The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT®) is the standardized exam required for admission to almost every MD and DO medical school in the United States and Canada. Administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC®), the MCAT® evaluates your understanding of the natural, behavioral, and social sciences, as well as your critical analysis and reasoning skills. A strong MCAT® score will not guarantee admission on its own, but a weak score can effectively close doors. This page covers everything you need to know about the exam, from format and registration through scoring, study planning, and the best free preparation resources available.
Exam Format and Structure
The MCAT® is a computer-based exam lasting approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes, including breaks. It consists of four sections, each scored on a scale of 118 to 132, for a total score range of 472 to 528. The median score is 500. Here is how the four sections break down.
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys): 59 questions in 95 minutes. Tests your knowledge of general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry in the context of living systems. Approximately 25% of this section is based on introductory physics, 30% on general chemistry, 15% on organic chemistry, 25% on biochemistry, and 5% on biology.
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS): 53 questions in 90 minutes. Tests your ability to comprehend, analyze, and reason about passages drawn from the humanities and social sciences. No outside science knowledge is needed, but this section is widely considered the hardest to improve through studying alone because it measures reading comprehension and analytical reasoning skills that develop over years.
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/Biochem): 59 questions in 95 minutes. Tests biology, biochemistry, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Approximately 65% of this section focuses on biology and biochemistry, with the remainder divided among general chemistry and organic chemistry.
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc): 59 questions in 95 minutes. Tests psychology, sociology, and biology as they relate to human behavior and health. This section was added in 2015 to reflect the growing recognition that social and behavioral factors significantly influence health outcomes.
Registration and Scheduling
The MCAT® is offered from late January through mid-September at testing centers throughout the United States, Canada, and select international locations. Registration opens in October for the following year’s test dates. You can take the exam up to three times in a single testing year, four times across two consecutive years, and seven times in a lifetime. These limits are strictly enforced by the AAMC®.
To register, create an account on the AAMC® website and select your preferred test date and location through the MCAT® registration system. The standard registration fee is approximately $330, though this amount is subject to change. The AAMC® Fee Assistance Program (FAP) provides significant discounts for students who demonstrate financial need, reducing the exam fee and providing free access to official practice materials. If you qualify, apply for the FAP before registering for the exam.
Scoring
Each of the four sections is scored on a scale of 118 to 132, with 125 as the midpoint. The total score ranges from 472 to 528. Scores are released approximately one month after your test date. You will also receive percentile rankings for each section and for your total score.
A score of 510 or above generally places you in the competitive range for most MD programs. The median total MCAT® score for students who matriculate at MD programs is typically around 511 to 512. For DO programs, the median is somewhat lower, often around 504 to 506. However, MCAT® score expectations vary significantly by school. Some programs weight the MCAT® more heavily than others, and a strong score can partially compensate for a lower GPA (and vice versa). Research specific programs using the AAMC® Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) tool to understand their score ranges.
When to Take the MCAT
Most students take the MCAT® during the spring or summer of the year they plan to apply to medical school. If you intend to submit your AMCAS® or AACOMAS® application in early June, you should plan to have a valid MCAT® score by that time or shortly after. Many applicants take the exam in March, April, or May of their junior year in college.
We recommend completing the following prerequisite courses before taking the exam: general biology (two semesters), general chemistry (two semesters), organic chemistry (two semesters), physics (two semesters), biochemistry (at least one semester), psychology (one semester), and sociology (one semester). You do not need to finish every course before you begin studying, but you should have completed or be currently enrolled in most of them.
How Long to Study
Most successful test-takers study for 3 to 6 months, dedicating 10 to 15 hours per week during the school year or 20 to 40 hours per week during a dedicated summer study period. The exact amount of time you need depends on your baseline knowledge, your target score, and the quality of your study approach. Taking a full-length, timed practice exam early in your preparation will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and calibrate your study plan accordingly.
Recommended Study Resources (Free First)
The most valuable MCAT® preparation resources are free or low-cost official materials published by the AAMC® itself. These are the only resources that use actual MCAT® question formats and difficulty levels. Start here before spending money on anything else.
AAMC® Official Resources (Free and Paid): The AAMC® offers a free MCAT® Official Prep Hub on its website, which includes a free half-length diagnostic exam, the official MCAT® content outline, a free CARS Diagnostic Tool, and a free Flashcard app. For full-length practice, purchase the AAMC® practice exam bundle, which includes four full-length exams and section-specific question packs. These are the single most important preparation materials available. If you qualify for the Fee Assistance Program, you receive free access to the full bundle.
