The test to get into medical school in the United States is the MCAT, or Medical College Admission Test. It’s a 7.5-hour standardized exam administered by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), and nearly every MD and DO program in the country requires it. The MCAT tests your grasp of science, psychology, and critical reading, all through the lens of how they apply to medicine.
What the MCAT Covers
The MCAT has four sections, each scored separately. Three are science-heavy, and one is purely reading comprehension.
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (59 questions): Covers general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry, all framed around how these sciences operate in living organisms.
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (53 questions): Similar to a verbal reasoning test. You read dense passages from the humanities and social sciences and answer questions about arguments, logic, and meaning. No outside science knowledge required.
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (59 questions): Focuses on biology and biochemistry, testing how well you understand the molecular and cellular processes that keep organisms alive.
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (59 questions): Covers introductory psychology and sociology, specifically how psychological and social factors influence health and health outcomes.
That’s 230 questions total. Every section is multiple choice, and most questions are tied to short passages you read and analyze on the spot. The exam isn’t just testing whether you memorized facts. It’s testing whether you can apply scientific concepts to solve problems you haven’t seen before.
How Scoring Works
Each of the four sections is scored on a scale from 118 to 132, with a midpoint of roughly 125. Your total MCAT score is the sum of all four sections, ranging from 472 to 528. The overall mean score is about 500.5, based on data from over 293,000 test-takers across 2022 through 2024.
A score of 500 puts you at the 49th percentile, meaning you scored equal to or better than about half of all test-takers. A 510 lands at the 79th percentile. A 515 reaches the 91st percentile. Students who actually get into MD-granting medical schools tend to score well above average: the mean total MCAT score for matriculants in the 2023–2024 cycle was 511.7, with an average GPA of 3.77.
So while a “good” score depends on which schools you’re targeting, scoring around 511 or 512 puts you in line with the typical accepted student at an MD program. More competitive schools expect scores in the 515-plus range.
When and How Often You Can Take It
The MCAT is offered from January through September, with roughly 25 to 30 test dates spread across that window. Most pre-med students take it in the spring or early summer of the year they plan to apply, since scores typically take about a month to come back and applications open in late May or early June.
If your score doesn’t go the way you hoped, you can retake it. The AAMC allows up to three attempts in a single calendar year, four attempts across two consecutive calendar years, and seven attempts in your lifetime. Each retake requires a new registration and fee, so it’s worth preparing thoroughly the first time.
How Long to Study
The AAMC reports that pre-med students spend an average of 240 hours studying over about 12 weeks. That works out to roughly 20 hours per week for three months, which is why most students dedicate a full summer to prep. Some spread it over a longer period at a lower intensity, especially if they’re also taking classes.
The total seat time on test day is 7 hours and 27 minutes, including breaks. It’s a genuinely exhausting exam, and part of preparation is building the stamina to stay focused through an entire day of testing. Full-length practice exams, taken under realistic conditions, are one of the most effective study tools for that reason.
What It Costs
Standard MCAT registration is $355. If you need to reschedule, the fee ranges from $55 (more than 60 days out) to $210 (within 10 to 29 days). Cancellations made at least 30 days before the exam get a $175 refund. No changes are allowed within 10 days of your test date. Testing outside the U.S. or Canada adds a $130 international surcharge.
The AAMC offers a Fee Assistance Program that drops the registration cost to $145. To qualify, you need a U.S. address, your household income must be at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, and you can’t already be enrolled in or graduated from medical school. The program also provides benefits for the AMCAS application itself, and some medical schools waive their secondary application fees for recipients. If you’re 26 or older, you don’t need to submit your parents’ financial information when applying for fee assistance.
Medical School Entrance Tests Outside the U.S.
If you’re applying to medical schools in the United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand, the MCAT isn’t the relevant exam. These countries use different tests depending on the pathway.
The UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) is the standard entrance exam for undergraduate medical programs in Australia and all medical programs in New Zealand. It tests reasoning, decision-making, and abstract thinking rather than science knowledge. Many schools set a minimum UCAT score just to be considered for an interview.
Australia also uses the GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) for students entering four-year graduate medical programs. It’s a six-hour exam with three sections: one covering reasoning in the humanities and social sciences, one requiring two essays, and a science reasoning section worth half the total score. About ten Australian medical schools use the GAMSAT alongside your undergraduate GPA and interview performance to make admissions decisions.