MCAT Scoring and Your Chances

of Medical School Admission

 

How is the MCAT scored?

 
There are four MCAT sections, namely Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.

The MCAT is scored for each of the four sections individually. For each section, you will receive a scaled score of 118 to 132, with a midpoint of 125. These four scores will be combined and thus result to a total score ranging from 472 to 528, with a midpoint of 500.
 
Every MCAT includes a small number of questions which will not be scored. These questions are either used to calibrate the exam or were found to be either too ambiguous or too difficult to be counted. So if you see a question that you think is off the wall, unanswerable or inappropriate, it could well be one of these questions so never panic!
 
 

MCAT Scores and the Likely Correlate to Medical School Admissions

Average score acceptable to few medical schools Average score acceptable for most medical schools Average score acceptable for Ivy League medical schools
Qualitatively average MCAT score good MCAT score high MCAT score
Percentile rank 50th percentile 80th percentile 95th percentile
Sectional score:
MCAT (max. = 132)
125 127 129
Combined score:
MCAT (max. = 528)
500 507 514
For specific medical schools: Average MCAT Scores