Khan Academy® MCAT® Collection (Free): Khan Academy® partnered with the AAMC® to produce a free MCAT® video and practice question collection covering all four sections. The collection includes hundreds of videos, passages, and standalone questions aligned to the official content outline. This is the best free supplemental resource available. Start with the Khan Academy® collection alongside your AAMC® materials. See our Khan Academy® guide for tips on using it effectively.
OpenStax Textbooks (Free): If you need to review foundational content in biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, or sociology, OpenStax offers free, peer-reviewed textbooks for each of these subjects. They are not MCAT®-specific, but they provide solid coverage of the underlying material. See our free textbooks page for the full directory.
Anki Flashcard Decks (Free): Anki is a free, open-source spaced-repetition flashcard program. Community-created MCAT® decks (such as the widely used MileDown and Jacksparrow2048 decks) are available for free download. Spaced repetition is one of the most evidence-based study methods for long-term retention. See our spaced repetition guide for details on how to use this technique effectively.
Paid Resources (Consider After Free Options): If you have exhausted the free resources and want additional practice, there are paid third-party question banks and full-length exams available from various companies. We do not recommend any specific paid provider, and we do not place affiliate links. Evaluate any paid resource by checking whether its questions match the style and difficulty of official AAMC® materials. If a resource does not feel similar to the real exam, it is not helping you.
Study Strategies for Each Section
Chem/Phys: Focus on understanding principles rather than memorizing formulas. Most questions present a research passage and ask you to apply scientific reasoning. Review the key equations in physics (kinematics, optics, circuits, fluids), general chemistry (equilibrium, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, acids and bases), organic chemistry (reactions, mechanisms, functional groups), and biochemistry (amino acids, enzyme kinetics, metabolism). Use our general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry study guides for topic-level breakdowns.
CARS: The most effective way to improve CARS performance is to practice reading complex, unfamiliar passages under timed conditions. Read the passage carefully before looking at the questions. Focus on the author’s main argument, tone, and underlying assumptions. Do not bring outside knowledge into your answers. The AAMC® CARS Diagnostic Tool and the Khan Academy® CARS passages are the best free practice available.
Bio/Biochem: This section emphasizes biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, and organ systems. Amino acid structures, enzyme kinetics, metabolic pathways (glycolysis, citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, gluconeogenesis, fatty acid metabolism), and signal transduction are high-yield topics. Use our biology and biochemistry study guides and review anatomy content through our anatomy and physiology guide.
Psych/Soc: This section covers a broad range of topics including learning and memory, motivation and emotion, identity and personality, psychological disorders, social structure and demographics, and health disparities. Many students underestimate this section because the content feels less technical, but the sheer volume of terminology requires systematic review. Flashcards (especially via Anki) are particularly useful here. Our psychology and sociology study guides cover the key topics.
Test Day Tips
Arrive at the testing center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled start time. Bring your valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. You are not permitted to bring food, drinks, phones, watches, or study materials into the testing room, but you can store them in your assigned locker and access them during the optional breaks.
During the exam, pace yourself carefully. Each section has a fixed time limit, and unanswered questions are scored as incorrect. If you are unsure about a question, flag it and move on. Return to flagged questions if time permits. During breaks, eat a small, familiar snack and drink water. Do not review notes, because your knowledge base will not change in 10 minutes, but your stress level might.
What to Do After the Exam
After completing the MCAT®, you have the option to void your score before leaving the testing center. Voiding means no score is reported, but you still use one of your lifetime attempts. If you felt the exam went well, keep your score. If something went significantly wrong (illness, personal emergency, major technical issue), voiding may be the right choice. Scores are released approximately 30 to 35 days after the exam date.
If your score is lower than expected, you have options. You can retake the exam if you have attempts remaining. Many students improve significantly on a retake, especially if they adjust their study strategy. Medical schools will see all MCAT® scores, but most focus on your most recent or highest score. Research individual school policies before deciding to retake. For broader context on the application process, see our AMCAS® application guide and AACOMAS® application guide.
References
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). “MCAT Essentials.” AAMC, 2025. https://students-residents.aamc.org/mcat-exam. Accessed March 2026.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). “MCAT Official Prep Hub.” AAMC, 2025. https://students-residents.aamc.org/prepare-your-mcat-exam/mcat-official-prep-hub. Accessed March 2026.
Khan Academy. “MCAT Test Prep.” Khan Academy, 2025. https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat. Accessed March 2026.
OpenStax. “Free Textbooks.” Rice University, 2025. https://openstax.org/. Accessed March 2026.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). “Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR).” AAMC, 2025. https://mec.aamc.org/msar-ui/. Accessed March 2026.