There is no guessing penalty. Test takers are encouraged to put an answer for every question.
Related article:
No, all calculations must be done by hand. Therefore, do not use a calculator while you are studying.
Exception: If you have a disability or medical condition that you believe requires an adjustment to standard testing conditions, the AAMC encourages you to apply for accommodated testing.
Related articles:
On the test day, after you finish your exam, you will be asked whether you want to void your exam or not. If you void your exam, it is basically the same thing as never having taken that test in the first place. Schools will not know you voided an exam. You will not be given a score nor receive a refund.
Most test takers do not feel confident about their scores after they finish their exams. If you have been scoring well on your practice exams, you should avoid the temptation to void your exam. It is normal to feel like you did not do well. However, if you know you did horribly (usually because you froze during the test or did not answer multiple questions), it is a good idea to void.
Related articles:
Should I Retake the MCAT? Examples || Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Retake the MCAT
Currently the average MCAT of students who actually matriculate at medical school is 511.5, which is roughly the 84th percentile. Nevertheless, keep in mind that this is an average. Applicants with scores greater than 511.5 get rejected and applicants with scores less than 511.5 get accepted. Keep in mind that the lower your GPA is, the higher you need your MCAT score to be.
Related articles:
GPA and MCAT Database || 5 Parts of a Competitive Medical School Application
There is not much of a difference between an applicant who had a breakdown of 128 127 128 129 and an applicant with 129 128 127 127 because both applicants did well on all four sections of the exam and the scores are fairly balanced. However, having an unbalanced score of 130 125 130 130 does not look good to medical schools. Typically, you want a relatively even distribution.
Related articles:
GPA and MCAT Database || 5 Parts of a Competitive Medical School Application
The MCAT is offered in January, March, April, May, June, July, August and September. There are multiple test dates in each month. Since the exact test dates vary year to year, it is important to know what test dates are offered each year. Refer to the AAMC website to find out exact dates.
Related articles:
Applicants typically take the MCAT after they have finished their prerequisite classes for medical school because these classes usually cover most of the material on the actual MCAT. This means that students are typically taking the MCAT after their sophomore or junior year of college. It is important to remember that schools usually do not accept scores that are older than two or three years (depending on the school). A good general rule is to take the MCAT by the spring you want to apply. For example, if you want to apply after your junior year of college, it is recommended to take the MCAT by the spring of your junior year.
For most applicants, taking a mid-to-late summer MCAT will hurt their applications because most medical students accept students on a rolling basis.
Related articles:
There are four sections on the MCAT:
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Section
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Section
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems Section
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior Section
Related article:
You can download a comprehensive content outline from AAMC, entitled What’s on the MCAT Exam?
Related article:
Prerequisites for medical schools differ slightly for each medical school. However, most medical schools require that their applicants take the MCAT and complete the following courses:
One year of biology with lab
Two years of chemistry with lab (general and organic)
One year of physics with lab
One year of college level mathematics (calculus or statistics)
One year of English
Note that these are the basic requirements required by most medical schools. Many schools also require or strongly recommend the following courses:
Courses in humanities or social sciences
Courses that will enhance computer skills
One quarter of biochemistry with lab
Foreign Language (highly recommended in states with high foreign language speakers)
School-specific requirements have been compiled by AAMC in a publication called the MSAR, which is available for purchase online. It is the responsibility of each applicant to research the exact requirements of each medical school to which he or she plans to apply.
Related Resource: