MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) Guide & Prep Tips
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a critical component in the journey to medical school, testing students on their scientific knowledge, analytical abilities, and critical thinking skills. The MCAT is designed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and is a standardized, multiple-choice exam that evaluates a candidate’s readiness for medical education. Scoring well on the MCAT is essential for aspiring medical professionals, as it can significantly impact their acceptance chances.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the MCAT, from effective preparation techniques to understanding the scoring system, registration process, and more.
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Key Takeaways
The MCAT is a crucial test for aspiring medical professionals, assessing knowledge in sciences, critical thinking, and reasoning.
- A structured study plan, focused on high-yield topics and practice tests, is essential for effective preparation.
- Familiarize yourself with the scoring system, registration requirements, and administration details to avoid surprises on test day.
- Utilize official AAMC resources, as well as third-party materials, to maximize your readiness for each section.
MCAT Prep and Study Guide
Proper preparation is essential for success on the MCAT, given its extensive content and challenging questions. Here’s a structured guide to help you study effectively:
Understand the MCAT Format: The MCAT consists of four sections—Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS), Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior. Knowing each section’s format helps you allocate time and focus accordingly.
Create a Study Schedule: Design a study plan based on your strengths, weaknesses, and available preparation time. Many students prepare for three to six months, dedicating several hours daily.
Utilize Practice Resources: AAMC offers official practice tests, question banks, and section guides. Additionally, using third-party resources such as Kaplan, Examkrackers, or The Princeton Review can be beneficial.
Focus on High-Yield Topics: Prioritize topics frequently tested on the MCAT, such as biochemistry, psychology, and physiology. Reviewing AAMC’s content outlines can provide a focused approach.
Take Full-Length Practice Tests: Regularly taking full-length tests simulates the actual exam experience and helps build stamina, identify weak areas, and measure your progress.
Review Your Mistakes: Analyzing mistakes on practice exams helps you understand and improve on weak points, avoiding similar errors in future questions.
Include Rest Days: To avoid burnout, ensure your schedule includes breaks. Balance intensive study sessions with sufficient rest to maintain focus and productivity.
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
This section asks you to fuse your knowledge of foundational concepts in the physical and chemical sciences with your scientific reasoning, inquiry, statistics skills, and research methods to solve problems that demonstrate your preparedness for medical school. Understanding the physical, mechanical, and biochemical functions of tissues, organs, and organ systems are significant to the study of medicine. You will be tested on your knowledge of the basic chemical and physical systems that underlie the mechanisms operating in the human body and your capacity to apply an understanding of these general principles to living systems.
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
This section asks you to fuse your knowledge of foundational concepts in the biological and biochemical sciences with your scientific reasoning, inquiry, statistics skills, and research methods to solve problems that demonstrate your preparedness for medical school. Understanding the methods unique to living organisms, such as maintaining a constant internal environment, growing and reproducing, acquiring materials and energy, adapting, and sensing and responding to environmental changes is important to the study of medicine. You will be tested on your understanding of how cell and organ system processes within an organism function both independently and together, as well as your knowledge to reason about these processes at different levels of biological organization within a living system.
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
This section asks you to combine your knowledge of the concepts in sociology, biology, and psychology with your scientific reasoning, inquiry, statistics skills, and research methods to solve problems that demonstrate your preparedness for medical school. Understanding both behavioral and sociocultural determinants of health is essential to the study of medicine. You will be tested on your knowledge of the processes that psychological, social, and biological factors affect perceptions and reactions to the world; behavior and behavior change; what people think about themselves and others; the cultural and social differences that influence well-being; and the relationships among social stratification, access to resources, and well-being.
MCAT Tips
Excelling on the MCAT requires not only knowledge but also strategy. Here are some practical tips for success on the test day:
Pace Yourself: The MCAT is over seven hours long. Develop a pace that allows you to answer all questions within the allotted time without rushing or leaving answers blank.
Stay Calm Under Pressure: Practice techniques for remaining calm, such as deep breathing and positive visualization. Staying composed is crucial when dealing with challenging questions.
Answer Every Question: The MCAT has no penalty for guessing, so it’s essential to answer every question, even if you’re unsure. Eliminate wrong answers and make educated guesses when needed.
Practice CARS Separately: CARS is a unique section that requires distinct preparation. Practice analyzing passages quickly, identifying main arguments, and making inferences—skills vital for success on CARS.
Simulate Test Conditions: Practice under test conditions, such as a quiet room, timed sections, and limited breaks. This will help you get accustomed to the test environment.
Use the Process of Elimination: Narrow down answer choices by eliminating obviously incorrect options. This increases your chances of selecting the correct answer when unsure.
