Our MCAT Scaled Score Calculator will put your MCAT score into perspective by converting your raw practice scores to MCAT scaled scores!
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How to Use the MCAT Score Calculator
Simply fill out how many questions you got right in each section of your practice MCAT test and hit “Submit” to find out your scaled score!
Please note that, although the MCAT Scaled Score Calculator has been designed with the utmost attention to detail and accuracy, BeMo Academic Consulting Inc. ("BeMo") cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that might arise during the use of the calculator. Although all steps have been taken to ensure that the calculator is as accurate as possible, students are ultimately responsible for cross-referencing their results. BeMo Academic Consulting Inc. is in no way or shape responsible for any action or inaction taken on the part of students as a result of using the MCAT Scaled Score Calculator.
Want to learn simple strategies to increase your MCAT score significantly? Watch this video:
How is the MCAT Scored?
As with most other tests and exams, there is a specific number of points assigned to each question on the MCAT, and your score is determined by the number of questions you answer correctly. You are not penalized for incorrect answers, so if you give a wrong answer, you will simply not get the additional points allotted to a particular question.
The MCAT exam is not graded on a curve but scaled and equated to ensure scoring fairness across time. The correct answers in each of the exam's four sections are scored and converted to a scaled score ranging from 118 to 132 points. When combined, MCAT total scores range from 472 to 528, with 528 being the highest score possible.
Several different MCAT test forms are administered in a given year. They tend to include questions with varying levels of difficulty, even though they are designed to examine the same knowledge and skills. Therefore, number correct scores are converted to scaled scores using a process called equating, which compensates for these small variations in difficulty between the different sets of questions. This is why you end up with two different types of scores for the MCAT: your raw score and your scaled score.
- MCAT Raw Score: total number of items answered correctly
- MCAT Scaled Score: converted raw score
Each conversion is tailored to the specific set of questions included on a given test form, so the exact conversion of number correct to scaled scores is not constant. Ultimately, the aim of it all is to make the MCAT scoring process as fair as possible, such that two equally prepared students who answer two different sets of test forms are expected to get similar scaled scores, even if there is a discrepancy between the number of correct answers.
What is a Good MCAT Score?
The answer to this question is not as straightforward as you might think. There is a clearly defined passing score for most exams, but when it comes to the MCAT, things are a bit more complicated. Technically, any score that is above the mean or 50th percentile can be considered a competitive score. This is because the mean measures the overall average, which in this context is the average of every student who has taken the MCAT and applied to a medical school.
However, a genuinely good MCAT score is the one that will get you into medical school, which means that it depends on the strength of your overall application and the school that you're applying to. We recommend taking the time to learn about the MCAT and GPA requirements for the medical schools that you intend to apply to. Remember that even though there are many similarities in the minimum requirements for many medical schools in the US and Canada, these schools still have their own MCAT requirements, thresholds, and expectations.
For example, there are a few medical schools that don't require the MCAT. On the other hand, the schools that do require the MCAT have different expectations. Some of them have a minimum MCAT score that applicants must meet to be considered for admission, while others, like UCLA medical school, for example, don't have a strict cut-off. There are also other med schools which are mainly interested in specific sections of the exam - for example, the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University only considers candidates' scores on the MCAT CARS.
You should verify these requirements and the program's admissions statistics. Knowing the average MCAT score of the school's most recent matriculants will give you a better idea of what the school expects from applicants. We suggest aiming for an MCAT score that is equivalent to or higher than the class average. For example, if you were applying to Georgetown Medical School, you should aim for an MCAT score of at least 513, as that is the class average.
How to Make the Most of Your MCAT Score
#1: Apply to the Right Schools
Students often face med school rejection because they do not apply to the right schools. Taking the time to research and understand different medical school requirements is imperative because that information is just as important as whether a school offers your program of choice or has a good MD curriculum. You want to be strategic in your choice of med schools to improve your chances of being admitted, and your MCAT score is part of that.
For example, let's assume that you have taken the MCAT once already, and your score was below average – meaning that it was not competitive. In that case, you may have to retake the MCAT, or you could consider applying to different medical schools where you still have a strategic advantage. Those would be the med schools that don't require an MCAT score or do not have a strict cut-off.
You should not only look at the medical school requirements, but also read about the admissions process. Most medical schools will provide information about their process on their website, but the AAMC also has another great tool that you can use: MSAR. Knowing how to use MSAR can save you lots of time and headaches.
