How hard is the MCAT actually?

Well, there's no reason to sugar coat it – the MCAT is an extremely difficult exam. In fact, it is perhaps the toughest graduate school entrance exam in the US. However, the good news is that while difficult, it is manageable. The average score for students admitted to medical school is 510 to 511.

How hard is it to pass the MCAT?

The MCAT test is infamously one of the most difficult standardized exams and may be one of the most important. But although it is difficult, it is manageable. The average result for students accepted into medical school typically falls within the range of 510 to 511.

How hard is it to get a 500 on the MCAT?

A 500 MCAT score is on average. Although the average now is a little bit higher, 500 is typically good enough. Don't worry about your stats. You can apply, in the context of having diversity as well for medical schools.

Is the real MCAT harder than the practice tests?

There is a lot of debate on this topic and it largely depends on who you ask. Some students find the AAMC practice exams to be more difficult than the actual MCAT, while others find them to be a good predictor of what they will see on the test day.

Is MCAT harder than medical school?

MCAT is just one test, for which most students prepare for less than 50 good hours over several weeks. Plus you'l take at least two bigger tests during med school. Pretty much any way you slice it, med school is harder than MCAT.

Is Harvard Hard? From Experience

What is the hardest subject in MCAT?

The two sections that students typically have the most difficulty with on the exam is either Chem/Phys or CARS. This, of course, depends on the student.

Is the MCAT a lot of math?

The MCAT is primarily a conceptual exam, with little actual mathematical computation. Any math that is on the MCAT is fundamental: just arithmetic, algebra, and trigonometry. There is absolutely no calculus on the MCAT.

Has anyone gotten a perfect 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.

How rare is a perfect MCAT?

According to the AAMC, out of the approximately two hundred thousand students who take the exam each year, between 30 and 70 achieve the highest score of 528 on the MCAT.

Does anyone think the MCAT is easy?

While the exam is challenging, the short answer to that question is “no.” Each and every year, plenty of our students do well on the MCAT, making them even stronger candidates for medical school.

Does taking the MCAT 3 times look bad?

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.

Has anyone got a 528 on MCAT?

A 528 on the MCAT is incredibly rare. It is in fact so rare that probably less than 3 or 4 people in the US score that high each year. (This is not the ACT where multiple people ace it each month).

How rare is a 528 MCAT?

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.

Is MCAT or LSAT harder?

If you're an experienced test-taker used to memorizing complex facts and information ahead of time, the MCAT may be a bit easier for you. Meanwhile, the LSAT could be the simpler option for proficient readers and writers with logical, analytical minds.

What is the easiest subject on the MCAT?

MCAT CARS is often considered the easiest section of the MCAT since it does not test specific knowledge in any particular subject. However, this does not mean that MCAT CARS does not require preparation.

Is the MCAT a lot of memorization?

The sheer volume of rules, equations, and concepts that we need to memorize for the MCAT still blows our minds. Not only do you have to memorize it all, but also apply it all to unfamiliar situations. Which means drilling it all into your mind and knowing everything like the back of your hand come exam day.

Is the MCAT ever curved?

One of the most important things to note about the scoring process is that the MCAT exam is NOT graded on a curve. Instead, the MCAT exam is scaled and equated so that scores have the same meaning no matter when you take your exam.

Does a 528 MCAT guarantee admission?

And we'll tell you now, no med-school has a 528 MCAT score requirement. Not even the best Ivy leagues. Your only reason to really NEED to score above 520 might be because your application/GPA is lacking significantly. For most med-schools, you just need to be above average.

What's the highest MCAT score ever recorded?

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.

How many questions can you miss on the MCAT to get a 528?

Another advantage of the scaled score is that you don't need to get every single question correct to score a 528. Some estimates suggest you could get up to eight questions wrong and still score a 528. The MCAT does not penalize you for wrong or unanswered questions, rather you gain points for every correct question.

Is Khan Academy enough for MCAT?

Although this Khan Academy material is sufficient as a stand-alone MCAT preparation, it should still be combined with lots of additional practice. Additionally, do not expect Khan Academy to provide the knowledge required to bring you entirely up to speed if you are bridging any knowledge gaps for the MCAT.

Do med schools see every MCAT?

While medical schools will see all your MCAT scores, admissions committees will use multiple scores in different ways, including: Considering your highest score only. Considering the average of every score.

Does it look bad to take the MCAT multiple times?

Taking the MCAT more than once will not necessarily hurt your application – unless you receive a lower score on the later exam than your previous exam(s). One of my favorite medical students, David, had taken the MCAT six times and completed three or four different postbac programs before he got into medical school.

Do med schools look at your highest MCAT?

There is no rule that they have to follow. It's not like there is an AAMC mandate of what to do with multiple MCAT scores. So, they're just going to see all of them and take the most recent or the highest. If they're looking for a reason to reject you, they take the lowest.