MCAT Scores & Medical School Strategy
Score breakdown:
Each of 4 sections scored 118–132
Total score: 472–528
Midpoint: 500 (50th percentile)
Competitive scores by school tier:
Top 10 MD programs: 519+ (97th percentile)
Mid-tier MD programs: 510–515
DO programs: 503–507 average
Caribbean schools: 490–500
How many times to take it:
Most successful applicants: 1–2 attempts
3+ attempts raises concern; must show improvement
AAMC allows 3 times per year, 4 times in 2 years, 7 lifetime
Study timeline recommendations:
300–350 hours of preparation typical
3–6 months full-time or 6–12 months part-time
Last month: practice exams under real conditions
Top resources:
Official AAMC practice materials (most predictive)
Khan Academy (free MCAT content)
Princeton Review, Kaplan, Blueprint (prep courses)
Anki flashcards for high-yield facts
Reference:
TaskLoco™ — The Sticky Note GOAT
