Your Guide to the MCAT (FAQs and Study Resources)

The Ultimate MCAT Guide with Study Tips & Resources (2025)

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Posted in: MCAT

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The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a computer-based standardized test that all pre-med students must take for medical school admissions. The MCAT assesses your knowledge of the natural and social sciences and critical thinking skills needed for the practice of medicine.

Most MD-granting and DO-granting programs require you to take the MCAT in order to apply. A high MCAT score (at least 506-511) improves your chances of getting into medical school.

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) administers this test about 30 times from January to September each year. It has gone through many changes, but the MCAT has mostly stayed the same since 2015.

Can I register for 2 MCAT dates at the same time? No, you can only register for one MCAT test at a time. Also, you can take the MCAT up to 3 times per testing year, up to 4 times in a 2-year period, and only 7 times in your lifetime.

LISTEN: MCAT Basics Podcast

Below, we outline everything you need to know about the MCAT in 2025, including how to study for it, the best tips and resources, and what to expect on test day.

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to take the MCAT test if you are planning to apply to medical school. Most med schools list the MCAT as an admission requirement, with a few rare exceptions for students in rigorous BS/MD or early assurance programs. When registering for the MCAT, you have to agree under penalty of perjury that you’re planning to apply to med school.

According to AAMC, there are no additional MCAT requirements for international students.

It’s important to complete the following classes before you take the MCAT so you are familiar with the material. If you haven’t completed the following classes before studying for the MCAT, your study period should be long enough to accommodate learning new material.

  • 2 semesters of general biological sciences
  • 2 semesters of general chemistry with lab
  • 2 semester of organic chemistry with lab
  • 2 semesters of physics with lab
  • 1 semester of biochemistry
  • 1 semester of introductory psychology
  • 1 semester of introductory sociology

Can anyone take the MCAT? If you are not applying to medical school and would like to seek special permission to take the MCAT, email your special request to mcat@aamc.org. They will try to review and respond to your request within 5 business days. 

Want your best shot at acing the MCAT and getting into your preferred school? Get some accountability from our expert tutors.

What Does the MCAT Actually Test?

The MCAT tests your knowledge of the sciences, as well as your critical thinking skills, through multiple-choice questions, the majority of which come after a passage you must read and comprehend. Each section of the MCAT covers different concepts, but there is significant overlap.

There are 4 sections of the MCAT:

  • Section 1: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys) — This 95-minute section covers general chemistry, physics, biochemistry, organic chemistry, and biology.
  • Section 2: Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) — This 90-minute passage-based section of the MCAT does not test science concepts. Instead, the CARS section requires students to read passages covering various humanities and social studies topics and then answer questions that test pre-medical students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and understanding of each passage.
  • Section 3: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/Biochem) — This 95-minute section covers primarily biology and biochemistry, with a little general and organic chemistry thrown in.
  • Section 4: Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc) – This 95-minute section covers psychology, sociology, and a bit of biology.

When to Take the Exam

You should take the MCAT as early as you feel prepared to take it during your application cycle. Take plenty of practice MCAT exams, and when you consistently get a score that would make you competitive to get into your top choice school, you’re ready.

Ideally, you should take the MCAT no later than the end of May of the year you plan to submit primary applications. This allows your application to be considered earlier in the cycle, which improves your chances of admission. Remember, it takes 30-35 days after your test date for scores to be scaled and released.

You may take this exam as early as the summer after sophomore year, assuming you’ve taken the recommended prerequisites, but many students wait to take it until the spring of junior year, senior year, or during gap years prior to applying.

The AAMC offers around 30 MCAT test dates throughout the year. MCAT exam dates are typically announced in October. MCAT registration opens in October (for tests administered from January to May) and February (for tests administered from June to September).

Seats fill up quickly, so choose your MCAT test date early. Registering 1-2 months in advance may not be early enough to get the MCAT test date and testing center location you initially hoped for.

