What to do if you can't pass MCAT?

Before planning for a retake, you should stop and consider the MCAT score you received in context of your ultimate goals. Since technically you can't “fail” the MCAT, you have to figure out if the score you received necessitates a retake.

What happens if I don't pass the MCAT?

irst, the good news: You can't actually fail the MCAT. You might have received a very low score, but the MCAT score report does not include a “pass/fail” designation. Still, one of the most helpless feelings a student applying to medical school can experience is bombing the MCAT—there's no doubt about that.

What to do if your MCAT score is low?

There are few medical schools who accept students with an MCAT of lower than 490. If your MCAT score is dangerously low, you may be better off retaking the test or applying to no-MCAT medical schools. To know if your MCAT score is good enough for your target medical schools, take our MCAT pop quiz!

Can you retake the MCAT if you fail?

RETAKE POLICIES

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) provides examinees with the opportunity to take the exam more than once, subject to policies for within-year and lifetime limits. MCAT examinees can test up to three times in one calendar year and four times across two calendar years.

How often do people fail the MCAT?

No one “fails” the MCAT. The MCAT score is an important part of a medical school application but there is no passing score. About 70,000 new MCAT-takers take the test every year. Roughly 20,000 get into medical school (MD or DO).

Your Problem with MCAT Studying (& How to Fix It)

Does taking the MCAT 3 times look bad?

The more attempts you have on your application, the worse it will look to admissions committees, especially if you are not making significant progress in increasing your score. Failing to achieve an adequate MCAT score after three attempts calls into question a potential applicant's test-taking abilities.

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 494 a bad MCAT score?

Attaining a score of 494 on the MCAT means you performed in the 32% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

Do a lot of people retake the MCAT?

According to the most recent AAMC data, 39 percent of people who took the MCAT between 2020 and 2022 were retesters. On the whole, retaking the exam tended to produce better scores for this group compared to their initial results.

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.

What is a bad first MCAT score?

A poor MCAT score is any score that doesn't get you into a medical school, but statistically this would be a score below the overall mean or average, so a score of 505 or less. A poor MCAT score could also be considered anything below the 50th percentile for recent test-takers, which is approximately 501.

Why do I keep failing the MCAT?

You Didn't Take Enough Practice Exams or Do Enough Practice Questions. The best way to prepare yourself for the pace and style of the questions you'll see on your MCAT retake test day is to do practice exams and practice questions.

Can you get into Harvard with a low MCAT?

Before you throw your hands up in defeat, consider that while Harvard's average stats are quite high, not everyone getting in has a 3.9 GPA and 520 MCAT score. Given that these are average scores, approximately as many students with lower stats get in as those with higher stats.

Has anyone ever taken the MCAT without studying?

This may sound shocking to you but every year we meet students who took the MCAT without studying.

Is there a way to avoid MCAT?

The answer is yes! There are several baccalaureate-MD programs, such as BA/MD, BS/MD, and BFA/MD that do not require you to take the MCAT. In addition, there are early assurance and guaranteed admission programs, where you do not have to take the MCAT.

Should I retake a 502 MCAT?

Should I Retake The MCAT If My Score Is 502? 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 502.

Is a 512 MCAT good?

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.

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.

How rare is a 520 MCAT?

An MCAT score of 520 is very strong and puts you in the 97th percentile of all MCAT test takers. However, whether or not a score of 520 on the MCAT is enough to get you into medical school depends on which schools you are applying to and your other qualifications.

Is a 517 MCAT too low?

Medical schools have different minimum score requirements for students based on being in-state, out-of-state, in particular programs, socioeconomic backgrounds, and more. Considering that a 517 is far ahead of the average MCAT score of a 501, it's very competitive for med-school admission.

Is 512 MCAT too low?

Our medical school admission experts recommend that you aim for a total score of 511 or above. This score places you in the 81 ^st percentile of MCAT scores, according to AAMC. Read More: Medical School Requirements: How Important is GPA?

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.

What is the lowest MCAT score accepted into DO 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 do you explain a bad MCAT score?

You can use your personal statement to briefly explain why your MCAT is not as great as the rest of your application components. If you have a reason other than “I just didn't study enough,” this extenuating circumstance can be incorporated into your medical school personal statement.

Do med schools care if you retake MCAT?

Each scored attempt will appear on your record, which means each of your MCAT scores will be seen by admissions committees. Since every medical school you apply to will see the results of all of your tests, it's not recommended that you take the MCAT repeatedly.