The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT®) is a standardized, computer-based exam required by virtually all U.S. and Canadian medical schools. Administered by the AAMC®, the exam tests your knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts along with your critical analysis and reasoning skills. The MCAT® is scored on a scale of 472 to 528, with a median score of approximately 500. Competitive scores vary by school, but a total score of 510 or above is generally considered competitive for most MD programs, and scores of 515 or above are competitive at the most selective institutions. This page covers the exam structure, when to take it, how to prepare using free resources first, and the study strategies that produce the best results. For detailed content-area preparation, see our dedicated MCAT® prep guide.
Exam Structure
The MCAT® consists of four sections, each scored on a scale of 118 to 132 (median 125), for a total score range of 472 to 528. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys): Tests general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry in biological contexts. 59 questions, 95 minutes. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS): Tests reading comprehension and analytical reasoning using passages from humanities and social science texts. No science content. 53 questions, 90 minutes. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/Biochem): Tests biology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, and general chemistry. 59 questions, 95 minutes. Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc): Tests psychology, sociology, and biology as they relate to health and disease. 59 questions, 95 minutes. Total testing time is approximately 6 hours and 15 minutes, plus breaks.
When to Take the MCAT
Most traditional applicants take the MCAT® in the spring or early summer of the year they plan to apply (typically the spring of junior year or the summer before senior year). This timing allows you to complete most prerequisite courses before the exam, submit your application with scores available, and retake the exam if necessary before application deadlines. The MCAT® is offered from January through September at Pearson VUE testing centers. Register early (at least 2 to 3 months before your target date) because preferred dates and locations fill quickly. You can take the MCAT® up to 3 times in a single year and 7 times total.
How to Prepare: Free Resources First
AAMC® Official Materials (Free and Low Cost): The AAMC® produces the exam, which means their practice materials are the most representative of the actual test. The AAMC® offers free practice questions through the “What’s on the MCAT® Exam” content outline, free flashcards, a free half-length diagnostic test, and paid full-length practice exams (4 exams, approximately $35 each or bundled). The Fee Assistance Program (FAP) provides free access to the full MCAT® Official Prep Bundle for qualifying low-income students. Apply for FAP through the AAMC® website if eligible. See our financial aid page.
Khan Academy® (Free): Khan Academy® offers comprehensive, free MCAT® content review covering all four sections. The Khan Academy® MCAT® collection was developed in collaboration with the AAMC® and includes video lessons, practice passages, and quizzes organized by content area. It is the best free content review resource available. See our Khan Academy® guide.
Anki Flashcards (Free): Community-created Anki decks cover MCAT® content across all four sections. The most popular decks (MileDown, Jacksparrow, and others) are available for free download. Using Anki for daily spaced repetition review throughout your study period is one of the most effective retention strategies. See our spaced repetition guide.
Your Course Notes (Free): If you performed well in your prerequisite courses, your own lecture notes, problem sets, and exam review materials are relevant study resources. The MCAT® tests the same content you learned in class, presented in passage-based clinical contexts.
Question Banks (Paid): Commercial question banks provide thousands of MCAT®-style practice questions with detailed explanations. While not free, they are valuable for building test-taking stamina and identifying content gaps. We do not recommend specific commercial products and do not place affiliate links. Choose based on recommendations from students at your school who recently took the exam.
Study Strategies
Study Duration: Most students study for 3 to 6 months, dedicating 300 to 500+ total hours to MCAT® preparation. Full-time summer study (8 to 10 hours per day for 10 to 12 weeks) is the most common approach for students taking the exam in July or August. Part-time study during the semester (3 to 4 hours per day alongside coursework) works for students taking the exam in April or May but requires more total months of preparation.
Content Review Phase (Weeks 1 to 6): Systematically review all content areas using Khan Academy® videos, a review book, and your course notes. Do not try to memorize everything. Focus on understanding concepts and their application to passage-based questions. Supplement with Anki flashcards for high-yield facts.
Practice Phase (Weeks 4 to 12): Transition from content review to practice questions and full-length exams. Complete at least 3 to 4 full-length AAMC® practice exams under timed conditions. Review every question you miss (and many you get right) to identify content gaps and reasoning errors. Your practice exam scores are the best predictor of your actual exam performance.
CARS Strategy: CARS is the most difficult section to improve because it tests reading and reasoning skills rather than memorizable content. Practice CARS passages daily (at least 2 to 3 per day) throughout your study period. Focus on understanding the main argument of each passage, identifying the author’s perspective, and answering questions based on the passage content rather than outside knowledge. Consistent daily practice over months produces better CARS improvement than cramming.
Score Goals and Retaking
Set your target score based on the median MCAT® scores at the schools on your target list (available in the AAMC® MSAR database). If your practice exam scores consistently fall below your target, consider postponing the exam to allow more preparation time. Taking the MCAT® before you are ready results in a score that medical schools will see (all scores are reported, and most schools consider your highest score), and retaking adds time, cost, and stress. It is better to take the exam once when you are ready than to rush into a first attempt and plan on retaking.
For detailed content-area strategies, see our MCAT® prep guide. For study skill foundations, see our active learning, spaced repetition, and test-taking strategies guides.
Practice Exam Strategy: Full-length practice exams are the most important tool in your MCAT® preparation. They serve as diagnostics (identifying your baseline score and content weaknesses), stamina builders (training you to maintain focus and performance over 6+ hours), pacing tools (teaching you how to allocate time across passages and questions), and predictors (your average AAMC® practice exam score is the most reliable predictor of your actual score). Take your first practice exam within the first 1 to 2 weeks of your study period to establish a baseline. Take additional practice exams every 2 to 3 weeks throughout your preparation. Save the AAMC® official practice exams for the final 4 to 6 weeks when they are most predictive. After each practice exam, conduct a thorough review: analyze every question you missed, identify whether the error was content-based (you did not know the material) or reasoning-based (you knew the material but misinterpreted the question or fell for a distractor), and adjust your study plan accordingly.
The Psych/Soc Section: The Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section catches many students off guard because it tests content (psychology and sociology) that pre-med students sometimes underestimate. This section requires familiarity with psychological theories (behaviorism, cognitive theory, psychodynamic theory, humanistic theory), sociological concepts (social stratification, deviance, socialization, institutions, inequality), and their application to health and disease. If you have not taken college-level psychology and sociology, invest extra time in content review for this section using Khan Academy® and Anki flashcards. Many students find that Psych/Soc is their highest-scoring section once they take content review seriously. See our psychology study guide and sociology study guide.
References
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). “MCAT Exam.” AAMC, 2025. https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat. Accessed March 2026.
Khan Academy. “MCAT Prep.” Khan Academy, 2025. https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat. Accessed March 2026.