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How Many Students Take the MCAT Each Year? Top 3 Questions (and Answers) About the MCAT
Articles
May 7, 2025
If you’re a pre-medical student planning your application timeline, there’s one topic that probably looms large in your mind: the Medical College Admissions Test, or MCAT. This hours-long standardized test is one of the major components of your medical school application. It’s natural to feel concerned about—or anxious about—a test that has the potential to make or break your medical school dreams.
Understanding the landscape you’re entering can help you feel more prepared. In this post, we’ll walk through some commonly asked questions about the MCAT, including how many people take the MCAT, how common retakes are, and what makes a score competitive in today’s admissions climate.
How Many People Take the MCAT Each Year?
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) administers the MCAT and keeps exhaustive data about test-takers. The AAMC reports that “each year, more than 85,000 students sit for the exam.” A recent exception is during 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in several test dates being cancelled, postponed, or rescheduled – for a while, the exam itself was shorter than usual. That year, approximately 53,000 students still took the MCAT.
Remember that not all these students will be applying to U.S. medical schools – many Canadian and Caribbean medical schools also require applicants to submit an MCAT score.
How Many Students Re-Take the MCAT?
It’s not unusual for students to decide to re-take the MCAT if they’re not happy with their score. The AAMC allows individuals to take the MCAT up to three times in one calendar year, four times in two years, and seven times total. (The MCAT is currently offered about 30 times per year in the U.S.)
According to Shemmassian Academic Consulting, 39% of students who took the MCAT between 2020 and 2022 were re-taking the test. A 2019 report from AAMC indicates that:
- Most students (95%) take the MCAT once or twice
- 5% take it three times
- Just 1% take it more than three times
Retaking can be useful, but it’s important to consider whether your original score truly limits your competitiveness before scheduling another attempt. Understanding what kinds of scores help people get admitted can guide your decision about retaking the MCAT.
What Is a Competitive MCAT Score?
With so many applicants taking the MCAT, you might wonder what score makes you stand out. The MCAT is scored on a scale from 472 to 528, with 500 being the midpoint.
A competitive score depends heavily on the schools you’re applying to. MedEdits.com looked at recent AAMC dataand determined MCAT target scores as follows:
- Top-tier MD programs: Aim for 510–520+
- Mid-tier MD programs: 505–510
- DO schools: 500–505 is competitive, though higher is better
In 2023-24, the AAMC reported that the average MCAT score for matriculants to MD programs was 511.7. Each year, scores are grouped into percentiles: a score of about 512 in 2023-24 would have put a student in the 83rd percentile.
Final Thoughts
Knowing that over 85,000 students take the MCAT each year might feel overwhelming—but remember, your score doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Admissions committees evaluate your entire application: GPA, extracurriculars, clinical experience, personal statement, and more.
A great MCAT score can open doors, but a holistic application is what truly gets you across the threshold. Completing a post-bacc program can help you improve your application across a range of variables, from GPA and extracurriculars to research experience. And – yes – many formal programs include MCAT coaching and support. Find the right program for you today with our post-bacc program rankings!
If you’re a pre-medical student planning your application timeline, there’s one topic that probably looms large in your mind: the Medical College Admissions Test, or MCAT. This hours-long standardized test is one of the major components of your medical school application. It’s natural to feel concerned about—or anxious about—a test that has the potential to make or break your medical school dreams.
Understanding the landscape you’re entering can help you feel more prepared. In this post, we’ll walk through some commonly asked questions about the MCAT, including how many people take the MCAT, how common retakes are, and what makes a score competitive in today’s admissions climate.
How Many People Take the MCAT Each Year?
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) administers the MCAT and keeps exhaustive data about test-takers. The AAMC reports that “each year, more than 85,000 students sit for the exam.” A recent exception is during 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in several test dates being cancelled, postponed, or rescheduled – for a while, the exam itself was shorter than usual. That year, approximately 53,000 students still took the MCAT.
Remember that not all these students will be applying to U.S. medical schools – many Canadian and Caribbean medical schools also require applicants to submit an MCAT score.
How Many Students Re-Take the MCAT?
It’s not unusual for students to decide to re-take the MCAT if they’re not happy with their score. The AAMC allows individuals to take the MCAT up to three times in one calendar year, four times in two years, and seven times total. (The MCAT is currently offered about 30 times per year in the U.S.)
According to Shemmassian Academic Consulting, 39% of students who took the MCAT between 2020 and 2022 were re-taking the test. A 2019 report from AAMC indicates that:
- Most students (95%) take the MCAT once or twice
- 5% take it three times
- Just 1% take it more than three times
Retaking can be useful, but it’s important to consider whether your original score truly limits your competitiveness before scheduling another attempt. Understanding what kinds of scores help people get admitted can guide your decision about retaking the MCAT.
What Is a Competitive MCAT Score?
With so many applicants taking the MCAT, you might wonder what score makes you stand out. The MCAT is scored on a scale from 472 to 528, with 500 being the midpoint.
A competitive score depends heavily on the schools you’re applying to. MedEdits.com looked at recent AAMC dataand determined MCAT target scores as follows:
- Top-tier MD programs: Aim for 510–520+
- Mid-tier MD programs: 505–510
- DO schools: 500–505 is competitive, though higher is better
In 2023-24, the AAMC reported that the average MCAT score for matriculants to MD programs was 511.7. Each year, scores are grouped into percentiles: a score of about 512 in 2023-24 would have put a student in the 83rd percentile.
Final Thoughts
Knowing that over 85,000 students take the MCAT each year might feel overwhelming—but remember, your score doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Admissions committees evaluate your entire application: GPA, extracurriculars, clinical experience, personal statement, and more.
A great MCAT score can open doors, but a holistic application is what truly gets you across the threshold. Completing a post-bacc program can help you improve your application across a range of variables, from GPA and extracurriculars to research experience. And – yes – many formal programs include MCAT coaching and support. Find the right program for you today with our post-bacc program rankings!