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You can retake the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) if you haven’t already taken it too many times. But should you? To answer that, let’s consider all your unique factors.
Bottom line: If you scored 498 or below, I definitely recommend retaking the MCAT. If you scored 499-505 your first time, you should probably retake the MCAT. If you scored 506-511, you may not need to retake, but you could if you know you’d score much higher — especially if you’re applying to Ivy League schools.
Listen to Podcast: Master Your Retake – Drs. Tao & Mehta Answer Your MCAT Retest Questions
I’m Ken Tao, PhD, Director of MCAT at MedSchoolCoach, and I help pre-med students with the MCAT every day. Let me take you through the dos and don’ts that you need to know before retaking the MCAT.
Concerned about your MCAT score holding you back in medical school applications? Students score 12 points higher than their previous MCAT result after working with MedSchoolCoach.
DON’T Use the Exact Same Strategy Over Again
If you are going to retake the MCAT, you need to use a different strategy. Obviously, the strategy you used the first time didn’t work.
The change could be as simple as giving yourself enough time to prepare before the test date, or you may need to completely change your study schedule and methods. Perhaps you need to review MCAT math tips or hire an MCAT tutor.
How soon after taking the MCAT can you take it again? You can schedule an MCAT retake as soon as your previous MCAT date occurs. You cannot register for two MCAT dates at once, though. It takes about 4 weeks to get results, so you won’t know whether you need to retake until then.
DO Consider How AdComs Perceive MCAT Retakes
All MCAT attempts will be visible on your med school application. Here are the potential ways that admissions committees can interpret multiple MCAT scores:
- Admissions officers may focus on your most recent score only.
- Other AdComs may take the average of all your MCAT attempts as your “real” score.
- Some admissions committees look unfavorably on your application if you don’t improve your score significantly when retaking (at least 5 points).
- AdComs are most likely to look negatively on your application if you have taken the MCAT 3+ times with no significant improvements.
Do medical schools look down on retaking the MCAT? Med schools generally don’t look down on 1-2 MCAT retakes with significant score increases. They may look down on retakes that result in minimal improvement or a decline in score. As with everything in the medical school admissions process, though, this will be different depending on the institution and individuals on the admissions committee.
Watch the Webinar: Should You Retake the MCAT? Detailed Answers on Your Second Attempt
DON’T Take the MCAT Too Many Times
Here is how many times you can take the MCAT, according to the AAMC, which administers the test:
- In a single testing year, up to 3 times
- Over two consecutive years, up to 4 times
- Overall lifetime limit, no more than 7 times
Failure to attend a scheduled examination or voiding your MCAT contributes to your lifetime limit, even though AdComs cannot see this information.
I recommend retaking the MCAT three times maximum. If you’re not breaking 500 on the third try, it may look bad on your application that you tried so many times and couldn’t raise your score above the 50th percentile. There are rare success stories of reaching your goal on the seventh try, but I suggest you consider other passions, possibly still connected to healthcare, before reaching this point.
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DO Compare Your Score to Other Medical Applicants
As of the current application cycle, the average MCAT score of all test-takers was 500.7. The average score for applicants was 506.1, and the average score of successful matriculants was 511.8.
Many MCAT examinees don’t make it into medical school, or they don’t apply because their score is too low. Only 44.6% of students who applied to medical school in the last cycle successfully matriculated, and MCAT scores are one of the major determining factors.
If you fall below the average score for matriculants, you may not be competitive this application cycle. Of course, a low MCAT score may be negated by a high GPA, extensive clinical experience, a perfect personal statement, and stellar letters of recommendation. It’s a good idea to discuss your options with your pre-health advisor or a medical school admissions expert.
DO Improve Your Score by 4-12 Points
If you only improve your MCAT score by a couple points, AdComs may not see that as a good enough improvement to justify an offer of acceptance. Improvement by 4-5 points may justify a retake, but an improvement of 10+ points would be a slam dunk.
Your target score improvement should be higher if your initial score is lower. 510 to 514 would greatly increase your chances at acceptance, but 499 to 503 would not. (The highest score possible is 528, but admissions committees don’t expect med students to get perfect test scores.)
DON’T Accept a Lower Score Than Your Practice Tests
If you were averaging 510-512 on your AAMC practice questions but scored 501 on test day, that is a good reason to retake the MCAT.
