Is it normal to feel bad after taking the MCAT?

It's a risky five minutes, as you won't be in a very good headspace to make this decision. We can tell you from experience that everyone feels terrible after taking the MCAT. It's a long, grueling process with a fairly large impact on your future medical education and career path. You may have missed questions.

What to do if you did bad on the MCAT?

[10:55] Option #2: Retake the MCAT

If you're going to get the same score again, there's no point in retaking the MCAT. If you're scoring higher in your practice test and then you took the real MCAT and got lower, then something went wrong on test day. Go and retake the test as soon as possible.

Is it normal to not feel ready for the MCAT?

First, you need to start with pushing aside all the fraught emotions that come with the question of whether you are ready to take the MCAT. The premed student will typically think, “I don't feel ready.” But honestly, you will never feel ready to take the MCAT.

Does retaking the MCAT look bad?

Does retaking the MCAT look bad? Like reapplying to medical school, retaking the MCAT does not inherently look bad. That said, you should strive to take the MCAT as few times as possible.

Is it OK to fail the MCAT?

Retaking the MCAT isn't a red flag, and even three attempts may not impact your admissions decision, although we recommend performing your best on the first two tests.

You Got a Bad MCAT, Now What?

What is a bad first 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.

Why did I do so bad on the MCAT?

This is often due to lack of time, dislike for a certain subject, or assumed mastery of a particular content area. I typically recommend that whatever resource a student chooses for the MCAT, they go through all sections of it, no matter how comfortable they feel with the material.

Is 515 a good MCAT score?

An MCAT of 512 or above makes you a competitive applicant for both allopathic and osteopathic medical schools assuming other aspects of your candidacy are also strong. 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.

Is 512 a good score on the MCAT?

If you scored a 512 on the MCAT, this means you performed in the 85th percentile according to most recent AAMC statistics, and you now have a competitive score for med-school admission.

Is 510 a good MCAT score?

Considering that a 510 is quite close to the average MCAT score of a 501, it's not very competitive for med-school admission. With a 510, 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.

Does anyone feel good after the MCAT?

We can tell you from experience that everyone feels terrible after taking the MCAT. It's a long, grueling process with a fairly large impact on your future medical education and career path. You may have missed questions. You may, and likely will, think you could have done better.

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 just memorization?

If acing the MCAT is your goal, you're well aware of the importance of memory. Beyond memorizing facts, the exam demands a deep understanding of complex concepts and the ability to recall and apply that knowledge under pressure.

Is 491 a bad MCAT score?

If you scored a 491 on the MCAT, this means you performed in the 20 percentile according to most recent AAMC statistics, and are 20 points away from a competitive 511.

Does a bad first MCAT affect chances?

No matter what, admissions committees will see all of your MCAT scores. While taking the test twice is unlikely to impact your admissions decision, if you end up taking the MCAT three or more times could make them question if you're prepared for the challenges of medical school.

Is a 499 MCAT score bad?

Is 499 a bad MCAT score? in, and most importantly, your individual section scores. Attaining a score of 499 on the MCAT means you performed in the 49% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

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 is 80% correct on MCAT?

Note: A score of 80% correct for each of the 4 exam subsections translates to an MCAT scaled score of 127, which further underlines the fact that the relationship between percent correct and scaled scores is not straightforward and the changes are not consistent across exam sections (there is a correlation, but they ...

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.

What is a realistic 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. 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'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.

Is the MCAT stressful?

If you're feeling anxious about taking the MCAT exam, don't worry - you're not alone. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a challenging and rigorous exam that can be a source of anxiety for many students.

How do I stop worrying about my MCAT score?

If you want to do well on the MCAT, stop thinking about it and start practicing. The practice you endure will give you the confidence to take the exam. The more you practice, the less you will stress and the better you will score.

Why is the MCAT so stressful?

More than any other test, the MCAT challenges students not just through the material but also through the intensive self-questioning that follows. For many students, this test is integral to their self-worth.