MCAT Exam Scoring System
Understanding the MCAT scoring system is crucial for setting realistic goals and tracking your progress. The exam is scored as follows:
Scoring Range: Each of the four sections is scored between 118 and 132, with a midpoint of 125. The overall MCAT score ranges from 472 to 528, with a midpoint of 500.
Percentiles: AAMC releases percentile ranks for each score. This provides insight into how your score compares to others. For example, a score of 510 typically falls around the 80th percentile, indicating above-average performance.
Score Components: Medical schools often look at individual section scores in addition to the total score. Therefore, aim for balanced performance across all sections to strengthen your application.
Score Validity: MCAT scores are generally valid for three years. Some medical schools may have specific requirements, so check each school’s policies if you plan to apply years after taking the exam.
MCAT Registration and Administration
The MCAT is administered multiple times a year at testing centers worldwide. Here’s what you need to know about registration and administration:
Registration Process: Register for the MCAT on the AAMC website. Create an AAMC account and follow the steps to select a test date and location. Early registration is recommended as popular dates fill up quickly.
Exam Fees: The MCAT has a base registration fee, with additional costs for late registration or rescheduling. Financial aid options are available through the AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program (FAP), which can reduce the registration cost.
Identification Requirements: On test day, you’ll need a valid government-issued ID that matches the name on your AAMC account. Double-check the requirements to avoid issues.
Rescheduling and Cancellation: Changes to your registration are allowed up to the reschedule and cancellation deadlines. Be aware of associated fees, and plan accordingly to avoid last-minute changes.
Accommodations: If you have a documented disability, you may be eligible for testing accommodations through the AAMC. Apply early, as the approval process can take time.
MCAT Practice Test
Practice tests are an invaluable part of MCAT preparation, allowing you to assess your knowledge, stamina, and timing. Here’s how to make the most of practice exams:
Use Official AAMC Practice Tests: The AAMC provides official practice tests that mirror the format and difficulty of the real MCAT. Completing these tests gives you a realistic view of your progress.
Analyze Results: After each practice test, analyze your incorrect answers and review explanations. Focus on understanding the reasoning behind each question.
Simulate Real Test Conditions: Try to replicate the test environment by timing each section and taking breaks as you would on test day.
Track Your Progress: Keep a log of practice test scores to track improvement. Aim to gradually increase your score as you approach the test date.
Review High-Yield Questions: Review commonly tested questions to reinforce key concepts. This can help you recognize patterns in the types of questions that appear on the MCAT.
Conclusion
The MCAT is a demanding but manageable exam with proper preparation. By developing a study plan, practicing under test conditions, and reviewing your mistakes, you can build the confidence and skills needed to achieve a competitive score. Remember that preparation takes time and consistency—start early, track your progress, and stay focused on your goal.
Aspiring medical students who succeed on the MCAT have demonstrated their readiness for the academic challenges of medical school and a commitment to their future careers. With dedication, resilience, and effective study strategies, you can conquer the MCAT and take a significant step toward your dream of becoming a physician.
MCAT Questions and Answers
A student will be scored in all four sections. Each of the sections is scored from 118-132, with a midpoint of 125. These scores are then combined to create a total score. The total score ranges from 472 to 528. The midpoint is 500.
The MCAT is a computer-based standardized examination for prospective medical students in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. It is intended to test problem-solving skills, critical thinking, textual analysis, and scientific concepts and principles understanding.
The MCAT‘s overall “content time” is 6 hours and 15 minutes, excluding breaks and optional portions. The MCAT’s total “seated time” is 7 hours and 27 minutes, including breaks and optional portions. Unlike multi-day tests you could take later in medical school, the MCAT is completed in one day.
One of the most important aspects of studying for the MCAT is creating your MCAT study guide, but it may also be one of the most hardest. The AAMC advises that a pre-med student spend between 300 and 350 hours studying for the MCAT across several months. Although three months may seem like plenty of time to prepare, you’ll still need to devote many hours of study time each week to achieve a competitive MCAT score.
It is extremely recommended that you take the MCAT after you have completed all of the premedical education for which you will be evaluated! Because lab science subjects are required for nine semesters, most students will not finish their scientific coursework until Bio 346 in the fall of their junior year.
The MCAT is a challenging exam to pass. It is, in fact, maybe the most difficult graduate school entrance exam in the country. The good news is that, while challenging, it is possible.
The MCAT is a 7.5-hour exam that is necessary for entrance to medical schools in the United States. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior, and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills are the four sections of the MCAT (CARS).
The MCAT can be taken up to seven times in a lifetime. With consecutive-year attempt caps, these efforts can be broken up and spaced out by testing years.
