What Is a Good MCAT Score?

Are your MCAT scores good enough to get you into the medical school program of your choice? A "good" MCAT score is one that meets or exceeds the average for students admitted to your target schools. 

In this guide, we’ll explore what constitutes a good MCAT score, why it matters, and how it impacts your medical school admissions. Understanding these elements can help you gauge your readiness and plan your med school applications strategically.

The MCAT

The Medical College Admission Test®, known as the MCAT, is a key part of the medical school admissions process. It’s used by all U.S. medical schools and many in Canada to evaluate applicants. This standardized, multiple-choice, computer-based test is designed to assess your problem-solving, critical thinking, and understanding of important scientific concepts necessary for a career in medicine. Created by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the MCAT has played an essential role in medical education for over 90 years, capturing the skills and knowledge medical professionals consider vital for success in medical school and beyond.

The MCAT, updated to its present format in April 2015, consists of four sections:

1. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

2. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

3. Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

4. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

This exam is offered multiple times a year from late January to September at various global locations. Scoring well on the MCAT is important—it greatly affects your medical school application by giving admissions committees a standardized way to measure your academic abilities and preparedness for the challenges of medical education.

Your MCAT score report

The score

Your raw score, based on correct answers, is converted into a scaled score. For example, getting 35 to 37 questions right might score you a 123. The total scaled score is the sum of all section scores. The average MCAT score is around 500, and scores typically range between 498 and 502 for most pre-med students.

Understanding how the MCAT is scored and structured can really help you prep better and aim for the highest score possible.

The percentile

Percentile ranks on the MCAT help you understand how your scores stack up against other test takers. These ranks show the percentage of test takers who scored the same as or lower than you. Each year on May 1st, these ranks are updated using data from the past three years. This update makes sure the percentile ranks reflect real changes in scores rather than just small fluctuations, following standard practices in the field.

For instance, if you score 509, it means you did better than 79% of the people who took the test. Percentile ranks are key for figuring out where you stand, as they're adjusted annually to provide accurate comparisons among candidates. 

Each section of the MCAT also gets a percentile rank. For example, if you score 127 in the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, you're doing better than 77% of your peers.

The confidence bands

Confidence bands on MCAT scores are an important tool for understanding the accuracy of your results. These bands represent an MCAT score range that indicates where your true score likely falls, as standardized tests can't measure your abilities with perfect precision. Every MCAT score report includes these confidence bands to highlight that small variations can occur due to factors like test anxiety or conditions on the test day.

For example, if you receive a total score of 501, your confidence band might range from 499 to 503. This suggests that your actual abilities might be slightly higher or lower than what your score shows. Similarly, a section score like Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) of 127 might have a confidence band of 126 to 128, indicating your true proficiency might be within this range.

The main reason for these bands is to prevent making too many small differences in scores. For instance, if one student scores 128 and another scores 126 on the CARS section, both would be within the same confidence band of 126 to 128. This method helps medical schools understand that slight score differences don't necessarily indicate big differences in abilities.

The use of confidence bands reflects the AAMC’s goal to provide medical schools with a clearer picture of an applicant’s performance, acknowledging the limits of a single test score. It ensures that admissions committees view the scores in context, rather than as absolute indicators of an applicant's potential. This system not only aids in fairer assessments but also benefits applicants by accounting for minor variations in test performance that may not truly reflect their capabilities or knowledge.

Score profile

Score profiles on the MCAT are super useful because they break down how you did in each of the four sections of the test. This detailed feedback is key for spotting both your strong points and the areas where you could use a bit more work, especially if you're thinking about taking the exam again. These profiles help you zero in on the parts you need to brush up on before your next attempt.

The four sections of the MCAT now have more questions than they used to. This not only makes the scoring more reliable but also gives you clearer insight into how well you're doing in each specific area, allowing for better comparisons.

You can pair your MCAT score profiles with your academic records, like your grades, to get a full picture of where you excel and where you might need to focus more. This comprehensive view is perfect for tailoring your study plan to the specific skills each section tests.

The best MCAT score range

"Good" MCAT scores for medical schools are typically at or above the average score of newly admitted medical students, which for the 2023–2024 application cycle was between 511 and 512, according to the AAMC. Scoring within this range—or higher—greatly improves your chances of getting into medical school. The highest possible score on the MCAT is 528, with scores ranging from 511 to 528 considered competitive.

Additionally, it's important not just to aim for a high overall score but also to ensure that you perform well across all test sections. Each section of the MCAT should ideally be 127 or higher to present a balanced, competitive profile.

Remember, "good" is a relative term when it comes to MCAT scores. What qualifies as a good score can vary depending on the medical schools you're targeting and their specific average scores. There is no official passing score for the MCAT, so understanding where your score falls within various percentile ranges and how it relates to the programs you are applying to is key. This deeper insight will help you set realistic goals and refine your application strategy.

What MCAT score medical schools are looking for 

When applying to medical school, understanding how your MCAT score and GPA affect your options for MD (Doctor of Medicine) and DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) programs is key. Here's a straightforward guide for applicants with a solid GPA (3.5 or higher):

• MCAT score of 511 or higher: Aim exclusively for MD programs.

• MCAT scores between 506–510: Consider applying to about 75% MD programs and 25% DO programs.

• MCAT scores from 500–505: A balanced approach with 25–50% MD programs and 50–75% DO programs might work well.

• MCAT scores below 500: Focus mainly on DO programs, with up to 25% of your applications going to MD programs, depending on your exact score.

Adjust these strategies based on your GPA; if it's higher (3.7+), you might lean more toward MD programs. If your GPA is below 3.4, DO programs might be more suitable. For context, the average MCAT score for students getting into DO programs is around 504.6, while it's higher for MD programs due to their generally greater competitiveness.

These recommendations should be tailored to include other factors such as your state residency, ethnicity, and any unique qualities you bring as an applicant. For example, if your MCAT score is between 506 and 509, applying to state medical schools and a mix of MD and DO programs could be a good strategy. For those scoring 514 or above, consider applying to state schools and around 25 selective MD programs.

When deciding where to apply, look beyond just scores and GPAs. Explore each school’s curriculum, teaching methods, research opportunities, and location to find the best fit for your medical education and career aspirations. Always check the latest information directly from the medical schools' websites to ensure your application plans are up-to-date.

Get the best MCAT score possible for you

While the MCAT is just one part of your application, a good score can open doors to your target medical schools. What constitutes a "good" score depends on your goals and the specific requirements of the schools you're applying to. Remember, success also hinges on other factors like letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and personal statements. 

Thinking about applying for medical school?  Admissions Accelerator offers workbooks, application trackers, and other great resources to help take the stress out of the application process. Best of luck as you take the next steps in your med school journey!