MCAT Guide 2026–27

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a computer-based exam, taken at a test center and run by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). It's the standardized test for medical school admissions, and it's also used by some other health professions programs. AAMC maintains the list of eligible programs and a special-permission process for everyone else.

It tests two things at once: whether you know the science from introductory biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, psychology, and sociology, and whether you can reason with it—read an experiment, interpret data, and draw a defensible conclusion. The Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section tests reading and reasoning with no science at all.

All four sections are scored, and they always come in this order:

Test day runs about 7 hours 30 minutes of seated time, not counting check-in. Around the four sections you get a short test-day certification, an optional 10-minute tutorial, three optional breaks (10 minutes after Chem/Phys, a 30-minute mid-exam break after CARS, and 10 minutes after Bio/Biochem), a void question at the end, and an optional survey. Run over a break and AAMC may subtract the overage from your next section. At the very end, you choose whether to score or void the exam; a voided exam isn't reported to schools but still counts toward your attempt limits.

Pacing works out to about 1 minute 37 seconds per science question and about 1 minute 42 seconds per CARS question.

The science sections are organized around AAMC's 10 foundational concepts. Here's the practical version:

• Chem/Phys — general chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, and biochemistry applied to living systems: acids and bases, thermodynamics, kinetics, electrochemistry, fluids, circuits, light and sound, and the chemistry of biomolecules.
• CARS — passages from the humanities and social sciences. No outside content; you're tested on comprehension, reasoning within the text, and applying ideas beyond it. See the CARS guide.
• Bio/Biochem — molecular biology, genetics, metabolism, cells and microbes, and organ systems, with biochemistry heavily represented. See the Bio/Biochem guide.
• Psych/Soc — introductory psychology and sociology plus some biology: sensation, perception, memory, learning, emotion, identity, social behavior, culture, demographics, and inequality.

AAMC's free "What's on the MCAT Exam?" content outline lists every topic by foundational concept and content category. AAMC describes it as the complete list of competencies you're responsible for knowing, so use it as your master checklist.

Each section is scored from 118 to 132, and the four section scores add up to a total from 472 to 528. There's no penalty for wrong or unanswered questions, so never leave one blank.

The MCAT is not graded on a curve. AAMC converts your raw score (number correct) to a scaled score through equating, which compensates for small differences in difficulty between test forms. Because the conversion depends on the form, there's no universal raw-to-scaled chart—be skeptical of any site that claims one.

What's a good score? It depends entirely on where you're applying. Check the admissions statistics for your target schools—AAMC's Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) database is the usual place to start—rather than trusting a single "good score" number from a forum.

When do scores come out? About 4½ weeks after your test. In the 2027 calendar, score release dates fall 31–33 days after each test date, and AAMC releases scores by 5:00 p.m. ET on the scheduled day.

AAMC's 2027 U.S. calendar has 35 test dates. The standard start time is 8:00 a.m. The last day to reschedule or cancel is 10 days before your exam.

*Offered only at select U.S. test centers. Canadian and international calendars differ; check AAMC's calendar pages for your location, and confirm dates before you schedule.

Scheduling for 2027 opens in three groups: Group A (Eastern U.S.) on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026; Group B (Central, Mountain, and Western U.S.) on Wednesday, Oct. 21; and Group C (Canada, other international locations, and U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam) on Thursday, Oct. 22—each at noon ET. Popular dates and centers fill fast, so have your AAMC ID and a backup date ready.

For the 2026 testing year, AAMC's fees are:

Testing outside the U.S., Canada, and U.S. territories adds a $130 international fee, which isn't refunded if you cancel. No changes are allowed within 10 days of your exam, and AAMC says those deadlines are not extended or waived. Fees for 2027 test dates are set by AAMC's 2027 MCAT Essentials—check the amount when you schedule.

Fee Assistance Program (FAP). If you're approved, you get the discounted registration fee, all online MCAT Official Prep products, complimentary access to the MSAR database, and eligibility to apply for AAMC's accommodations financial benefit. Canadian applicants have a separate program through the AFMC.

Attempt limits. You can take the MCAT up to three times in one testing year, four times across two consecutive testing years, and seven times in your lifetime. You can hold only one appointment at a time. Don't burn an attempt on a "practice" sitting.

Most people need several months of consistent work, and the exact length depends on how recently you finished your prerequisites and how many hours a week you have. A common structure for a 4-month plan at 20–25 hours a week:

Three rules that matter more than which book you buy: review each full-length for at least as long as it took to take; save most AAMC material for the second half; and don't schedule your test date until your practice scores are where you need them—just remember that no changes are allowed in the final 10 days.

• Fees and deadlines: For the 2026 testing year, registration costs $355 ($145 with fee assistance), and reschedule and cancellation terms are tied to 60-, 30-, and 10-day deadlines. If you've seen advice about "Gold, Silver, and Bronze zones," that terminology doesn't appear in AAMC's current fee rules.
• New CARS Question Bank: AAMC's Official Prep lineup now includes a CARS Question Bank with 575 passage-based questions: 166 new ones plus questions from the previously sold CARS Diagnostic Tool and CARS Question Packs. It's part of the online bundle; check AAMC's prep page for current availability.
• 2027 registration: Scheduling opens Oct. 20–22, 2026, with advance scheduling for examinees who already have approved accommodations. Four 2027 dates (Jan. 30, May 14, July 9, and Aug. 28) run only at select U.S. centers.
• Exam content: AAMC's 2027 registration announcement doesn't list any change to the exam's sections or content. The four-section format above is the one you'll take.

• AAMC MCAT Official Prep — the free Unscored Sample Test and Practice Exam 1, plus low-cost practice exams, question packs, and Section Bank.
• What's on the MCAT Exam? — the official section structure and test-day schedule, with links to the full content outline.
• U.S. MCAT calendar — test dates, deadlines, and score release dates.
• AAMC Fee Assistance Program — eligibility and benefits.

• Free full-length MCAT practice test — 230 original questions across all four sections at real timing, with an explanation for every answer.
• Best MCAT prep books and materials — AAMC's official products first, then the major review sets.
• Bio/Biochem guide — official weights, high-yield topics, and a worked passage example.
• CARS guide — how the section works and a strategy that holds up under time pressure.