The MCAT is an entrance test that allows admission to medical schools in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean Islands. The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) is responsible for administering this international-level exam. The MCAT is offered 25 times a year in 21 countries, and candidates are allowed to take it up to three times within one year or four times within two years. In a lifetime, a candidate can take the exam up to seven times.
In addition to evaluating a candidate's knowledge of scientific fundamentals required to complete medical school, the MCAT also assesses written analysis and problem-solving skills. The average score for the MCAT is typically around 500, with each section averaging around 125. The registration fees for the exam vary depending on the candidate's location and range from USD 300 to USD 400.
The MCAT is a lengthy exam, lasting almost 7.5 hours, and candidates are advised to prepare thoroughly as the number of attempts is limited. To avoid the need for retaking the exam, candidates should prepare well in advance, taking mock tests and developing a regular sitting habit.
MCAT Exam 2023: Highlights
| Exam Name | MCAT |
| Full Form | Medical College Admission Test |
| Exam Level | International |
| Conducting Body | Association of American Medical College (AMMC) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Exam Duration | 7 Hours 30 Minutes |
| Official Website | www.aamc.org |
| Helpdesk | 202-828-0600 |
MCAT 2023 Important Dates
The following are the test dates available for MCAT 2023 in centers located in the USA. It is important to note that international centers have fewer test dates available.
Test Date | 60 Day Deadline | 30 Day Deadline | 10 Day Deadline | Score Release Date |
January 13 | Nov. 14, 2022 | Dec. 14, 2022 | Jan. 3 | Feb. 14 |
January 14 | Nov. 15, 2022 | Dec. 15, 2022 | Jan. 4 | Feb. 14 |
January 19 | Nov. 20, 2022 | Dec 20, 2022 | Jan. 9 | Feb. 21 |
January 27 | Nov. 28, 2022 | Dec 28, 2022 | Jan. 17 | March 3 |
March 11 | Jan. 10 | Feb. 9 | March 1 | April 11 |
March 24 | Jan. 23 | Feb. 22 | March 14 | April 25 |
April 14 | Feb. 13 | March 15 | April 4 | May 16 |
April 15 | Feb. 14 | March 16 | April 5 | May 16 |
April 28 | Feb. 27 | March 29 | April 18 | May 31 |
April 29 | Feb. 28 | March 30 | April 19 | May 31 |
May 12 | March 13 | April 12 | May 2 | June 13 |
May 13 | March 14 | April 13 | May 3 | June 13 |
May 18 | March 19 | April 18 | May 8 | June 21 |
May 26 | March 27 | April 26 | May 16 | June 27 |
June 3 | April 4 | May 4 | May 24 | July 6 |
June 16 | April 17 | May 17 | June 6 | July 18 |
June 17 | April 18 | May 18 | June 7 | July 18 |
June 23 | April 24 | May 24 | June 13 | July 25 |
June 24 | April 25 | May 25 | June 14 | July 25 |
June 29 | April 30 | May 30 | June 19 | July 31 |
July 15 | May 16 | June 15 | July 5 | Aug. 15 |
July 28 | May 29 | June 28 | July 18 | Aug. 29 |
August 4 | June 5 | July 5 | July 25 | Sept. 6 |
August 19 | June 20 | July 20 | Aug. 9 | Sept. 19 |
August 25 | June 26 | July 26 | Aug. 15 | Sept. 26 |
August 26 | June 27 | July 27 | Aug. 16 | Sept. 26 |
August 31 | July 2 | Aug. 1 | Aug. 21 | Oct. 3 |
September 1 | July 3 | Aug. 2 | Aug. 22 | Oct. 3 |
September 8 | July 10 | Aug. 9 | Aug. 29 | Oct. 13 |
September 9 | July 11 | Aug. 10 | Aug. 30 | Oct. 13 |
MCAT 2023 Application Procedure
To apply for Medical school in the United States and Canada, candidates need to register for the MCAT Exam. The following steps should be followed to complete the application process:
- Go to the official website of the MCAT exam.
- Create an AAMC account by providing the required information.
- Verify your email address by clicking on the link sent to your registered email ID.
- Sign in to your account using your credentials.
- Click on the 'Start Exam Registration' link to schedule an appointment.
- Fill in your personal information, biographical information, and academic background.
- Read and accept the terms and conditions by checking the 'Agree' checkbox.
- Select the exam schedule and test center.
- Pay the application fee using a Visa or Mastercard credit card.
- A confirmation email containing the appointment details will be sent to your registered email ID.
MCAT Exam 2023 Application Fee
There are three different registration fee categories for the MCAT 2023, which vary based on the date of registration before the exam.
Registration Fees | In USD |
Standard Registration | $330 |
Fee Assistance Program Registration | $135 |
A fee of $120 is charged for international candidates appearing for the MCAT 2023 exam outside of the US, Canada, or US territories, in addition to the regular registration fee. This international fee is non-refundable in case of cancellation of registration.
