Why is the MCAT 472 to 528?

The highest MCAT score possible is 528. 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.

Why does the MCAT start at 472?

The lowest score on the MCAT is set at 472 due to the normal distribution of test results and the diminishing number of test-takers below this threshold. A score of 472 serves as an indicator for test-takers to reassess their preparation and readiness for medical school.

Is 472 a good MCAT score?

If you scored a 472 on the MCAT, this means you performed in the <1 percentile according to most recent AAMC statistics, and are 39 points away from a competitive 511.

Can you get into med-school with 472 MCAT?

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!

Has anyone ever 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. 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.

How I Scored a 528 (Perfect MCAT Score) - How to Study For the MCAT

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) 120 (CARS) 118 (B/B) 123 (P/S).

How rare is a 528 MCAT score?

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.

Is 470 a good MCAT score?

A good MCAT score is typically considered to be 128 out of 132 in any one of the four sections, or a total of 511 out of 528 for all four sections combined.

Should I retake a 508 MCAT?

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 508.

Is GPA or MCAT more important?

While MCAT scores are important, admissions committees also consider other factors, such as GPA, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and interviews, when evaluating applicants.

What is a respectable MCAT score?

The average score is about 500. The average score of admitted students is about 510 (81st%ile). Scores for students admitted to “top tier” medical schools are typically above the 97th%ile (520). There is more to admission than just the MCAT score but a score below the ~70%ile puts an application at risk.

Is 487 a bad MCAT score?

Is 487 a bad MCAT score? in, and most importantly, your individual section scores. Attaining a score of 487 on the MCAT means you performed in the 13% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred.

What is considered a bad 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 506 or less. A poor MCAT score could also be considered anything below the 50th percentile for recent test-takers, which is approximately 501.

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.

How many questions can you miss on the MCAT to get a 528?

Another advantage of the scaled score is that you don't need to get every single question correct to score a 528. Some estimates suggest you could get up to eight questions wrong and still score a 528. The MCAT does not penalize you for wrong or unanswered questions, rather you gain points for every correct question.

What is the average MCAT score on the first attempt?

Average MCAT Scores

MCAT scores range from 472-528. Between 2016-2017 and 2023-2024, the average MCAT score jumped over 1.5 points, from 499.6 to 501.3. The average appears to be increasing overall, with 2022-2023 holding the record-high score of 501.6.

Can I get into an MD school with a 508 MCAT?

You absolutely can if the rest of your application is strong. But it's going to be a weak spot in your application. 508-510 are all fine, and if you don't get accepted with a score in that range, it's not because of your MCAT score.

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 482 a bad MCAT score?

Attaining a score of 482 on the MCAT means you performed in the 5% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 118 (C/P) 118 (CARS) 125 (B/B) 121 (P/S).

What is the MCAT score for Harvard?

But every school varies in what they consider a “strong” score. The top schools will have high average MCAT scores: for example, Harvard and Stanford have average scores of 520 and 518, respectively. A high MCAT score certainly does not guarantee an acceptance letter at the most competitive medical schools.

What is a perfect MCAT score 2023?

What is the Highest MCAT Score? The highest score you can earn on the MCAT is a 528 with a 132 on each of the four MCAT sections.

Does a 528 MCAT guarantee admission?

And we'll tell you now, no med-school has a 528 MCAT score requirement. Not even the best Ivy leagues. Your only reason to really NEED to score above 520 might be because your application/GPA is lacking significantly. For most med-schools, you just need to be above average.

What percent of people get 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.

What percentile is 528 on the MCAT?

The lowest possible score on the MCAT is 472, which is a percentile rank of less than 1 percent. On the other hand, a score of 524 to 528 has a percentile rank of 100, meaning you scored better than 100% of those taking the same exam. A perfect score of 528 is possible, but it is extremely rare.