Many applicants assume that they’ll achieve a higher MCAT score the second (or third, or fourth) time they take the exam. Regardless, if you do retake the test, you should commit yourself to studying hard in order to show a more substantial improvement than the modest median reported above. On the other hand, the only score drops upon retaking the test came from testers who scored 518 or higher on their first attempt. Keep in mind that these are just medians and that plenty of retesters showed improvements as high as 7 points. So statistically speaking, unless you’re already in the very highest tier of test takers, chances are that retaking the MCAT will result in a better score and will ultimately benefit your application. While going from 515 to 517 looks good, going from 498 to 502 looks great. However, for those who initially scored between 498 and 509, the median gain was approximately 4 points. For retesters who originally scored 518 or higher, the median gain was one. On a whole, retaking the exam tended to produce better scores for this group compared to their initial results.įor those whose initial score was 517 or lower, the median score gain was three points. (Note: This answer also applies to the question, “Do medical schools care if you take the MCAT twice?”) What are the odds that retaking the MCAT will result in a better score?Īccording to the most recent AAMC data, 38 percent of people who took the MCAT between 20 were retesters. If you’re able to show an appreciable score jump from one test to the next, the majority of medical schools won’t see having retaken the MCAT as an issue. That said, you should strive to take the MCAT as few times as possible.įor that reason, each time that you retake the MCAT, you should study diligently in order to meaningfully raise your score, which will demonstrate your commitment to becoming a physician and your determination to improving your application profile. Like reapplying to medical school, retaking the MCAT does not inherently look bad. Unfortunately, most schools will not provide these cutoffs-they’ll bring up their “holistic admissions” process if you ask them-though higher-ranked schools unsurprisingly have higher cutoffs. That said, some schools have overall score or section score cutoffs, meaning that they only further evaluate applicants who achieve scores at or above a certain threshold. On a related note, keep in mind that your overall score will be weighed more heavily than section scores, generally speaking. However, you’re welcome to contact admissions committees and ask. Most schools’ websites will not describe how they evaluate multiple MCAT scores. While medical schools will see all your MCAT scores, admissions committees will use multiple scores in different ways, including:Ĭonsidering all scores, but weighing your recent score most heavilyĬonsider your highest section scores across tests (i.e., “superscore”) How are multiple MCAT scores evaluated by admissions committees? You can take the MCAT up to seven times during your lifetimeīe aware that both voided scores and no-shows count towards the testing limits described above. You can take the MCAT up to four times during a two-year period You can take the MCAT up to three times per year Part 2: What you need to know about retaking the MCAT How many times can you retake the MCAT?īefore we begin evaluating whether you should retake the exam, you should know that the AAMC limits how many times you can take the MCAT, as follows: In this guide, we’ll address your MCAT questions directly so that you can make the right decision for your application process and give yourself the very best odds of medical school admissions success. You spend months studying, only to find out that your overall score isn’t quite competitive enough for the schools you’re hoping to get into, or that your section scores are all over the place.Īt that point, most applicants inevitably ask, “Should I retake the MCAT?” or “Does retaking the MCAT look bad?” Performing worse than you’d hoped on the MCAT is especially upsetting. With mediocre numbers, your entire admissions odds are compromised, regardless of how well you did with other medical school requirements. With excellent scores, you can potentially set yourself up for acceptance to even the top med schools. Despite hearing again and again about how medical school admissions is a “holistic process,” you know that your GPA and MCAT score-your “numbers” or “stats”-are incredibly important factors in determining whether or not you get into medical school.
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