How to Get a Good MCAT Score?
Know what is on the exam
First things first, you need to understand what to expect from the MCAT exam. This online AAMC resource provides information about each MCAT section, as well as helpful video tutorials, sample questions, and explanations. It might be a good idea to print this resource and reference it alongside your coursework when studying. It will give you a guideline as to what disciplines you should focus on and on which sections of your studies to concentrate.

Take Practice Tests
To prepare a study plan, you must first know where you stand and how much you know, i.e. figure out your baseline. You should take a full-length MCAT diagnostic test to identify your strengths and weaknesses in the disciplines and areas covered in the exam. Unfortunately, practice tests are usually not free. It’s recommended to practice with the AAMC tests, as they provide a scaled score. You will get results with feedback and answers to all questions, as well as the percentage of your correct answers in each section. AAMC test materials are available for purchase. They are most reflective of the actual exam, so they are a good investment. There are four AAMC practice tests. Each test gives you a score between 118 and 132 and indicates how many questions you answer correctly in percentile format.

A practice exam provides detailed explanations of your correct and incorrect answers, so you can learn as you are taking the test. You will be able to strategize which disciplines, concepts, and skills you need to strengthen and include them in your MCAT study schedule. Some sections may be easier and more familiar, while others will pose a challenge. Once you know which sections of the test you must work on, you will be able to gather the necessary resources and organize a study plan to fill in the gaps.

It's important that you take the full-length exam in one sitting. This way, you will know what it will be like when you take the actual exam. Try to recreate the exam environment to feel more prepared when you walk into the testing center. To do this, know the test day's schedule, i.e. break lengths, items allowed in the test center, check-in procedures, etc. Try taking the test outside of your home, somewhere like a local library or a campus classroom. Recreating the setting will help you feel more prepared and build stamina.

Study Tips
So, how to study for the MCAT to achieve your dream score? You can use the AAMC worksheets to document how you did on the practice exam or create your own method of keeping score. List your concerns and challenges for each MCAT section. You can also write down general concerns about taking the test: did you lose focus? Did you get tired half-way through the test? Were some sections completely unknown to you? This worksheet will be a good foundation to outline specific concepts, categories, disciplines, and skills you will need to improve. The next step in your study plan should be the assembling of information and study resources. Gather all the resources that will help you focus on the content of the exam, as well as on how to practice and apply your knowledge in the exam setting.

Very important to remember: your study strategy needs to incorporate as many learning tactics and modules as possible. Reading the textbooks, watching instruction videos, and reviewing your notes will not be enough. Passive learning will only get you so far. You must incorporate active learning strategies into your study plan. Some of these may include:

Voicing or writing down summaries of what you have read or watched.
Explaining concepts in your own words to people who have nothing to do with the medical field.
If they understand your explanation – you are on the right track!
Applying concepts and ideas you learn to real-life scenarios.
Making flashcards with concepts that are most challenging to you.
Discussing MCAT content with fellow medical school applicants.
Taking full-length tests
Practicing with sample passage-based questions.

Reading. The CARS portion of the MCAT exam consists of 9 passages with 5-7 questions per passage. These are meant to test your reading, comprehension and reasoning skills. Make sure you practice with challenging reading materials for CARS. Be sure to check out our MCAT CARS practice to get you ready!

You can use the AAMC worksheets to schedule your study plan or you can create your own. Your study schedule should include three main sections: areas of study, the time allotted to each area, and useful resources. This study schedule must include all your study responsibilities and how many hours you will dedicate to each activity. Then you should calculate how many hours of study you have available each day. Your areas of study section must outline the concepts and disciplines you need to improve. Useful resources may include the study sources and strategies that will help you learn. Make sure to outline learning strategies for each section.

Remember, your study plan and strategies will change throughout the process and this is completely normal. After a few weeks of studying, you may think you need to rearrange the timeline, or the number of hours dedicated to each discipline. You may also add new resources to your plan. Adjust your schedule accordingly and do not panic if it changes. This is why early preparation is important. The earlier you start, the more flexible your schedule can be. Have a look at our blog before you get started to learn when to start studying for the MCAT.

Review
Review what you studied or practiced during the previous day whenever you have time. Review the problem areas you have identified in your plan. Regular revisions will help you retain information. You do not always need to be in a formal setting for your review – you can practice on your way to school or work, on the bus, or in the subway. Use free time to review small chunks of information you learned the previous day.

