Is the MCAT hard or just long?
Asked by: Dr. Florian Abshire | Last update: September 6, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (36 votes)
It's a long test. There are only 230 questions in this test, but with their complexity, test-takers are given 7 hours and 30 minutes to answer them. This makes the MCAT one of the longest tests out there and makes it hard for test takers to score high.
How hard is the MCAT actually?
The MCAT is considered one of the toughest grad school entrance exams in the US. It tests biology, physics, and critical thinking, so prep and sharp thinking are crucial. With dedicated study and practice, many students achieve the scores needed for med school.
What is 90% correct on MCAT?
This score will put you right in line with the average MCAT score of students who have been accepted into medical school. However, if you're looking to be above average, a score of 515 or above will put you in the 90th percentile, which will look great on your application!
Is the MCAT hard in Canada?
Yes, you will need to know some important details, but more importantly, you will need to apply your knowledge about biology to information that the MCAT introduces in a passage. That brings us to the next reason why the MCAT is a harder-than-average exam.
What is the hardest section of the MCAT?
While the MCAT CARS is often considered the toughest MCAT section, the hardest MCAT subject will vary. One test-taker might find the biology subjects to be harder than chemistry, because of the huge amount of information covered. Or you might struggle more with physics and math than biology subjects.
How I Scored a 520 on the MCAT! Resources + Study Schedule from a 98th Percentile Scorer
How rare is a 528 MCAT?
0.021% of 273,860 students brings us to our final answer: 58 students. Since this method is not perfect, we'll leave you with a range; between 30 and 70 students every year achieve a perfect 528 MCAT. This is out of the nearly three hundred thousand students who take the exam.
Is 512 a competitive MCAT score?
The average first-attempt MCAT score for U.S. and Canadian examinees is around 500 out of a maximum of 528. To be a competitive applicant, you should set your target above 510.
Is a 3.9 GPA good for med school in Canada?
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Based on statistics from recent admissions cycles, a minimum GPA of 3.8 is considered competitive.
Can you do well on the MCAT without studying?
It would be nearly impossible to pass the MCAT without studying.
Which is harder, MCAT or LSAT?
The difficulty of the LSAT vs MCAT is subjective and depends on an individual's strengths and interests. Some may find the MCAT more challenging due to its extensive scientific content, while others may struggle more with the LSAT because of its emphasis on logical reasoning and comprehension skills.
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.
Can I get into med-school with a 495 MCAT?
You'll need a minimum score in the 490-495 range to be accepted into any medical school that requires the MCAT. Anything lower than 490 is very unlikely to be acceptable.
Is the MCAT a lot of math?
The MCAT is essentially a science test, but you'll still need a solid grasp of math fundamentals to score big —and you cannot use a calculator. Our experts compiled a list of MCAT math topics to prep for along with some tips for doing math calculations by hand.
What is the easiest subject on the MCAT?
The CARS section on the MCAT is often considered the easiest section. This is because it doesn't test any specific knowledge on a particular subject.
Is the MCAT mostly memorization?
You do, of course, need to memorize some things for the MCAT, but by and large, the MCAT is about recall and association: drawing the connections between subjects. This format actually mirrors how memories are organized in the brain: in semantic networks.
Is the MCAT harder than med school?
The difficulty level of the MCAT will not come close to a fraction of how hard medical school is. The latter is an arduous process that doesn't just involve a lot of studying. Its practice comes with a very heavy pressure that makes students ultimately scared of making a mistake.
Do medical schools see all MCAT attempts?
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. So all of your scores are reported.
Do you have to be smart to do well on MCAT?
You do not need to be a genius to get a good score on the MCAT. You need to work hard. Put the proper study techniques in place to get good grades. You may struggle with the subjects but it doesn't tell you that you're smart or not.
What is the hardest med school to get into Canada?
- Queen's University School of Medicine – 1.9%
- University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine – 3.7%
- McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine – 4.07%
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine – 4.66%
- University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine – 6.4%
Is a 3.6 too low for med school?
What is the minimum GPA to apply to med school? The minimum GPA for most med schools is 3.0. But if you're a pre-med student, you'll need to aim for a GPA of 3.6 or higher to be a competitive applicant. In 2022-2023, the mean science and overall GPA of matriculants were 3.68 and 3.75, respectively.
What major is best for med school?
According to this data, there are three major groups—humanities, math and statistics, and physical sciences—that enjoy higher admissions rates than others. In fact, these are the only three groups that get into medical school at a rate greater than 45 percent.
Has anyone gotten a 528 on the MCAT?
Though getting the highest score on MCAT is a challenging feat, some prospective med school students have gotten a perfect score. The highest possible MCAT score is 528.
What score is 100% on MCAT?
What is the highest MCAT score? 528 is the highest MCAT score possible, which corresponds to the 100th percentile. Anything above a 524 is also a 100th percentile score, and a 522 or 523 is a 99th percentile score.
What is the MCAT score for Albert Einstein College of Medicine?
Accepted students at Einstein have an average MCAT score of 516. The 10th-90th percentile range is 511-520.