Is it bad to retake the MCAT 3 times?
Asked by: Prof. Fletcher Brekke | Last update: September 10, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (71 votes)
Retaking the MCAT multiple times isn't necessarily bad as long as your score improves each time. If your score worsens with each attempt or stays the same, it won't strengthen your med school application.
Is taking the MCAT three times a red flag?
Taking the MCAT a third time with marked improvement will absolutely not hurt their chances, especially when they haven't even gone through an application cycle. Most schools I looked at applying only considered your latest score, and only considered past scores of you scored lower on your latest (red flag).
How many MCAT attempts are too many?
MCAT examinees can test up to three times in one calendar year and four times across two calendar years. An examinee cannot take the exam more than seven times in their lifetime. Not showing up for an exam counts as an attempt toward the lifetime limit. Voided scores count as an attempt toward the lifetime limit.
Do med schools look down on retaking MCAT?
Like reapplying to medical school, retaking the MCAT does not inherently look bad. That said, you should strive to take the MCAT as few times as possible.
How many times do people usually take the MCAT?
Is taking the MCAT multiple times detrimental to your application? Not necessarily — it's good to take the MCAT as few times as you can. Medical schools don't generally ding you for having 3 or fewer tests on your application.
Should You Retake the MCAT? | 3 Questions to Ask Yourself
Is it okay to take the MCAT three times?
Retaking the MCAT isn't a red flag, and even three attempts may not impact your admissions decision, although we recommend performing your best on the first two tests.
Is 518 a good MCAT score?
According to recent AAMC stats, a 518 on the MCAT is not a bad score because it's an above-average MCAT score, and it is competitive for med-school admission: A 518 is 96 percentile rank on the MCAT.
What MCAT score should I not retake?
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 the MCAT, but you could if you were certain you'd score much higher (especially if you have your sights set on the Ivy League).
Should I retake the MCAT if I scored 512?
You should retake a 512 MCAT score if your score is not balanced among the 4 sections, or if your target med-school(s) require a higher score for you to be competitive.
Is 510 a good MCAT score?
There are 2 answers to this question. Answer #1: in most recent medical school application cycles, a score of 510-511 and above would be considered a good MCAT score. A good MCAT score would not have any section scores below 127. Anything above 520 is exceptional.
Is retaking the MCAT common?
On average, 38 percent of all MCAT test takers retake the MCAT. It should be noted that there is no shame in retaking the MCAT. There are thousands of doctors who took the MCAT two and even three times.
What's the lowest MCAT score?
Total Score: Scores for the four sections are combined to create a total score. The total score ranges from 472 to 528. The midpoint is 500.
Can med schools see all MCAT attempts?
But when it comes to MCAT, it doesn't work that way. Bryan adds that when it comes to the MCAT, all of your scores are reported to the med schools. This means every single time you've taken the MCAT except if you void your score. Voiding is not reported to med schools.
Should I retake a 507 MCAT?
For example, that 507 is definitely too low for a school in which the median MCAT score is 520 and the low end of the 10th percentile is 514. In general, if your score falls significantly short of the median of previously accepted students for the programs that interest you, you should probably consider retesting.
How to ace the MCAT in 3 months?
- Week 1: Diagnostic Test and Study Plan Setup.
- Weeks 2-3: Intensive Content Review.
- Week 4: First Full-Length Exam.
- Weeks 5-6: Focused Practice and Adaptive Review.
- Week 7: Second Full-Length Exam.
- Week 8: Time for Reflection and Growth.
- Weeks 9-10: Final Content Review and Practice.
What happens if you do worse on your second MCAT?
While it's true that you can take the MCAT three times in the same year and seven times in a lifetime, medical schools can see how you scored on each attempt. If you score even lower on a second or third attempt, admissions committees will not see you as a worthwhile investment.
Is 480 a bad MCAT score?
Is 480 a Bad MCAT Score? A 480 on the MCAT is a below-average score. According to recent AAMC stats: A 480 is 3 percentile rank on the MCAT.
Do medical schools see if you void MCAT?
How does voiding your MCAT work? A voided exam will not be scored or appear on your record. Schools you apply to will not know that this attempt happened.
What is a 491 MCAT score?
If you scored a 491 on the MCAT, this means you performed in the 20 percentile according to most recent AAMC statistics, and are 20 points away from a competitive 511.
Will a 500 MCAT get me into med-school?
Minimum MCAT Score Accepted Into Med School
Medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada that necessitate the MCAT typically accept scores ranging from 490-495 at the minimum. Scores below 490 are rarely if ever, accepted. Interestingly, a vast majority of individuals score above this range.
Is it better to void or retake MCAT?
Voiding your MCAT can be tempting when anxiety kicks in, but it's important to trust your preparation. Unless you are facing a serious emergency, keeping your score is usually the better choice—even if you plan to retake the test.
Is 504 a good MCAT score?
Considering that a 504 is quite close to the average MCAT score of a 501, it's not very competitive for med-school admission. With a 504, you might make some med-school score cutoffs, but the rest of your application needs to be very competitive to make you a viable candidate for most med-schools.
Does it look bad to take the MCAT multiple times?
Again, medical schools don't care if you have multiple MCAT tests on your application.
How rare is a 525 MCAT?
525 MCAT Score
The answer depends on several factors including what type of medical school (MD vs DO vs Canadian) you're interested in, and most importantly, your individual section scores. Attaining a score of 525 on the MCAT means you performed in the 100% percentile.