Overview
As a prospective medical student, you are probably aware of what the MCAT is and what it may mean to your dreams of becoming a doctor. Your first question may be, what is the average MCAT score of accepted medical students?
According to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)—which administers the test—for the 2023-2024 academic year in the United States, accepted medical school students had an average MCAT score of 511.7*. MCAT scores are an important component of your medical school application. Read on to learn a bit more about the MCAT.
*Table A-16: MCAT Scores and GPAs for Applicants and Matriculants to U.S. MD-Granting Medical Schools, 2018-2019 through 2023-2024, https://www.aamc.org/media/6056/download?attachment.
AUC requires applicants to take the MCAT, and MCAT scores are an important part of applicant evaluation. If you already have MCAT scores, enter them as part of our brief Admissions Assessment. You'll quickly see if you may qualify for enrollment at AUC.
There is no minimum MCAT score requirement at AUC, but the higher the score, the better your chances of acceptance. The Admissions Committee considers MCAT scores of 490 and above to be competitive. The committee also likes to see scores of 121 or higher on the first two sections of the MCAT that cover biology and chemistry. That said, applicants may be accepted with lower scores if they stand out on other parts of their application. See below for more information on MCAT sections and scoring.
When do I take the MCAT?
Planning when you’re going to take the MCAT test can be just as important as how you ultimately perform on it. The best time to take the MCAT is when you feel the most prepared; but there are a few questions to consider when planning ahead.
Upcoming MCAT Test Dates
The AAMC schedules numerous MCAT test dates every year from January through September. Keep in mind that you must register at least 10 days before a scheduled test date, and that rescheduling fees increase and cancellation refunds decrease as you approach your registered MCAT date. Most students first take the test in the spring ahead of the autumn application cycle.
Click here for a full list of official MCAT test dates and registration deadlines. Look up MCAT test locations near you by entering your zip code into Pearson VUE's test center locator. Or, if you have an account, log into AAMC’s Testing History (ThX) System. Find more MCAT test info on the AAMC website.
Additional Resources
Preparing for the MCAT Exam
Learn four tips on surviving the MCAT from Jamie DeTrinidad, Senior Associate Director of Admissions at AUC.
MCAT Exam Breakdown
Section-by-section breakdown of the MCAT exam, including approximate section length, the number of questions you’ll need to answer, and the academic disciplines each section emphasizes.
MCAT FAQs
To help you better understand how the MCAT fits into medical school requirements, the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) Office of Admissions has compiled a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about the MCAT. Check out the FAQs, and the answers, below.
There is no minimum MCAT score for medical school, but the average score for 2023-2024 matriculants (accepted applicants) in the United States was 511.7. A higher score is always better, but many students are accepted with scores below that average — particularly at medical schools such as AUC that review applications holistically. This means the Admissions Committee bases its decisions on all aspects of an applicant’s application rather than just MCAT scores, grade point average (GPA), or other variables.
Much the same as with MCAT scores, there is no minimum GPA requirement for Caribbean or other medical schools — but the higher the GPA, the better. The average GPA for U.S. med school matriculants in 2023-2024 was 3.77, but many students are accepted with lower scores.
Most Caribbean medical schools, including AUC, require the MCAT exam as part of the application package. The MCAT examination is designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine. It is a good measuring stick for an applicant’s knowledge and ability.
Medical school admissions committees such as AUC’s look very closely at an applicant’s MCAT scores when evaluating their readiness for medical school.
That’s not necessarily because we think an MCAT score defines the applicant—it doesn’t. Rather, it’s because studies show that a student’s MCAT performance can be directly correlated to that individual’s future medical school performance.
AUC takes a holistic approach when considering you for our program. The MCAT is just one piece of your overall profile, along with your undergraduate performance and adherence to personal attributes that AUC looks for in a candidate like volunteerism and social maturity.
Many schools AUC included offer merit-based that take your MCAT score into account along with your other qualifications.
MCAT stands for Medical College Admission Test. The MCAT—previously known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test for Medical Schools—was first officially administered in 1947. The test has been revamped and reformatted several times since then. MCAT standards were last revised in 2015.
A good MCAT score is the average score for your targeted medical school. For medical schools like AUC, applications are reviewed holistically, which means they look at more than just your MCAT score. That said, the higher your score, the better your chance of admission.
Yes. The AAMC offers an unscored Free Sample Test and a Free Practice Exam with a scaled score and percentile rank. The AAMC also offers full-length practice exams for purchase.
To try for higher scores, students may take the MCAT up to three times in one year, four times in two years, or seven times in a lifetime.