What year is best to take the MCAT?

The best year to take the MCAT is generally your junior year of college, ideally by May or June, to apply directly to medical school, but the actual best time depends on your readiness, course completion (prereqs done), and whether you plan a gap year; if you need more prep, senior year or even the summer before is common, with January or later dates allowing for retakes if needed.

What year should I take the MCAT?

If you want to go to medical school right after you graduate, you would need to take your MCAT exam and start the application process your junior year of college (or the year before you would like to enroll.)

Should I take the MCAT my junior or senior year?

Research and expert advice suggest that the best time to take the MCAT is after your first two years of coursework--usually in the spring of your junior year. This timing allows you to complete important classes like chemistry, biology, and physics, which are essential for the exam.

Should I take the MCAT in January or March?

The MCAT exam is offered in January & March through September, and there are thirty MCAT test dates to choose from. Aim to take the MCAT as early in the year as possible, preferably no later than mid-May before AMCAS application submissions begin in early June.

Should I take the MCAT in April or May?

You should plan to take the MCAT for the final time between January and April of your application year. For instance, if you'd like to enroll in medical school in August 2026, you'll want to take your MCAT during the first four months of 2025—that is, no later than April 2025.

How To Decide When To Take the MCAT | How To Choose an MCAT Test Date

How rare is a 525 MCAT?

A 525 MCAT score is extremely rare and exceptional, placing you in the top 1% (100th percentile) of test-takers, just three points shy of a perfect 528, making you a top-tier applicant highly competitive for even the most selective medical schools. While exact numbers vary, only a tiny fraction of test-takers (around 1 in 450 or less) achieve scores of 525+, signifying mastery of the material. 

When should I take the MCAT if I graduate in 2025?

You can take the MCAT in your junior or senior year of undergrad. To get into medical school immediately after your senior year of undergrad, it's best to take the MCAT no later than May of your junior year. If you wait till senior year, you may need to take a gap year before starting medical school.

Which MCAT month is hardest?

Our average examinee score is highest in January (515.5) and lowest in May (511.4). January has been our most popular month (28% of examinees) and August testers achieve the largest ratio of very high scores (28% achieved a 520+). Trying to manage MCAT during the semester is definitely challenging.

What score is 75% on MCAT?

A 75th percentile MCAT score typically falls around a total score of 508-509, placing you above the average test-taker and considered competitive for many medical schools, often requiring roughly 127-128 points per section on the newer exam. While the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) uses precise percentile rankings based on test year, aiming for this range generally means you're in the top quarter of applicants, which is a solid foundation for admissions. 

When should you take the MCAT to avoid a gap year?

If you're wondering when to take the MCAT with no gap year, medical schools normally begin accepting applications in June, so you can take the MCAT anywhere from January to May of your application year.

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.

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. 

How hard is the MCAT realistically?

Yes, the MCAT is widely considered an extremely difficult, long, and challenging standardized test, often cited as one of the toughest graduate entrance exams, requiring deep conceptual understanding, critical thinking, and endurance over its ~7.5 hours, but it is manageable with diligent, smart, and consistent preparation over several months. 

Should I take MCAT junior or senior year?

Most people take the MCAT during or right after their junior year of college. For example, if you want to start medical school in fall 2025 (after your senior year), you may want to take your exam during spring 2024.

What are the most difficult MCAT topics?

Hardest MCAT Questions and How to Tackle Them

• Biology & Biochemistry: Mechanisms of Enzyme Action.
• Physics: Forces and Motion.
• Psychology/Sociology: Social Theories and Behavior.
• Chemistry: Equilibrium and Le Chatelier's Principle.
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

How long should I study for the 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 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. 

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.
 

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. 

Is the MCAT a lot of math?

The MCAT requires you to solve math problems based on knowledge of chemistry, physics, and statistical reasoning, among other things. Although the current MCAT has very few heavy calculations, there are many questions that require you to demonstrate your ability to manipulate some math.

Is the MCAT just memorization?

If acing the MCAT is your goal, you're well aware of the importance of memory. Beyond memorizing facts, the exam demands a deep understanding of complex concepts and the ability to recall and apply that knowledge under pressure.

Has anyone gotten a 528 on MCAT?

Yes, people have achieved a perfect 528 MCAT score, the highest possible score, though it is extremely rare and signifies exceptional performance across all sections (132 in each). Several individuals have shared their experiences and strategies on platforms like Reddit and in interviews, detailing rigorous study plans, extensive practice, and deep content mastery to reach this peak achievement.
 

What is the 32 hour rule for medical school?

The "32-hour rule" in medical school admissions refers to a policy where some medical schools focus on an applicant's GPA from their most recent 32 credit hours, often in science courses, instead of their entire undergraduate GPA, benefiting students with a strong upward trend or a solid post-baccalaureate performance. Schools like Wayne State University and LSU Health New Orleans use variations of this to give more weight to recent academic efforts, allowing strong performance in later coursework or post-bacc programs to shine. 

Is taking the MCAT twice bad?

While many students worry that taking the MCAT twice is bad, medical schools won't care if you take the MCAT twice, especially if you improve your score!

How much does the MCAT cost?

The standard MCAT registration fee is $355 USD, but those qualifying for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program pay $145 USD; additional costs can include rescheduling fees (around $95-$160), international test surcharges (around $130), and substantial prep materials, potentially bringing total expenses to several hundred dollars or more per attempt, with retakes costing the same as the initial exam.