Is 127 a good MCAT section score?

Yes, a 127 is a very good MCAT section score, generally considered above average and competitive for most medical school applicants, often placing around the 75th percentile or higher, though top-tier programs might prefer higher scores (128+) in certain sections like CARS. A score of 127 signals strength in that area, with averages for accepted students often hovering around 127-129 per section, depending on the subject.

Is 127 good for MCAT?

A good MCAT score is generally considered to be 511 or higher, with no section score below 127. The MCAT, also known as the Medical College Admission Test, is a computer-based standardized exam designed to assess your potential as a medical student and doctor.

What is a good MCAT section score?

What is a Good MCAT Score? A good score on the MCAT is often considered to be a 511 or above, with each of the four individual MCAT sections averaging 128 or higher. This score will put you right in line with the average MCAT score of students who have been accepted into medical school.

How many questions wrong is a 127 MCAT?

In order to get around a 127 on the CARS section, you need to miss no more than 10-13 questions. There will definitely be some variability on how many you can get wrong on MCAT CARS exams administered. But that is usually the average you could get wrong and still get a 127. There are 9 passages on each MCAT CARS exam.

What's the hardest section of 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.
 

The Only MCAT Guide You Need For 100th Percentile (+ Free Resources in the Description)

What is the lowest acceptable MCAT score?

The MCAT is scored between 472 and 528, with the average test-taker scoring around 501. Most competitive medical schools expect 510+, but there are programs with: Lower minimum cutoffs (498–502) Lower average accepted scores (500–505)

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 is the most heavily tested subject on the MCAT?

The biological and biochemical sciences are the most heavily tested subjects on the MCAT. While other subjects like chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology are also important, the biological and biochemical sciences remain consistently prominent and heavily tested on the MCAT.

Can you miss a question and still get a 1600?

Yes! 1600 is not just a good SAT® score; it's a perfect SAT® score. Like the ACT®, depending on the particular test, there is sometimes leeway on getting a perfect SAT® score. In other words, there are edge cases where you may be able to get one Reading question wrong and still get an 800 for your section score.

Do med schools care about MCAT section scores?

Some medical schools expect students to achieve minimum section scores. While it's difficult to know each school's thresholds, it may be worth taking the MCAT exam again if one of your section scores (most commonly CARS) is 5 or more points below all others.

What is the most common MCAT score?

MCAT Self-Paced

For comparison, the average MCAT score for students admitted to an MD program in the United States in 2022–2023 is between 511 and 512, with an average GPA of 3.75. (Source: AAMC ).

Is 128 CARS good?

Yes, a 128 on the MCAT's CARS (Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills) section is generally considered a very good to excellent score, placing you around the 90th percentile and making you a competitive applicant for medical school by demonstrating strong reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. While average scores vary, 128+ is often seen as a benchmark for strong performance, though top-tier programs might favor 130+. 

What is a bad first MCAT score?

However, if you want to get accepted into a top medical school, you will probably need to aim for a score significantly higher than this. A great score is 515 to 528 (the maximum possible score), while an average score is 502 to 508. In contrast, a poor score is 501 and below.

What is a respectable MCAT score?

A good MCAT score is generally 511 or higher, aligning with the average for accepted MD students, but this varies by school, with top programs seeking 518+, while a score of 508+ is competitive for many MD/DO programs, and balanced section scores (127+ per section) are crucial.
 

How many questions can you miss on the MCAT to get a 125?

In the CARS section with 53 questions, you can usually get: 5 wrong answers (90% accuracy) and score 130 (top 5%) 10 wrong answers (83% accuracy) and score 127-128 (top 25%) 15 wrong answers (72% accuracy) and score 125 (top 50%)

What's the hardest section on MCAT?

A majority of examinees say that CARS is the hardest MCAT section. CARS requires precise critical analysis of verbose, lengthy passages that often cover non-medical subjects. Is the MCAT all multiple-choice? The MCAT is made up of 230 entirely multiple-choice questions.

What is the Harvard MCAT score?

For Harvard Medical School (HMS), the average MCAT score for admitted students is extremely high, typically around 520-521, with most successful applicants scoring well above 512, often in the 515-528 range, though Harvard doesn't have a minimum score but expects exceptional academic performance, making scores like 520+ highly competitive. 

Is the MCAT mostly memorization?

The MCAT is not a memorization test. Let me be more specific: it's much more about recall than it is about recognition. When you're prepping for the Psych/Soc section of the MCAT, you'll learn about different types of memory—sensory, working, procedural, episodic—how memory is stored, and how it's retrieved.

What percentile is a 128 on MCAT?

A 128 catapults you to the 90th percentile, indicating top-tier reading and reasoning skills. A 130 reaches the 98th percentile, a rare score that can set your application apart, even if your overall MCAT score isn't perfect.

What is the lowest MCAT score accepted into med school?

Yes, you can get into several medical schools with a 503 MCAT score. Many medical schools accept scores as low as 494, though students with a 503 will likely be more competitive at DO programs than MD programs.

What score is considered failing the MCAT?

There is no definitive pass or fail score for the MCAT; rather, each medical school sets its own criteria for acceptable scores. To determine the score needed for a particular medical school, it's best to consult the specific school's requirements or visit their website.

What is the easiest MD medical school to get into?

There are no truly "easy" medical schools, but some have higher acceptance rates or lower average GPA/MCAT scores, often focusing on regional needs or specific missions, like University of Mississippi, East Carolina University (Brody), University of North Dakota, Mercer University, Meharry Medical College, University of North Dakota, and University of New Mexico. Osteopathic (DO) schools like William Carey, Arkansas COM, Pikeville KYCOM, and Lincoln Memorial are also frequently listed as having higher acceptance rates than top MD programs. 

What is the average MCAT score for Vanderbilt?

Vanderbilt Medical School Admissions Statistics

Average MCAT: 521 (with a median of 521.2) Applications received: 6,873. Acceptance rate: ~1.5%

Why DO schools accept lower MCAT scores?

This approach allows schools to evaluate not just academic achievement but also a candidate's character, passion for medicine, and ability to contribute to the medical community. In some cases, applicants with slightly lower MCAT scores may still be admitted if their overall application is particularly strong.