MCAT Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the MCAT, eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
$330
Provider
AAMC
Validity
2-3 years (school dependent)
Available
USA/Canada
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
3-5+ years of professional experience typically required
Specific Requirements
- No coursework prerequisite. The AAMC states you are eligible to take the MCAT if you are planning to apply to a health professions school, which includes MD-granting programmes among others.
- An AAMC ID with an associated username and password, created before you can register in the MCAT Registration System.
- A valid, unexpired, government-issued, physical photo ID in English whose first and last names match your registration exactly.
- The exam content assumes one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one year of physics, one year of biology, one semester of biochemistry, and introductory psychology and sociology. These are content assumptions, not registration gates.
- Individual medical schools set their own course prerequisites for admission, and those are separate from MCAT eligibility. Check each school's entry in the Medical School Admission Requirements database.
- Accommodations require a separate application through the AAMC's centralised MCAT and PREview accommodations system, submitted and approved before you schedule.
Number of Questions
230 questions across four sections: 59 in Chemical and Physical Foundations, 53 in Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, 59 in Biological and Biochemical Foundations, 59 in Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations.
Duration
375 minutes of testing time (6 hours 15 minutes). Total seated time is about 7 hours 30 minutes once the 4-minute certification, 10-minute tutorial, two 10-minute breaks, 30-minute mid-exam break, 3-minute void question, and 5-minute survey are added.
Question Format
Passage-based multiple choice with four options. Each science section carries 10 passage sets of 4 to 6 questions., Discrete multiple choice. Each science section carries 15 standalone questions that reference no passage., CARS passage sets. Nine passages of roughly 500 to 600 words, each followed by 5 to 7 questions, with no discrete questions.
Passing Requirement
None. The MCAT has no pass mark. For reference against real admissions outcomes, the AAMC reported a mean total of 506.3 for all 2025 applicants and 512.1 for 2025 matriculants.
How It Is Delivered
Computer-based at Pearson VUE test centers. Check-in includes signing in, presenting valid ID, a digital palm scan, and a test-day photograph. The AAMC issues a noteboard booklet and fine-point marker for scratch work.
Languages Offered
English only. The AAMC publishes no translated form of the MCAT exam.
Visit the official AAMC certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
Each of the four sections is reported from 118 to 132. The four section scores sum to a total from 472 to 528, with a scale midpoint of 500.
Score You Need
None. The MCAT has no pass mark. For reference against real admissions outcomes, the AAMC reported a mean total of 506.3 for all 2025 applicants and 512.1 for 2025 matriculants.
How It Is Calculated
The AAMC converts the raw number of correct answers into scaled scores through equating, a statistical adjustment for small difficulty differences between test forms. The conversion is tailored to the specific set of questions on your form, so it is not a fixed raw-to-scaled table. The AAMC states the exam is not curved against other examinees on your test day. Wrong answers are scored exactly the same as unanswered questions, so there is no deduction for guessing. Scoring is compensatory across sections: a strong section offsets a weak one in the total.
When You Get Results
Results are released 30 to 35 days after the test date. There is no unofficial score on test day. Percentile ranks attached to your score refresh every May 1 using the most recent three testing years.
In raw terms: The AAMC does not publish a raw-to-scaled conversion table, and states that the conversion changes from form to form.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the MCAT?
No coursework prerequisite. The AAMC states you are eligible to take the MCAT if you are planning to apply to a health professions school, which includes MD-granting programmes among others.. An AAMC ID with an associated username and password, created before you can register in the MCAT Registration System.. A valid, unexpired, government-issued, physical photo ID in English whose first and last names match your registration exactly.. The exam content assumes one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one year of physics, one year of biology, one semester of biochemistry, and introductory psychology and sociology. These are content assumptions, not registration gates.. Individual medical schools set their own course prerequisites for admission, and those are separate from MCAT eligibility. Check each school's entry in the Medical School Admission Requirements database.. Accommodations require a separate application through the AAMC's centralised MCAT and PREview accommodations system, submitted and approved before you schedule..
How much does the MCAT cost?
The MCAT exam costs $330. This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the MCAT?
Visit the official AAMC certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the MCAT?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
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