Your MCAT Score Is Back: What It Means and What to Do Next

The number on the screen

You checked your score. Maybe you are relieved, maybe you are disappointed, maybe you are somewhere in between. Whatever the number, the next decision matters more than the score itself. Here is how to evaluate your MCAT result and decide what to do.

Understanding your score

The MCAT is scored from 472 to 528, with a median of approximately 500. Each of the four sections (Chemical and Physical Foundations, Critical Analysis, Biological and Biochemical Foundations, and Psychological Foundations) is scored from 118 to 132. The total is the sum of the four sections.

For context: a 508 is approximately the 73rd percentile. A 510 is approximately the 80th percentile. A 514 is approximately the 89th percentile. A 518 is approximately the 96th percentile. A 520 is approximately the 97th percentile.

Is your score competitive?

“Competitive” depends on where you plan to apply. The median MCAT for MD matriculants is approximately 511 to 512. For DO matriculants, it is approximately 504 to 506. However, these are medians, meaning half of accepted students scored below those numbers.

Tip

Compare your score to the medians at your target schools, not to some abstract benchmark. If you are applying to a range of schools where your score falls within their 25th to 75th percentile range, you are competitive at those schools. Use school-specific data from each institution’s admissions page to make this assessment.

When to keep your score

Keep your score if it falls within the competitive range for a reasonable number of schools on your list, your section scores are balanced (no single section more than 2 to 3 points below the others), and you feel the score reflects your actual ability.

When to consider retaking

Consider a retake if your score is more than 5 points below the median at your target schools, one section is significantly lower than the others (suggesting a content gap you can address), and you have a concrete plan for studying differently. A retake makes sense only if you can identify what went wrong and change your preparation. Retaking the MCAT without changing your approach is unlikely to produce a different result.

Warning

MCAT scores are cumulative. Medical schools see every attempt. A small improvement (1 to 2 points) on a retake can look worse than keeping your original score, because it suggests you could not improve despite additional preparation. Retake only if you are confident you can improve by 4 or more points.

Voiding versus retaking

If you felt poorly about the exam on test day, you had the option to void your score before seeing it. If you chose to see your score, that option is gone, and the score is now part of your record. For future test dates, consider the void option seriously if you experienced a testing disruption, felt unwell, or ran out of time on multiple sections.

Next steps

If keeping your score: finalize your school list to match your competitiveness and proceed with your application. If retaking: allow 3 to 4 months of focused preparation. Consider whether to delay your application cycle by one year rather than rushing a retake.

MCAT Preparation
Reapplicant Guide
Medical Schools Database
Gap Year Ideas

Last verified: March 2026