An MCAT score of 490 is around the lowest score that could still get you into medical school. With a score that low, other aspects of the student's application would need to be outstanding, but it has happened before.
Mercer -> minimum percentile 25
Duke -> minimum score of 500
The lowest possible MCAT score is 472. The highest possible MCAT score is 528. Each of the four sections are scored from a lowest possible score of 118 to a high of 132.
Students who are accepted to top medical schools have average MCAT score of around 521. An average (50th percentile) MCAT score is 502.
Most medical schools consider MCAT scores taken within the last 3 years. For example, if a student applies in 2024, most schools consider tests taken after January 1st, 2022, however some schools do not consider tests taken in the year prior to the application deadline. For example, for an application due in September of 2024, some schools don't consider tests taken after the end of September, 2023.
.jpg)
Typically students planning to apply to medical school at the end of their senior year should take the MCAT in the spring or summer of their junior year, however it's not a bad idea to take the test a year earlier (spring or summer of their sophomore year) to allow for time to retake the test as needed. It's important to note that some medical schools don't accept MCAT scores taken in the year prior to the application. For example, for September 2024 applications some schools require that your MCAT test must be completed before the end of September, 2023.
You should aim to study about 350 total hours for the MCAT. A simple way to achieve that is to start 1 year before your anticipated testing date and study for 1 hour a day.
MCAT scores are released 30-35 days after the testing date.
The four MCAT sections are:
Yes, most medical schools review all MCAT scores regardless of how many times you take the test, however they typically give the greatest weight to the most recent and/or the highest score that you have achieved.
