Getting That Good MCAT Score
Getting that good MCAT score
If you are pursuing a medical career, obtaining a high MCAT score can expand your options. The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is required for admission to most medical schools. The MCAT is administered on a computer and assesses abilities in physical and biological sciences, verbal reasoning, and writing.
In 2015, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAMC) added a new section entitled Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior.
This section assesses your understanding of sociocultural, biological, and psychological influences on behavior and social interactions, as well as how individuals process emotion and stress. Prepare as thoroughly as possible for this seven-and-a-half-hour test, as you will only want to take it once.
The MCAT serves as a predictor of your success in medical school for admissions officers. The exam is designed to assess the skills you’ll need when you arrive, including science fundamentals, verbal reasoning, and writing proficiency. The MCAT is a 7-and-a-half-hour, computer-based exam with a reputation for being one of the most difficult standardized tests.
In Canada, most schools weigh your scores very heavily. Some schools require applicants to achieve a minimum MCAT score in order to be considered.
MCAT score range
To understand the MCAT Score range, imagine a cartesian plane. The range is in odd numbers. Each section of the MCAT is scored between 118 and 132, with an average and median score of 125. This means that the median is a fair judgment of the score distribution.
The range of possible MCAT scores is between 472 and 528, with a mean and median of 501. Why are there so many odd numbers? According to the AAMC, this scale places a greater emphasis on the middle portion of the score distribution, where the majority of students score (around 125 per section, or 501 total), as opposed to placing an undue emphasis on the high end of the scale.
What is a good MCAT score?
Now what is a good MCAT score? In general, a good score is considered to be 511 or higher, with no section score below 127.
The MCAT, also known as the Medical College Admission Test, is a computer-based exam designed to evaluate your potential as a medical student and physician. Earning a high MCAT score is essential for admission to a top medical school. Understanding the different score ranges and the percentile in which you scored will help you set attainable goals.
The MCAT does not have a predetermined passing score. This article breaks down the MCAT score ranges so that you can determine what a good score looks like and how it may affect your medical school admission.
What is the highest MCAT score?
You might think; “What is the highest MCAT score and is it achievable? The maximum score possible on the MCAT is 528. It is possible to achieve a so-called “perfect score” on the MCAT, despite the fact that the test creators make it challenging.
According to the AAMC, between thirty and seventy percent of the approximately two hundred thousand students who take the MCAT each year achieve the highest score of 528. The correlation between scaled score and percentile is shown below.
What is the average MCAT score?
You might wonder what the average MCAT score is. Well, the average, good, and high scores for the MCAT are relative terms that depend on your perspective, cohort, and intended medical school of admission.
There is no pass or fail score for the exam; only scores acceptable to specific medical schools are considered. Consider consulting past trends with specific medical schools, their websites, or the AAMC. Obviously, a mean score is not the same as a minimum score, nor does it provide information regarding the requirements of specific medical schools.
The top ten MCAT study strategies
Ready to begin your MCAT preparation and unsure of the best way to prepare? Learn the ten most effective study habits that will increase your MCAT score.
1. Establish your baseline
Your baseline score is the score you would earn if you took the exam today. Before you begin studying for the MCAT in earnest, simulate the actual testing environment as closely as possible by taking a full-length practice test. The results of this first practice test will help direct your study by highlighting the areas on which you should focus most.
2. Don’t replace practice with content review
Here is exactly what the MCAT tests:
- your ability to apply fundamental knowledge to various, potentially novel situations
- your capacity for logical reasoning and argument evaluation
Do you still require scientific knowledge? Absolutely. However, not to the extent that most test-takers believe. In the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section, your science knowledge will be of no assistance.
3. Concentrate on accuracy
Is speed your highest priority? Still, you should begin with untimed practice. When acquiring a new skill, you must first master its execution before focusing on speed.
As you begin to solve practice problems, complete the section or passage without a time limit and focus on improving your accuracy. Start recording how long it takes you to complete a passage or section in the future. Even if you have been studying for a while, it is still beneficial to do some untimed practice problems with an emphasis on avoiding your typical errors.
4. Build stamina
Even under normal circumstances, it is difficult to maintain concentration for several hours, let alone under stressful conditions. Prepare for the exam by reading passages for longer and longer amounts of time with shorter and shorter breaks, until you can comfortably concentrate for several hours.
5. Take as many full-length practice exams as possible
Confidence is developed through experience. Once you have practiced completing multiple passages consecutively, increase the number of practice tests you take. That will surely increase your MCAT score.
6. Simulate REAL MCAT conditions
Complete tests in one sitting, pausing between sections for breaks. Except during breaks, do not consume food or liquids during the exam. If you become cold or hot, do not add or remove clothing unless on a break.
7. Develop experience handling distractions
Perform practice passages or tests under less-than-ideal conditions. Go to a reasonably quiet coffee shop or a library area where people are moving about (but not talking loudly). While working, practice tuning out your surroundings.
8. Manage your anxiety
Managing your mental and physical health is equally as essential as studying and practicing. It serves no purpose to work all day, every day, if your brain is so exhausted that it no longer functions. Incorporate leisure activities, such as exercise, into your schedule.
9. Assess your work
Continuous improvement requires constant self-evaluation. Don’t simply respond to the questions and total your score at the end. Utilize the results to learn how to improve. What types of questions do you routinely fail? What types of passages impede your progress? What types of answer traps are you susceptible to? Why did you choose the incorrect answer to each question you missed?
1o. Evaluate your right answers
Consider not only the questions you missed but also how you arrived at the correct answers. Did you avoid a typical snare? Are there particular question types in which you excel? You also have to ask yourself these questions to really get that good MCAT score
Final Thoughts
You might worry about not getting a good MCAT Score. But worries can be mitigated through preparation and the right course of action. It is given that MCAT examinees are aiming to pursue medical school admissions. If you can build a good study habits, you won’t need to worry about anything else. AdmissionSight is here for you.
AdmissionSight has over ten years of experience and skilled professionals that can get you into your school of choice. We love to work with students who are driven and desire success. When it comes to the application and admissions process, we are confident that our students can compete against the country’s best and brightest.
75% of AdmissionSight students are accepted to an Ivy League or Top 10 University. Book a free consultation today and take the first step toward your epic journey.
