When was MCAT last updated?

First administered in 1928, the old MCAT evolved substantially and the most recent version—the new MCAT—was introduced in April 2015. The new MCAT is scored on a scale of 472–528, with a mean score of 501. The old MCAT was scored on a scale of 3–45, with a mean score of approximately 25.

When was the last time the MCAT changed?

The AAMC launched the current MCAT exam in April 2015. Last revised in 1991, the exam has been updated to reflect the changes in medicine and science and to test examinees on not only what they know but how well they use what they know.

Has the MCAT content changed since 2015?

It might seem like nothing has changed since the MCAT updated its format in 2015. And on a surface level, that's true. From 2015-2020, the MCAT's sections, presentation, time limit, passage style, and scoring have all remained the same.

How many versions of the MCAT are there?

At any test day, there are up to 10 different versions of the MCAT being administered. Some versions are more difficult and some versions may have more physics than chemistry. Note that each version is graded on its own curve. Thus, if your version is easy, you may miss 10 questions and get a score of 9.

What is the latest MCAT date for the cycle?

May 24, 2024 is the the latest date of the 2024/25 cycle to take the test to give yourself a shot at an acceptance. The latest date you can technically take the MCAT in 2024 is September 14, but this is only useful for students planning on taking a gap year or who know they'll retake the test the following spring.

2024 MCAT® Testing Year Update for Examinees

Is April too late for MCAT?

While you can technically take the MCAT any time, you should take it during the summer after sophomore year at the earliest, and April of your application year at the latest.

Is June too late to take the MCAT?

Ideally, take the MCAT in March or April, but if you need to take it a little bit later, then do it. A May or June MCAT is okay. It's not necessarily going to delay your application, or not by much. You obviously want to take it when you're prepared.

How rare is a 528 MCAT?

While test designers make it difficult, it is possible to achieve a so-called “perfect score” on the 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.

What is the difference between the old MCAT and the new MCAT?

First administered in 1928, the old MCAT evolved substantially and the most recent version—the new MCAT—was introduced in April 2015. The new MCAT is scored on a scale of 472–528, with a mean score of 501. The old MCAT was scored on a scale of 3–45, with a mean score of approximately 25.

What is the hardest subject in MCAT?

Many students consider CARS the most difficult MCAT section, with AAMC data showing that the average CARS score is about 1 point lower than the other MCAT section scores. This is likely because CARS requires a different way of thinking through problems and can be more difficult to prepare for.

Is 517 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 retaking the MCAT common?

What are the odds that retaking the MCAT will result in a better score? According to the most recent AAMC data, 39 percent of people who took the MCAT between 2020 and 2022 were retesters.

Is a 500 MCAT score good?

The MCAT scale is centered so that a 500 represents the mean score. AAMC recommends that med school admission committees consider applicants near the center of the range, rather than placing the most emphasis on the higher end of the scale.

Is the MCAT ever 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.

Is the real MCAT curved more?

There is no curve associated with the MCAT^® exam. Instead, the MCAT exam is scaled and equated so that scores have the same meaning, no matter when you test.

Is 508 a good MCAT score?

Considering that a 508 is quite close to the average MCAT score of a 501, it's not very competitive for med-school admission. With a 508, 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.

What percentile is a 520 on the MCAT?

According to recent AAMC stats, a 520 on the MCAT is not a bad score because it's an above-average MCAT score, and it is competitive for med-school admission: A 520 is 98 percentile rank on the MCAT.

Is the new MCAT easier or harder?

The actual questions on the MCAT haven't changed in terms of the difficulty level, the depth of analysis, or the breadth of content required. Sure, you have this intimidating passage with alphabet soup everywhere and crazy figures you have to analyze. This can throw some people off their game.

Has anyone ever gotten 100% on the MCAT?

You cannot. The MCAT is scored from 472 to 528. About 1% of MCAT-takers score above 523. Striving for a score above 523 puts you in competition with extraordinarily well-prepared pre meds.

How bad is a 480 MCAT score?

Attaining a score of 480 on the MCAT means you performed in the 3% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 119 (C/P) 118 (CARS) 125 (B/B) 118 (P/S).

Has anyone ever scored a perfect score on the MCAT?

0.021% of 273,860 students brings us to our final answer: 58 students. 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.

Is 3 months enough to study for MCAT?

Kaplan recommends studying for the MCAT over a period of four to six months for a total of 300 to 350 hours. If you feel confident in your test-taking skills and aren't overwhelmed by the 25 hour per week MCAT study schedule, then three months can be enough time for you to study for the MCAT.

Is 2 months enough time to study for the MCAT?

For most students, two months is not enough time to spend studying for the MCAT. As the official MCAT prep of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), Kaplan recommends that you spend 300-350 hours studying so you can earn a good MCAT score.

How much physics is on the MCAT?

Physics will represent somewhere between 20-30 percent of your MCAT Chem/Phys section, which is one of four MCAT sections. Hence, you can expect to see 12 to 18 physics questions (out of 230 total questions) on the entire MCAT—about 5 to 8 percent of the exam.