How rare is a 520 MCAT score?

A 520 MCAT score is extremely rare and impressive, placing you in the top 3% (97th percentile) of test-takers, a feat achieved by only a handful of applicants annually, making it a highly competitive score for admission to top-tier medical schools. This score indicates top performance, putting you in the elite tier for medical school admissions alongside other exceptional candidates.

Is a 520 MCAT impressive?

Another factor to consider is that while a 520 on the MCAT is generally considered a good score, top medical schools prefer an even distribution for section scores. You may want to retake the MCAT if one of your section scores is significantly lower than the others to be a more competitive applicant.

Should you retake a 520 MCAT?

Assuming a strong GPA and extracurricular profile, scoring a 518 or above will help you be competitive for the highest-tier schools, even if their average matriculant MCAT score is a 520 or 521. With scores at this level, an MCAT retake is not necessary because schools will consider you to be academically elite.

Can you get into med-school with a 512?

In general for MD (Doctor of Medicine) programs, the average accepted MCAT score in the U.S. tends to be higher, typically around 511-512. Acceptance rates for MD programs are generally lower, often ranging from 3-10%, depending on the institution's selectivity.

How many questions are wrong to get a 520 MCAT?

To get a 520 on the MCAT, you generally need to miss very few questions, often only a handful in total, aiming for around 128-130 per section (out of 132), which means getting maybe 1-3 wrong in some sections and a few more in others, as scoring is percentile-based and depends on test difficulty, but you must be in the top few percentiles overall. While a perfect score (528) might allow for a few missed questions, a 520 requires near perfection, potentially missing only 5-10 questions across the entire exam, or even just a couple per section on easier tests, say Reddit users. 

The 3 Biggest Barriers to Getting a 520 MCAT score

What is the average MCAT score for Albert Einstein?

Accepted students at Einstein have an average MCAT score of 516. The 10th-90th percentile range is 511-520.

Is 520 a good score?

A 520 credit score is considered poor by FICO and subprime by VantageScore. To help improve a 520 credit score, you can check your credit report for errors, reduce debt and make on-time payments.

What score is 75% correct in MCAT?

A 75% correct score on the MCAT usually translates to a total scaled score around 509-510, placing you at the 75th percentile, meaning you scored better than 75% of test-takers, though the exact scaled score depends on the difficulty of the specific test administration, with sections like Psych/Soc often requiring higher raw percentages for the same scaled score.
 

How many hours to study for MCAT to get 520?

In general, you should spend at least 300–350 total hours studying for the MCAT, and up to 500 hours. This includes content review, taking practice tests, reviewing the practice tests, and studying what you miss.

What is a good MCAT score in Canada?

There are 2 answers to this question. Answer #1: in most recent medical school application cycles, a score of 510-511 and above would be considered a good MCAT score. A good MCAT score would not have any section scores below 127. Anything above 520 is exceptional.

Is 520 a good MCAT score on Reddit?

Many people will never make it to 520+, no matter how hard they try. That's not a reflection on them or their value as a person. Life circumstances and raw intelligence do play a factor. The average matriculant to a M.D program has a 512, which is still a great score.

What percent correct is 520 on MCAT?

A 520 MCAT score puts you in the 97th percentile of all test takers—outstanding for top-tier medical schools. A 515–519 score range is still exceptional and competitive for medical school applicants.

Can I get into an MD school with a 500 MCAT?

What is the lowest MCAT score accepted into medical school? The lowest MCAT scores accepted by medical schools can vary, but generally, MD programs accept scores starting around the lower 500s, with 500-503 being on the lower end.

Has anyone ever gotten a 528 on the MCAT?

Yes, people have achieved a perfect score of 528 on the MCAT, the highest possible score, though it is extremely rare and represents the 100th percentile, making the test-taker a highly competitive applicant for any medical school. Many individuals who have scored a 528 share their strategies online, emphasizing rigorous study schedules, extensive practice with AAMC materials, building strong content knowledge, and developing critical thinking skills through tutoring or teaching. 

What is a top 1% MCAT score?

A top 1% MCAT score generally falls around the 515-520+ range, though the exact score shifts slightly with each testing year's percentiles, with scores like 475-477 often representing the 1st percentile on the total score chart, but a 99th percentile is closer to 520+, requiring near-perfect section scores (131-132) for the highest ranks, with 528 being perfect. 

How rare is a 522 MCAT?

Scores of 520 or higher are rare. An overall MCAT score of 520 equaled or surpassed the performance of 97% of test-takers who took the exam between 2022 and 2024, according to AAMC data.

How to get above 520 on MCAT reddit?

Ok so here is what actually works:

1. anking 20-40 new random cards per day, unlimited reviews.
2. uWorld UNTIMED TUTOR MODE ON. Ideally complete entire q bank by test day. ...
3. 3rd party practice exams. 1 per week. ...
4. Complete all AAMC material in final 30-50 days before your exam. ...
5. Make a detailed schedule and stick to it.

What's the lowest MCAT score accepted by Harvard?

Although HMS does not set a minimum grade point average or minimum MCAT scores, academic excellence is expected. Applicants must post their scores to their AMCAS application in order to be considered in the current application cycle no later than October 22, 2025.

What are the big 4 Caribbean med schools?

The "Big 4" Caribbean medical schools traditionally refer to St. George's University (SGU), Ross University School of Medicine, American University of the Caribbean (AUC), and Saba University School of Medicine, known for strong U.S. residency match rates and eligibility for all 50 states, offering pathways for students seeking U.S. medical careers. These schools provide rigorous programs with global clinical experiences, although some others like American University of Antigua (AUA) and Medical University of the Americas (MUA) are also highly regarded and accredited.
 

What GPA did Einstein get?

Einstein got average marks while in ETH and received his diploma in 1900, is GPA was 4.6 out of 6.0. Einstein eagerly applied to numerous Universities, looking for an assistantship but was denied to all of them.

What score is 90% correct on the MCAT?

Getting 90% correct on the MCAT usually translates to a score in the 90th percentile (around 515+ total), meaning you scored better than 90% of test-takers, with scores of 128-130 per section, though exact raw scores vary by section difficulty and test date due to statistical equating. Achieving this means answering most questions correctly, often around 44-48 questions per section, placing you as a very competitive applicant for medical school. 

What's the hardest section on the MCAT?

Most test-takers find the CARS (Critical Analysis and Reading Skills) section the hardest MCAT section due to its focus on reasoning, inference, and reading comprehension of dense, non-scientific texts, rather than pure knowledge recall. However, some struggle with the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys) section due to complex content like biochemistry pathways and physics concepts, while Behavioral Sciences (Bio/Psych) also presents unique challenges, making the "hardest" section highly individual.
 

What is the average MCAT score for 2025?

The average MCAT score for all medical school applicants in 2025-2026 is 506.1. The average MCAT score for all medical school enrollees was 511.8. As of 2025, the average score for the psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior section is 125.9, the highest of all sections.