Is the real MCAT harder than the practice tests?

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. There are a few things to keep in mind when considering this question.

Do people score higher on real MCAT than practice?

From user-submitted scores of both their Kaplan MCAT practice tests and official MCAT exams, the general trend is that Kaplan practice exams are generally scored ~10 points below what you can expect to receive on an official MCAT, were you to take one.

Are Kaplan practice tests harder than the real MCAT?

Test takers often report a discrepancy between the types of questions asked on the Kaplan practice tests vs. the real thing. Kaplan practice tests tend to focus more on content knowledge and minutiae, while MCAT has a stronger focus on assessing how you think, not just what you know.

Is the MCAT actually that hard?

Some will find it very tough while others might be able to breeze through it. Depending on one's skills, knowledge, and level of preparation, the MCAT can prove to be very hard or manageable. Only a few will dare say that it's easy, however.

What is the difference between the MCAT sample test and the practice exam?

The Free Sample Test is unscored, and the Free Practice Exam provides a scaled score and percentile rank. Access by logging in the MCAT Official Prep Hub at aamc.org/mcatprep. The four low-cost full-length practice exams are available for purchase below.

My MCAT Score Reaction: Not What You'd Expect

Do people do better on the real MCAT?

Many test takers found that the Critical Analysis and Reasoning section (CARS) was very different compared to what they saw on the MCAT. This might even be one of the most difficult tests, with many people reporting their scores on TPR practice tests were 10 to 15 points lower than their score on the real thing.

What is the most heavily tested subject on the MCAT?

While other subjects like chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology also hold importance on the MCAT, the biological and biochemical sciences remain consistently prominent and heavily tested.

Is getting a 500 on the MCAT 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.

Do most people fail the MCAT?

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.

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.

How many practice exams is enough MCAT?

A good number of practice tests for a well-prepared MCAT student to take would be five or six.

What is the most difficult 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.

How many practice Mcats should I take?

Some students do well after taking a diagnostic test and spending a few days studying individual questions and topics before taking another mock exam, while others may find success from taking practice tests over and over again. Most experts suggest you take a minimum of three MCAT practice tests before the exam.

How many questions can you miss on the MCAT to get a 128?

There are 9 passages on each MCAT CARS exam. If you miss one question for 6 passages and then 2 on the other three, you are looking at a solid 127 or possibly even a 128. I think that's really do-able, especially on the new MCAT CARS section. As you miss more than 13, you gradually go towards the other scores.

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.

Is the actual MCAT 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.

Has anyone ever gotten 100% 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 90% on the MCAT good?

To get an excellent MCAT score means to score in the overall 90th percentile or higher, which currently means a score of 515 or greater. With an MCAT score of 515 or above, you have a significantly better chance of getting accepted. Anything above the score of 517 is considered outstanding.

What is the lowest MCAT score accepted into medical school?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Is the MCAT the hardest exam in the world?

Is the MCAT the Hardest Test? Unfortunately, the MCAT is likely not the hardest test that you will complete in medical school. If anything, it's the first of many difficult exams. The USMLE exams are a series of three exams that you will need to pass during your medical studies.