Is 8 months enough time to study for MCAT?

Yes, 8 months is generally considered plenty of time, even ample, to study for the MCAT, allowing for thorough content review and practice, especially if balancing other commitments like work or school, with many sources recommending 4-6 months as sufficient. An 8-month timeline provides flexibility for non-traditional students or those with weaker science backgrounds, enabling a strong foundation through focused hours (around 300-350 total hours are typical) without burnout, though the key is consistent, quality study, not just time.

Is 8 months enough time to study for the MCAT?

From what I seem to have gathered, the rough average MCAT prep time is about 300-450 hours (keep in mind that's an average, and a rough one). This will depend on personal aptitude, how well you did in your core classes, whether or not you're already expert at Anki, etc.

Is 6 months long enough to study for the MCAT?

Yes, for most students six months is enough time to study for the MCAT. Kaplan recommends studying for the MCAT over a period of four to six months for a total of 300 to 350 hours.

Why is my MCAT score not improving as much after studying for 8 months?

🚩 Ignoring content gaps – If you keep getting the same questions wrong and just move on, you're not improving. Keep an error log, review weak spots regularly, and spend extra time hammering down the concepts you struggle with. After every practice exam, dedicate at least two days to thoroughly reviewing every question.

How long is a good time to study for the MCAT?

Believe it or not, most students who do well on the MCAT spend between 200 and 300 hours preparing for the exam. When you start your prep will be determined by your test date and by what other work and academic commitments you have—usually 3 to 6 months before your exam.

5 Things I Wish I Knew About the MCAT

Is 491 a bad MCAT score?

Yes, a 491 is generally considered a low MCAT score, placing you in the lower percentiles (around the 20th percentile) and significantly below the average (around 500-501) and competitive scores (511+) for most MD programs, making admission difficult but not impossible, especially for DO or Caribbean schools with lower averages, or if balanced with a stellar GPA/experiences, though a retake is often recommended for better MD chances.
 

How rare is a 525 MCAT?

A 525 MCAT score is extremely rare and exceptional, placing you in the 100th percentile, meaning you scored better than 100% of test-takers in recent years (2022-2024) and are just 3 points shy of a perfect score (528). This score is considered a top-tier score for the most selective medical schools, putting you in a statistically tiny fraction of applicants, as scores above 520 represent the top 1-3%. 

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. 

Is 512 MCAT too low?

No, a 512 MCAT score is not bad; it's a strong, competitive score, generally around the 84th percentile, meaning you scored better than most test-takers and are competitive for many MD programs, with averages often around 511-512 for admitted students, though higher scores (515+) boost chances for top-tier schools. It's a solid score that allows for broad applications, but consider your overall profile (GPA, experiences) and target schools, as very selective programs may prefer scores above 515. 

How rare is a 528 MCAT?

A 528 MCAT score is extremely rare, representing a perfect score achieved by only a handful of students (around 30-70) out of hundreds of thousands who take the test annually, placing them in the 100th percentile, but it's not a necessity for medical school admission as many accepted students score significantly lower. It signifies flawless performance with perfect scores (132) on all four sections (CARS, CP, BB, PS) and is statistically a near-impossible feat, though achievable by dedicated planners. 

What would a 70% on the MCAT be?

A 70th percentile on the MCAT means you scored better than 70% of test-takers, which generally translates to a total score around 507-508, placing you in a competitive range for MD medical school admissions, though specific school averages vary. Your actual score might differ slightly as percentiles shift, but this score is strong, showing solid performance above the average (around 500).
 

Is it hard to get a 510 on the MCAT?

It is not hard to get a 510 as it is at the 80th percentile. That means 20 percent of test takers score 510 or better, which means it is a very reachable goal. However, it requires a lot of studying to get a high MCAT score. Fortunately, at 510 and up, you'll be a competitive candidate.

Can I take the MCAT in 3 months?

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.

How many months to study for MCAT while working full time?

An MCAT study schedule with a full time job or for a student going to school may look more like 2 to 3 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 5 to 6 months. Those planning to study full-time, on the other hand, may end up studying 6 to 8 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 2 to 3 months.

Does the MCAT always start at 8am?

The standard start time is 8:00 a.m. each day unless otherwise noted below. Scores are released by 5:00 p.m. ET on the scheduled score release date.

Is 6 months too long to study for MCAT Reddit?

200-300 hours is the average recommendation I believe, so you're good there. But, you're gonna need to make sure you don't burn out. 6months is a long time and if you're studying 30 hours a week + working, you may be pushing yourself too much.

Should I retake a 518 MCAT?

You scored a 518 or higher.

With scores at this level, an MCAT retake is not necessary because schools will consider you to be academically elite.

How rare is a 518 MCAT?

If you scored a 518 on the MCAT, this means you performed in the 96th percentile according to most recent AAMC statistics, and you now have a competitive score for med-school admission.

What score is a 70% on the MCAT?

A 70th percentile on the MCAT means you scored better than 70% of test-takers, which generally translates to a total score around 507-508, placing you in a competitive range for MD medical school admissions, though specific school averages vary. Your actual score might differ slightly as percentiles shift, but this score is strong, showing solid performance above the average (around 500).
 

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. 

Can I get into med school with a 507 MCAT?

Whilst it's certainly possible to get into a medical school with a 507 or below (and there have been cases of students accepted with sub-500 scores), it's unlikely – especially if you're applying for a more competitive college. In general, it's difficult to get accepted with an MCAT score below 500.

How many questions can you miss on MCAT to get 520?

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. 

Should I retake the MCAT if I got a 505?

If you scored 499-505 your first time, you should probably retake the MCAT. If you scored 506-511, you may not need to retake, but you could if you know you'd score much higher — especially if you're applying to Ivy League schools.

Who took the MCAT 7 times?

Andy took the MCAT exam seven times and applied to medical school twice before getting one interview and acceptance. He reminds premeds to have faith in themselves and that perseverance and grit are important for a career in medicine.

Do you need to get every question right to get a 528?

The highest possible score on the MCAT is a scaled score of 528. While challenging, this can be achieved by scoring 132 on each of the 4 sections of the test, adding to the “perfect” score of 528. This does not mean you have to get every answer correct on the exam.