What MCAT Score Do You Need to Get Into Medical School (2023 - 2024)? | MedEdits (2024)

Final Thoughts

Your MCAT represents only one factor in your medical school candidacy, but, it is a very important one! Medical schools will often screen applications based on GPA and scores, however, many do view applications holistically with the MCAT score being only one piece of that overall picture when applying to MD programs. It is important to only take the MCAT when you are ready, devoting a minimum of three months of study. Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I study for the MCAT?

When students ask me how to prepare, I first ask them, “How did you prepare for the SAT or ACT and what worked?” At this point, most students know their weaknesses and have an idea of how they learn best. The material that is tested is typically covered in undergraduate courses. How best to prepare will vary from applicant to applicant and there is no one right way.

MCAT Prep

Here are some MCAT prep possibilities:

• Review on your own. If you are a good self- studier and have excellent time management and organizational skills, buying or borrowing review books and studying on your own could be a good option. Many excellent review books are available if you need to supplement what you have learned in your prerequisite courses. Many students have the discipline to self-study and incorporate the AAMC practice tests in their study plan (see below). Khan Academy has some excellent prep materials that were made with the AAMC. And, the are free!
• Commercial prep course. Most often, students prepare for the exam by enrolling in MCAT review courses, which are either live or online. These courses do not vary tremendously in quality and their effectiveness depends on each individual teacher’s talent, which is often difficult to assess before a course. But whatever the effectiveness of the course, taking it forces a student to stay on schedule and create a study plan, which in itself has value. In my experience, these courses sometimes offer initial “diagnostic tests,” which tend to “underscore” applicants and then offer “simulated tests,” which “overscore” applicants. I am not sure why testing companies use this strategy, but perhaps they are trying to make applicants nervous initially to motivate them to study and then to boost students’ confidence before test day. Regardless, evaluate your performance on commercial practice tests with a grain of salt and place a higher value on your AAMC practice test performance (see below).
• Private tutoring. Private tutors are becoming more common. It might be beneficial to seek out a talented tutor for “problem spots” if you need some intensive study for certain areas. For some applicants, private tutoring for every section might be a possible and expensive option.
• Online resources. There are many online resources and question banks available at this point. Before signing up for one, be sure to speak with multiple students who have used the resources and scored well.
• Study plan. Regardless of how you prepare, it is essential to have an organized study plan to ensure you get through all of the material before the exam. As mentioned, I recommend that students take at least three months to study for the MCAT®. Being well prepared for the MCAT® is essential, and required preparation time will vary from student to student. Be honest with yourself and devote the time you need to do well on the exam even if this means postponing your planned application year.
• Practice tests. The AAMC offers practice tests for applicants. I recommend that applicants take all of these tests by incorporating them into their study schedules. Performance on these tests is the most accurate predictor of how a student will perform on test day. Go to the AAMC store to order practice tests.
• AAMC resources. The AAMC provides many resources for applicants as they prepare for the MCAT, including a portal of resources offered by undergraduate university professors. In addition, in collaboration with Khan Academy and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the AAMC offers free lectures and tutorials to help students prepare.

For how long should I study for the MCAT?

Most test takers study for the MCAT for at least three months, but, this will in part depend on how you are performing on practice tests. How you study is also an individual choice and will depend on your exam history and how you have successfully prepared for past standardized test.

If I underperform on one MCAT section, will it negatively impact my chances?

As we tell our applicants, underperforming on the CARS section of the MCAT can be forgiven, especially if you earned high scores in the three science sections. This is a common pattern with our students when they apply to medical school which makes sense since many medical school applicants are more gifted in the sciences and math. Underperforming on a science section, however, can hurt you. Your cumulative score matters most.

How many times can I take the MCAT?

Below are the rules on how many times you can take the MCAT:

• In a single testing year, you can take the MCAT exam up to three times.
• In a two year consecutive period, you can take the MCAT exam up to four times.
• In your lifetime, you can take the MCAT exam up to seven times.
• Voids and no-shows count toward your lifetime limits.
• You can only be registered for one MCAT seat at a time.

Should I retake the MCAT?

Many students ask if they should retake the MCAT. The answer to this question in part depends on your goals. If, for example, you earned a 506 on the MCAT and you want to attend an osteopathic medical school, there is little need for a retake. However, if your goal is to attend an allopathic medical school, MedEdits would likely suggest retaking the exam after determining what you need to do to improve.

The other reason a student should retake the MCAT is if he or she underperformed for a reason that is easy to identify. Were you sick on test day? Were there stressful exam center circ*mstances that negatively impacted your test performance? Did you have extreme test anxiety that wasn’t treated or addressed? Were there things going on in your personal life that distracted you?

Sometimes a student may reflexively retake the MCAT when he earns a score below his target goal. However, without identifying what went wrong on test day, or what needs to be done to improve the score, a fast retake rarely results in a significantly increased score. We usually suggest a minimum of a three month interval between exams unless there are extenuating exam day circ*mstances as described above.

Which Medical Schools have the Highest Average MCAT Scores?

What are some of the highest average MCAT scores for American medical colleges?

Which Medical Schools have the Lowest Average MCAT Scores?

Understanding a medical school’s average scores will help you determine your competitiveness for that school.

What are some of the lowest average MCAT scores for American medical colleges?