The MCAT: the test, the myth, the legend. It’s an academic marathon that strikes fear into the heart of every hopeful premed—and if it doesn’t, then it most certainly should. The MCAT is a vital piece of your medical school application that can make or break your chances of acceptance. But what exactly is the MCAT, why is it so difficult, and why is it taken so seriously? Read our MCAT FAQ for answers to 27 essential questions.
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a 7.5 hour standardized exam designed to assess a prospective medical student’s foundational science knowledge and critical thinking skills.
If you hope to be accepted to medical school and become a doctor, you must take the MCAT exam first. Admissions committees believe your MCAT score is an indicator of whether or not you can handle the rigors of medical school. While your MCAT score is far from the only thing admissions committees consider, performing well on the MCAT is essential if you wish to be considered by top-tier medical schools.
The MCAT is divided into 4 multiple choice sections. Each section is worth 132 points for a total perfect MCAT score of 528.
The four MCAT sections are:
You are allotted 95 minutes to complete each of the following sections: 1, 3, and 4. These three sections each contain 59 questions, 44 of which are passage-related, and 15 of which are standalone. You are allotted 90 minutes to complete section 2, CARS, which contains 53 questions, all of which are passage-related.
Sections 1, 3, and 4 of the MCAT require a thorough understanding of scientific facts and concepts, as well as the ability to integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines with advanced inquiry, deduction, and reasoning skills.
Section 2, CARS, differs from the other three sections in that it does not require any memorization. CARS is designed to assess your critical thinking and reasoning skills exclusively. This section requires you to read and consider passages from a wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences and then analyze and answer questions about what you have just read. Performing well on CARS requires that you be able to rapidly comprehend and analyze what you read.
With breaks, the MCAT takes 7.5 hours to complete, not including the time it takes to sign in and get settled. Without breaks, the MCAT takes 6 hours and 15 minutes to complete. That said, we highly recommend you utilize each break to take a breath, eat a snack, and reset before the next section begins.
You have 3 optional breaks during the MCAT exam, which means you are allowed to take a break after you complete each section. The first break is 10 minutes, the second break is 30 minutes (for lunch), and the final break is 10 minutes. There is also an optional 10 minute tutorial before the test begins.
Time-wise, this is how the MCAT is broken down:
Optional tutorial: 10 minutes
Chem/Phys: 95 minutes
Optional break: 10 minutes
CARS: 90 minutes
Optional lunch break: 30 minutes
Bio/BioChem: 95 minutes
Optional break: 10 minutes
Psych/Soc: 95 minutes
The MCAT is completely multiple choice. The score range of each of the 4 MCAT sections is 118-132, for a total perfect score of 528. The lowest possible score is 472. Each of the 4 sections is worth 25% of your final score.
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys)
Time: 95 minutes
Score Range: 118-132
Number of Questions: 59 total (44 passage-related, 15 standalone)
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
Time: 90 minutes
Score Range: 118-132
Number of questions: 53 total (all passage-related)
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/BioChem)
Time: 95 minutes
Score Range: 118-132
Number of Questions: 59 total (44 passage-related, 15 standalone)
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc)
Time: 95 minutes
Score Range: 118-132
Number of Questions: 59 total (44 passage-related, 15 standalone)
A good MCAT score is different for everyone and largely depends on the schools you hope to be accepted to. While a perfect MCAT score is 528, most medical schools suggest that students should have a minimum MCAT score of 500, which means scoring 125 in each of the four sections. That said, in order to be competitive, you must aim to score higher than 500.
Average statistics of recent matriculated medical school students can give you a general idea of what’s expected, but if you have specific medical schools in mind, it is vital that you research exactly what is expected for each school you are applying to.
For example, osteopathic (DO) schools put less importance on your MCAT score compared with allopathic (MD) schools.
The average MCAT score for recent matriculants applying through AMCAS is: 511.70
The average MCAT score for recent matriculants applying through AACOMAS is: 503.90
Keep in mind that these are only averages. In order to be competitive, it’s critical to aim for a much higher than average score.
The AAMC’s Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) database is the best way to find out how your MCAT score and GPA compare to the students who have already been accepted to the schools you’re applying to.
The MCAT is ranked as one of the hardest examinations in the world.
The MCAT is particularly challenging because it isn’t only a test of what you know—it’s a test of how you think. Within a short period of time, students must be able to synthesize information, think critically, and analyze what is presented to them.
In addition, many questions on the MCAT combine content from different subjects, including biology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, general chemistry, physics, sociology, psychology, humanities, and social sciences.
Aside from the difficulty of the test itself, you can expect to be at the testing center for at least eight hours on the day of your test. Some of that time will involve getting settled in and taking breaks, but you will still spend 6 hours and 15 minutes on content alone. Just for reference, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) takes about 3 hours to complete—including breaks.
All of that said, the MCAT will be more difficult for some than others. The difficulty of the MCAT is based on how well a student is able to prepare and stick to a personalized study schedule.
