"Mastering the MCAT: Your Comprehensive Guide to Medical School Success"
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Course
MCAT
Institution
MCAT
Mastering the MCAT: Your Comprehensive Guide to Medical School Success" is a vital resource offering in-depth strategies and practice to excel in the Medical College Admission Test. This book features expert advice on each section of the exam, including biology, chemistry, physics, and critical ana...
When you take the real MCAT, the AAMC will
access your raw scores which are based on the
number of correct answers in each section (note:
there is no penalty for wrong answers). Your raw
scores from each of the 4 sections of the MCAT
will then be converted to scaled scores which
are the only scores that interest medical school
admissions committees. You will receive five
scores for the MCAT: one for each of the four
sections scored from a low of 118 to a high of
132, with a midpoint of 125; and one combined
total score which will range from 472 to 528, with
a midpoint of 500.
What is an average, good and high MCAT score?
Average, good and high MCAT scores are relative terms and, as such, are dependent on perspective,
the cohort and the medical school to which you intend to apply. There is no pass or fail score for the
MCAT, there are only scores that are acceptable for specific, individual medical schools. Consider
consulting specific medical schools, or their websites or aamc.org, for past trends.
Please keep in mind that the percentile rank indicates your test performance relative to all the students
who sat the same test on the same day. It records the percentage of students whose scores were lower
than yours.
Average score Average score Average score
acceptable to some acceptable to most acceptable to Ivy League
medical schools medical schools medical schools
Qualitatively average MCAT score good MCAT score high MCAT score
Percentile* rank 50 percentile
th
80 percentile
th
95th percentile
Sectional MCAT score 125 127** 129**
(max. = 132)
Total MCAT score 500 508** 516**
(max. = 528)
Note: the expression “average score” does not have the same meaning as cutoff or minimum score. Rather it refers
to the simple average of students accepted to medical school (historic and predicted averages). Having an acceptable
MCAT score in no way guarantees medical school admissions since acceptance is also contingent on GPA and non-
academic factors (i.e. personal statement and/or autobiographical material, letters of reference, and the medical
school interview).
* percentile does not refer to the percent, which relates to the ratio of correct answers to the total number of
questions. The percentile rank records the percentage of students whose scores were lower than yours. Percentile
ranks are not used as medical school admissions criteria. Only the scaled score matters for medical school
admissions.
** This assumes that current percentile rank predictions for the new MCAT remain stable.
iv
, Medical School Admissions Data Based on MCAT Scores for the 2017-2019 Admissions Cycles,
AAMC Data (aggregated; n = 95,797)
The higher rates of admissions with higher MCAT scores is nothing new. However, it is of value
to note that a score of 500 has a rate of admissions just over 20% and lesser scores may still result
in admissions. Conversely, an exceptional score (above 517) does not guarantee medical school
admissions.
The MCAT-prep.com online MCAT Guide has a free medical school admissions calculator based on
GPA and MCAT score.
Is it really important to try many mock exams?
Although there are some students who believe that ‘more MCAT practice is better’, perhaps a more
realistic expression would be: ‘more effective MCAT practice is better’. There is little value to have
extra full-length MCAT practice tests if you don’t have the time and motivation to use them as full-
length practice (which should include a careful review of answers and explanations over 1-2 days per
exam).
Frankly, re-taking mock exams is not usually an efficient use of time. However, taking brief, efficient
notes from your MCAT practice test experience and reviewing all of those notes several times per week
builds knowledge, reasoning and confidence moving forward. Choose the number of practice exams
according to your needs, budget and schedule.
It’s also important to note that no one company provides the perfect practice test experience. Of
course, the AAMC - being the official MCAT organization - is best but other than that, there are as
many opinions as learning styles. Most students with high, official MCAT scores have used a variety of
reputable MCAT practice tests.
v
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