Introduction

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a national standardized test for applicants to medical schools. The test is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The MCAT is designed to test your knowledge of basic science concepts, as well as your problem-solving skills, critical thinking ability, and writing skills.

The MCAT is composed of four scored sections that always appear in the same order:

Almost all U.S. medical schools require applicants to submit MCAT scores during the application process. Many schools may not accept MCAT scores if taken more than three years ago. Applicants should refer to the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) to determine specific MCAT requirements.

How is the MCAT scored?

All sections except the Writing Sample are in multiple-choice format and are graded on a scale of 1 to 15. (Verbal is graded 1-13+). Raw scores on the Writing Sample are converted to a letter grade ranging from a low of J to a high of T.

How important are my MCAT scores?

At most U.S. medical schools, your MCAT scores are given as much weight as your GPA. Moreover, if there is a discrepancy between your MCAT scores and your GPA, the tendency is to give the MCAT scores more weight.

In Canada, most schools do not weight your MCAT scores very heavily. However, some schools set minimum cut-off scores that applicants must meet in order to be considered.