Is CARS the hardest section on MCAT?

The MCAT is a hard test, but for many premeds, the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Section (CARS) can be the most mysterious and difficult section of the exam to prepare for.

Is CARS the hardest part of MCAT?

The CARS section is difficult for a lot of students because it doesn't test your knowledge of science content. Instead, you have to be able to read and understand passages on social studies and humanities topics to answer the associated questions. Learn more about how the MCAT is scored.

What is the hardest portion of the MCAT?

It's the CARS section because It's too subjective and they barely give you time to read.

Which section is easiest on 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 a 128 on CARS good?

What's a Good CARS Score? The score range of CARS is 118-132 (curved scale). A good CARS score will vary from school to school, but generally, a score of 128 will put you in the 90th percentile.

A 130 CARS Scorer's Tip To Get MORE Right Answers!

Why is 472 the lowest MCAT score?

Because MCAT is a centered test which means that a 500 score is the mean on a bell shaped curve. At 472 on this scale, the percentile is less than 1 so it makes no sense to go further.

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.

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.

Is a 500 MCAT score hard?

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 517 a competitive MCAT score?

An MCAT of 515, which will place you in the 90th percentile of all test takers, or above will make you a much more competitive applicant. A score over 517, the 94th percentile, should nearly guarantee admission.

What is top 90% MCAT?

The average MCAT total score is 502 with a standard deviation of 10.8, while the 90th percentile score is 515. As of 2023, there are 44,565 men and 51,890 women in medical school according to the AAMC.

What score is 100% on MCAT?

They act as placeholders, however, and can be useful in better understanding the score range. Scores of 524-528 are in the 100th percentile, meaning no one has achieved them.

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.

What is the average CARS score?

The average MCAT score for the critical analysis and reasoning skills (CARS) section is the only average section score to have gone down in the past eight years, going from 124.9 in 2015 to 124.7 in 2023-2024.

What is a good CARS score?

MCAT CARS Scoring and Competitive Edge

You need a 125 or higher to be competitive for a majority of MD schools (assuming your other section scores are all 127 or higher). You need a 127 or higher to be competitive for most medical schools in Canada (regardless of other section scores).

Is it OK to fail the MCAT?

First there is no passing score for the MCAT it's just one of many things medical schools look at for acceptance but obviously getting a higher score is better and schools like Harvard will want a high score even for someone who did other amazing things.

Should I retake a 508 MCAT?

If you want to maximize your chances of achieving medical school acceptance, and if your overall application is not strong, we recommend you retake the MCAT if your score is 508.

Should I retake a 514 MCAT?

You should retake a 514 MCAT score if your score is not balanced among the 4 sections, or if your target med-school(s) require a higher score for you to be competitive. Also if your overall application is not strong and your GPA is low, you may want to consider retaking the MCAT.

Is 493 a bad MCAT score?

Attaining a score of 493 on the MCAT means you performed in the 29% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

How common is a 515 MCAT?

Attaining a score of 515 on the MCAT means you performed in the 94% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 128 (C/P) 129 (CARS) 129 (B/B) 129 (P/S).

Is a 480 bad on the MCAT?

Attaining a score of 480 on the MCAT means you performed in the 3% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 118 (C/P) 124 (CARS) 120 (B/B) 118 (P/S).

Is 505 a bad MCAT score?

Considering that a 505 is quite close to the average MCAT score of a 501, it's not very competitive for med-school admission. With a 505, you might make some med-school score cutoffs, but the rest of your application needs to be very competitive to make you a viable candidate for most med-schools.

Can high GPA make up for lower MCAT?

The bottom line is this – if you have a low MCAT, you must do your best to balance it with a high GPA. While these stats are not the be-all and end-all of medical school admissions, some schools will not continue the review of your application if you do not demonstrate a strong academic history via your GPA and MCAT.

Does a bad first MCAT affect chances?

If you retake the MCAT only once, even twice, and improve your score each time, it won't impact your chances of admission. However, retaking the MCAT excessively or scoring lower each time you take it may negatively impact your application.

Does a bad first MCAT score matter?

So, naturally, a high score on your first attempt is ideal. However, it doesn't always work out that way. While it's true that you can take the MCAT three times in the same year and seven times in a lifetime, medical schools can see how you scored on each attempt.