What percentile is Duke MCAT?

Duke University School of Medicine typically requires an MCAT score in the 96th to 97th percentile or higher, with an average matriculant score of approximately 519 5 1 9 - 520 5 2 0 . This score range corresponds to the top echelon of test-takers, reflecting the highly competitive nature of admissions with a median score of 520 5 2 0 reported recently.

What MCAT score do I need for Duke?

What is the minimum MCAT score? The minimum MCAT score is 500. While the MCAT will be one factor of your application review, we expect a minimum level of academic competency to be able to be successful in the fast-paced curriculum.

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. 

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 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. 

5 Tips to Achieve a 99.9th Percentile MCAT Score

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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?

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's the highest MCAT score ever recorded?

What Is the Highest MCAT Score? The highest total MCAT score is 528, and the highest MCAT score per section is 132. In terms of percentile rankings, the highest percentile is 99+, which means you scored better than 99% of test-takers.

Is it harder to get into Duke or MIT?

It's generally harder to get into MIT than Duke, as MIT has a lower acceptance rate (around 4-5%) compared to Duke (around 6-8%), though both are exceptionally selective, requiring near-perfect academics, significant extracurriculars, and strong STEM focus for MIT. While MIT is statistically tougher due to its STEM focus and extreme competitiveness, Duke is also extremely difficult and emphasizes leadership, making admission tough at both, just with slightly different profiles. 

What is the average MCAT for Johns Hopkins?

Johns Hopkins Medical School MCAT Requirements

Similar to the average GPA for Johns Hopkins, the average MCAT is very high at 521. In our experience, students should have an MCAT of 516 or higher to be competitive for an interview invitation.

What's the hardest medical school to get into in the US?

The hardest US medical schools to get into are consistently top-ranked institutions like NYU Grossman, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Stanford, UPenn, Columbia, UCSF, Mayo Clinic Alix, and Washington University (WashU), known for extremely low acceptance rates (often under 3-4%) and very high average MCAT scores (around 520-523) and GPAs (around 3.9+). These schools attract vast applicant pools, making selectivity incredibly high, with some schools even seeing acceptance rates below 2% or 1%.
 

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.

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 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 the average MCAT score for Albert Einstein?

Accepted students at Einstein have an average MCAT score of 516. The 10th-90th percentile range is 511-520.

Has anyone gotten 100% on MCAT?

In fact, students who scored 524 or higher on the exam are considered in the 100th percentile, meaning they scored higher than all other test-takers. With all these points considered, getting a perfect MCAT score is challenging but not impossible.

What is the hardest exam in the world, MCAT?

The Medical College Admission Test, commonly known as the MCAT, stands as a formidable hurdle for aspiring medical professionals. It is widely regarded as one of the most challenging tests in the world as it assesses a multitude of skills and knowledge that are essential for success in the field of medicine.

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.
 

What rank is 99.9 percentile in JEE Mains?

Key Insight: A 99.9 percentile typically corresponds to top 1,000-1,500 ranks, while a 99 percentile translates to approximately 8,000-10,000 rank range. Based on previous years' trends and expert analysis, here's the expected JEE Main marks vs percentile conversion for 2026.