Candidates must complete the scheduling of their exam at least 10 days before the actual exam date. The 10-day deadline is also the final date for rescheduling or cancelling an exam reservation, as well as for making any necessary changes to registration information such as name, address, and consents.
MCAT Exam 2023 Application Fee: Rescheduling and Cancellations (in USD)
Standard Change Fees | Date and/or Test Center Reschedule Fee | Cancellation Refund |
60 or more days before exam | $50 | $165 |
30-59 days before exam | $100 | $165 |
10-29 days before exam | $200 | $0 |
Fee Assistance Program Change Fees | Date and/or Test Center Reschedule Fees | Cancellation Refund |
60 or more days before exam | $20 | $70 |
30-59 days before exam | $40 | $70 |
10-29 days before exam | $80 | $0 |
Note: Any modifications or updates to exam registrations, such as rescheduling, cancellation, or changes to personal information, must be made at least 10 days prior to the exam date. No changes will be permitted within 10 days of the exam.
MCAT Exam 2023 Eligibility Criteria
Before taking the MCAT 2023, it is crucial for potential candidates to review the eligibility criteria set by the exam organizers. The MCAT is open to those aspiring to pursue a career in Allopathic, Osteopathic, Podiatric, and veterinary medicine.
The following eligibility requirements must be met by the applicants:
- Candidates from the United States and Canada must hold an undergraduate degree to qualify for the exam.
- International candidates must either be enrolled in or have already completed an MBBS program to be eligible for the MCAT.
- Individuals taking the MCAT for non-medical purposes must request special permission from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC).
MCAT 2023: Exam Structure
The MCAT Exam evaluates students' critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, written analysis, and understanding of scientific concepts and principles. It is a computer-based exam that includes 221 multiple-choice questions and lasts for a total of 7.5 hours, with breaks provided.
The exam is divided into four sections, namely Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior. MCAT Exam Structure table is given below for the reference:
Section | Number of Questions | Type of Question | Duration |
Examinee Agreement | - | - | 8 Minutes |
Tutorial (Optional) | - | - | 10 Minutes |
Chemical and Physical Foundation of Biological System | 50 | 10 Passage-based Questions (4-6 Questions per Set) 15 Independent Questions | 95 Minutes |
Break (Optional) | - | - | 10 Minutes |
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills | 53 | 9 Passages (5-7 Questions per Passage) | 90 Minutes |
Mid-Exam Break (Optional) | - | - | 30 Minutes |
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of a Living System | 59 | 10 Passage-based Set of Questions (4-6 Questions per Set) 15 Independent Questions | 95 Minutes |
Break (Optional) | - | - | 10 Minutes |
psychological, Social and Biological Foundations Behavior | - | 10 Passage-based Set of Questions -(4-6 Questions per Set) 15 Independent Questions | 95 Minutes |
Void Question | - | - | 5 Minutes |
Satisfaction Survey (Optional) | - | - | 5 Minutes |
Total Content Time | - | - | 6 Hours 15 Minutes |
MCAT 2023 Syllabus
The MCAT exam evaluates a broad range of knowledge across key areas of science, psychology, and sociology, in addition to measuring critical reasoning and analytical skills. Below are some of the crucial topics that are mainly assessed in the MCAT exam.
Sections | MCAT Important Topics |
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills | Ethics, Philosophy, Population Health, Social Sciences, Humanities Disciplines and, Studies of Diverse Culture |
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems | Chemistry: Organic, and Inorganic, Biology: Cellular and Molecular, Biochemistry (introductory topics), Natural sciences: Research, Reasoning and Statistics Basic Biochemistry concepts, Statistics Concepts and Introductory Research Methods |
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behaviour | Social and Behavioral Sciences: Scientific Inquiry, Reasoning, Research Concepts of Psychology, Sociology, and Biology about the Behavioral and Socio-Cultural Health Determinants Mental Processes and Behavior, Concepts of Psychology and Sociology, Introductory Statistics Concepts and Research Methods of Introductory Science |
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems | Introductory Biochemistry and Biology Concepts Chemistry: Organic and Inorganic, Concepts of Physics Show Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning, Research Methods and Natural Sciences Introductory Molecular Biology, Introductory and Statistics Concepts |
What score range is considered desirable for the MCAT exam in 2023?
The MCAT scores fall under three categories based on their ranges:
Top Scores: This score category corresponds to a percentile range of 90.
Competitive Scores: This score category corresponds to a percentile range of 75.
Less Competitive Scores: This score category corresponds to a percentile range of 50.
The scoring ranges for each category are provided below.
Top Scores | |
MCAT Section | Scores |
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems | 129-132 |
Chemical and Physical Foundations Biological Systems | 129-132 |
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills | 129-132 |
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behaviour | 129-132 |
Total | 514-528 |
Competitive Score | |
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems | 127-128 |
Chemical and Physical Foundations Biological Systems | 127-128 |
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills | 127-128 |
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behaviour | 127-128 |
Total | 508-513 |
Less Competitive Score | |
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems | 125-126 |
Chemical and Physical Foundations Biological Systems | 125-126 |
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills | 125-126 |
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behaviour | 125-126 |
Total | 500-507 |
MCAT Exam 2023: Score Report
The MCAT score is released by 5 PM on the day of score release and can be viewed on the 'MCAT Score Reporting System' after logging into the AAMC account. The MCAT score report includes the candidate's name, AAMC ID, date of birth, exam score, sectional score, total score, sectional percentile rank, overall percentile rank, and score profile.
