Should I retake the MCAT?

About 40% of students take the MCAT more than once to achieve higher scores. The decision to retake the MCAT is daunting but crucial. Your MCAT score can make or break your chances of getting into medical school

Retakes are not frowned upon by medical schools. If anything, large score improvements show your ability to reflect, take action, and an unwavering commitment to becoming a physician.

This guide will help you evaluate your current score, and weigh the pros and cons of retaking the exam. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to make an informed decision about whether to give the MCAT another shot.

Retaking is only advisable if the gap is bridgeable – that is, your target score is within reach. If your target score is 510 and you scored 507 on your first take, it’s realistic to think that a retake might yield those 3 extra points. If, however, you scored 501 on your first take, your target score of 510 is probably unreachable in the short-term unless your first take did not represent your true abilities for some reason (see below).

Recommend reading: What is a Good MCAT Score?

Target Scores for Desired Schools

Top medical schools often require high MCAT scores, typically in the 515-525 range. Balanced scores across sections are crucial, as some schools may have specific cutoffs for individual sections, especially for the CARS section??.

You should ask yourself these three questions:

1. Do I need higher MCAT scores?
2. Do I have good reasons to believe I can achieve higher MCAT scores?
3. Do I have a realistic plan to ensure I will achieve higher MCAT scores?

You may need higher MCAT scores if:

• Your scores are not competitive. If your combined GPA and MCAT scores are considerably lower than those of accepted students at your target medical schools and there’s nothing extraordinary in the rest of your application, a retake is worth serious consideration.
• Your section scores are not balanced. If your total score is competitive but one of your section scores is below the minimum for consideration at your target school or stands out as a red flag, a retake may be necessary. This most commonly happens with a low CARS score because this section is such unfamiliar territory for most test-takers.

Recommended reading: Understanding the Components of Your MCAT Score Report

You may reasonably conclude you can achieve higher scores if:

• You didn’t prepare enough. If you didn’t study and practice as much as you should have for your first take, there’s a good chance you`ll improve your scores on a retake. 
• Life got in the way. If you were ill or distracted by personal challenges around your test date, you likely didn’t perform at your best and you may want to retake the exam. 
• You lost your cool. The MCAT is unquestionably very stressful and if your clarity of thought was disrupted by nervousness, you probably didn`t maximize your scores. 
• You did better on practice tests. If your scores on full-length practice tests (especially AAMC tests considered most predictive of MCAT scores) under timed conditions were consistently higher than your actual scores, then another crack at the MCAT might be a good idea.

You may reasonably conclude you will achieve higher scores if:

• You know what went wrong. You have a solid understanding of what caused you to underperform (e.g., poor time management) on your first take.
• You know how to fix it. You have a realistic plan of action to fix what capsized your first take (e.g., daily time management drills) and produce higher scores this time. 
• You have the requisite time, energy and willpower. None of this will matter if you can’t fully commit to following through on your plan of action. You have to be honest with yourself as to whether you can and will do what is necessary to achieve higher scores on a retake.

You should not retake the MCAT if:

• You scored a balanced 515 or higher. Well done! This puts you in the top 10% of test-takers and is a competitive score for all medical schools.
• Your scores work for your target schools. Simply put, your MCAT scores are “good enough” if they are close to the average scores of accepted applicants at your target medical schools.
• You thoroughly prepared and the results are not surprising. If you put your full effort into studying and practicing and your actual scores are consistent with your scores on full-length AAMC practice tests, you are unlikely to score higher on a retake.
• You don’t have the plan, time, energy, or willpower to fix what went wrong on your previous take. If you are missing any one of these necessary ingredients to improve your performance, you are better off to make the best of your current scores.

Limits 

There are some limits on retakes set by the AAMC. You can take the MCAT up to:

• three times in one calendar year
• four times in two consecutive years
• seven times in a lifetime

Can My Score Really Improve?

Yes, you can improve your MCAT score, although improvement is not guaranteed and is often minimal.

According to the AAMC, 39% of MCAT test-takers are re-testers. This statistic indicates that retaking the test is relatively common and accepted by medical schools??. 

AAMC data indicates that MCAT retesters often achieve higher scores on their second attempt. 

• For those with initial scores between 472 and 517, the median score increase iswas 2-3 points. 
• For those with initial scores between 518 and 528, the median score increase iswas one point. However, the extent of score changes varied significantly, with some retesters experiencing bigger increases or even decreases.

Make sure you avoid frequent retakes. Focus on showing clear improvement. Every MCAT score falls within a confidence band, meaning there’s a range of uncertainty. Therefore, in order to show real improvement on a retake, your new score should clearly exceed this range.

Medical Schools’ Policies on Multiple Scores

Medical schools have different policies on how they view and evaluate multiple MCAT scores. Some consider the highest score, some the most recent, and others an average. Researching these policies is crucial before deciding to retake the test??.

Before you decide to retake the MCAT you should contact your target medical schools and inquire how they treat multiple MCAT scores. Different medical schools will consider:

• your highest score (retake may help)
• your most recent score (retake may help or hurt)
• your average score (retake unlikely to have much impact)
• all your scores but give more weight to most recent score or highest score (retake may help)
• all your scores but give credit for pattern of improvement (retake may help)
• all your scores but “super-score” the highest section scores (retake may help)

Your Required MCAT Score

You should use the MSAR guide to compare your current MCAT score to the average score of students accepted into your target medical schools. If your score is below average, you will need strengths elsewhere in your application to offset the lower MCAT score.

