Is 499 a good MCAT Store? - MCAT Retake Calculator - Jack Westin (2024)

FAQs

Is 499 a good MCAT Store? - MCAT Retake Calculator - Jack Westin? ›

Attaining a score of 499 on the MCAT means you performed in the 49% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

With a score of 504–506 or lower, you are not going to be a very competitive candidate. But this score range does not mean you are out of the race! A score of 501 or lower is typically considered too low to be competitive, so you might want to retake the exam or apply to medical schools that do not require the MCAT.

Considering that a 499 is a below-average score, it is improbable to be competitive for med-school admission with that score. However, once you know which medical schools you aim to get into, you'll better understand whether a 499 will get you accepted.

Does retaking the MCAT look bad? Like reapplying to medical school, retaking the MCAT does not inherently look bad. That said, you should strive to take the MCAT as few times as possible.

It's much more difficult going from a 512 to a 515 than going from a 500 to a 510. It's imperative that you carefully weigh the risks. If you score a 500, it's a good idea to retake the MCAT—after you seek tutoring and develop more effective study strategies.

If necessary, retake the MCAT up to two to three times total—space out attempts with enough time to thoroughly review and improve your study strategy. More than three attempts can reflect poorly.

On average, 38 percent of all MCAT test takers retake the MCAT. It should be noted that there is no shame in retaking the MCAT. There are thousands of doctors who took the MCAT two and even three times.

MCAT and GPA are obviously top of the list because those are very easy things to weed someone out. I've seen lots of students get into medical school with a 499. The 3.9 in your SMP is awesome, the 3.2 college GPA, your stats GPA-wise are not holding you back.

In 2022-2023 the average MCAT score for medical school applicants in the US was 506.5, which also includes applicants who didn't get accepted. For those who actually ended up enrolling, the average MCAT score was 511.9. What does this mean for your personal target score? Aiming for something around 512 would be ideal.

Do schools care if you retake MCAT? ›

They will take each into consideration, so even if your second or third score is better than your first, there's a chance that one bad score can still ruin your chances of getting accepted. Your score might be lower -- Of course, there's always a chance that your retest score is worse than your previous one.

Andy took the MCAT exam seven times and applied to medical school twice before getting one interview and acceptance. He reminds premeds to have faith in themselves and that perseverance and grit are important for a career in medicine.

With all that said, how much time should you dedicate toward studying for a retake? In general, if the test is within 1-6 months of your previous test, prepare to commit to a month of full-time studying (40-50 hours per week) or 2-3 months of part-time studying (20-25 hours per week).

A poor MCAT score is any score that doesn't get you into a medical school, but statistically this would be a score below the overall mean or average, so a score of 505 or less. A poor MCAT score could also be considered anything below the 50th percentile for recent test-takers, which is approximately 501.

Your application will not necessarily get compromised by taking the MCAT more than once unless you receive a lower score on the second exam than on your previous exams. Though this certainly isn't a situation anyone necessarily wants to be in. Almost 20% of students retake the MCAT exam.

Roughly 70,000 first-timers take the MCAT every year. About 15,000 earn admission to MD-granting medical schools and roughly 5000 to DO-granting medical schools. About 30,000 re-take the MCAT. ~6000 obtain admission to to MD schools and another 2000 to DO schools.

Generally speaking, the lowest acceptable score to be admitted to medical school is in the 490-495 range.

Again, medical schools don't care if you have multiple MCAT tests on your application. Just make sure that if you screw up the first time, know why so you can prove the next time.

Should I Retake The MCAT If My Score Is 508? If you want to maximize your chances of achieving medical school acceptance, and if your overall application is not strong, we recommend you retake the MCAT if your score is 508.