MCAT exam

Considered amongst the most prominent medical entrance exams in the world, the Medical College Admission Test [MCAT] is a standardised examination that evaluates a candidate’s skills of critical thinking, problem-solving and medicine-related knowledge. As a medical ability-testing admission test, it is offered by the Association of American Medical Colleges [AAMC]. Further, institutions utilise the exam scores to adjudge the suitability of the candidate with the nature and requirements of the offered programs. While the degrees may vary, MCAT is most widely adopted for admissions into courses after MBBS or other first-cycle medical degrees. An important fact prospective candidates must make note of is that if you wish to begin medical practice in India after completing your course from abroad, qualifying for the FMGE exam is mandatory.

Eligibility Criteria for MCAT Exam

The only binding eligibility criteria for taking the MCAT exam is that you must be planning to apply to a health professions school. Further, as an international student, one must be enrolled or hold an MBBS degree. In cases where applicants do not intend to apply at a health professions school or are already enrolled in medical courses excluding MBBS, ‘special permission’ must be obtained. In order to request special permission, one needs to drop a mail to [email protected] clearly mentioning the reason for taking the exam. After this, the MCAT program office will assess and review the request accordingly and reply to it in typically five business days. It is recommended that prospective candidates keep in mind the applicable registration deadlines.

Also Read: Medical Colleges: Rankings, Courses & More

MCAT Accepting Universities

If you wish to pursue medical science courses as an international student, here is a list of universities and their respective departments accepting Medical College Admission Test scores for admission.

University	Location	Degrees Offered
Boston University School of Medicine	USA	MD/MPH; MD/JD; MD/MBA; BS/MD; MD/PhD
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine	USA	MD/MBA; MD/MPH; MD/JDMD/PhD
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons	USA	MD/PhD
Duke University School of Medicine	USA	MD/PhD
Emory University School of Medicine	USA	MD/MBA; MD/MPH; MD/PhD
Faculty of Medicine Université Laval	Canada	N/A
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College	USA	MD/PhD
Georgetown University School of Medicine	USA	MD/MBA; MD/MPH; MD/PhD
Harvard Medical School, Harvard University	USA	MD/PhD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine	USA	MD/MBA; MD/PhD

How to Register for the MCAT Exam?

The MCAT is administered at international test locations and can be registered using this link. Follow the steps listed below to register for this exam.

• Create your AAMC ID and password by creating your account.
• Enter relevant details of contact, background and education.
• Select your test date and location.
• Sign the Examinee agreement.
• Schedule the MCAT exam as per your suitability.

More information with respect to scheduling and costs is listed in the following paragraphs.

MCAT Exam with Accommodations

Medical College Admission Test Exam with Accommodations is a specific opportunity that AAMC offers to persons with disabilities. Under this, if any student has a disability or medical condition that requires any adjustment in the standard test procedure, they can apply for the MCAT exam with accommodations in it. However, you must send in your application as soon as possible for your desired date as the entire procedure takes at least 60 days.

Must Read: Medical Scholarships for International Students

Scheduling the MCAT Test

The MCAT exam is available across the United States and Canada along with a few major locations worldwide. Unfortunately, it is not available in India and candidates need to fly to their nearest location in order to appear for it. Here is a list of international destinations you can check including Thailand and Singapore which are nearby and can be considered.

Australia	France	China
Germany	Israel	Lebanon
Japan	Singapore	Taiwan
United Kingdom	Thailand	South Africa
Qatar	–	Hong Kong

MCAT Registration 2023

The MCAT exam is scheduled multiple times throughout the year from January and March to September at hundreds of test sites in the United States, Canada, and around the world. Check the date availability and test centres, fill out the form on the official website and apply for the exam.

Registration Fees

Take a look at the following table which enlists the registration fees for MCAT 2023. Taxes and other charges may be added at appropriate rates as applicable. 

Particulars	Gold Zone [Deadline: 29 days prior to test date]	Silver Zone [Deadline: 15 days prior to test date]	Bronze Zone [Deadline: 8 days prior to test date]
Initial Registration	$320	$320	$375
Fee for date/test centre rescheduling	$95	$160	NA
Cancellation Refund	$160	N/A	N/A
International Fee	$115	$115	$115

Fee Assistance Program Fees

Candidates with fee assistance are required to register for the Medical College Admission Test as per the following charges.

