After realizing how tough the MCAT can be, it’s not an uncommon question to wonder how many times you can take the MCAT.
I remember I had the same question in my mind when paranoia took over! Hence, I deep-dived to learn everything about the number of MCAT attempts. So, if you have any questions related to this topic, read on!
This post is all about how many times can you take the MCAT.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.
Find Out How Many Times Can You Take the MCAT
How Many Times Can You Take the MCAT in a Year?
Each year, the MCAT examination is organized 25 times, or sometimes, even more. As per the AAMC rules, you can take the MCAT up to three times in one single year.
But keep in mind that maxing out on your yearly attempts is not only a big chunk of registration fees, but might also not be the best strategy for success.
However, you can only attempt it four times if you take it in two consecutive years.
Keep in mind that even if you have registered for the exam, but didn’t appear for it, it counts as an attempt. Additionally, any voided scores are also counted as an attempt.
How Many Times Can You Take the MCAT in a Lifetime?
Apart from having a yearly limit, the AAMC has also put a restriction on the total number of MCAT attempts in the whole lifetime. You are only allowed to take the MCAT examination up to seven times in a lifetime.
But the official AAMC document states that you can make a special request for extra attempts. If they believe your reason is valid and justified, you might be allowed to retake it beyond the limited attempts!
What Is a Good MCAT Score?
I always believe that knowing the ideal MCAT score will help you figure out your studying plan. Your MCAT score target shouldn’t scare you but inspire you to take the steps in the right direction to achieve that score.
The highest score that a candidate can receive in the exam is 528, meaning 100th percentile. If you want the 100th percentile, you need a score of 524 and above. Additionally, you can also get 99th percentile with a score between 522 and 523.
Well, the truth is achieving such high scores isn’t an easy feat!
So, it’s better to have a realistic approach and be aware of a good or minimum score to get admission into a reputable med school. I personally set my target score at 516 which turned out perfect for me! But I also had to balance a lower GPA so make sure your own MCAT target goal fits YOU.
As per data from 2022, the average MCAT score of the total applicants in the US who got into medical school was about 511.9. Hence, you should aim for 512 or above to have a competitive advantage.
Check out my this blog post to learn all the details on what score to aim for and how important it *actually* is. Plus, I share bonus tips on how you can still get accepted with a lower score!
Should I Retake the MCAT? Factors to Consider
The decision to retake the MCAT can get pretty unnerving. I remember when I decided to retake my MCAT exam. It took me a lot of motivation to start all over again but was so worth it in the end!
If you’re also wondering whether or not to retake the MCAT exam, here are a few things I suggest considering.
1. Application Strength
Your MCAT scores aren’t the only thing that can get you into medical school! There are other things that are considered, especially your GPA.
If you have an excellent GPA score of more than 3.75, factor that in along with your MCAT marks. There is a chance that you will get into medical school without having to retake the MCAT.
Now, if both your GPA and MCAT scores are low, consider retaking the exam. I also suggest making up for a low GPA score by increasing your clinical or shadowing experience.
You can also choose to volunteer, take up leadership roles, or publish research papers. Trust me, excellent extracurriculars can do wonders to balance a low GPA!
2. Reason for Low Score
After listening to an amazing podcast, I now swear by the rule of treating failure as a learning experience.
If you took the MCAT and ended up with a low score – I know how shattering that can be. It might take you a few weeks to convince yourself that you can do better!
So after you take your time grieving (while finding comfort in a whole tub of Ben & Jerry’s), put on your best challenge-accepted smile and sit down to figure out what went wrong. While it may feel like a waste of time, I highly recommend taking a few days to introspect.
For instance, I’ve heard several people mention how they messed up with the timing on the test day. Some might end up going way too fast and missing out on the tiny details, while some go too slow and end up not getting enough time to solve the questions.
A few MCAT test-takers even overestimate their learning abilities and create a highly unrealistic study plan, which as you can guess, doesn’t turn out as well either.
Other reasons could involve too much procrastination and too little consistency in our study schedules. Social media certainly didn’t help by reducing our attention spans and turned us into professional procrastinators!
I recommend using a time-blocking system to organize your week more effectively.
Just identify your most productive study times, and use organization tools like Google Calendar to schedule them. Also, remember to include breaks, meal prep time, and some flexibility or cat nap time in your schedule.
If there are any other reasons, such as a lack of understanding of topics, external distractions, or even feeling directionless – try to find a solution for them, such as better resources to deepen your understanding.
3. Timing and Schedule
Always consider your application timeline and schedule before deciding to retake the MCAT.
Do you have enough time to prepare for the MCAT? Are there any big events that could disrupt your MCAT preparation?
You also need to consider how you plan to manage other responsibilities, such as work, school, or family. For instance, if you are moving into a phase with a high workload, you need to figure out if preparing for the MCAT at the same time is realistic. Otherwise, this could greatly reduce the success of your preparation.
Hence, depending on all these factors, you must decide whether it’s the right time to prepare and retake the MCAT.
If you have no clue on how to create a truly *realistic* study schedule, my MCAT Roadmap course includes an in-depth Study Schedule Tool. With my step-by-step instructions, you get to create your own custom study schedule! This way, when you wake up in the morning, you will know exactly what to study each day and can easily adjust your plan whenever needed.
Plus, MCAT Roadmap includes tons of extra tips and tools to help you stay consistent and motivated along the way.
Are You Ready to Score Well in the MCAT?
