Does the MCAT have a reading section?

New section It includes passages and questions that test your ability to comprehend what you read. You may find this section to be unique in several ways, though, because it has been developed specifically to measure the analysis and reasoning skills you will need to be successful in medical school.

Is there a reading section on the MCAT?

The first three MCAT sections cover basic science concepts taught in such pre-med degree programs as biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology. The last section, CARS, is similar to other reading comprehension tests you may have taken throughout your education.

Does the MCAT have a written portion?

Medical schools absolutely care about your writing! Even though the writing section was removed from the MCAT, an essay is still required as part of your medical school application. Both allopathic and osteopathic medical schools require this essay, better known as the personal statement.

What is the hardest section of the MCAT?

The CARS section is difficult for a lot of students because it doesn't test your knowledge of science content. Instead, you have to be able to read and understand passages on social studies and humanities topics to answer the associated questions. Learn more about how the MCAT is scored.

Does reading help with MCAT?

Reading comprehension is incredibly important for several reasons. First, it's a vital part of the MCAT, and acing this section is essential for getting into medical school. The CARS section assesses your ability to understand and analyze complex passages, just like doctors need to do in their profession.

MCAT CARS: Top Study Strategies from a 528 Scorer

Is a 90% on the MCAT good?

However, anything above the 90th percentile would be considered outstanding for the MCAT exam.

Is MCAT reading harder than SAT?

And given the difficulty level of the MCAT examination, the SAT is much easier compared to the latter. It measures students' general knowledge of reading, math, and writing. Also, it assesses the readiness of students who wish to enroll in colleges and universities.

Is a 500 MCAT score hard?

A 500 MCAT score is on average. Although the average now is a little bit higher, 500 is typically good enough. Don't worry about your stats. You can apply, in the context of having diversity as well for medical schools.

How rare is a 528 MCAT?

According to the AAMC, out of the approximately two hundred thousand students who take the exam each year, between 30 and 70 achieve the highest score of 528 on the MCAT.

Is 500 a competitive MCAT score?

The MCAT scale is centered so that a 500 represents the mean score. AAMC recommends that med school admission committees consider applicants near the center of the range, rather than placing the most emphasis on the higher end of the scale.

Do med schools see every MCAT?

While medical schools will see all your MCAT scores, admissions committees will use multiple scores in different ways, including: Considering your highest score only. Considering the average of every score.

Is 14 weeks enough to study for MCAT?

Three months is the minimum amount of time most students should study for the MCAT. With just a few months before test day, you'll need to spend a good amount of time studying each week if you want to score competitively on the MCAT.

Is MCAT all multiple choice?

The MCAT is completely multiple choice. The score range of each of the 4 MCAT sections is 118-132, for a total perfect score of 528. The lowest possible score is 472. Each of the 4 sections is worth 25% of your final score.

What subjects are most tested on MCAT?

On the MCAT, biology (at 65% of the Bio/Biochem section) will be by far the most important of the four “classic” MCAT subjects, followed in importance by general chemistry (30% of the Chem/Phys section); physics (25% of the Chem/Phys section); and finally organic chemistry (15% of the Chem/Phys section).

How long is CARS on MCAT?

The MCAT CARS section is 90 minutes and contains 53 multiple choice questions, making it 5 minutes and 6 questions shorter than each of the other 3 sections on the exam. It also contains 9 passages, so there is an average of 5-6 questions per passage.

What is the average MCAT score?

Data Summary. The average MCAT score for all test-takers in 2023-2024 is 501.3. The average MCAT score for test-takers who applied to medical school in 2022-2023 was 506.5. The average MCAT score for all medical school applicants who ended up enrolling was 511.9.

Has anyone ever gotten 100% on the MCAT?

Since this method is not perfect, we'll leave you with a range; between 30 and 70 students every year achieve a perfect 528 MCAT. This is out of the nearly three hundred thousand students who take the exam. Thus, achieving a perfect MCAT score is quite difficult, but it is not impossible.

Is a 480 bad on the MCAT?

Attaining a score of 480 on the MCAT means you performed in the 3% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 120 (C/P) 118 (CARS) 121 (B/B) 121 (P/S).

What is the MCAT score for Harvard?

But every school varies in what they consider a “strong” score. The top schools will have high average MCAT scores: for example, Harvard and Stanford have average scores of 520 and 518, respectively.

Does taking the MCAT 3 times look bad?

Although you can take the MCAT up to seven times in your lifetime, that number certainly doesn't reflect how many times you should be taking the MCAT. Taking the MCAT twice is fine; even three times shouldn't impact your admissions too much. However, any more tries can begin to damage your application.

What score is 100% on MCAT?

They act as placeholders, however, and can be useful in better understanding the score range. Scores of 524-528 are in the 100th percentile, meaning no one has achieved them.

Is it OK to fail the MCAT?

First there is no passing score for the MCAT it's just one of many things medical schools look at for acceptance but obviously getting a higher score is better and schools like Harvard will want a high score even for someone who did other amazing things.

Is the MCAT a lot of memorization?

The sheer volume of rules, equations, and concepts that we need to memorize for the MCAT still blows our minds. Not only do you have to memorize it all, but also apply it all to unfamiliar situations. Which means drilling it all into your mind and knowing everything like the back of your hand come exam day.

Is the MCAT the hardest exam in the world?

While the exam is challenging, the short answer to that question is “no.” Each and every year, plenty of our students do well on the MCAT, making them even stronger candidates for medical school.

Is the MCAT harder than med school?

MCAT is just one test, for which most students prepare for less than 50 good hours over several weeks. Plus you'l take at least two bigger tests during med school. Pretty much any way you slice it, med school is harder than MCAT.