Did you have extenuating circumstances on test day? Were you going through extraordinary life circumstances around your testing date, such as the loss of a loved one or an illness? Were you just extra nervous? The lower score may be due to nerves, pressure, lack of sleep, or sickness rather than lack of knowledge and ability.
Figure out why you scored lower than your practice tests, then address that root cause. If you struggle with test-taking anxiety, consider talking to a counselor about stress-relief techniques you can use to set yourself up for success on a retake.
DO Adjust Your School List
Ivy League applicants need to score at least 518-520 to be competitive on the MCAT. A score of 510-512 is competitive for MD programs, while 506-508 is competitive for DO schools. Depending on your MCAT score, you might need to adjust your expectations as to which institutions are likely to consider your application.
If you’re aiming for Ivy League and scored a 511 on the MCAT, consider applying to non-Ivy League MD schools instead. If you’re hoping for a MD program but scored 506, look into DO and Caribbean medical schools to your list, since these may accept lower MCAT scores.
This may not be cause for a retake unless you are:
- Very confident you can increase your score by several points, AND
- Determined to attend a specific institution or program type that is likely to reject your application with your current MCAT score.
Want to build the perfect medical school list for your primary application? We’ve got the tool you need.
DON’T Settle for Unbalanced Section Scores
Not all good MCAT scores are created equal. If your initial score is a 131 Chem/Phys, 123 CARS, 129 Bio/Biochem, and 130 Psych/Soc, that is very different from a 128 Chem/Phys, 128 CARS, 129 Bio/Biochem, and 128 Psych/Soc. While both scores are a 513, the applicant with the second score has an advantage in admissions.
Medical schools could screen out the applicant with the first score due to a poor CARS score. Many schools even have specific MCAT section cut-offs for their applicants. If any of your section scores are below 124, especially CARS, consider retaking the MCAT.
DO Consider the Cost
Even for a retake, standard MCAT registration is $345, but the Fee Assistance Program Registration lowers the MCAT cost to $140. There is an additional $120 international fee for examinees testing outside the United States and Canada.
If you hire a tutor to improve your score, also remember the cost of a tutor.
Consider the opportunity cost of retaking the MCAT. If you don’t retake and improve your score, you may not make it into med school, which could stall your medical career by at least a year and cost you thousands in lost income.
DON’T Study Less Because It’s a Retake
Before you decide to retest, know that you’ll have to study hard. You can’t study less because you’ve already studied for one MCAT.
While the amount of time required to best study varies per student, the average study period is usually 3 to 4 months of dedicated content review, practice questions, and practice exams. In many cases, this comes to around 250-350 hours of study. If you are retaking, I do recommend that you study as if it is the first time again and dedicate the same serious amount of quality time.
When you retake the MCAT, you must be positive you’re going to get a higher score. Scoring about the same or losing a point or two is very likely to disadvantage your application.
Read Next: Tips for Creating MCAT Study Schedule That Works
DO Take Plenty of Practice Tests
Full-length practice exams before test day can identify your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to focus your efforts effectively. I wouldn’t retake the MCAT until you’re scoring higher on practice exams than you did on your first attempt.
MedSchoolCoach offers realistic MCAT practice exams, the most representative of all third-party options on the market.
DO Focus on High-Yield Topics
Concentrate your study plan on the high-yield subjects that will have the biggest impact on your score. Don’t waste any amount of time on niche topics that won’t significantly impact your MCAT performance. Check out our in-depth guide on MCAT high-yield topics.
Did you get stuck with the math required on the MCAT? Check out our MCAT Math Tips from the nation’s leading tutor.
DON’T Ignore CARS
The hardest MCAT section for most test takers is Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS), and AdComs may put extra weight on CARS. This unique section requires interpreting passages critically.
Go over a few CARS passages each day, and you should see improvement in no time. If you need extra help, check out this CARS Mastery Prep Course.
DO Use MCAT Go and the MCAT Prep App
MCAT Go and MCAT Prep are on-the-go aids that efficiently increase your preparedness for the MCAT exam.
- MCAT Go is an audio textbook that you can listen to in the car, at the gym, and on the walk to class.
- MCAT Prep App is a free app for iPhone and Android that can reduce your test anxiety and skyrocket your confidence through videos, question banks, and a study scheduler.
