How far in advance should you take the MCAT?

The MCAT exam is offered in January & March through September, and there are thirty MCAT test dates to choose from. Aim to take the MCAT as early in the year as possible, preferably no later than mid-May before AMCAS application submissions begin in early June.

How early should I start preparing for MCAT?

Believe it or not, most students who do well on the MCAT spend between 200 and 300 hours preparing for the exam. When you start your prep will be determined by your test date and by what other work and academic commitments you have—usually 3 to 6 months before your exam.

How many months in advance should I register for the MCAT?

It's usually mid-October where MCAT registration opens up for the beginning half of the next year. This means MCAT dates from January through June.

When should I take my MCAT before applying to medical school?

You should plan to take the MCAT for the final time between January and April of your application year. For instance, if you'd like to enroll in medical school in August 2025, you'll want to take your MCAT during the first four months of 2024—that is, no later than April 2024.

Do you take the MCAT junior or senior year?

The MCAT is something that requires planning and should not be taken on a whim. The ideal time to take the MCAT is the spring of your junior year of college, if you plan to attend medical school immediately following graduation.

When should you take the MCAT? | Medical School Application Guide

What time of year is it easiest to take the MCAT?

There's no magical time period where the MCAT is easier. It's a challenging exam no matter the month you choose. Some feel prepared to take the MCAT after their sophomore year, while others decide to wait until their senior year of undergrad.

What year of undergrad should I take the MCAT?

The earliest that students opt to take the MCAT is during the latter part of their sophomore year or the summer between sophomore and junior year. At this point, most students have completed their medical school prerequisite courses and are prepared to take the exam.

What is the average MCAT acceptance for med school?

Average MCAT Score (2022-2023)

In 2021, the average MCAT for students accepted to allopathic medical schools in the United States in 2021-2022 was 511.9 For reference purposes, know that the highest possible MCAT score is a 528 with with a 132 on each of the four sections.

Do you just need to pass the MCAT to get into medical school?

While some medical schools and medical school programs do not require the MCAT, it is highly recommended that you take the test. Taking the MCAT opens up your options to many medical schools and can overall prepare you for the courses you'll have to take in your MD.

Can I go to med school without MCAT?

Yes, it is possible to get into certain medical schools without taking the MCAT. Though, you must keep in mind that the vast majority of schools require you to take the MCAT. As a result, your options become more limited should you choose to skip the exam.

How hard is the MCAT exam?

The short answer: it's quite challenging. The MCAT offers a comprehensive assessment of a wide range of subjects, including biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology, coupled with its emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

Can I take the MCAT 2 years before applying?

Most schools will accept a score taken within three years of expected matriculation. If you are applying for 2025 matriculation, your MCAT can be as old as 2022.

Can you take the MCAT too early?

You can take the MCAT as early as you want, but most medical schools want a score from within the last 3 years. Ambitious test takers can take the MCAT after their sophomore year, but it's often better to wait.

Should I take a full length MCAT before I start studying?

We've hammered this point home a few times now, but it's worth repeating one last time in closing: you absolutely must take a full length MCAT diagnostic test before starting your exam preparation. And not just any practice exam!

How many times can you take the MCAT before it looks bad?

First, assess your situation to determine if you actually need a higher score. Next, consider the energy you have and whether or not you have sufficient time to dedicate to studying all over again. Lastly, consider how many times you've already taken the MCAT. We recommend not taking the test more than three times.

Is freshman year too early to study for MCAT?

The absolute earliest you should take the MCAT is in the summer of your sophomore year. If that sounds like something you want to do, we'd recommend you start studying in the spring. However, remember that your MCAT scores are valid at most institutions for three years after you take the test.

Should I retake a 515 MCAT?

While going from 515 to 517 looks good, going from 498 to 501 looks great. So statistically speaking, unless you're already in the very highest tier of test takers, chances are that retaking the MCAT will result in a better score and will ultimately benefit your application.

Is GPA or MCAT more important?

While MCAT scores are important, admissions committees also consider other factors, such as GPA, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and interviews, when evaluating applicants.

DO med-schools care if you take the MCAT more than once?

That's not the message you want to send to medical schools that you keep making mistakes over and over again. Again, medical schools don't care if you have multiple MCAT tests on your application.

DO medical schools care how many times you take the MCAT?

Medical schools are unlikely to care about up to 3 attempts if your score improves with each test. But decreasing or consistently low scores may indicate that you don't have an appropriate grasp of the necessary materials to successfully complete medical school.

Has anyone gotten a 528 on the MCAT?

Since this method is not perfect, we'll leave you with a range; between 30 and 70 students every year achieve a perfect 528 MCAT. This is out of the nearly three hundred thousand students who take the exam. Thus, achieving a perfect MCAT score is quite difficult, but it is not impossible.

What is a realistic MCAT score?

In general, a good MCAT score is 511 and above.

MCAT and GPA requirements vary depending on the school you are applying to. So do not worry too much if your score is lower than this. However, if you want to get accepted into a top medical school, you will probably need to aim for a score significantly higher than this.

What undergrad major is best for MCAT?

It turns out that students in humanities, math and statistics, and physical sciences—the groups with the highest admissions rates—tend to achieve the highest total MCAT scores.

How many times do most students take the MCAT?

Although you can take the MCAT up to seven times in your lifetime, that number certainly doesn't reflect how many times you should be taking the MCAT. Taking the MCAT twice is fine; even three times shouldn't impact your admissions too much. However, any more tries can begin to damage your application.

What undergraduate degrees are best for MCAT?

MCAT Scores by Undergrad Major

Interestingly, students who pursue math and statistics, humanities, and physical sciences as pre-med majors tend to achieve higher scores on the MCAT than those who take other majors. While there are exceptions, these three majors are definitely good majors for pre-med students.