Higher education in the USA goes hand-in-hand with standardised tests. For undergraduate degrees there's the SAT and ACT, while for postgraduate degrees there are different ones for specific branches of study. For entry to medical school in the USA, hopeful students are usually required to take the MCAT, or Medical College Admission Test. If you are a budding doctor and keen to learn more about this, we can help. Read on for our simple guide to the MCAT exam.
What does MCAT mean?
MCAT stands for Medical College Admission Test, an exam that has been around for almost 100 years. It assesses the abilities of prospective postgraduate medical students across a range of areas. These cover everything from biology and chemistry to psychology and critical thinking.
If you would like to learn about some of the other exams used for postgraduate admissions in the USA, read our comparison of the GRE and GMAT.
Exam format
The MCAT is completed on a computer in an official testing room, under timed conditions. It takes 7 hours and 27 minutes in total, of which 6 hours and 15 minutes are spent on the exam. The remainder will allow you some much-needed breaks.
In total, you will be faced with 230 questions, split into four categories. These are:
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (59 questions)
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (53 questions)
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (59 questions)
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (59 questions)
You will have 1 hour and 35 minutes to complete each of these sections, except for the shorter critical analysis category. For that, you will have 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Every question on the test is multiple choice, with the large majority of them requiring you to work out the answer based on an accompanying passage of text. So, while you will often need to take your time to understand the information that comes with a question, all is not lost if you are struggling. Even a complete guess has a one-in-four chance of being correct – though your chances will only increase with good preparation.
Looking for some tips on getting ready for the MCAT? Take a look at our advice on how to revise for exams.
Scoring system
The MCAT is scored using a scaled system that converts your total number of correct answers into your overall grade. This is done to standardise the scores of all test takers, on the understanding that some MCAT exams are more difficult than others.
The maximum score you can achieve is 528, but this is rare. Any score of more than 500 is likely to place you in the top half of all test takers, while a score of 510 or above should put you in the top quarter. If you score 515, you have done exceptionally well. This would typically place you among the top 10 per cent.
A worthwhile thing to remember about the MCAT is that there is no penalty for incorrect answers. Leaving a question blank therefore offers no advantage over making a random selection. Always be sure to give each one a go, even if you are completely unsure about it.
Where to take the exam
You can complete the MCAT on a number of dates throughout the year in the USA, Canada, and several other countries. These are:
- Australia
- China (Hong Kong)
- France
- Germany
- Israel
- Japan
- Lebanon
- Qatar
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- United Kingdom
As the test is not conducted remotely, you would have to travel to one of these places to complete it, if you are based elsewhere. If you are looking for the best time to do this, Canada and the USA could be your best options. There, the exam is held around 30 times a year – significantly more than in most other countries – between the months of January and September.
You can take the MCAT up to three times each year, but only four times over two years, and seven times in your life. Results are given around 30 days after the exam is completed.
Cost of the exam
The cost of taking the MCAT inside the USA or Canada is USD 335, but if you take it elsewhere, this will increase to USD 455. Under a fee assistance programme, students with financial need pay only USD 140, but this is restricted to US residents. If you would like to reschedule or cancel your exam, fees will apply, and will increase as your planned exam date gets closer.
Now you know what the MCAT is for and where you can take it, you might want to think more about where it could take you. Start with our guides to the best medical schools in the USA and the best medical schools in Canada. If you're still considering your subject options, try our reasons to study health and medicine.
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