» MCAT  » Scoring

» How is the MCAT scored?

Four separate scores are derived from the MCAT, one for each section. These four scores are reported to you, to the medical schools you designate, and, with your permission, to your undergraduate advisor.

Each score that you achieve on the multiple-choice sections (Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, and Biological Sciences) is based on the number of questions you answer correctly. This means that a wrong answer will be scored exactly the same as an unanswered question; there is no additional penalty for wrong answers or guessing.

Your raw score on the Writing Sample is determined by adding the scores you receive on each of the two responses you write. Because two different readers rate each response, your total raw writing score is the sum of the four scores: two for the first response and two for the second.

» How are the scores reported?

The scores for the multiple-choice sections will be reported on a scale ranging from 1 (lowest) to 15 (highest). The raw score you receive on each section is converted to a score on this 15-point scale. For example, if your raw score on one of the sections is between 40 and 43, your converted score might be 11. Scores ranging from 44 to 46 might have a converted score of 12, and so forth.

The exact conversion of raw to scaled scores is not constant; because different sets of questions are used on different test dates. The conversion of raw scores to scaled scores compensates for small variations in difficulty between sets of questions, and also helps minimize variability due to factors unrelated to your skill or knowledge. The 15-point scale tends to provide a more stable and accurate assessment of a student's abilities.

Scaled scores on the MCAT can be interpreted as percentile rank ranges based on the performance of all students taking the test during a given administration or in a given year. Interpretive information - scaled score means and standard deviations for each area of assessment, percentages of students achieving each scaled score, and percentile rank ranges - will be provided with your score report so that you may compare your performance to that of other students.

The raw score on the Writing sample will be converted to an alphabetic scale ranging from J (lowest) to T (highest).

   » Each letter represents the sum of two scores on the two Writing Sample items.

   » The sum can result from different combinations of individual scores (assigned along a 6-point scale.)

   » For example, a student whose scores are 4 and 5 on the first item and 4 and 4 on the second - a raw score of 17 - would receive the same alphabetic score point as student who scored a 3 and 3 on the first items and a 5 and 6 on the second

In addition to scores for the individual sections, a total score will also be reported.

   » This total score will consist of a combined multiple-choice score conjoined with the Writing Sample score (42T.)

» How are the scores used?

Medical school admission committees will consider your MCAT scores along with other information in evaluating your qualifications for medical school. The emphasis that the committees place on your scores will vary from school to school. Other sources of information used by admission committees include:

» Undergraduate grade-point averages

» Breadth and difficulty of undergraduate coursework

» Letters of evaluation from undergraduate advisors or others

» Personal comments on American Med College App Service (AMCAS) and / or institutional application forms

» Involvement in extracurricular activities such as student government and community service

» Involvement in and quality of health-related work and research;

» Participation in other activities demonstrating motivation, responsibility, maturity, integrity, resourcefulness, tolerance, perseverance, dedication to service, or other relevant characteristics

» Medical school interview results

» State or county of legal residence

MCAT scores are given greater attention in evaluation of the academic records of candidates from colleges that are unfamiliar to the admission committee.

» In such cases, comparing MCAT scores with grades provides an estimate of the candidate's academic accomplishments in relation to those of candidates from colleges more familiar to the committee.

» Can I retake the MCAT?

If you feel that your scores are low, or that the scores do not accurately reflect your abilities, you may wish to take the MCAT again. With the shift to Computer Based Testing, even though the test is offered about 20 times a year, an unsuccessful student must wait 90 days before retaking the test. In addition, students who have previously taken the MCAT three times must request special permission to take the test again. It may be beneficial to discuss your decision with your premedical advisor.

According to the survey of medical admission officers, multiple sets of scores may be used in one of several ways.

   » Some schools consider only the most recent set of scores.

   » Others take an average of the scores.

  » A larger number of schools consider multiple sets of scores equally and note improvements. (Most common)

   » Finally, some schools use only the highest set of scores or the highest individual section scores.

You may wish to consult an institution's admission office directly for information about its procedures.