacc or similar).
Your score will be available by 5:00 PM ET on your score release date. Score release dates are 30-35 days after your exam date.
MCAT scores are technically valid for 3 years from the date of the exam and may be used as part of your primary medical school application.
However, it’s a good idea to discuss using an MCAT score more than a year old with an experienced application advisor. In many cases, it makes sense for a prospective medical student to retake the exam instead of using an old score.
Allopathic medical school applicants had an average overall GPA of 3.64 and a science GPA of 3.54 in the 2023/24 application cycle. Matriculants to allopathic medical school in the 2023/24 cycle had an average overall undergraduate GPA of 3.77 and a science GPA of 3.71.
Review your dream school’s average GPA, average MCAT score, and acceptance rate for more details using MedSchoolExplorer — it’s free!
Boost Your MCAT Score By 12+ Points
The application process for a school of medicine is a competitive one, and it’s important to stand out! A competitive admissions process includes a strong grade point average, great letters of recommendation and personal statement, compelling extracurricular activities, and a high MCAT score.
Want to improve your MCAT score by an average of 12+ points? Get 1-on-1 help from our 99th-percentile MCAT tutors.
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.