The MSAR database provides information about different medical schools, their admissions process, the most recent matriculants' admissions data – such as the average accepted GPA, average accepted MCAT score, matriculant profiles (age, race, extracurriculars, background, etc.), medical school prerequisites, and much more. The best part of this platform is that it allows you to filter your search for medical schools based on various criteria, including MCAT scores. In other words, you could search for medical schools with matriculants that have similar MCAT scores to yours, that is, schools where you will have a higher chance of acceptance.
Considering retaking the MCAT? This infographic can help you decide:
#2: Use your Other Application Components
If you're hoping to get into med school with a low MCAT score, or even if you have a decent score but want to improve the strength of your profile, then you should strategize the rest of your application components. Consider the following:
#3: Consider a Special Program
Another way to bolster your application is by taking a gap year before medical school to enroll in a post-bacc program for medical school or a special master’s program. These programs are specifically designed to help students increase their GPA or MCAT through coursework or an MCAT prep course. They often have workshops on taking the MCAT and applying to medical school as well. So, it's an especially great way to strengthen your application and prepare to retake the MCAT if you choose to.
#4: Get Professional Help
Using our calculator above and researching your chosen schools will give you an idea of where you stand, but you might still have tons of questions. Maybe you want to know precisely what you can do to improve the strength of your application, are unsure about how to start implementing some of the tips we have discussed, or have decided that retaking the MCAT is your best bet, and you're not sure how or when to start studying for the MCAT.
In that case, you may want to work with a professional who can help you navigate this complex process. Depending on your specific situation, you may want to reach out to a medical school consultant or an MCAT tutor specifically.
You should opt for a tutor if you only need help with your MCAT test prep, but if you want to maximize your chances of admission, then a medical school consultant would be ideal because they can help with your MCAT prep and general application. A good medical school admissions consultant can objectively look at your profile and assist you by identifying the strong suits of your application that can help offset a low MCAT and teaching you strategies to impress the admissions committees.
Not sure what to look for in an MCAT tutor? Check this out:
Conclusion
Whether you are applying to medical schools in Canada or the US, your MCAT score is going to play a significant role. There are even a few medical schools in Europe that accept MCAT scores instead of the local medical school entry exams. It is important to understand just how competitive your MCAT score is so that you can prepare your medical school application adequately. By using the calculator above to put your score into perspective and following the tips we've outlined, you are already taking the first step toward making your medical school application stand out.
FAQs
1. How important is the MCAT score for med school admissions?
That depends on the specific medical school you're applying to. Some schools do not consider MCAT scores at all, others care about specific sections, and others have strict minimum scores that students must meet to be considered for admission. So it would be best to review the requirements for your chosen med schools.
2. Can I get into med school without taking the MCAT?
There are a few medical schools in the US and Canada that do not require the MCAT, so if you meet the other medical school admissions requirements, you can definitely get into one of those.
3. What exactly is a raw score?
This is the MCAT score that is based on the number of correct answers you provided. It has not been scaled yet.
4. Why is the MCAT raw score scaled?
Every year, there are a few different variations of the MCAT that are given to students, and they vary in level of difficulty even though they test the same things. Raw MCAT scores are scaled in a way that takes those different difficulty levels into account.
5. Can I get into med school with a low MCAT?
In short, yes! You could apply to one of the few med schools that do not take medical schools, or use other application components to compensate for your low MCAT. However, it should be noted that doing so can be challenging, so give yourself enough time to carefully plan and prepare these application components.
6. Is retaking the MCAT worth it?
Most students actually take the MCAT more than once. We can't say for sure whether it will be worth it for you, but it is certainly worth considering. If you're like to get an expert's opinion, then you may want to reach out to a medical school advisor.
7. Should I talk about my MCAT score in my medical school personal statement?
It is best to use your med school application essays to provide the school with additional information about you. So you should only talk about your MCAT score if it is relatively low and you are explaining the circumstances. If that is the case, make sure that you do so briefly and that you clearly explain what you learned from that experience and how it has made you a better student.
8. How do I improve my MCAT score?
If you are retaking the exam, you can improve your score by creating a thorough MCAT study schedule and working with a tutor to review content, practice questions, and improve your strategies.
To your success,
Your friends at BeMo
BeMo Academic Consulting
Disclaimer: MCAT is a registered trademark of AAMC. BeMo and AAMC do not endorse or affiliate with one another. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any universities or college or test administrators and vice versa. Test names and trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders.
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1 Comments
Eric
If I want to retake MCAT is there some obligatory period that must pass before the second attempt?
Reply