How Long Does It Take to Get MCAT Exam Results?

You can expect your Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) results 30-35 days after your exam date, according to the AAMC website. Your MCAT greatly impacts your chances of acceptance into medical school — along with your GPA, personal statement, and extracurriculars.

Because it takes 4 weeks to get your MCAT score, you need to plan ahead. To help you with your MCAT prep and study schedule, we’ve laid out each MCAT test date alongside its deadlines to sign up and its score release date that allows you to confidently apply to medical school. 

Using the right practice exams is critical to ensuring your success on the MCAT. We have the most accurate full-length practice tests you’ll find.

When to Take the MCAT

May 23, 2025 is the the latest date of the 2025/26 application cycle to take the MCAT and have a good shot at acceptance this cycle. That said, your decision on when to take the MCAT exam should be individualized based on personal factors.

The latest date you can technically take the MCAT in 2025 is September 13, but this is only useful for students taking a gap year or juniors taking the MCAT early with the option to retake next spring. Your chances of landing an interview are demonstrably higher if you apply early in the cycle.

Why Does It Take So Long to Get My Score?

It takes so long to get your score because MCAT scores are “scaled” (converted from a raw score) and “equated” (adjusted for minor difficulty differences on other test dates). This process takes 30-35 days. The MCAT isn’t graded on a curve with other pre-medical students.

The MCAT has multiple test forms in any given testing year for security. Because one form may be slightly easier or more difficult, scores are adjusted fairly.

In addition, the 4-week waiting period allows test takers to raise concerns they had while taking the test, including testing conditions at the test center. The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) reviews issues to see if they made an impact on test scores.

Read Next: High-Yield MCAT Topics You Need to Study (Not Just Organic Chemistry)

The MCAT score reports are available to view by 5 PM EST on the scheduled score release date. Scores may be released earlier on the scheduled day, but if you don’t see your score just be patient and know it will be there by 5 PM.

The MCAT Scoring Process

Your MCAT score is based on the number of questions answered correctly across all sections. There are 4 multiple-choice sections of the MCAT:

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

For each section, you’re scored based on the number of correct answers, with no extra penalty for incorrect answers. That score will then be converted to a scaled score. The scaled scores of the 4 sections are then added together for your total score.

What’s a good MCAT score? A 511 on the MCAT will put you above the 80th percentile, giving you a competitive edge. In 2023, the average MCAT score of matriculants was 511.7. 

That’s where personalized MCAT tutoring can help. We assist with effective study plans, content reviews, and giving yourself enough time to succeed.

Coordinate Your Test, Score Release, and Primary Submission Dates

Find your ideal MCAT test date below, based on how long you need to study beforehand, when the score is released, and when you want to submit your primaries.

Note the 60, 30, and 10 day rescheduling fee: 

• $50: 60 or more days before the exam; if canceling, $170 will be refunded
• $100: 30-59 days before the exam; if canceling, $170 will be refunded
• $200: 10-29 days before the exam; if canceling, $0 will be refunded

10 days prior to test day is the last day you can reschedule your exam.

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What If My Score Is Lower than Expected?

If you receive a score that’s lower than you expected (to be competitive at your ideal programs), you can…:

• …adjust which med schools you’re applying to. Don’t focus heavily on reach schools; look for programs likely to accept you with your current score.
• …consider retaking the MCAT if it makes sense in your unique situation. But remember, taking it again may necessitate a gap year.
• …request a rescore within 30 days if you think an error occurred.

If you believe there was an error in your MCAT scoring, you can submit an MCAT Rescore Request through the MCAT Registration System. You can request a rescore no later than 30 days after receiving your score, and the cost for an independent rescore is $65.

Read Next: Easiest Med Schools to Get Into

Premium MCAT Support, Delivered.

4 weeks after taking the MCAT, you get your scores. Although you can submit your medical school application without an AAMC MCAT score, your path to medical school admissions benefits if you wait for your MCAT score. A good MCAT score is vital to landing interviews. 

MedSchoolCoach offers personalized, one-on-one MCAT tutoring from 99th-percentile tutors to help you achieve your goal score.