The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is one of the biggest milestones for aspiring medical students and can have a great impact on getting accepted. Use this MCAT Score Calculator to find out if you are on track to score well on your exam day.
Plus, get answers to all your burning questions! What percentile should you aim for, average MCAT scores, how to get accepted with a lower score and more!
This MCAT score calculator estimates your MCAT score for AAMC sample practice tests.
| Chem/Phys | 516 |
| CARS | 516 |
| Bio/Biochem | 516 |
| Pysch/Soc | 516 |
MCAT Score
118
Percentile
1%
How to Use the MCAT Score Calculator?
First, take a full-length MCAT practice exam and find out how many questions you answered correctly in each section. Now you are ready to reveal your score with this calculator!
- Insert your raw score: On the left side, use the toggle to select your raw score for each of the four sections. This is the amount of correct answers you got in that section.
- See your scaled score: Afterwards, the calculator will automatically show your scaled score for each section on the right side. We are using the AAMC guidelines for sample test score conversion which range from 118 to 132 for each section.
- Identify your total score and percentile: In the blue box you will now see your total MCAT score as well as the percentile. Keep reading to learn more about MCAT percentiles!
- Learn from your results (never skip this step): Regular MCAT practice exams are crucial to learn from your mistakes. Only then can you adjust your strategy and see meaningful progress in your score over time. To get the most out of this, make sure to thoroughly review your results.
Want to learn the EXACT steps to maximize your chances of acceptance with lower stats? Or simply want to become a much more competitive applicant?
I share the KEY strategies that helped earn 10 acceptances (despite a low GPA) in my Free Premed Workshop.
You’ll get an inside look into my own application (including all the mistakes I made in my first, unsuccessful attempt) and how I turned it all around!
How Is Your MCAT Score Calculated?
The MCAT exam is divided into four sections, as you can see in the table below. In each section you get to answer 53-59 multiple choice questions. Wrong answers or any questions you didn’t answer are simply not counted.
The number of correct questions are then converted to a scaled score for each section which ranges from 118 to 132. Why? The whole concept behind the scaled scores is to compensate for small variances in difficulty between groups of questions. Your MCAT final score is simply the sum of all the sections’ scaled scores.
| Section name & abbreviation | number of questions |
| Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys) | 59 |
| Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) | 59 |
| Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/BioChem) | 59 |
| Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc) | 59 |
Here is how the MCAT official results look like, based on my own MCAT test:
What Do MCAT Percentiles Mean?
The MCAT percentiles are there to show you (and the medical schools you apply to) how competitive your score is compared to all other test takers. They are based on the data from the last three years and are updated on an annual basis so that they stay relevant for your personal MCAT score – no matter which year you take it.
To learn all the details, including what chances of acceptance you have with your percentile, head to my blog post MCAT Percentiles: What They Mean and How They Affect Your Chances of Admission.
Average MCAT Score for DO and MD Schools
In general, the highest MCAT score you can possibly reach is 528 and the lowest MCAT score is at 472.
But what is the average score of all applicants? We don’t just want to look at medical school applicants but also the ones who actually got accepted and matriculated.
There are slight differences from DO to MD schools since DO schools tend to accept students with lower MCAT scores. Here are the details based on the AAMC report and AACOM data for 2023:
Average MCAT score for MD schools:
- Applicants: 506.3
- Matriculants: 511.7
Average MCAT score for DO schools:
- Applicants: 503.0
- Matriculants: 503.9
What MCAT Score Do You Need for the Top Medical Schools?
If you want to get into one of the top 10 medical schools in the US, the expectations are of course a bit higher, with average MCAT scores ranging from 516-522.
| SCHOOL NAME | MCAT MEDIAN | CUMULATIVE GPA MEDIAN |
| Harvard University | 521 | 3.95 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 522 | 3.96 |
| University of Pennsylvania (Perelman) | 522 | 3.96 |
| Columbia University | 522 | 3.93 |
| Duke University | 520 | 3.90 |
| Stanford University | 519 | 3.92 |
| University of California–San Francisco | 516 | 3.88 |
| Vanderbilt University | 521 | 3.94 |
| Washington University in St. Louis | 521 | 3.94 |
| Cornell University | 520 | 3.91 |
How Important Is Your MCAT Score (Really) For Applying To Medical School?
Although your MCAT score does hold a lot of weight in your medical school acceptance, it is certainly not everything. Admission committees consider many different factors which go beyond your academic performance. This also includes your clinical experiences, personal growth and maturity as well as your dedication and compassion within the medical field.
