Are your MCAT scores good enough to get you into the medical school program of your choice?
A "good" MCAT score is one that puts you near or above the average percentile for matriculants at your target medical schools.For comparison, the average MCAT score for students admitted to an MD program in the United States in 2022–2023 is between 511 and 512, with an average GPA of 3.75. (Source: AAMC ).
Guide to MCAT Scoring
The highest MCAT score possible is 528. The MCAT scale is centered so that a 500 represents the mean score. AAMC recommends that med school admission committees consider applicants near the center of the range, rather than placing the most emphasis on the higher end of the scale.
MCAT Raw Score
The MCAT is a scaled exam, meaning that your raw score (based on the number of questions you got right) is converted into a scaled score that takes into account the difficulty of the questions.
MCATScore Range
Each MCAT section is scored on a scale of 118–132 (highest). Your MCAT total score (whch is the sum of your section scores) ranges from 472–528. Because different versions of the test have varying levels of difficulty, the scale will be slightly different from one MCAT administration to the next.
You’ll receive a percentile rank along with your MCAT score to help you compare how you did with other test takers. Did you get a percentile rank of 50? You scored higher or equal to 50% of other test takers! The higher your MCAT percentile, the better.
Our medical school admission experts recommend that you aim for a total score of 511 or above. This score places you in the 81 st percentile of MCAT scores, according to AAMC.
Read More: Medical School Requirements: How Important is GPA?
Average MCAT Scores 2023–2024
The average MCAT score for all applicants is currently between a 506 and 507. The average MCAT score for matriculants (those who've been accepted and have registered to attend a med school) is between a 511 and a 512. Here are the average MCAT scores by section:
Remember that if your GPA is on the low side, you’ll need higher MCAT scores to compensate, and if you have a strong GPA, you can get away with lower MCAT scores.
Use resources like the MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirements) database to help you compare your grades and scores to the average scores for the med schools on your list. The MSAR Online is available for a $28 subscription fee to students looking for information on U.S. and Canadian medical schools.
You can also find average GPA and acceptance rates for many medical schools in our online medical school profiles. Just use our med school search to find the program you want to research.
Compare your grades and scores to the stats for the med schools on your list to get a sense of how you'd compete. Read our tips for how to decide if you should retake the MCAT .
Med Schools Evaluate the Total Package
The reality is that your chances of acceptance depend on a lot more than just good MCAT score. It’s a combination of the following pieces of your med school application :
your GPA
your MCAT scores
your undergraduate coursework
letters of recommendation
experience related to the medical field (such as volunteer work or research)
extracurricular activities
your personal statement, etc.
Medical schools are looking for a complete package, not just strong scores and a high GPA.
Read More: How To Make Your Med School Application Stand Out
A good MCAT score is 511 or higher with no section below a 127 score. Specifically, 128 out of 132 in any one section represents the 50th percentile nationally for students accepted to US MD programs in recent years. The maximum MCAT score possible is 528 and the minimum MCAT score is 472.
Earning a 515 or higher on the MCAT makes you a top applicant for medical school admissions. A score of 515 on the MCAT is an important score threshold because it means you've earned a 90th percentile score.
Earning a 490 MCAT score is significantly below the national average and can present difficulties in gaining admission to medical school. If you received a 490 on the MCAT, you should consider retaking the exam or applying to medical schools known to accept applicants with lower MCAT scores.
The majority of medical schools in the US recommend that students score a minimum of 500 on the MCAT, which means scoring 125 in each of the four sections. So, technically speaking, a bad MCAT score would be anything below 500.
A good MCAT score is 511 or higher with no section below a 127 score. Specifically, 128 out of 132 in any one section represents the 50th percentile nationally for students accepted to US MD programs in recent years. The maximum MCAT score possible is 528 and the minimum MCAT score is 472.
An MCAT of 515, which will place you in the 90th percentile of all test takers, or above will make you a much more competitive applicant. A score over 517, the 94th percentile, should nearly guarantee admission.
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.
A good score on the MCAT is often considered to be a 511 or above, with each of the four individual MCAT sections averaging 128 or higher. This score will put you right in line with the average MCAT score of students who have been accepted into medical school.
Medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada that necessitate the MCAT typically accept scores ranging from 490-495 at the minimum. Scores below 490 are rarely if ever, accepted. Interestingly, a vast majority of individuals score above this range. Recent data suggests that the average score hovers around 506.5.
How Rare is a Perfect Score on the MCAT? A score of 528 on the MCAT places you in the 100th percentile of individuals who have taken the test. Based on the AAMC's Summary of MCAT Total and Section Scores, we can approximate that 0.020% of individuals managed to achieve a perfect score on their MCAT.
Yes. It is possible. Test designers make it difficult, but it is possible. Some students achieve a 528, the magic MCAT number, the perfect score every year.
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.
Attaining a score of 525 on the MCAT means you performed in the 100% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 131 (C/P) 132 (CARS) 131 (B/B) 131 (P/S).
Should I Retake The MCAT If My Score Is 513? You should retake a 513 MCAT score if your score is not balanced among the 4 sections, or if your target med-school(s) require a higher score for you to be competitive.
What MCAT Score Do I Need For Med-School Admission? Based on the data as well as our experience with countless students we've helped get into medical school, the average MCAT Score required for most medical schools is at least 508-513 (25th percentile).
Medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada that necessitate the MCAT typically accept scores ranging from 490-495 at the minimum. Scores below 490 are rarely if ever, accepted. Interestingly, a vast majority of individuals score above this range. Recent data suggests that the average score hovers around 506.5.
Introduction: My name is Pres. Lawanda Wiegand, I am a inquisitive, helpful, glamorous, cheerful, open, clever, innocent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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