What score should you retake the MCAT?

Ultimately, deciding whether or not to retake the MCAT depends on your goals. For example, if you are aiming to get in to a medical school with an average matriculant MCAT score of 518 and you earned a 512, you will have to retake the MCAT to have a realistic shot at that medical school.

At what score should you retake the MCAT?

Some medical schools expect students to achieve minimum section scores. While it's difficult to know each school's thresholds, it may be worth taking the MCAT exam again if one of your section scores (most commonly CARS) is 5 or more points below all others.

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 a 517 MCAT?

Should I Retake The MCAT If My Score Is 517? Generally, we recommend retaking the MCAT if the MCAT score is not balanced among the four sections of the MCAT. For example, if you scored 126/131/130/130, the 126 sticks out and can be a red flag to med-schools.

Should I retake the MCAT if I got a 515?

Should I Retake The MCAT If My Score Is 515? Generally, we recommend retaking the MCAT if the MCAT score is not balanced among the four sections of the MCAT or your target med-school has a higher cut-off. For example, if you scored 126/130/130/129, the 126 sticks out and can be a red flag to med-schools.

Should You Retake the MCAT? | 3 Questions to Ask Yourself

How bad does an MCAT retake look?

So, if you retest, make sure you are improving. Even getting the same score a second time looks bad on an application because it may indicate that you aren't learning from your mistakes, are unsure of yourself, and don't have forward momentum. A lower score or the same score isn't good; improvement is the only option.

Does it look bad to retake MCAT 3 times?

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.

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).

Should I retake the MCAT if I scored 512?

You should retake a 512 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.

Can I get into med-school with a 517?

The answer is a resounding YES! 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.

Should I retake the MCAT if I got a 126 on cars?

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).

Should I retake MCAT if I got a 508?

Seeing how a 508 on the MCAT is very close to the average MCAT score, it will be in your best interest to improve your score, as most medical schools seek students with above-average credentials.

Can med schools see if you retook the MCAT?

Medical schools will receive and view all of your MCAT scores, and in the case of your retake scores being lower than your initial scores, the admissions committee may view this as a negative factor—raising questions about your preparedness for med school.

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.

Should I retake the MCAT if I got a 500?

Unfortunately, the test is designed to have average MCAT score of about 500, which means at least half the test takers get 500 or below, a score too low to meet most medical school standards. This means that a large percentage of people will probably need to retake the test if they want to go to medical school.

Should I retake a 505 MCAT?

Should I Retake The MCAT If My Score Is 505? 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 505.

Does a bad first MCAT score matter?

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 510 MCAT too low?

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.

Can I get into med-school with a 512 MCAT?

Nonetheless, a 512 MCAT score is above the average score for accepted applicants at many medical schools. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the average MCAT score for U.S. medical school matriculants in 2020-2021 was 511.5. Thus, boasting a 512 score puts you in a competitive position.

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.

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. Recent data suggests that the average score hovers around 506.5.

How rare is a 525 MCAT?

The answer depends on several factors including what type of medical school (MD vs DO vs Canadian) you're interested in, and most importantly, your individual section scores. Attaining a score of 525 on the MCAT means you performed in the 100% percentile.

Should I retake a 511 MCAT?

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.

Should I retake 513 MCAT?

You should retake a 513 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.