Time yourself
Practice timing yourself when you answer practice questions. When you review answers, try to analyze why you answered them correctly or incorrectly. In the case of a wrong answer, go back and review the discipline or concept to advance your level of knowledge.

Prepare questions
Make sure to prepare a set of questions you will ask yourself after you read a textbook or watch a video. Your list may include questions like: 1) How can I explain this concept to a friend? 2) Can I think of a real-life scenario when this concept may be applied? 3) How is this concept related to other concepts I already studied? 4) Do I understand this concept and if not, where can I find more information about this concept?

Flashcards
Create your own detailed flashcards with concepts, vocabulary lists, and diagrams.

Study with a partner or in a group
Try to include collaborative study into your schedule. Try teaching each other and going through each topic you find challenging. Use other people as sounding boards to ask questions, think out loud, and share knowledge. You can even quiz each other!

Include a variety of topics. Schedule different topics into each study session to make connections and relate concepts to each other.

Ask for help
It is normal to approach a professor with a list of questions you may have about MCAT content. While you study, keep a list of concepts you struggle with and any other questions you may have. Arrange for a meeting with your professor and ask for help with your questions.

Summarize
Summarize what you learn from memory, create diagrams and charts that compare concepts. Check your summaries by using lecture notes, textbooks, or any of your other study resources. Summaries are a great way to revisit content you already understand. This practice will cement your learning.

Class
Join a class if you feel that you need more help than you can source by yourself.

If you need help in your MCAT preparation, you may want to look into getting an advisor. Having the right person guiding you through medical school applications can make the process much easier. Please read our blog to learn how the right medical school advisor can help you with your medical school application.

Average MCAT Scores for the Top 30 Medical Schools

Every medical school wants to admit students who are prepared for the academic rigor of the next four years. A high undergraduate GPA and strong MCAT score show med schools that you can handle what’s ahead. But every school varies in what they consider a “strong” score. The top schools will have high average MCAT scores: for example, Harvard and Stanford have average scores of 520 and 518, respectively. A high MCAT score certainly does not guarantee an acceptance letter at the most competitive medical schools. But if you want a shot at admission, you first need to show that you are academically qualified.

This is all the more important for medical schools that have actual score cutoffs. If your MCAT score does not reach the school’s minimum, they will not read the rest of your application. Your MCAT score quite literally gets you in the door here. But again, pre-screening processes vary on a school-by-school basis. When putting your scores into perspective, you’ll reach a school’s test score threshold if you are at or slightly above the median score. To give you a sense of whether or not you are within reach of the top medical schools, here is a chart of their average MCAT scores.

Rank	Medical School	Average MCAT Score
1	Harvard University	520
2	New York University	522
3	Duke University	519
4	Columbia University	521
4	Stanford University	518
4	University of California—San Francisco	517
7	Johns Hopkins University	521
7	University of Washington	511
9	University of Pennsylvania	522
10	Yale University	519
11	Mayo Clinic	520
11	Washington University in St. Louis	521
13	University of Pittsburgh	521
13	Vanderbilt University	519
15	Northwestern University	519
15	University of Michigan—Ann Arbor	516
17	Icahn School of Medicine	517
17	University of Chicago	521
19	University of California—San Diego	516
21	University of California—Los Angeles	512
22	Baylor University	518
22	Emory University	515
24	University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill	512
25	Case Western Reserve University	518
26	University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center	517
27	University of Colorado	513
27	University of Maryland	513
29	Oregon Health and Sciences University	511
29	University of Southern California	517

It certainly helps to know the numbers as you make your list. However, while your MCAT score is important, it isn’t everything! Remember that even matching the average MCAT scores of the top 30 medical schools does not guarantee an interview offer. Every component of your application matters! Building up good extracurricular activities is crucial to demonstrating your hands-on experience in medicine; your medical school personal statement shows who you really are. Landing within the average MCAT scores will get your foot in the door. Your experiences, background, unique perspective, and motivations for becoming a doctor are what will help you close the door behind you!

How many hours study for MCAT?
Most people need 10–15 hours per week to study for the MCAT over a period of at least four to six months . In total, you should aim for at least 200 to 300 hours of MCAT study time.
Can I take the MCAT without studying?
Most thought that taking the prerequisite courses for the exam in college was sufficient but, unfortunately, that's not the case. The MCAT is not like the SAT or ACT that you can take in high school without studying and do fine.
What is the hardest section on the MCAT?
Many students report that the most difficult section is CARS, and the average scores reported by AAMC back that up. The lowest average section scores overall and for matriculants are in CARS.

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