Particulars	Gold Zone [Deadline: 29 days prior to test date]	Silver Zone [Deadline: 15 days prior to test date]	Bronze Zone [Deadline: 8 days prior to test date]
Initial Registration	$130	$130	$185
Fee for date/test centre rescheduling	$50	$75	NA
Cancellation Refund	$65	N/A	N/A
International Fee	$115	$115	$115

MCAT Exam Dates 2023

Here is the MCAT Exam Dates for 2023 as released by the official website:

2023 MCAT Test Dates	Score Release Date
13 January 2023	14 February 2023
14 January 2023	14 February 2023
19 January 2023	21 February 2023
27 January 2023	3 March 2023
11 March 2023	11 April 2023
24 March 2023	25 April 2023
14 April 2023	16 May 2023
15 April 2023	16 May 2023
28 April 2023	31 May 2023
29 April 2023	31 May 2023
12 May 2023	13 June 2023
13 May 2023	13 June 2023
18 May 2023	21 June 2023
26 May 2023	27 June 2023

3 June 2023	6 July 2023
16 June 2023	18 July 2023
17 June 2023	18 July 2023
23 June 2023	25 July 2023
24 June 2023	25 July 2023
29 June 2023	31 July 2023
15 July 2023	15 August 2023
28 July 2023	29 August 2023
4 August 2023	6 September 2023
19 August 2023	19 September 2023
25 August 2023	26 September 2023
26 August 2023	26 September 2023
31 August 2023	3 October 2023
1 September 2023	3 October 2023
8 September 2023	13 October 2023
9 September 2023	13 October 2023

MCAT Exam Pattern

The MCAT exam pattern consists of 230 multiple-choice questions which need to be completed in a total of 7.5 hours. It tests the overall hold of the applicant over not only fundamental biology and chemistry, and behaviour-related concepts but also their critical analysis and problem-solving skills. A typical exam day would comprise other tasks in addition to the testing portions. More information on the topics covered in each question is presented in the following paragraphs.

Section	Questions [MCQ]	Time Allotted
Test-day Certification	–	4 minutes
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems	44 [passage-related]15 [non-passage-related]	95 minutes
Break [optional]	–	10 minutes
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills	53 [passage-related]	90 minutes
Mid-Exam Break [optional]		30 minutes
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems	44 [passage-related] 15 [non-passage-related]	95 minutes
Break [optional]		10 minutes
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior	44 [passage-related] 15 [non-passage-related	95 minutes
Void Question	–	3 minutes
Satisfaction Survey [optional]	–	5 minutes
Total-Content Time	–	6 hours and 15 minutes
Total “Seated” Time*	–	Approx. 7 hours & 30 minutes

*This does not include check-in time on arrival at the venue of the test centre.

MCAT Syllabus

The current pattern of the MCAT exam covers a variety of topics that test one’s understanding of medicine on a conceptual basis. A more elaborate description has been listed below as mentioned on the official MCAT website.

Section	Topics/Skills Tested
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems	A preliminary level biology, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry fundamentals; Biochemistry concepts at the level taught in the first semester of biochemistry courses at most universities; Topics of cellular and molecular biology at the level studied in many colleges and universities in introductory biology sequences and 1st-semester of biochemistry courses; Foundational research methods and statistics concepts as described by many baccalaureate faculty to be important for success in introductory science courses; Individual scientific inquiry and reasoning, research methods, and data-based and statistics skills as applied to the natural sciences
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills	Analysis, critical reasoning and comprehension skills through critical thinking tasks in passages; Topics of philosophy, ethics, population health, studies of diverse cultures along with diverse social sciences and humanities disciplines
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems	A preliminary level biology, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry fundamentals; Biochemistry concepts at the level taught in the first semester of biochemistry courses at most universities; Topics of cellular and molecular biology at the level studied in many colleges and universities in introductory biology sequences and 1st-semester of biochemistry courses; Foundational research methods and statistics concepts as described by many baccalaureate faculty to be important for success in introductory science courses; Individual scientific inquiry and reasoning, research methods, and data-based and statistics skills as applied to the natural sciences
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior	Fundamental topics of psychology, sociology and biology that form a base for to study of behavioural and sociocultural components of health in medical school; Concepts taught at many institutions in 1st-semester psychology and sociology courses; Concepts of biology relating to mental processes and behaviour are taught in introductory biology at many colleges and universities; Foundational research methods and statistics concepts as described by many baccalaureate faculty to be important for success in introductory science courses; Skills of scientific inquiry and reasoning, research methods, and data-based and statistics skills as applied to the natural sciences

How to study for MCAT 2023?

