What are the 7 subjects on the MCAT?

The MCAT covers seven core subjects across its four sections: Biology, Biochemistry, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, and Sociology, plus the non-content-based Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS), testing foundational knowledge from introductory courses in these areas and the ability to apply them to complex problems.

What are the 7 MCAT subjects?

The MCAT not only measures your content knowledge in General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General Biology, Biochemistry, Physics, Psychology, and Sociology, it also tests your critical analysis and reasoning skills. Scoring well on the MCAT can greatly increase your chances of getting into your target medical school.

What score is 95% on MCAT?

A 95th percentile score on the MCAT typically corresponds to a total score of 518, meaning you scored higher than 95% of test-takers, placing you in a highly competitive range for medical school admissions. This score reflects excellent performance, with higher percentiles like the 96th percentile often being a 519, and a perfect 528 representing the 100th percentile.
 

How bad is a 487 MCAT score?

A 487 MCAT score is generally considered below average and unlikely to be competitive for most U.S. MD programs, placing you around the 11th-14th percentile, well below the average matriculant score of ~501-510+. While some DO programs or specific circumstances might be possible, you'll need a very strong application (GPA, experiences) and should strongly consider a retake to achieve scores in the low 500s (e.g., 500+) for better chances. 

How many subjects are on the MCAT?

The MCAT is a 7.5-hour exam that consists of four sections: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.

MCAT TUTOR REVEALS: Worst vs Best Study Plan, Acing Chem/Phys, How to Score 515+

What is the hardest subject in MCAT?

Because CARS requires speedy reading and covers often non-medical subjects, a majority of test-takers say that CARS is the hardest MCAT section.

What is 90% correct on 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 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 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.

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.
 

Is the 99th percentile the top 1%?

Yes, the 99th percentile is effectively the top 1% because it signifies you scored better than 99% of the population, placing you in the highest-scoring group, which is the top one percent. If 100 people are ranked, the person at the 99th percentile is above 99 of them, making them the top performer alongside those in that highest bracket. 

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.

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 to memorize for MCAT?

Things to Memorize for the MCAT

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys) ...
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) ...
• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/Biochem) ...
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc)

What level of math is on the MCAT?

What math is covered on the MCAT? The MCAT is primarily a conceptual exam, with little actual mathematical computation. Any math that is on the MCAT is fundamental: just arithmetic, algebra, and trigonometry. There is absolutely no calculus on the MCAT.

How long should I study for MCAT?

You should plan to study for the MCAT for 2 to 4 months (200-350 hours) if studying full-time, or 4 to 6 months (300-350 hours) if balancing it with other commitments like work or school, focusing on content review and practice, with high-scorers often putting in a full semester's worth of effort. A common approach involves 3-4 months for content and strategy, with 25-40 hours per week, while a longer, part-time plan might be 2-3 hours daily for 5-6 months. 

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.

Is 2 months enough to study for MCAT retake?

If you're going to retake the MCAT, you'll need to allocate anywhere from 10 to 30 hours a week of prep time for two to four months. Plan your MCAT test date and study schedule accordingly.

Is 3 MCAT attempt 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 is an Ivy League MCAT score?

Dedicate enough time to preparing for the MCAT: Though your MCAT score isn't the only stat considered, the average MCAT score of Ivy League med school matriculants is 519 or higher.

What is the most difficult section of the MCAT?

The hardest MCAT section is subjective, but many test-takers find CARS (Critical Analysis and Reading Skills) the most difficult due to its non-scientific, logic-based nature and need for rapid comprehension, while others struggle with the dense content and complex problem-solving in the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys) section, especially physics and organic chemistry concepts, and some find the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc) section's nuanced theories challenging.
 

Can you get into med school with a 505 MCAT?

You'll need a minimum score in the 490-495 range to be accepted into any medical school that requires the MCAT.

How many questions can you get wrong for a 520 MCAT?

To get a 520 on the MCAT, you generally need to miss very few questions, perhaps only a handful across the entire test, but the exact number isn't fixed because scoring is scaled and depends on the test's overall difficulty and other test-takers' performance, meaning you could miss a few and still score high (around 97th percentile) or need near perfection. You can miss one or two questions per section and still score a perfect 132 on that section, but hitting a 520 (which requires high section scores like 130+) means extreme accuracy, often under 10 errors total for the whole exam. 

What percent of MCAT is biochem?

Academic disciplines:

First-semester biochemistry, 25% Introductory biology, 65% General chemistry, 5%