• Assess how your current score aligns with your target medical schools’ requirements. 
• Check if your target schools consider the most recent score, the highest score, or an average of multiple scores. 
• Evaluate if other strengths in your application might compensate for a lower MCAT score??. If your score isn’t good enough, you might have to retest to improve it.
• Evaluate if the rest of your application is weak compared to a typical matriculant at your target medical school. Does your MCAT score need to compensate for anything?

Your GPA

Your GPA is a critical component of your medical school application. A high GPA can sometimes balance a weaker MCAT score, showing consistent academic performance. Admissions committees look at both your overall and science GPA. If your GPA is strong, it may suggest you can handle medical school, possibly offsetting a lower MCAT score. However, if both GPA and MCAT scores are low, retaking the MCAT could strengthen your application????.

Use the MSAR guide to compare your GPA to the average GPA of students accepted into your target medical schools. If your GPA is below average, you will need strengths elsewhere in your application to offset the lower GPA.

Your MCAT Section Scores

Individual section scores on the MCAT can be important. The Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section, for example, which has been shown to correlate with  success in medical school, is given more weight by some schools. If one section score is particularly low, your application may be screened out automatically for that score falling below a cutoff. Balanced scores across all sections are preferred over a high overall score with a weak section. 

Other Parts of Your Med School Application 

Consider the strength of other application components, such as clinical experience, research, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and your personal statement. Substantial experience in healthcare, strong research credentials, or compelling personal stories can mitigate a lower MCAT score. Medical schools seek well-rounded candidates who excel academically and demonstrate dedication to medicine through hands-on experience and leadership????.

Where You Live

Many medical schools have lower admission standards for applicants who are considered a legal resident of the state/province where the medical school is located.

Time and Resources Available for Retake Preparation

Consider how much time and resources you can realistically dedicate to preparing for a retake. Effective preparation requires a substantial commitment to content review, practice tests, and possibly enrolling in a prep course??.

Personal Circumstances and Stress Levels

As you already know, the MCAT demands significant mental stamina. Preparing for a retake can impact your personal life and other commitments. Ensure you are mentally and emotionally prepared for the rigors of retaking the test??.

Pros of Retesting

Opportunity to Improve Your Score: With targeted preparation and high-quality content review and practice resources, you can maximize your score improvement.

Strengthen Your Application: A higher MCAT score can enhance your application and compensate for weaker areas so you can apply to the medical school of your dreams.

Cons of Retesting

Additional Time and Effort Required: Preparing for a retake can affect other aspects of your life, including ongoing academic or professional responsibilities.

When you prepare for the retest, you will probably want to put in even more effort and energy than for the first attempt. If you’re unsure how to do that, you should read our How to Build an MCAT Study Plan article and attend our MCAT Study Plan Essentials webinar. 

Potential for Minimal Score Improvement: Consider the statistical likelihood of significant score changes based on historical data and personal readiness. Note that medical schools will see all your MCAT scores, usually looking for improvement??.

Analyze Your Previous Performance

Identifying Weak Areas

Use previous score reports and practice test results to diagnose weak areas that need improvement. Then go through the AAMC checklist and build a realistic schedule that covers all the weak areas.

Assessing Study Strategies

Revisit and possibly incorporate new study techniques like spaced repetition, active recall, and deliberate  practice to strengthen your weaknesses. If you self-studied the first time around, consider taking a prep course that can help you stay on track and includes extensive content review and practice materials.

Consult with Advisors or Mentors

Seek advice from mentors who have experience with the MCAT and the medical school admission process to get a well-rounded perspective on your decision??. You can book a free consultation with a Prep101 MCAT specialist anytime. Our MCAT specialists have guided thousands of students from different backgrounds and circumstances to accomplish their MCAT goals — and they can help you too.

Evaluate Your Practice Test Scores

Simulate test conditions during practice tests to get an accurate measure of your readiness for a retake. No phone, no distractions, just you and your test.

The quick answer: yes, but with conditions. If you are still getting questions wrong or don’t remember them well, redoing the same practice materials can be beneficial. However, if you’re consistently answering them correctly, it’s unlikely to be effective practice and could give you a false sense of preparedness.

A crucial tip: never use redone materials to gauge your score! Retaking tests you’ve already seen won’t provide an accurate measure of your progress.

When it comes to practice materials, prioritize those from the AAMC. They are the gold standard, as they offer the most accurate representation of the actual exam, ensuring better preparation and more reliable score predictions. We recommend avoiding retaking practice tests from other providers.

The simple answer is no. Retaking the MCAT does not inherently look bad, but multiple retakes might raise concerns about your readiness. Medical schools understand that students may retake the test to improve their scores, but they prefer to see a clear upward trajectory in performance??. This is why one of the most important aspects of studying for the MCAT the second time around is to focus on weak areas. More on this below.

Retaking the MCAT is a decision that should not be taken lightly. It requires a significant amount of time, effort, and resources. Before deciding to retake the exam, carefully evaluate your initial score, consider the pros and cons, and determine if a retake aligns with your personal goals and timeline. If you do decide to retake the MCAT, utilize effective study and practice strategies and additional resources to improve your chances of achieving a higher score and ultimately, acceptance into your dream medical school.