2027 MCAT Test and Score Release Dates

The best MCAT test date depends both on your medical school application timeline and how much time you need to prepare. Ideally, you want to take the exam early enough that your score is available when schools begin reviewing applications while still giving yourself enough time to reach your target score.

If you’re taking the MCAT during the same year you plan to apply, I generally recommend aiming for a winter or spring test date, with May being a useful target for many applicants. Since MCAT scores are typically released about a month after the exam, testing by May can help ensure your score is available relatively early in the application cycle.

This doesn’t mean a June, July, or August MCAT automatically makes it too late to apply. However, a later test date can delay when your application is complete and ready for schools to review. If you know you won’t be applying until a later cycle, you have much more flexibility and may find a summer test date works better with your schedule.

An earlier test date can also give you more room to retake the exam if your first score wasn’t where you want it to be. You shouldn’t choose an earlier date simply to create a retake window, though. Taking the exam before you’re adequately prepared can create a problem that a few additional weeks or months of studying might have prevented.

How Far in Advance Should You Start Studying for the MCAT?

Many students spend about three to six months preparing for the MCAT, but there isn’t one ideal study timeline for everyone. Your starting score, target score, weekly availability, and familiarity with the tested material all affect how much preparation you’ll need.

I recommend starting with a diagnostic exam rather than choosing an arbitrary number of months to study. Your results can help you identify which content areas need the most attention and give you a realistic sense of how much ground you need to cover.

From there, work backward from your test date. Make sure your schedule leaves room not only for content review, but also for practice questions, reviewing mistakes, and taking full- or half-length practice exams. If you’re balancing MCAT prep with school or a full-time job, you may need a longer timeline than someone who can devote most of their week to studying.

For a more detailed breakdown, see our guide to choosing when to take the MCAT and our MCAT study schedule recommendations.

MCAT Study Tips & Resources

A strong MCAT study plan should give you time for content review, practice questions, full-length exams, and targeted review of the areas where you’re losing the most points.

MedSchoolCoach also offers several resources to support your prep, including:

• MCAT Practice Exams: Take full-length practice tests and track your progress over time.
• MCAT Masterclass: Review key MCAT concepts with free articles, videos, and practice questions.
• MCAT CARS Mastery: Build your approach to the CARS section with focused video lessons and practice.
• MCAT Go: Review high-yield MCAT content with audio lessons you can use while commuting, exercising, or away from your desk.
• MCAT Prep App: Practice MCAT questions and review content from your phone when you have a few minutes to study.
• MCAT Practice Runner Game: Turn practice questions into a quick, interactive challenge covering biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and psychology/sociology.