The MCAT is an abbreviation for Medical College Admission Test. This entrance exam assesses a student’s readiness for medical school and is frequently necessary for acceptance. The four sections of the standardized, multiple-choice MCAT exam take more than six hours to complete. After their junior year of pre-medical education, aspiring medical students often take the MCAT. Throughout the year, the test is available at sites across the world via online registration.
According to the AAMC, “there is no curve associated with the MCAT exam. Instead, the MCAT exam is scaled and equated so that scores have the same meaning, no matter when you test.”
The MCAT is divided into four sections, each of which is equally weighted in the final result. The four sections are: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, Biological and Biochemical Biological Systems’ Chemical and Physical Foundations Skills in critical thinking and reasoning. Behavior’s Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations
As of September 2025, the MCAT registration price in the United States will be $325. International test takers pay $445 for their exams. If you qualify for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP), you must pay a $130 registration fee. You will be charged a fee if you cancel or reschedule your test.
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is widely regarded as one of the most challenging academic exams accessible. Despite the fact that there are only about 20,000 slots for new medical students in the United States each year, over 70,000 people take the MCAT every year. The MCAT has been in existence for more than 75 years.
According to the AAMC, the average pre-medical student should spend 300-350 hours studying for the MCAT over the course of several months. Even if you have three months to prepare, you’ll need to set out a significant amount of study time each week to achieve a competitive MCAT score.
Unlike most college science tests, the MCAT exclusively has multiple choice questions.
A 528 is the highest possible MCAT score.
It takes time and effort to prepare for the MCAT exam. It can be difficult to balance your preparation with an already hectic schedule. No matter where you are in the preparation process, the AAMC has tools and practice materials to assist you.
According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, the average overall MCAT score for matriculants entering U.S. The average score for MD programs is 508.7, which is more than eight points higher than what the AAMC considers acceptable for admission.
Bring a government-issued photo ID that shows your first and last names. If you don’t bring it, you might not be able to take the test.
Your results are only good for two to three years. The Association of American Medical Colleges does not expire MCAT scores (AAMC). Even yet, schools will not accept MCAT results older than three years.
The MCAT takes over 6 hours to complete. Allowing for breaks, check-in, and arriving early at the exam center, expect your test day to last at least 8 hours.
In each of the science parts, there are 10 paragraphs with 4 to 7 questions each and 15 stand-alone questions, as well as 9 passages in the CARS portion.
By 5:00 p.m., the results are available. on the appointed date at ET
You began studying for the MCAT on the first day of your premedical coursework. Some students want to start actively preparing at this time by revisiting course material during the course of the semester, summer, and winter holidays.
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is scored on a scale of 118 (lowest) to 132 (highest) (highest). As a result, an MCAT total score can range from 472 to 528.
The MCAT is offered in January and March through September, with the majority of students taking it in January. between the months of May and August This implies there will be no MCAT in October. It’s either November or December.
The MCAT does not allow you to use a calculator, you should practice conducting arithmetic calculations by hand.
In general, studying for the MCAT will take between 3-6 months.
MCAT physics, like MCAT organic chemistry, does not appear as frequently on the exam as biochemistry. Physics will make up about 20-30% of your MCAT Chem/Phys part, which is one of four.
Physics will make up about 20-30% of your MCAT Chem/Phys part, which is one of four.
A good MCAT score is one that is over 510 and has no section scores below 127. A “good” MCAT score, on the other hand, varies from application to candidate.
This implies that most students take the MCAT in their sophomore or junior year of college. It’s vital to keep in mind that schools rarely accept scores older than two or three years (depending on the school). A good rule of thumb is to take the MCAT a year before applying.
If you need to reschedule your MCAT, you must make certain that:
- Your preferred MCAT test date is now available for scheduling.
- Seats are still available. The MCAT Registration System can tell you what’s available right now.
- By the Silver Zone Deadline of the exam you are currently scheduled to take, your adjustments are complete.
- Before the Bronze Zone Deadline of your new targeted test date, you make your modifications.
Every year, 34,000 people take the MCAT and receive a score of less than 25.
Click the “Sign In” button in the top right corner of the AAMC website to see your MCAT results. Then log in with the information you provided during MCAT registration. To acquire your entire score report, click “Get Your Test Scores.”
The answer is contingent on a number of factors, including your preferred medical school (MD, DO, or Canadian), as well as your individual section results. A “good MCAT score” will be determined by the strength of your other application components, as well as the schools to which you plan to apply.
A low MCAT score for medical school is anything less than 507 points. While getting into a medical school with a 507 or lower is probably possible (and there have been cases of students accepted with sub-500 scores)
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized examination that has been a significant part of the medical school admissions process for 90 years. The test is designed to provide medical school admissions officers with credible data about the preparedness of the candidates to manage and handle the rigidity of medical school. Other than students who possess a strong based knowledge of concepts in the social, natural, and behavioral sciences, medical admissions officers also look for applicants who have strong scientific problem-solving and critical analysis skills.
