What percentile is a 128 on MCAT?

An MCAT score of 128 falls into different percentiles depending on the section, generally placing it around the 75th to 90th percentile; it's roughly the 85th percentile for Chemical & Physical Foundations (CPBS), the 90th percentile for CARS, the 84th percentile for Biological & Biochemical Foundations (BBLS), and the 76th percentile for Psychological, Social, & Biological Foundations (PSBB), making it a strong score, especially in CARS.

Is 128 a good MCAT score?

The average MCAT score is 506.3 for applicants and 511.7 for matriculants (based on 2023 to 2024 data). Average scores for applicants by section are CPBS: 126.4, CARS: 125.8, BBLS: 126.6, and PSBB: 127.4. Average scores for matriculants by section are CPBS: 127.8, CARS: 127.0, BBLS: 128.1, and PSBB: 128.9.

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. 

What MCAT score is 95th percentile?

A 95th percentile MCAT score is typically a total score of 518, meaning you scored better than 95% of test-takers, placing you in a highly competitive range for medical school admissions, though this can shift slightly annually with new data. Scores around this range (e.g., 518-521) are excellent, indicating strong performance, with the highest percentile (100th) achieved at scores of 524-528. 

What percentile is 127 on the MCAT for cars?

MCAT Score Ranges

In terms of test sections, the average scores of accepted applicants in 2019-20 was 127.8 (83rd percentile) for Physical Sciences, 127 (82nd percentile) for CARS, 128.1 (83rd percentile) for Biological Sciences and 128.6 (84th percentile) for Behavioral Sciences.

5 Tips to Achieve a 99.9th Percentile MCAT Score

Is 99th percentile the same as top 1%?

In such cases, the 99th percentile is typically the highest, representing the top 1 percent of data points, while the bottom 1 percent fall into the 0th percentile. One common way to calculate percentiles is to use index values for the data points in a set.

Is 127 a good MCAT section score?

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 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 average MCAT score 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 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.
 

Should I retake a 516 MCAT?

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. 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.

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.
 

What is the average MCAT at Harvard?

But every school varies in what they consider a “strong” score. The top schools will have high average MCAT scores: for example, Harvard and Stanford have average scores of 520 and 518, respectively. [1] [2] A high MCAT score certainly does not guarantee an acceptance letter at the most competitive medical schools.

What score is 50% correct on MCAT?

A 50% on the MCAT means you scored around the average (median) score, which is approximately a total score of 500-501, placing you at the 50th percentile (or slightly below, depending on the exact date) – better than half of test-takers but below average for successful medical school matriculants, who often score much higher. Each section (118-132) has its own 50th percentile around 125. 

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.

How important are MCAT percentiles vs GPA?

A 3.5/30 will make you relevant at most medical schools, but you may need 3.5/33 to be competitive. A high MCAT score can bring up a lower GPA – and vice versa – but only to a certain extent. A low score on either will draw red flags, making you unlikely to be accepted.

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

It varies so there's no way to know, but general rule of thumb is 3-4 questions per section is a point. So 132 - 125 = 7 and 7x3 is 21. So you can miss like 21-28 questions per section and get a 125.

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 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 the average MCAT score for admitted students?

Accepted students often have MCAT scores between 510 and 528, with median scores usually around 518 to 520. These high scores reflect the rigorous standards and competitiveness of top institutions.

What IQ puts you in the 99th percentile?

An IQ score in the 99th percentile means you scored higher than 99% of the population, typically corresponding to an IQ of around 135 or above, indicating exceptional intelligence, though exact numbers can vary slightly by test and standardization, with the 99th percentile representing the top 1% of people.
 

Is the 95th percentile the top 5%?

Yes, the 95th percentile is the same as the top 5%, meaning that 95% of the data points fall below that value, and only 5% fall above it, indicating excellent standing in most contexts like test scores or performance metrics. It marks the point where you've surpassed almost everyone, excluding the highest outliers.
 

Is it better or worse to be in a higher percentile?

A student's percentile rank indicates that the student scored as well as, or better than, the percent of students in the norm group. For example, a student scoring at the 35th percentile scored as well as, or better than, 35 percent of students in the norm group.