Nevertheless, your MCAT score as well as your GPA are a great indicator for admission committees on how well you can perform in medical school. The route to becoming a doctor can be tough, so they want their applicants to show that they are ready to handle the high academic demands coming their way.
Can You Get Accepted With a Lower Score?
There is always the chance to adjust your strategy, reassess your study plan and prepare to take your MCAT again. You can actually take the MCAT up to seven times in your life, and three times in the same year. Although I wouldn’t recommend taking it as far, keep in mind that one bad score doesn’t have to be the end of your medical school path.
I have seen several Road to Acceptance students performing below 500 still get accepted to 3+ medical schools. How? By strengthening all other factors in their control! If this is you and a retake is not an option you want to go for – improve all other aspects in your control before applying. This includes having a strong GPA, plenty of clinical and research experience or extensive volunteering hours.
Another must-have strategy is to tailor your school list to your personal MCAT score to make sure it is within the range of what they usually accept.
What Is A Good MCAT Score For You?
Sure, always aim for the 528! But honestly, YOUR perfect MCAT score doesn’t have to hit 515 to keep you in the game for medical school. It completely depends on what else you bring to the table as an applicant.
- Do you aim to get into one of the top programs in the US?
- Do you have a lower GPA and want to show them that you can still manage complex concepts like in the MCAT?
- Do you have any other weaknesses in your application that you want to balance?
I personally had a low GPA of 3.3, 5 Cs in undergrad plus an institutional action. So yes, I totally knew that I had to improve all other factors in my control to get accepted. So next to doing so many other things to help me balance these weak spots, I also aimed for a competitive MCAT score of 516 (and reached exactly that score!).
This way, I was able to show the admissions committee that I am truly medical school material which earned me 10 acceptances. So make sure your MCAT score fits into your application profile and gives you the advantage you need in this competitive field.
Quick MCAT Q&A
Does it matter if I have a much lower scaled score in one section, if my overall score is good?
Yes, it does matter! But it also depends on the schools you apply to since some schools filter out applicants with a lower section score. So aim for a balanced score and try to improve any weaknesses in particular sections through your study plan.
What is the latest date to take your MCAT?
I recommend taking your MCAT in May or early June (at the latest) in the year you plan to apply. Of course, earlier is great as well. This way, you can still take advantage of rolling admissions and apply early without having to postpone your secondary applications just to get your MCAT score.Learn more about what it actually means to apply early in my Free Premed Workshop.
Do you need your MCAT score to submit your primary application?
No, you can submit your primary application without your MCAT score. I would still suggest an early enough test date though so you have your MCAT score ready once your secondary applications start rolling in. Why? Medical schools won’t consider your secondary application before they also receive your MCAT score.
Can you reschedule your MCAT exam?
Yes, you can reschedule your MCAT exam up to 10 days before your scheduled date. Keep in mind that the reschedule fee is much lower if you reschedule your exam 30 or 60 days beforehand.
When do MCAT scores come out?
You will receive your score 30-35 days after your MCAT test date. You can expect them to show up by 5pm ET on the release date. To see the exact release datess, go to the official AAMC MCAT Schedule for 2024.
How can you access your MCAT score on release date?
Go to the AAMC Score Reporting System, enter your username and password to access your score.Keep in mind that your MCAT score is important but also NOT everything. You heard me right, it doesn’t define your whole medical school application. Also, there is the option to retake it if you believe you can do better next time!
Is there a chance to retake your MCAT?
If you are not happy with your score and want to retake it, you can absolutely do that!Just keep in mind that it has to fit into your application timeline. You want to give yourself enough time to study and improve your score. But also keep in mind that you don’t want to take your test too late if applying in the same cycle. More in the question below!
How many times can you take the MCAT?
You cantake the MCAT exam up to three times in a single yearand a total of four times over two years. However, you can’t take it more than seven times in your lifetime. Keep in mind that not showing up at the exam or getting a voided score still counts as one of your attempts toward your overall lifetime limit.
How long is your MCAT score valid?
In general, you can apply to medical school with a score that dates back 2-3 years from the date you submit your primary application.Keep in mind that this slightly differs from school to school. More details and how this fits into your own timeline in my blog post How Long Are MCAT Scores Valid?
Final thoughts
I hope this MCAT Score Calculator helps you to find out if you are on track to score well!
Are you still too far away from your goal score? Taking regular full-length practice exams has been one of the major factors for me to create continuous progress in my score. This allowed me to adjust my strategy based on any personal weaknesses and make the most of my study time.
Although the MCAT is an important factor in your medical school application, keep in mind that even with a slightly lower score, you can still get accepted and become a great physician!
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