What Is The MCAT? Sections, Scores, Cost And Test Dates

What Is On The MCAT?

The MCAT has four multiple-choice sections with 230 questions and 6 hours and 15 minutes of testing time, according to the AAMC. With optional breaks and other timed steps, total seated time is about 7.5 hours, not counting check-in. The test is given on computer at Pearson testing sites, and our medical school admissions overview covers when most applicants take it.

The science sections draw on year-long courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, introductory physics and introductory biology, plus introductory biochemistry, psychology and sociology. CARS needs no outside content knowledge. The AAMC publishes the approximate mix of disciplines in each section, which tells you where to spend study time. The table below summarizes it, and our best MCAT prep rankings show which courses cover each area.

A few details change how you study. You get a periodic table during the Chemical and Physical Foundations section, according to the AAMC section overview. CARS passages cover ethics, philosophy, diverse cultures, population health and other humanities and social science topics, and every question can be answered from the passage itself, according to the AAMC. Biochemistry shows up in two of the three science sections, so it deserves real study time, as the content review in our medical school admissions overview also suggests.

How Is The MCAT Scored?

You get five MCAT scores: one for each section, from 118 to 132, and a total from 472 to 528, according to the AAMC. There's no guessing penalty and no curve, so answer every question. Raw scores are converted to scaled scores through a process called equating, so a hard test form doesn't hurt you, as our medical school admissions overview notes.

Official scores are released 30 to 35 days after your exam, by 5 p.m. Eastern, according to the AAMC. Percentile ranks are updated every May 1 using the most recent three years of scores. Most medical schools accept scores from the past two or three years, according to the AAMC, so check each school before relying on an older score, especially if you plan to take time off before applying, a choice our medical school admissions overview walks through.

What Is A Good MCAT Score?

A good MCAT score is one at or above the average for students admitted to the medical schools on your list. In 2025-26, applicants averaged 506.3 and matriculants averaged 512.1, according to the AAMC's FACTS data. A 512 lands at the 84th percentile and a 515 at the 91st, according to the AAMC's percentile table. Our medical school admissions overview covers how schools weigh scores against GPA.

Here's what stands out to us: the average admitted student's score has barely moved, between 511.5 and 512.1 over the last six cycles, so 512 is a steady benchmark. Admitted students also scored higher in every section, with CARS the lowest section average for both groups. That makes CARS a common place to find points. The AAMC also launched a new CARS Question Bank in September 2026, and our best MCAT prep rankings note which courses cover CARS well.

How Much Does The MCAT Cost?

The MCAT costs $360 to register for 2027 test dates, or $145 through the AAMC Fee Assistance Program, according to the AAMC. Rescheduling costs $55 to $210 depending on timing, canceling 30 or more days ahead refunds $180, and testing outside the U.S., Canada and U.S. territories adds $130. Those costs come on top of application fees covered in our medical school admissions overview.

The Fee Assistance Program is the biggest money-saver available to premeds. Applicants with household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level get the $145 registration rate, every AAMC online prep product free and free access to the MSAR medical school database. Together, the lower fee and free official prep save about $551. Apply before you schedule, since benefits aren't retroactive, and see our graduate school scholarships roundup for more ways to save.

When Can You Take The MCAT In 2027?

The AAMC offers 35 U.S. test dates in 2027, from January 15 to September 11, according to its 2027 testing calendar. Registration for the full 2027 season opens October 20 to 22, 2026, by test center location, according to the AAMC. Seats are first come, first served, so register early, especially if you need a specific city, as our medical school admissions overview advises.

Each test date has three deadlines, 60, 30 and 10 days before the exam, and the 10-day mark is your last chance to change or cancel. The AAMC's advice is to test when you're ready, often in the year you apply, and to test earlier in the year if you might need a retake, according to its MCAT FAQ. Plan your test date with your medical school loan timeline in mind too.

How Many Times Can You Take The MCAT?

You can take the MCAT three times in one testing year, four times over two consecutive years and seven times in a lifetime, counted from April 2015, according to the AAMC. You can hold only one appointment at a time, and a no-show counts as an attempt. Each retake costs another $360, or $145 with fee assistance, so plan retakes carefully, as we suggest in our medical school admissions overview.

How Long Should You Study For The MCAT?

Plan on about three months of focused study at 20 or more hours a week. The median test taker prepared for 12 weeks at about 20 to 23 hours a week in every year from 2014 to 2018, according to the AAMC's post-MCAT survey, roughly 240 to 276 hours in total. Build that time into your semester the way you would plan around medical school costs.

1. Take the AAMC's free Practice Exam 1 or Unscored Sample Test to set a baseline.
2. Apply for the Fee Assistance Program before scheduling if your income may qualify.
3. Review content by section, weighting biochemistry and introductory biology, which show up across the science sections.
4. Practice CARS passages several times a week, since it's the lowest-scoring section on average.
5. Take a full-length exam every week or two in the final six weeks, saving AAMC exams for last.

Most test takers rely on official materials. In the AAMC's 2025 survey, 90.5% used the official practice exams, while about 30% took a structured prep course in recent years, according to the AAMC. About 42% said prep costs were hard to afford, which is why we compare free and paid options in our best MCAT prep rankings.

How To Prepare For The MCAT

Start with the AAMC's official materials. Two full-length exams are free, five more cost $35 each, and the full Online-Only Bundle costs about $336 for a year, according to the AAMC store. A new $70 CARS Question Bank replaced older CARS products on September 30, 2026, according to the AAMC. Fee assistance recipients get all of it free, and courses add teaching on top, as our best MCAT prep rankings explain.

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MCAT FAQs

How Many Questions Are On The MCAT?

The MCAT has 230 questions: 59 in each of the three science sections and 53 in CARS, according to the AAMC. Testing time is 6 hours and 15 minutes. Our medical school admissions overview covers the rest of your application.

Is The MCAT Curved?

No. The AAMC says there's no curve, and raw scores are converted to scaled scores through equating. There's also no guessing penalty, so answer every question. Our best MCAT prep rankings cover courses that teach timing.

How Long Are MCAT Scores Good For?

Most medical schools accept scores from the past two or three years, according to the AAMC, but each school sets its own rule. Check before you apply, especially if you plan a gap year, and see our medical school admissions overview for timing.

When Does 2027 MCAT Registration Open?

Registration for the full 2027 MCAT season opens October 20 to 22, 2026, by test center location, according to the AAMC. Apply for fee assistance first if you may qualify, and compare prep options in our best MCAT prep rankings.

How Much Does It Cost To Take The MCAT?

Registration costs $360 for 2027 test dates, or $145 with AAMC fee assistance. Most students also buy official practice materials, about $336 for the full bundle. Our best medical school student loans comparison covers the bigger costs ahead.