You can register for your MCAT exam through the AAMC website. If you don’t already have one, you will first need to create an account to access AAMC services.
The MCAT test calendar varies each year. The date you need to begin studying depends on your test date. We recommend dedicating 3-6 months to studying before the test date. We believe 3 months is ideal if you can dedicate 40 or more hours per week to studying.
For example, if you want to take the MCAT in September, you should begin studying in March at the earliest and June at the latest to give yourself 3-6 months. Use our guide below to figure out when you need to begin studying.
According to most test takers, practice tests tend to be even harder than the real MCAT. The AAMC MCAT practice tests are as close as possible to the real thing because the same test developers who write the practice tests also write the MCAT. Many students report that their actual MCAT score was very similar to what they scored on the AAMC practice tests.
While AAMC has a free practice test, students report that this test is actually easier than the real MCAT. To get something that’s as close as possible to the real MCAT, it will be necessary to pay for one or more of the AAMC’s full-length practice exams that provide scaled scoring.
There are also a number of other MCAT practice tests out there, including Kaplan practice tests and the Princeton Review practice tests.
In our guide on How Do MCAT Practice Tests Compare to the Real Thing, we examine a number of different MCAT practice tests through the lens of students’ reported experiences and how their practice test scores compared to their MCAT scores.
The best time to take the MCAT largely depends on your plans after college—do you plan on going straight into medical school, or are you hoping to take a year off?
If you plan on going straight into medical school, we recommend taking the MCAT during the summer after your sophomore year. If you plan to take a year off after college, take the MCAT during the summer between your junior and senior years.
This is a personal decision primarily based on 3 key factors:
It is important to note, however, that delaying your MCAT could be a costly mistake, as the longer you spend studying, the more chances you have of forgetting previous material.
Official MCAT scores are released 30-35 days after an exam date.
According to AAMC, medical schools generally accept scores that are two or three years old. Many medical schools do not accept MCAT exam scores that are more than three years old.
Standard registration for the MCAT costs $330. However, this price has risen over the years, and it’s likely it will continue to rise. Registration for the Fee Assistance Program costs $135. If you’re testing outside of the US, Canada, or US Territories, you will be charged a $120 international fee in addition to the registration fee. You must receive final approval for the AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program before you select your test date and location.
But this isn’t the only cost you have to factor in. Learn more: How Much Does the MCAT Cost? The REAL Costs Analyzed.
If you feel a current physical or mental disability or condition will negatively impact your performance on the MCAT, submit an application for MCAT accommodations. MCAT accommodations are adjustments to the standard testing conditions of the MCAT designed for students who have a medical condition or disability that could hinder their performance on the MCAT.
Possible conditions that could qualify you for MCAT accommodations:
MCAT accommodations are not determined based on the diagnosis alone; they are determined by your current functional limitations and the specific demands of the task, and they’re only allowed if they are supported by adequate evidence. For example, it may be true that you’re pregnant, but you will need to prove that this will directly impact your ability to complete a standardized test.
You will need to begin preparing your application many months before your actual MCAT test, as in order to receive MCAT accommodations, you must submit an Initial application long before your MCAT exam date. Initial requests take up to 60 days to be reviewed by the AAMC, and other requests can take up to 30 days to be reviewed.
Your accommodations must be approved 15 days before your exam date. Since you’ll need some time to collect documentation and familiarize yourself with the accommodations process, we recommend you begin this process no later than 120 days before your desired MCAT test date.
Successfully meeting the requirements for MCAT accommodations takes a number of steps. Learn more in our comprehensive guide to Applying for MCAT Accommodations.
The AAMC allows students to take the MCAT up to three times in a year, four times over two years, and seven times in a lifetime. Each scored attempt will appear on your record, so each of your MCAT scores will be seen by admissions committees—unless you void the test (more on that below.)
However, just because you can take the MCAT three times in the same year or seven times in a lifetime doesn’t mean you should. At Med School Insiders, we absolutely do not recommend taking it that many times.
Aim to take the MCAT only once, but if you really dropped the ball the first time or nerves got the better of you, consider retaking the test, but only once.
Voiding the MCAT means you can cancel your test and request that it not be scored after you take it. You have five minutes after the test to tell the supervisors you want to void your MCAT, and if you do, your MCAT won’t be graded. No one will look at it at all, which means you will have no idea how you did, and neither will schools. While the attempt will still count toward your total number of MCAT attempts, schools won’t know that you voided an MCAT.
It can be quite tempting to void your MCAT after you take it. You’re drained. You don’t know for sure how you did, and you know that every scored attempt will be seen by your dream schools.
If you feel like you completely tanked a section or left half of the questions blank, you may consider voiding it and trying again.
However, know that pretty much everyone feels terrible after the MCAT. Everyone thinks they could have done better, but this is not a valid enough reason to discount all your months of studying and hard work, not to mention the money you’ve already invested in the test.
