The Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, is more than just a formality for medical school admissions. It is a multiple-choice, computer-based, standardized exam that is required for admission to med schools in the United States and Canada.
The MCAT is developed and administered by the test maker Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to provide med schools with common measures for comparing applicants’ qualifications and preparedness for med school. Med school admissions committees look at your MCAT score, along with your academic record and supporting materials, to assess your foundations to build a successful medical career.
What is the takeaway? A high score on the MCAT will have a direct, positive impact on your med school application.
What Is On The MCAT
The MCAT exam not only measures your content knowledge in General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General Biology, Biochemistry, Physics, Psychology, and Sociology—it also tests your critical analysis and reasoning skills.
This means that the MCAT requires more than just an understanding of prior content. The MCAT is a test of critical reasoning skills that rewards students on their ability to apply test content. Knowing how to interpret and solve complex problems is the key to a great MCAT score.
What Are The MCAT Sections
The MCAT contains integrated sections, which means that subjects are not tested independently, but include overlapping areas of concentration, which is how you will encounter these subjects in medical school.
The integrated content on the MCAT is broken down into four test sections that comprise the exam:
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
Each of the four sections of the MCAT is scored from 118 to 132, with the mean and median at 125. This means the total score ranges from 472 to 528, with the mean and median at 500. See more on how the MCAT is scored below.
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