According to the AAMC, “you are qualified to take the MCAT exam if you plan to apply to a health professions school.” The MCAT can be taken by any student interested in allopathic, osteopathic, podiatric, or veterinary medicine. This category includes all pre-medical students.
Yes, all of your scores will be seen by medical schools.
MCAT scores are not scored on a curve, but instead equal and scaled. Because each test has a different set of questions, the raw results are converted into a scale that takes question difficulty into account. Percentile ranks, confidence bands, and score profiles are all included in each score report.
The MCAT is divided into four components. Each component of the test takes about 95 minutes to complete and should be approached with caution.
A 508 is a good result. This score places you in the 74th percentile for the 2019 and 2020 academic year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
The average MCAT score of successful matriculants, a good MCAT score is approximately 511 or above.
Genetics is covered in the general biology component of the MCAT. The molecular structure and function of genes, as well as gene behavior in the context of a cell or organism, are important topics to learn.
No, it is not. While the MCAT exam does not have calculus, you may still encounter it when you the prerequisite courses for admissions to medical school.
On a scale of 118 to 132, each MCAT part is graded (highest). The overall score on the MCAT (which is the sum of your section scores) ranges from 472 to 528.
There are no minimum MCAT scores or grade point average requirements at Harvard Medical School.
In 2025, the MCAT exam will be offered at hundreds of test sites around the United States, Canada, and the world at various periods between January and September. Updates on the MCAT testing program’s response to the pandemic can be found on our MCAT COVID-19 website.
Yes, The format of Kaplan’s MCAT practice test is nearly identical to that of the real exam. Using Kaplan’s exam features to prepare for the exam does an excellent job of getting you in the test-taker mindset, which can only help you on test day. Kaplan does a good job of breaking out key test-taking tactics in general.
A combined BS/MD or BA/MD program is one of the most prevalent options for medical students to get into medical school without taking the MCAT. Future medical students often get their Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree from a traditional four-year university.
It requires tremendous focus and devotion to study for the MCAT in one month, but it is not impossible. This is due to the fact that planning and consistency are just as crucial as the overall number of hours spent studying. You will review the MCAT at a rate of roughly 30-40 hours each week in our 1-month MCAT study plan.
If you decide to take the MCAT after graduation in the summer, you will submit your application in June after graduation, leaving two years between college and medical school. Students can spread their premedical coursework over four years with this option.
The MCAT test is a required for entrance to medical schools in the United States, as well as a prerequisite for passing the medical college admissions test and becoming a psychiatrist.
Medical schools commonly accept scores from the previous two or three years.
The fact regarding MCAT scoring is that, depending on the exam difficulty, missing six questions may result in a 131 or a 125.
On the MCAT in 2025, you’ll have 6 hours and 15 minutes to answer 230 questions.
Take your MCAT books with you and study at work if you have a job with a lot of downtime. Develop a schedule, find a technique to hold yourself accountable, and don’t squander time, just like a full-time student.
It varies by medical school. However, MCAT is the simple answer. Some medical schools believe that your GPA, which assesses your work ethic and drive, is a stronger sign of future success.
However, some terms contained in Next Step can only be found in Next Step, so no matter how much you study, you will still come across terms you are unfamiliar with. This portion is not more difficult than AAMC; in fact, some may argue that it is easier.
The MCAT is unlikely to be the most difficult test you will take in medical school.
Although the USMLE is more difficult, I don’t believe the test has the dynamic of purposefully seeking to weed out test takers. Agreed. The MCAT is extremely difficult because it needs a great deal of mental flexibility because you are continuously dealing with information you have never seen before.
Between January and September, the MCAT is given about 25 times per year. Scores are normally provided a month or a little more after each exam date.
With a 503, it is possible to enter US MD. With a score of less than 500, you can also get into US MD. It is based upon your application and the schools to which you are applying.
According to the eligibility requirements of the MCAT, any applicant who’s interested in pursuing a career in Osteopathic, Allopathic, Podiatric, and Veterinary are eligible to take the MCAT test.
According to the official AAMC MCAT basics handbook, “Information from voided exams is not included on any score reports provided to medical schools; however, following the planned score release date, an indication of a voided exam will be presented in the MCAT Score Reporting System for you to observe.”
Chiropractic students do not take the MCATs before applying to chiropractic school, unlike medical students.
When approaching questions, use the elimination process. You don’t have to figure out the correct answer if you can come up with three incorrect options! Recognize when it’s appropriate to skip questions. Because every question on the MCAT is worth the same amount of points, you should finish all of the easier questions first before moving on to the more difficult ones.