Some students benefit from taking the MCAT during the summer when their study time is not divided by junior- or senior-year coursework.

Students who change to a premed major later in undergrad and aren’t able to complete MCAT prerequisites until senior year may benefit from a gap year. They can take the MCAT in the spring of their senior year and apply as soon as they graduate, or they can take it later that year and apply a year after graduation (which would mean two gap years).

How to Study and Prepare for the MCAT

How long should I study for the MCAT? The best way to prepare for the MCAT is 3-6 months of studying, with personalized study guides and an experienced MCAT tutor. Below, I include a few of our tip recommendations and resources to dive deeper as you begin to study. 

Download this free guide with 100 MCAT tips to help you study smarter and score higher.

Tip #1: Study Early, Study Smart

Start thinking about when you want to take the MCAT by the end of your sophomore year (when you’ve completed your prerequisites). Thinking about it this early will give you plenty of time to work on a study plan, take plenty of practice tests, prioritize high-yield topic study, and hire a tutor, if necessary.

Only you know your study habits, strengths, and weaknesses. So, create a personalized MCAT study plan for yourself. We make it easy for you — I wrote a guide on how to create an MCAT study plan regardless if you have 1, 3, or 6 months to study.

Once you dig into the material, take some diagnostics tests, consider your current school and work schedule, and work backward to create a study plan. Students who book their MCAT exam date early gain the benefit of an exact deadline to master the material, which can motivate them.

Watch the Webinar: Where to Begin Studying the MCAT

Tip #2: Study With High-Quality Practice Tests

While content knowledge is pivotal, I’ve found that the ability to apply that knowledge is equally vital. Incorporate high-quality practice MCAT questions into your study plan early on to reinforce your learning.

Study on the go — check out the Best MCAT Test Prep App.

A good MCAT study plan should incorporate both content review and practice, and not at the same time. Doing practice tests while cramming material is not an effective strategy. Instead, take practice exams after you have absorbed the content.

What is the best MCAT prep book? The best MCAT prep book is The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam, 5th Edition, published by the AAMC.

Tip #3: Don’t Risk a Bad Score

If you’re 3 weeks away from your test date and you still aren’t getting your target score on practice tests, you may want to postpone your MCAT date. At that point, you won’t be able to get a refund but it may be worth it in the long run if it allows you to avoid a necessary retake.

Try our audio prep course to listen to MCAT content lessons anytime, anywhere.

Tip #4: Prioritize AAMC Practice Exams Over Third-Party Materials

Many third-party practice exams are not representative of the content you’ll see on the MCAT or indicative of your potential score. The reason for this is simple – companies have an incentive to make their MCAT practice materials harder than the real thing to scare you into buying more prep products. 

To accurately gauge your MCAT performance, your best bet is to rely on the official AAMC practice exams and question banks. 

Does this mean you should avoid third-party materials completely? No, not entirely – they can be a useful supplement, provided they are reasonably representative of the actual MCAT. You can use third-party exams early in the study process to get a feel for the exam without burning through valuable AAMC material.   

We recruited experts from across the test prep industry to build our MCAT practice exams, and we can confidently say they are the most representative third-party tests available.

The MCAT practice exams by MedSchoolCoach are the most representative ones available. Try a free half-length exam today!

How the MCAT Is Scored

Each section is on a scaled score range from 118 to 132, with 118 being the lowest and 132 being the highest. Adding potential section scores together means 472 is the lowest possible total score on the MCAT, and 528 is the highest possible total score.

The average MCAT score of all test-takers is 501. The average score of allopathic medical school applicants is 506, and the average matriculant score is 512.  (Note that these averages are slightly lower for osteopathic medical schools.)

Achieving a score of 520+ is demanding, and I’ve observed that it often necessitates an investment of well over 500 hours. Some of the top achievers I’ve collaborated with have reported dedicating over 1,000 hours to studying. However, depending on your goals, you may be able to achieve a decent score in a lot less time, provided you’re studying smart.

