Are your MCAT scores good enough to get you into the medical school program of your choice?

A "good" MCAT score is one that puts you near or above the average percentile for matriculants at your target medical schools. For comparison, the average MCAT score for students admitted to an MD program in the United States in 2016–2017 is between 508 and 509, with an average GPA of 3.65-3.75 (Source: AAMC).

good mcat scores

Guide to MCAT Scoring

The highest MCAT score possible is a 528. The MCAT scale is centered so that a 500 represents the mean score. AAMC recommends that med school admission committees consider applicants near the center of the range, rather than placing the most emphasis on the higher end of the scale. 

MCAT Raw Score

The MCAT is a scaled exam, meaning that your raw score (based on the number of questions you got right) is converted into a  scaled score that takes into account the difficulty of the questions.

MCAT Score Range

Each MCAT section is scored on a scale of 118–132 (highest). Your MCAT total score (whch is the sum of your section scores) ranges from 472–528. Because different versions of the test have varying levels of difficulty, the scale will be slightly different from one MCAT administration to the next.

MCAT Percentiles

You’ll receive a percentile rank along with your MCAT score to help you compare how you did with other test takers. Did you get a percentile rank of 50? You scored higher or equal to 50% of other test takers! The higher your MCAT percentile, the better.

Here are some sample MCAT percentiles from the latest MCAT percentile ranks released by AAMC, effective May 1, 2017—April 30, 2018.

MCAT Total ScoreMCAT Percentile Rank

523–528

100
517 95
514 91
511 85
509 80
507 74
505 67
502 57
500 50

0ur medical school admission experts recommend that you aim for a total score of a 509 or above. This score places you in the 80th  percentile of MCAT scores, according to AAMC.

Remember that if your GPA is on the low side, you’ll need higher MCAT scores to compensate, and if you have a strong GPA, you can get away with lower MCAT scores.

Read More:  Medical School Requirements: How Important is GPA?

Average MCAT Scores: How Do Your Scores Measure Up?

Use resources like the  MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirements) database to help you compare your grades and scores to the average scores for the med schools on your list. The MSAR Online is available for a $27 subscription fee to students looking for information on U.S. and Canadian medical schools.

You can also find average GPA and acceptance rates for many medical schools in our online medical school profiles. Just use our med school search to find the program you want to research. 

Compare your grades and scores to the stats for the med schools on your list to get a sense of how you'd compete. Read our tips for how to decide if you should retake the MCAT.

The Total Package

The reality is that your chances of acceptance depend on a lot more than just good MCAT scores. It’s a combination of the following pieces of your med school application:

  • your GPA
  • your MCAT scores
  • your undergraduate coursework
  • letters of recommendation
  • experience related to the medical field (such as volunteer work or research)
  • extracurricular activities
  • your personal statement, etc.

Medical schools are looking for a complete package, not just strong scores and a high GPA.

Read More: How To Make Your Med School Application Stand Out

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