In 2024, two to five MCAT test dates will be available each month from January to September, with the lowest being two in March and the most being five in June. There are no MCAT test dates available in February or October through December in 2024.
Official MCAT scores are released 30-35 days after an exam date by 5 pm ET on the scheduled score release date.
All traditional medical schools in the US require applicants to take the MCAT. While there are some schools abroad that do not require it, going to these schools could limit your future career opportunities.
Articles that claim to list medical schools without an MCAT requirement are actually listing BS/MD, BS/DO, or other similar early admission pathways, which can begin as early as high school.
Early admission pathways are combined bachelor and medicine degree programs, such as a BS or BA combined with an MD or DO through a single acceptance. For example, BS/MD, BA/MD, BS(BA)/DO, and EAPs (Early Assurance Programs).
Programs like BS/MDs are usually between 6-8 years. While they offer a direct path to an MD or DO without an MCAT, they do require you to commit your entire life to medicine while you’re still in your teens and before you’ve taken any advanced science courses in college or early hands-on experience in the medical field through employment or volunteering.
Learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of early admission pathways and if avoiding the MCAT is right for you in our guide: Are There US Medical Schools That Don’t Require the MCAT?
Technically, the AAMC allows you to take the MCAT up to three times in a year, four times over two years, and seven times in a lifetime. It should be noted that every scored attempt appears on your record, which means they are all seen by admissions committees.
Here are the 3 main questions to consider before retaking the MCAT:
Deciding whether or not to retake the MCAT is a dilemma that many students face. Signing up to take the test again right away without making any changes to your study habits is a poor choice, as there is no reason to expect you will perform any better than you did before.
Keep in mind that your success on the MCAT is based much more on your preparation than your level of intelligence. A high MCAT score depends on your study strategies, discipline, and your use of evidence-based learning principles during your preparation.
For more details, read our guide: Is an MCAT Retake Worth It?
The most important thing to remember on MCAT test day is your ID. You must present identification when you arrive, and that identification must meet certain criteria set by AAMC.
During your breaks, you are only permitted access to food, water, and medication. Bring plenty of water or other beverages that will keep you hydrated, as well as a variety of healthy snacks. You may want to bring a small lunch, such as a simple sandwich.
Choose clothes you are comfortable in. It’s a long test, and you’ll want your attention focused exclusively on the exam, not on what you’re wearing.
Any personal items, including jewelry and watches, must be removed before entering the test, so it’s best not to bring them with you at all. Everything on you will be examined, and any unnecessary items must be stowed in the secure storage area provided by the testing center. You will even need to turn out your pockets, so check that they are empty before you arrive.
Choose a filling but not overly heavy breakfast. We recommend protein and starchy foods with a low glycemic index, such as eggs, salmon, oatmeal, or whole wheat toast.
Keep your food choices simple, but bring extra just in case. You’ll be working your brain hard for several hours, and that’s going to build up your appetite. Ideal foods include sandwiches, nuts, granola bars, bananas, and berries. Light, healthy foods are best, but at the same time, don’t bring something you aren’t used to or haven’t tried before. MCAT test day is not the time to experiment.
The MCAT is extremely difficult, and your score could determine your future in medicine or lack thereof. The good news is there is no reason to tackle this overwhelming, seemingly insurmountable task alone, as an innumerable number of people have been exactly where you are right now and have successfully matriculated to medical school. Why not benefit from their expertise?
Choosing whether or not to get assistance depends on your own personal strengths and weaknesses, the time you have available, and your ability to design your own personalized study strategy.
At the end of the day, MCAT tutoring is all about improving your score, and with study strategies and schedules designed by real doctors and tailored to your own unique strengths, weaknesses, and study habits, that’s exactly what you’ll be able to do.
When it comes to MCAT resources, AAMC is an excellent place to start. Princeton Review and Kaplan also offer extensive resources, but it’s better to focus on one rather than choosing both.
We also recommend using Memm to effortlessly and efficiently organize information and accelerate your MCAT learning.
The Med School Insiders MCAT Course comes with the industry’s first ever honest 510 score guarantee, with gold standard content, three full-length and two half-length practice tests, and guidance from those who scored in the 100th percentile. We’re so confident you’ll find incredible value in our course that on top of the 510 score guarantee, we offer a 10-day 100% money-back guarantee. Try it at zero risk.
Med School Insiders offers MCAT tutoring customized to your specific needs. We have a diagnostic process that evaluates how you can make the greatest improvements. You’ll be matched with a top-scoring tutor for one-on-one mentorship and relationship building. It’s a custom, one-of-a-kind approach that’s based on efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn how to choose the best MCAT tutor, including what to look for in a service and red flags to watch out for.
Learn more about our MCAT tutoring services and comprehensive admissions packages. Visit the Med School Insiders blog for a wide selection of current MCAT resources. We’re always adding to our library.
