You should take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) 1-6 months before submitting your primary medical school applications. Primaries (AMCAS, AACOMAS, TMDSAS) open in May, and you should submit no later than early June so you don’t disadvantage your application.
You Need to Know: MCAT Test Dates
Since it takes about four weeks for examinees to get their MCAT score after taking the test, I recommend most students take it no later than the first week of May in their application cycle year — earlier, if possible.
While it’s best to submit a completed application with an MCAT score as soon as possible ahead of the application deadlines, it is also just as important to take your exam when it is the right time for you to do so.
Let’s take a detailed look at when you know you’re ready, the earliest or latest you should take the MCAT, and considerations for gap year(s).
Check out our free guide to the top 100 tips for MCAT studying.
A major consideration for when to take the MCAT is to know when you’re academically prepared to get a good score. A competitive MCAT score is paramount to getting into your medical school of choice.
You know you’re ready to take the MCAT if you…
The exact recommended courses differ by student, but in general, include:
These recommended courses overlap somewhat with the general prerequisites you’ll need to apply for medical school. However, since you may take the MCAT well before completing all of these courses, talk to your pre-health advisor about when makes sense to register for the test based on your own unique circumstances.
The latest exam date for the MCAT during any cycle year is early to mid-September, but my team at MedSchoolCoach has found waiting that long decreases your odds of getting accepted into med school. Remember, MCAT score release dates are usually 4 weeks after you take the test.
I recommend students take the MCAT in May right after their junior year at the latest, if they want to begin medical school after their last year of college. Students taking one or more gap years can take a more flexible approach, but they should still register to take the test no later than early May in the beginning of their application cycle year.
Having your MCAT score in hand earlier is helpful because:
Most students who take the MCAT in August or September (around the beginning of their senior year) apply to medical school the following application cycle, which is perfectly acceptable; it simply necessitates a gap year.
If you’re taking the MCAT in September at the start of your junior year, then you’re ahead of the curve and can still aim to enter medical school immediately after finishing your senior year.
You can take the MCAT as early as you want (between May and September), but most medical schools want a score from within the last 3 years. Ambitious test takers can take the MCAT after their sophomore year, but it’s often better to wait.
At what age can you take the MCAT? There is no age requirement for taking the MCAT. However, taking the MCAT early, just to see how you’ll do, is not a good idea. Medical schools will see this score, and you simply won’t be as prepared. (Plus, it counts against your 7 total lifetime chances to take the exam.)
If you’re a high school student or first-year pre-med student looking to see how you’d fare on the exam, consider taking a free MCAT practice exam instead.
If you’re looking to take the MCAT early but when you’re truly prepared, the earliest recommended time to schedule your exam is the summer before junior year. Just make sure it is the right time for you to take it, when you can fit in study time and other commitments like extracurriculars.
If you already know you’re taking one or more gap years — which is very common — you don’t need to take the MCAT test while in college. Because most med schools only consider MCAT scores from the previous 3 years, plan ahead and take it 1-6 months before you plan to apply.
Study Smart: MCAT Master Class Course
If you’re only taking one gap year, you can take the MCAT exam at the beginning of senior year (MCAT cycle finishes in September) or the end of your senior year (the new MCAT cycle starts in May).
If you’re taking multiple gap years, or you’re applying to medical school long after you were in undergrad, you simply need to take the MCAT within 3 years of applying or matriculating — depending on the school.
Pro tip: If you’re taking one or more gap years, use that time not only to ace the MCAT, but also you can rack up great extracurriculars, seek out the best possible letters of recommendation, and consider post-bacc courses to boost your GPA.
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A good MCAT score can be your ticket to the med school of your dreams. If you choose not to take an MCAT course or hire an MCAT tutor, craft an MCAT study schedule that includes content review, practice exams, and meta-analysis. You want to walk into the testing center feeling ready.
Here are the best MCAT resources to increase your chances of success:
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