Preparing for the MCAT exam is not an easy task. The exam is taken by students across the country and gaining good marks on the exam is something that everyone wants. So, here are some tips that can help you to study for the MCAT exam:

1. First of all, gather all the information regarding the exam from the syllabus to the exam date.
2. Assess your current knowledge by taking a full-length practice exam. The AAMC offers FREE Sample Papers for students with feedback and correct answers in each section.
3. You can also buy practice papers from AAMC for preparation.
4. Gather all the resources you need for the exam from the official website.
5. Start preparing your weak points first but give some time to strengthen your already strong concepts.
6. Use flashcards, a study in groups, or other ways that can help you prepare well.
7. Practice sample papers every week to assess your preparation.
8. Take a full-length practice test a few days before your exam and see your strengths and weaknesses now.
9. Only work on the weak points that are not very lengthy and do not cause much pressure on your mind
10. Work with experts tutors who can help you increase your MCAT score.

Free Resources for MCAT

AAMC offers several resources for students to prepare for MCAT. Some of these are free of cost while some are extremely affordable resources:

• Free Sample Test by AAMC
• Sample QUestion Guide
• Free Khan Academy MCAT Prep videos
• Free tips for preparation by MCAT
• Roadmap to MCAT Content

Download the detailed MCAT Syllabus Here

Exam-Day Essentials

On the day of your Medical College Admission Test exam, you must remember to bring the following points.

• Eyeglasses-subject to visual and physical inspection by test administrators
• MCAT Accepted ID
• Earplugs provided at the test centre [personal earplugs are not permitted]
• Storage Key [provided at the test centre]
• Noteboard Booklet [provided at the test centre]
• Fine-point marker [provided at the test centre]

You have the option to void your exam at the end if you wish to not be scored.

Exam Scoring

The scoring structure of the MCAT exam consists of individual section scoring as well as overall scoring. Here are a few points which throw light on the scoring pattern.

• All correct answers to each of the four multiple-choice questions are added up to arrive at a raw score.
• No negative marking.
• The calculated raw scores are scaled up to a measure ranging from 118 being the lowest to 32 being the highest. The scaling process is done through equating which takes into consideration the varying difficulty level of question papers as well.
• Section scores are added up to calculate a total score ranging from 472 to 528. 
• On the basis of overall scores, a percentile rank is also reported indicating the percentage of candidates scoring higher or lower than the concerned candidate.

Courses after MCAT

In particular, MCAT scores are used for admissions into varied programs such as:

• Doctor of Medicine [M.D.] granting programs
• D.O. granting programs
• Podiatric (D.P.M)
• Veterinary medicine (D.V.M)
• Other health-related programs accept MCAT exam results to satisfy a test score admissions requirement.

What Should You Aim For on the MCAT?

An above-average score on the Medical College Admission Test can make a difference for you in terms of breaking into a top medical school. While, on paper, it serves as one of the several criteria of candidature evaluation, a considerable number of medical colleges across the United States and Canada rely quite heavily on MCAT scores. Here is a rough estimate of what each band score means with respect to percentile.

Percentile	Scaled Total MCAT score
Top 10% of all test takers	514 to 528
Top 25% of all test takers	508 to 513
Top 50% of all test takers	500 to 507
Below the 50th percentile of all test takers	499 or below

How Important Is the MCAT in the Medical School Admissions Process?

UT Southwestern Medical Center assistant dean for student affairs Dr Blake Barker advises prospective medical students not to place too much emphasis on the MCAT when making admissions choices. Medical schools examine the full application in its totality, with the MCAT being just one component, he claims. Imagine your application as a pizza, and if one piece is a little bit smaller than the others, the other pieces must be a little bit larger to form a whole pizza.

MCAT vs. NEET

Both MCAT and NEET are competitive exams for medical courses. However, if you are planning to take any of these tests, you must know the difference between the two competitive exams for a better understanding:

Comparison	NEET	MCAT
No. of Applicants	Approx 15 lakh students	Approx 85,000
Required for	MBBS in India	MD in US/ Canada/ Australia
Eligibility	Class 12th	Bachelor’s degree
Difficulty Level	Tough	Moderate

FAQs

An above-average score on the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) exam opens the door to countless opportunities in the health and medicine sector. Needless to say, it takes a lot of effort and motivation to prepare. Leverage Edu wishes you all the best for the upcoming MCAT 2023 exam. Reach out to us at 1800 57 2000 if you need study abroad assistance!