DO Get Tutoring From MedSchoolCoach
Improve your MCAT by 12 points or more! If you’re struggling with the MCAT, don’t hesitate to seek professional guidance. The benefits typically outweigh the cost.
Our team at MedSchoolCoach offers expert tutoring services designed to help you maximize your MCAT performance. Our pre-medical students have improved their MCAT scores by more than 12 points on average — a great sign of growth on an application.
7 Example Scenarios
The below “case studies” are examples of different circumstances that help a student understand whether or not they should retake the MCAT. Although this information is backed by research and in-depth knowledge of the application process, every student is different.
Note: All scenarios assume that applicants have sufficient extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and a compelling personal statement needed for acceptance. Each MCAT statistic is based on the average MCAT score of each medical school’s matriculants.
Example 1: John
- GPA: 3.75
- MCAT: 506
- State: CA
Goal: Wants to be competitive at state MD schools but is willing to go out of state.
Verdict: Retake
Reason: California medical schools are notorious for being difficult to get into mainly because of the sheer number of applicants. Most of these schools have median matriculant MCAT scores of at least 509. John’s 506 is also still relatively low for out-of-state medical schools. The safe bet would be to retake the MCAT and try to get at least a 510.
Example 2: Paul
- GPA: 3.6
- MCAT: 510
- State: MA
Goal: Wants to go to a Tier 1 US News-ranking research school
Verdict: Retake
Reason: Tier 1 medical schools in research are extremely competitive. Their median MCAT is often between 518-522. The median GPA for applicants that get into the top schools is also 3.8, which means Paul’s MCAT and GPA are both well below average for these schools. He should retake the MCAT and try to score 520+ on his MCAT to make up for his lower GPA. (He should also ensure he meets the minimum 1,500 hours of research experience recommended before applying.)
Example 3: Mary
- GPA: 3.72
- MCAT: 509
- State: FL
Goal: Get into medical school (any MD/DO)
Verdict: Don’t retake
Reason: If Mary wants to get into any allopathic or osteopathic school in the US, she needs to apply broadly with a polished personal statement and secondary essays. Many schools have 510 as their matriculant median MCAT. Also, Florida has multiple medical schools that give preference to Florida residents, and Mary’s MCAT score would be competitive at several of these schools.
Example 4: Ruth
- GPA: 3.6
- MCAT: 503
- State: WA
Goal: Get into any US MD/DO school
Verdict: Don’t retake
Reason: With a 3.6 GPA and 503 MCAT, Ruth is likely to be considered by DO schools and Caribbean medical programs. She has a lower chance at many MD schools and must be strategic with building her school list.
Example 5: Thomas
- GPA: 3.7
- MCAT: 515
- State: IL
Goal: Get into any mid- to top-tier MD schools
Verdict: Don’t retake
Reason: Thomas has a strong score above the national average for med school matriculants. (Most mid-tier schools have a median MCAT of 512-518.) Although he is below average compared to Ivy League institutions, his competitiveness is better at other schools. His essay writing and interview skills will be important for a chance at his “reach” schools.
Example 6: Edgar
- GPA: 3.95
- MCAT: 500
- State: NY
Goal: Get into any US MD school
Verdict: Retake
Reason: This is a tough situation. New York has some schools that give moderate preference to NY residents. However, his MCAT score is too low for most MD programs. With a higher MCAT score (508+) and that strong GPA, Edgar will be a competitive applicant at many medical schools.
Example 7: Andrew
- GPA: 3.9
- MCAT: 510 (with a low CARS score, <125)
- State: TX
Goal: Get into mid- to top-tier schools, prefers in-state (UT Houston or Baylor)
Verdict: Don’t retake
Reason: If an applicant has one sub-score that is too low, many schools may automatically reject them. Nevertheless, if Andrew can demonstrate decent communication skills through letters of recommendation from humanities professors or an improved writing score, he could remain competitive in most mid-tier schools. Top-tier schools will be less inclined to grant him admission, but as a Texas resident, he’s more likely to be accepted in-state even with slightly lower scores.
Improve Your Score by 12+ Points on Average
Retaking the MCAT is a big commitment. You don’t want to retake the MCAT if you don’t have to. But if retesting is right for you, MCAT test prep is pivotal on your path to medical school admissions.
Our 99th-percentile tutors have helped thousands of students like you improve their MCAT scores by an average of 12 points! Use their experience to your advantage.
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.