MCAT Score v/s Percentile Rank
Total Score | Percentile Score | Total Score | Percentile Rank | Total Score | Percentile Rank | Total Score | Percentile Rank |
528 | 100 | 510 | 84 | 498 | 45 | 486 | 12 |
527-523 | >99 | 509 | 82 | 497 | 42 | 485 | 10 |
522-521 | 99 | 508 | 79 | 496 | 39 | 484 | 8 |
520-519 | 98 | 507 | 76 | 495 | 35 | 483 | 7 |
518 | 97 | 506 | 73 | 494 | 32 | 482 | 5 |
517 | 96 | 505 | 70 | 493 | 29 | 481 | 4 |
516 | 95 | 504 | 67 | 492 | 26 | 480 | 3 |
515 | 94 | 503 | 63 | 491 | 23 | 479 | 2 |
514 | 92 | 502 | 60 | 490 | 20 | 478 | 2 |
513 | 90 | 501 | 56 | 489 | 18 | 477 | 1 |
512 | 88 | 500 | 53 | 488 | 16 | 476 | 1 |
511 | 86 | 499 | 49 | 487 | 13 | 475-472 | <1 |
MCAT Score v/s Percentile Rank
Total Score | Percentile Rank | Total Score | Percentile Rank |
132 | 100 | 124 | 45 |
131 | 99 | 123 | 33 |
130 | 97 | 122 | 22 |
129 | 93 | 121 | 13 |
128 | 87 | 120 | 7 |
127 | 79 | 119 | 3 |
126 | 68 | 118 | 1 |
125 | 57 | - | - |
MCAT 2023 Preparation Books
The AAMC offers a multitude of resources to help students prepare for the MCAT exam. Individuals have the option to enroll in MCAT sample exams and practice tests, as well as access video lectures and online tutorials through the AAMC website. Moreover, the AAMC provides a list of recommended reference books for MCAT preparation, which can be found in the table below.
Name of the Book | Author/Publisher |
Barron's New MCAT | Barron's |
Princeton Review MCAT Subject Review Complete Box Set | The Princeton Review |
MCAT Practice Tests | Sterling Test Prep |
MCAT Secrets Study Guide | MCAT Exam Secrets Test Prep Team |
MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review 2018-2021 | Kaplan's |
MCAT Counselling 2023
Many medical schools use MCAT scores as a criterion for admission. To access a list of national and international colleges that consider MCAT scores, please visit the official website. To obtain information about a specific institution, click on the college tab located on the dashboard above.
Begin by compiling a list of colleges of interest and creating a schedule with their respective application deadlines. Keep in mind that every college has an application processing fee, so it is advisable for applicants not to squander their resources on institutions in which they are not interested.
After attaching the necessary files, submit the application via the college's application portal. The institution will conduct its own assessment and respond to the applicant within a reasonable timeframe, potentially arranging an interview with alumni or faculty members. Finally, the college will notify the candidates of their acceptance via post or email.
At the college level, MCAT counseling is conducted, and students must apply individually to their desired institutions. The application process typically entails submitting various documents, including but not limited to:
- Letters of Recommendation
- Statements of Purpose
- IELTS/TOEFL Score Cards (for International Colleges)
- High School Marksheets.
MCAT Exam 2023 Guidelines
Here are some important points for students taking the MCAT 2023 to keep in mind:
- A calculator is not provided during the test, but a periodic table is provided.
- In the Chemistry, Biology, and Physics section, 15 questions out of 59 are standalone and are not related to the passages given in the question paper. The remaining 44 questions are based on passages provided in the exam, but candidates should note that outside knowledge is required to solve them, as the information in the passages may not be sufficient.
- To take the MCAT exam, candidates are required to arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. Those who fail to do so will not be allowed to enter the test center, and no refunds will be issued.
- Only individuals with qualifying identification will be permitted to enter the MCAT test center. Candidates must present a valid ID that may include temporary IDs, paper IDs, IDs with extension stickers, or ID application receipts.
- The name on the ID must match the first and last name used during MCAT registration exactly. Any discrepancy can be resolved through AAMC services.
- Although candidates are provided with 10 and 30-minute breaks, they are not allowed to leave the MCAT exam center under any circumstances.
MCAT Exam 2023: Voiding
After completing the MCAT exam, students are given the option to either score or void their exams.
If a student wishes to void a particular MCAT, they must select the "void the MCAT" option.
However, if a student leaves the exam mid-way due to illness or unforeseen circumstances, they must submit a Test Center Concern to the AAMC.
It's worth noting that a voided exam counts towards the total number of attempts made by the student at the MCAT exam.