You should only register for the MCAT when you feel ready to score well. After all, you need to ensure that you clear it in fewer attempts, as it saves time and also keeps your confidence intact.
If you aren’t feeling ready to score well and have already registered, don’t hesitate to reschedule it.
Some signs that you might require rescheduling are:
- You haven’t score the SAME or above your goal score on your last AAMC full-length practice exams
- You won’t get to finish all AAMC-given practice tests and questions before your scheduled date.
- In most practice tests, you’re unable to finish all questions and are struggling with time management.
- You haven’t simulated test day for enough practice exams to decrease the chance of test anxiety.
Keep in mind that if none of these apply to you, still feeling some doubt is completely normal! Taking the MCAT can be scary but don’t let this stand in your way of taking it head-on once you are ready.
How to Reschedule the MCAT Test?
Thankfully, rescheduling your MCAT test is straightforward. Just go to AAMC’s MCAT Registration System. You’ll find your test date information, and a reschedule option. You can also call 202-828-0600 for the same.
Note that you have to reschedule at least 10 days prior to the test. There’s also a MCAT reschedule fee applicable. Find more about that and the overall MCAT costs in my blog post How Much Does it Cost to Take the MCAT.
Can Medical Schools See Your Previous MCAT Score?
When I started preparing for MCAT, this was one of the things I wasn’t aware of. I was under the misconception that medical schools would only be able to see my latest MCAT score. Yet, this is not the case.
According to AAMC’s full disclosure policy, all your previous MCAT scores will be visible in the score reports.
In fact, AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) automatically releases the previous MCAT scores.
Note: You will have to send scores from AMCAS to both OMSAS and AACOMAS though, since they won’t be released automatically.
Does Retaking MCAT Look Bad on Your Application?
Well, there is no fixed answer to this question, as it all depends on who is reviewing your MCAT scores. Yet, as per my observation, it’s best to have a maximum of two to three retakes.
If it exceeds this limit and you have repeatedly scored low in the previous attempts, the reviewers might see it as incompetency.
How Long Is Your MCAT Score Valid?
Your MCAT scores have an expiration date! Typically, most medical schools consider MCAT scores valid for around two to three years from the date of the test.
I suggest checking the requirements for each medical school you plan to apply to, since this can vary from school to school.
Tips on How to Improve Your Score for a Retake
Don’t make the same mistakes if you plan to retake the MCAT exam.
The below-mentioned tips are some of my favorite ones that helped me do better while attempting the MCAT for the second time.
1. Review Practice Tests
One of the best things I did to improve my MCAT score was *thoroughly* reviewing my practice tests.
Taking regular full-length practice tests is the most effective way to identify your subject strengths, try out various time management strategies, and realize any concepts you keep missing over and over again.
Now, just taking the practice exams is only half the job though. The other important part is to actually review those tests.
You need to recognize the mistakes you’re making and try to find a solution.
One way to do it is by creating a spreadsheet with all your missed questions, why you got them wrong and how to adjust your strategy to overcome this next time.
You can snag my FREE FL Review Template so you already have a clear structure for your own full-length review. I used this during my own MCAT preparation and this is literally gold when it comes to creating continuous progress in your score.
2. Adjust The Strategy Depending on Your Weakness
Reviewing practice tests allows you to recognize your weaknesses. However, don’t make the mistake of ignoring them. Instead, try to adjust your strategy accordingly.
For instance, if you’re struggling with a specific topic, allot more time to understand it and practice more questions. You can also lessen the time for concepts that you know well.
If your weakness is time management or the CARS section, develop a strategy to work on those specifically.
3. Understanding Over Memorization!
Remember that MCAT requires a deep understanding of concepts. So, simply memorizing questions and formulas is never enough.
You must ensure that you always truly understand the content instead of just memorizing equations.
The best way to do this is by breaking down each topic as if explaining to a child. Think of all the questions a child might ask. If you can’t answer their “why” questions, deepen your own understanding until you can!
4. Always Go for a Realistic Study Plan
It’s very easy to watch a motivational video on social media and create a 2-month study plan that is waaay out there. Well, we all do this, and it hardly works out in the end. You either get overwhelmed or end up feeling burnt out. Both NOT helpful to reach your MCAT target score!
Creating a realistic study plan can save you hours of stress, and overthinking, and even beat procrastination.
Before making a study plan, I used to consider things, like my timeline, work schedule (if any), any blockages, strengths, and weaknesses. This allowed me to create a plan that was both efficient and easy for me to follow.
Again, if you are ready to ditch generic (unrealistic) schedules and make creating your own study plan 10x easier, join MCAT Roadmap for step-by-step guidance and powerful tools!
5. Try Different Study Resources
Every person has a unique way of thinking and studying. Hence, not every resource suggested by a third person will work out for you.
I suggest trying out other study resources if you’re unable to understand a topic. No matter how popular the resource is, don’t stick with it if it’s not working out for you.
I personally am a visual learner and loved to draw things out in order to truly get them. One of the tools that has been a lifesaver for biochemistry were my quiz sheets to memorize biochem pathways (click on the link to download them for free)
Final Thoughts – how many time can you take the MCAT
To sum it all up, you can take the MCAT test three times in a year, four times in two consecutive years, and seven times in your entire lifetime. It is best to keep your attempts limited to three, as more attempts may give off a bad impression in the application process.
So, I hope this post helped you out in clearing up your MCAT-related doubts! You can also check out more such posts on my blog.
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