MCAT Test Scoring

The exam-taker will receive two primary scores after completing the MCAT, which includes a score that is a combination of the individual's scores on the physical sciences, verbal reasoning, and biological sciences sections of the exam and a separate letter score for the writing sample section of the exam. The multiple-choice sections of the MCAT test are each individually scored on a scale of 1 - 15 based on the number of correct responses, weighted for the difficulty of each question. However, the exam-taker will also receive a combined score for all three multiple-choice sections of the exam on a scale of 3 - 45, which is simply the sum of the scaled scores from the multiple-choice sections of the exam. Most medical programs will take into consideration both the combined score and the separate scores for each section rather than the combined score alone. The average combined score for the physical sciences, verbal reasoning, and biological sciences sections of the MCAT test is usually around 25, but most scores range from 15 - 35.

It is also important to note that the exam-taker will not be penalized for guessing and that the individual's raw score for each section will be determined based solely on the number of questions that the individual answers correctly. The essays found in the writing sample section of the exam are each scored on a scale of 1 - 6 by two separate trained readers. The scores from the two essays are then added together to give the exam-taker a single essay score for the section, which is then converted into a letter score on a scale from J to T with J as the worst score and T as the best.

Writing Sample Scoring
Importance of MCAT Test Scores
Other Factors Medical Schools Consider
Score Reporting Time Limits, Retaking the Exam, and Voiding Scores
Registration and Other Fees