Is a 521 MCAT good?

Yes, a 521 MCAT score is exceptional, placing you in the top 2% of test-takers (98th percentile) and making you a highly competitive applicant for virtually any medical school, including top-tier programs, though it's still crucial to have strong extracurriculars, essays, and GPA for overall success.

Should I retake a 521 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.

Is 521 a good score 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.

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.

Is 512 a good MCAT score?

512 is a safe score because it's the average accepted score .

THIS Mistake Almost COST Me a 521 on the MCAT

Can I get into medical school with a 512?

For acceptance at top medical schools in the U.S., MCAT scores typically fall within a highly competitive range. Accepted students often have MCAT scores between 510 and 528, with median scores usually around 518 to 520.

What percent of people get a 512 on the MCAT?

While the national average MCAT score is 500.5 for the 2025-2026 academic year, prospective students need to score 512 — closer to the 85th percentile — to have a real shot at getting into medical school.

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. 

Should I retake a 518 MCAT reddit?

I mean first of all a 518 is a score that should almost never be retook and even for competitive schools like you listed, there are plenty of applicants with similar scores. Is exceptional for those schools? No, but it will barely be held against you, if at all.

Is a 517 MCAT too low?

Attaining a score of 517 on the MCAT® means you performed in the 96% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 129 (C/P) 130 (CARS) 129 (B/B) 129 (P/S).

Should I retake the MCAT if I got a 500?

Bottom line: If you scored 498 or below, I definitely recommend retaking the MCAT. If you scored 499-505 your first time, you should probably retake the MCAT.

What is a realistic MCAT score?

The average MCAT score for all applicants is currently between a 506 and 507. The average MCAT score for matriculants (those who've been accepted and have registered to attend a med school) is between a 511 and a 512.

Is 521 a good score?

Your score falls within the range of scores, from 300 to 579, considered Very Poor. A 521 FICO® ScoreΘ is significantly below the average credit score.

Can I get into Harvard with a 519 MCAT?

For top-tier MD programs like Harvard, Stanford, and NYU Grossman, you're looking at an average MCAT between 519 and 523. That means scoring in the 97th–99th percentile. But don't stop at the number. Those schools expect everything: academic excellence, leadership, service, and a clear sense of purpose.

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.

Is retaking the MCAT a red flag?

Retaking the MCAT isn't an automatic red flag, but it warrants careful management; consistent improvement with each retake is positive, showing resilience, while stagnant or declining scores raise concerns, suggesting potential issues with preparation or readiness, requiring a strong explanation in your application. Most schools look at your highest score, but multiple attempts (especially 3+) can draw attention, so demonstrating significant growth, strengthening other application areas (GPA, experience), and having a solid narrative is crucial for success.
 

How hard is it to get a 518 on the MCAT?

Attaining a score of 518 on the MCAT® means you performed in the 97% percentile.

Can I get into MD with a 505 MCAT?

Assuming a good cumulative GPA (i.e., 3.5+) and well-written application essays, we suggest the following rough program breakdowns depending on your MCAT total score: 511+: 100% MD programs; 0% DO programs. 506–510: 75% MD programs, 25% DO programs. 500–505: 25–50% MD programs; 50–75% DO programs.

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.

Can you get into med 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.

What is 90% correct on MCAT?

Getting 90% correct on the MCAT isn't a fixed score but roughly translates to a high 120s to low 130s per section, placing you in the 90th percentile (around 515 total score), making you a very strong candidate, though scores vary by section difficulty and question weighting, with 5-10 wrong often being a 128-130 range in practice tests. A 90% accuracy means around 5-10 wrong answers out of ~53 questions in a section, but precise conversions depend on the test's equating. 

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.
 

Is the MCAT harder than the SAT?

Yes, the MCAT is widely considered significantly harder than the SAT, as it's much longer (nearly 8 hours vs. ~3 hours), requires extensive, specialized science knowledge (biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, psychology, sociology), and tests advanced critical thinking in complex, passage-based scientific contexts, unlike the SAT's high school-level content. The MCAT demands hundreds of hours of dedicated study, making it a formidable challenge even for high-achievers who did well on the SAT.