Is it frowned upon to take the MCAT twice?

If you're able to show an appreciable score jump from one test to the next, the majority of medical schools won't see having retaken the MCAT as an issue. (Note: This answer also applies to the question, “Do medical schools care if you take the MCAT twice?”)

Does it look bad to take MCAT twice?

Retaking the MCAT multiple times isn't necessarily bad as long as your score improves each time. If your score worsens with each attempt or stays the same, it won't strengthen your med school application.

Does it hurt to retake MCAT?

Your application will not necessarily get compromised by taking the MCAT more than once unless you receive a lower score on the second exam than on your previous exams. Though this certainly isn't a situation anyone necessarily wants to be in. Almost 20% of students retake the MCAT exam.

Do med 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 taken MCAT 7 times?

As someone who took the MCAT seven times, whose medical school application was rejected 129 times before finally earning an acceptance, I know firsthand how hard the road is to becoming a doctor. But through the difficult and frustrating times, I ask candidates to have faith in themselves.

You Got a Bad MCAT, Now What?

How rare is a 528 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.

How common is it to take the MCAT twice?

In fact, over a quarter of medical school applicants have taken the MCAT more than once. But do not make this decision lightly. Retaking the MCAT is a draining process that will take place when premeds have very little time to spare.

Should I retake a 507 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 507.

Is 515 a good 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.

Is 510 a good MCAT score?

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

So do not worry too much if your score is lower than this.

Is retaking the MCAT a red flag?

Taking the MCAT more than once isn't necessarily a red flag for admissions committees. Many applicants opt for at least one retake to improve their scores. However, the impact of retakes on your application can vary between institutions.

Should I retake MCAT if I got a 508?

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.

What is a bad MCAT score?

So, technically speaking, a bad MCAT score would be anything below 500. However, in order to be a competitive applicant, you should aim to score much higher than 500. A good MCAT score largely depends on the schools you are applying to.

What is the average MCAT score on the first attempt?

Average MCAT Scores

MCAT scores range from 472-528. Between 2016-2017 and 2023-2024, the average MCAT score jumped over 1.5 points, from 499.6 to 501.3. The average appears to be increasing overall, with 2022-2023 holding the record-high score of 501.6.

What percentage of students retake the MCAT?

On average, 38 percent of all MCAT test takers retake the MCAT. It should be noted that there is no shame in retaking the MCAT. There are thousands of doctors who took the MCAT two and even three times.

Do medical schools see all your MCAT attempts?

Bryan adds that when it comes to the MCAT, all of your scores are reported to the med schools. This means every single time you've taken the MCAT except if you void your score.

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 517 MCAT too low?

A 517 MCAT score is not just good; it's outstanding. Scoring a 517 puts you in the top 10% of all test-takers, and it can significantly boost your chances of getting accepted into your dream medical school.

Can I get into med-school with a 3.5 GPA?

Though a 3.5 GPA is not particularly competitive for medical school, you still have a chance at getting into a good medical school, given that you pay keen attention to the rest of your med school application.

Can a high GPA offset a low MCAT?

What can outweigh a low MCAT? The most traditional strategy for offsetting a low MCAT is having a very high GPA. These two application elements are often considered in relation to each other. So, having a high GPA can truly save a lower MCAT score!

What's the lowest MCAT score accepted?

Medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada that necessitate the MCAT typically accept scores ranging from 490-495 at the minimum. Scores below 490 are rarely if ever, accepted. Interestingly, a vast majority of individuals score above this range. Recent data suggests that the average score hovers around 506.5.

Do med-schools look down on retaking MCAT?

If you're able to show an appreciable score jump from one test to the next, the majority of medical schools won't see having retaken the MCAT as an issue.

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.

What is the average MCAT score for Harvard medical school?

The top schools will have high average MCAT scores: for example, Harvard and Stanford have average scores of 520 and 518, respectively. A high MCAT score certainly does not guarantee an acceptance letter at the most competitive medical schools.

How many times do most people take the MCAT?

If you retake the MCAT many times, admissions committee members start to wonder how many times you will have to take the USMLE exams. Your goal with the MCAT then is to take it as few times as possible. Three times is considered reasonable by most medical school admissions committees.