A Beginner’s Guide to the MCAT
For many prospective medical school students, taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) can be a daunting aspect of the application process. The following blog post will go through the most common questions we at the Pre-Health Student Resource Center get related to the MCAT exam. Sections include:
- What’s on the MCAT?
- How is the MCAT scored?
- When should I take the MCAT?
- What is a good score?
- What if I take the MCAT and my score is lower than anticipated?
- What courses should I take to prepare for the MCAT?
- How should I study for the MCAT?
- How much does taking the MCAT cost?
- How do I register for the MCAT?
What’s on the MCAT?
The first step towards successful MCAT preparation is knowing what subject areas you will be tested on. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) provides a plethora of helpful resources on their webpage: What’s on the MCAT Exam? This resource will walk you through the topic areas you will be tested on and provide a framework for understanding the exam’s structure.
The four sections of the MCAT exam include:
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
The pages linked above delineate the foundational concepts, disciplines, number of questions and time given for each section on the MCAT exam. Before you download test prep software or begin studying for the exam, it is worth spending some time to assess where your strengths and weaknesses lie in relation to these topic areas. That way you can begin studying with increased intentionality (more on that later).
How is the MCAT scored?
Unlike many exams in your undergraduate education, the MCAT exam is not scored on a curve. Instead, the MCAT exam is “scaled and equated so that scores have the same meaning, no matter when you test.” It is important to note that wrong answers are scored the same as questions left unanswered, so it is important to not leave any questions blank - even if you aren’t sure of the correct answer. See the AAMC website for a more detailed explanation of scoring.
When should I take the MCAT?
The AAMC encourages students to think about three questions when considering when to take the MCAT. These include:
- When do you want to go to medical school?
- How long will you need to study for your optimal score?
- Have you mastered the content tested on the exam?
When you take the MCAT depends heavily on when you plan to apply to medical school. Students who intend to enter medical school directly after graduation should take the MCAT by May of their junior year. Students who intend to take a single gap year would then take the exam by May of their senior year. Students taking more than one gap year can take the MCAT anytime before May of their application cycle, but it may be advantageous to take it while course material is still fresh in memory. The choice to take one or several gap years is unique to each student, but doing so can provide opportunities for further study or to re-take the exam if needed.
Keep in mind that many medical schools have time limits for how long a given MCAT score is valid. The University of Minnesota Medical school, for example, states that “the MCAT is valid for three years prior to the application year.”
For a detailed look at how the timing of when you take the MCAT impacts other elements of the application process, see this resource from the AAMC on the timeline for application and admission to medical school.
What is a good score?
A “good” score depends, in part, on the schools you intend to apply to. Therefore, it is important to research the average MCAT score for the schools you’re applying to to see where you are competitive.
The table below showcases the average MCAT score for the top 5 matriculated MD schools for University of Minnesota graduates in 2025. Notice that while UMN and UW-Madison have average MCAT scores above 510, North and South Dakota average a little bit lower. Another factor to consider is that some schools have a minimum MCAT score needed to apply. For the UMN Medical School, the minimum MCAT score for applicants is 500.
| Top 5 matriculated MD schools for U of M graduates | Average MCAT Score |
|---|---|
University of Minnesota Medical School | 513 |
Medical College of Wisconsin | 510 |
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health | 511 |
University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences | 507 |
University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine | 509 |
For a look at MCAT score averages across all test takers, the AAMC has a useful spreadsheet comparing GPA, MCAT scores, and acceptance rates. You can find this spreadsheet on the AAMC Facts: Applicants and Matriculants page by scrolling down to the “By MCAT Scores and GPAs” section and selecting the MCAT and GPA Grid for Applicants and Acceptees to U.S. Medical Schools, 2023-2024 through 2025-2026 (Aggregated) excel document.
In looking at the spreadsheet, you’ll notice that a lower MCAT score can sometimes be offset by a higher GPA, and vice versa. While your MCAT score is an important aspect of your application, keep in mind that admissions committees also look at your work and volunteer experience, your personal statement, letters of recommendation, coursework and GPA, and make decisions based on all of these factors taken together.
What if I take the MCAT exam and my score is lower than expected?
Although taking multiple MCAT exams is generally not recommended, you may want to retake the MCAT if you are positive you can attain a significant improvement to your score. Because medical schools look at all MCAT scores, not just the best one, you will want to take the exam as few times as possible.
Should you take the exam and receive a lower score than expected, be sure to identify your growth areas and spend significant time studying those topics before taking another MCAT exam. You should consider rescheduling your exam if you are not scoring where you want to on practice exams ahead of the test date.
What courses should I take to prepare for the MCAT?
One way to get a head start on preparing for the MCAT is to take classes that cover MCAT content areas. For University of Minnesota - Twin Cities students, the PHSRC has developed Goldy’s Guide to the MCAT, a document that lists recommended courses taught here at the U. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it covers common courses students take to study for the MCAT. Conveniently, many of these courses also count as prerequisites for medical schools.
How should I study for the MCAT?
Students study for the MCAT in many ways, but a great starting point is the following study plan:
- Explore the exam format and content
- Take a diagnostic exam
- Analyze your results. What percent did you get correct? What are your content areas of weakness?
- Create a study plan using your analysis
- Spend time reviewing content or learning new content
- Practice with study questions and take practice exams, making sure to revisit previously learned content regularly
- Create a 4-6 month study plan based on your diagnostic exam results and other life commitments
Note: This study plan has been adapted from Dr. Shavonia Wynn’s in the AAMC video “Start Your MCAT Prep Right with Proven Learning Strategies.” You can access this video on the AAMC Premed Webinars page.
In addition, the AAMC offers lots of other great resources for MCAT study strategies. Check out a few below!
Outside of what the AAMC has to offer, students surveyed by the PHSRC have suggested the following as useful study tools:
- UWorld
- Anki decks
- Blueprint or Kaplan for 1:1 tutoring
- Free resources from Khan Academy
- Take many practice exams before your test date
How much does taking the MCAT cost?
As of 2026, MCAT registration costs $355. This is in addition to any paid test preparation materials that you would like to use.
It is strongly recommended that students look at the AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program to see if they qualify. The Fee Assistance Program comes with a reduced MCAT registration cost and other benefits, including free access to the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) database and certain test preparation materials. It is important to note that the Fee Assistance Program is NOT retroactive, so planning ahead of time is important.
How do I register for the MCAT?
You will register for the MCAT through the AAMC website. Note that beginning with the 2026 testing year, a few changes were made to the registration process, including:
- Registration opens for different testing sites on one of three consecutive dates, depending on where the testing site is.
- Registration for all testing dates for a given testing site are available at once.
Testing locations have maximum capacities. It is important to register early!
For more information, watch the 2026 MCAT Testing Year Update for Examinees video found on the AAMC Premed Webinars page.
If you think you might qualify for testing accommodations and would like more information, including what they may look like and how to apply, please visit the AAMC Take the MCAT® Exam with Accommodations website.
Written by Zoe Marquis-Kelly & Whitney Oachs