Is there a guessing penalty on the MCAT? There is no guessing penalty on the MCAT, so it’s best to answer every question — even if you’re guessing.

When does my MCAT score expire? Your MCAT score does not expire on AAMC. However, schools typically do not accept scores that are older than 2-3 years. Each school’s standards vary, so do your research before you apply.

Read Next: How to Calculate Your MSC Score

What Is a Good MCAT Score?

511 is generally considered a good score on the MCAT. When researching what score you need, don’t get the average applicant score mixed up with the average matriculant score. Matriculants actually made it into medical school, but average applicant scores includes those who did not make it in.

To apply to DO schools, aim for a 506, which is somewhat competitive for osteopathic matriculants.

To apply to MD schools, aim for at least a 511 to be competitive. A 515 score would typically put you in the 90th percentile, making you an even more desirable candidate.

To apply to Ivy League schools, aim for a 520 or higher.

What to Expect on MCAT Test Day

The MCAT test day experience is about 7.5 hours long. The actual testing is just over 6 hours, breaks comprise 40 minutes, and the rest of the time is due to early arrival to get settled in, the test-day certification, tutorial, void question, and optional survey at the end of the test. Should you need extra time or special accommodations, you need to request that in advance.

Make sure you get to the testing center at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. You’ll need to certify before beginning the test that you have not and will not do anything to compromise the “integrity, validity, or security of the MCAT exam.”

There are 3 breaks on test day, including two 10-minute breaks and one 30-minute lunch break. The AAMC maintains several strict rules about what’s allowed during breaks, which you’ll need to know in detail to avoid anything potentially disqualifying.

You won’t be able to use a calculator, but you’ll have an official scratch page to work out the math on the MCAT.

At the end of your exam, you will be prompted with 2 options: one to have the exam scored, and another to have it voided. If you void your MCAT exam, you won’t be refunded, you won’t get a score, and medical schools will not see it on your record. People generally void if they felt they were at a disadvantage on test day, such as being sick or taking the test in uncomfortable conditions.

As you prepare for test day, read our comprehensive guide on what to expect: MCAT Test Day Rules & Tips + What to Bring (And Not Bring)

MCAT Costs & Financial Assistance

The registration fee for the MCAT is $345. 

AAMC offers a Fee Assistance Program to help students who would not otherwise be able to afford the exam. Currently, the reduced registration fee is $140. You must receive final approval for the Fee Assistance Program before you can register for the MCAT at this reduced price.

Examinees testing outside the US or Canada will be charged a non-refundable $120 international fee.

There is an additional fee of $50-$200 to change your testing center or reschedule your test date, depending on how far out you make the change.

If you cancel more than a month out, you should receive a 50% refund. Within 29 days, you will not be refunded for a cancellation.

Do All Medical Schools Require the MCAT?

All US medical schools and many Canadian schools require you to submit MCAT exam scores with a few small exceptions.

In some cases, you can go to medical school without taking the MCAT. This generally requires you to be part of a direct med program such as a BS/MD or an early assurance program (EAP), most of which accept very few students per year. These programs are highly competitive, which is why they may eliminate MCAT scores as part of the application process.

US students who are looking to go to foreign medical schools typically need to take the MCAT.

International students who are looking to go to medical school in their own country usually do not need to take the MCAT but do need to take the equivalent exam in their country.

How to Succeed on the Most Important Test You’ll Ever Take

The MCAT is hard to pass by design, but this comprehensive guide should make it much easier for you. Soon enough, you’ll be one step closer to completing a fulfilling medical education.

As someone who has been through the process and helped others along the way, I can assure you that with determination and a well-thought-out plan, you can conquer this challenge and shine. And tutors like me can help you succeed. 

Find out why our clients raise their MCAT score by an average of 12 points. Schedule an MCAT tutoring consultation with our enrollment team today!
Picture of Ken Tao, PhD

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.

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