What is a bad first MCAT score?
Asked by: Dr. Terry Berge DVM | Last update: August 2, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (16 votes)
A great score is 515 to 528 (the maximum possible score), while an average score is 502 to 508. In contrast, a poor score is 501 and below. This guide will go over what a good MCAT score is and how medical schools use your score to make their decision.
Is it bad to have a bad first MCAT score?
Most admissions will just take your high score, I really wouldn't worry too much about it. If you wanna have an explanation in your back pocket it probably wouldn't hurt but I think you'd be fine.
What is a normal first MCAT score?
A good MCAT score is generally considered to be 511 or higher, with no section score below 127.
What is the lowest acceptable MCAT score?
The lowest MCAT score accepted by most medical schools in the U.S. and Canada is typically in the range of 490-495. Scores below 490 are rarely, if ever, accepted. It's important to note that while 490-495 is the minimum score accepted, the vast majority of applicants score well above this range.
Is 491 a bad MCAT score?
A 491 on the MCAT is a below-average score.
You Got a Bad MCAT, Now What?
Can I get into med-school with a 492 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.
What is a failing MCAT score?
There is no definitive pass or fail score for the MCAT; rather, each medical school sets its own criteria for acceptable scores.
Can I get into med-school with a 490 MCAT?
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. Recent data suggests that the average score hovers around 506.5.
What is a good old MCAT score?
The new MCAT is scored on a scale of 472–528, with a mean score of 501. The old MCAT was scored on a scale of 3–45, with a mean score of approximately 25.
What is a bad diagnostic score in MCAT?
A good MCAT score is typically regarded as 511 or higher, with no section score falling below 127.
What is the average MCAT score for accepted students?
Based on the data as well as our experience with countless students we've helped get into medical school, the average MCAT Score required for most medical schools is at least 508-513 (25th percentile). However, depending on the school this can vary quite a bit.
What is the average first MCAT score?
Your MCAT total score will be in the range of 472-528 with an average score of 500. Each of the four MCAT sections is scored between 118-132 with an average score of 125.
Can medical schools see your first MCAT score?
Medical schools see all of your exam scores.
As you think about your exam, remember to talk with your pre-health advisor or a faculty member to help you plan and prepare. Also, be sure to check out the resources available from the AAMC to help you understand, study, and practice for the exam.
What MCAT score to not retake?
Assuming a strong GPA and extracurricular profile, scoring a 518 or above will help you be competitive for the highest-tier schools, even if their average matriculant MCAT score is a 520 or 521. With scores at this level, an MCAT retake is not necessary because schools will consider you to be academically elite.
What is a respectable MCAT score?
A good MCAT score is typically 511 and above. Applicants who earn this score or better have at least a 65% chance of getting accepted into any medical school. In addition to your overall score, your performance on the individual sections is also important.
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.
Should I retake a 515 MCAT?
Should I Retake The MCAT If My Score Is 515? Generally, we recommend retaking the MCAT if the MCAT score is not balanced among the four sections of the MCAT or your target med-school has a higher cut-off.
What's a bad MCAT score?
What Is a Bad MCAT Score? The majority of medical schools in the US recommend that students score a minimum of 500 on the MCAT, which means scoring 125 in each of the four sections. So, technically speaking, a bad MCAT score would be anything below 500.
Will a 515 MCAT get me into med-school?
Generally, MCAT scores above 511 are considered competitive for most schools. However, if you want 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 a 3.8 GPA bad for med-school?
Many admissions officers view a GPA of 3.8 as very competitive, and they like to see at least a GPA of 3.5 or above. These scores will be especially competitive if your major is related to medicine, and it's even better if it's a difficult science major like neuroscience or physics.
Why do so many people do poorly on the MCAT?
This is often due to lack of time, dislike for a certain subject, or assumed mastery of a particular content area. I typically recommend that whatever resource a student chooses for the MCAT, they go through all sections of it, no matter how comfortable they feel with the material.
Has anyone taken the MCAT 7 times?
As someone who took the MCAT seven times, whose medical school application was rejected 129 times before finally earning an acceptance, I know firsthand how hard the road is to becoming a doctor. But through the difficult and frustrating times, I ask candidates to have faith in themselves.
What's a good MCAT score in 2024?
Medical school admission experts recommend aiming for a total score of 511 or above, which, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), places you in the 81st percentile of MCAT scores. The highest possible MCAT score is 528.