Medical College Admission Test: Format, Scoring, Registration Process, Exam Centres, Top Universities, and More

The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is a postgraduate medical entrance exam. You need to clear this exam for admission into a medical program in the USA, Canada or select other countries. This is a standardised MCQ test that you can complete online at an authorised test centre. The exam has been a part of the admission process for more than 90 years. The exam tests your scientific problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and your knowledge of the subject. Read this blog to understand: what the MCAT test is, its format, registration process, and fees. Universities accept the scores, results,  exam centres, and more.

Medical College Admissions Test: An Overview 

The MCAT exam is a mandatory entrance exam in the US and Canada. You mainly require this test for enrolment in M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) and D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) programs. The exam is standardised, meaning the format and content are the same irrespective of the country in which you are taking the exam. It is designed to identify the key prerequisites for success in medical school and for having a successful career in medicine. Therefore, all medical universities require it.

The MCAT exam is administered multiple times a year, from late January to September. You can take the exam from the USA or Canada. Others can take the exam from the designated exam centres in their home country. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) develops and administers the content. You can take the exam 3 times in a year and 4 times in total in 2 years.

MCAT Exam Format

The four main sections covered in the exam are as follows. The exam is held for a total duration of about 7 hours and 30 minutes. The entire paper is in the MCQ format.

S. No.	Section	Time Allotted	Number of Questions
1	Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems	95 minutes	59
2	Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems	95 minutes	59
3	Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behaviour	95 minutes	59
4	Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)	90 minutes	53

What is a Good Score on the MCAT Exam?

What are the MCAT test scores? The MCAT exam is scored on a scale of 472–528. Individual section scores often range from 118–132 per section. The average score among test takers in total is 500. A total score would be the overall score. Besides the overall scores, the AAMC provides percentile ranks. This allows you to see the percentage of students who scored below you. The table below will give you an idea regarding the scores, and percentile and its competitiveness for admission.

S. No.	Score Range	Percentile Range	Interpretation	Competitiveness
1	Below 500	Below ~50th percentile	Below average	Uncompetitive for most schools
2	500 – 507	~46th – 70th percentile	Around average	May be considered at some DO programs, but less competitive for MD programs
3	508 – 510	~73rd – 79th percentile	Slightly above average	Competitive at many U.S. medical schools
4	511 – 514	~82nd – 89th percentile	Strong score	Aligns with average for accepted MD students
5	515 – 517	~91st – 94th percentile	Very strong score	Competitive for top medical schools
6	518+	~95th – 100th percentile	Excellent score	Highly competitive for top-tier programs

MCAT Fees in India

The MCAT examination fees depend on the location of your test centre and your nationality. The table below showcases the same. The Medical College Admissions Test fees for Indian nationals are USD 465. As an Indian national, you have to pay the standard registration fee and the international testing fee. That is, your fees would be USD 345 + USD 120 =USD 465.

S. No.	Fee Type	Countries	Cost
1	Standard Registration Fee	United States, Canada, U.S. territories	USD 345
2	International Testing Fee	For candidates testing outside the United States, Canada, or U.S. territories	USD 120 (additional)
3	Fee Assistance Program Registration	Only for eligible U.S. candidates	USD 140

Also Read: UCAT Registration 2025-26: Dates, Steps to Register, Cost, Rescheduling, and Tips 

Steps to Register for the MCAT Exam

To take the MCAT, you need to register for it. The exam is offered multiple times in a year, and you can register for it completely online. The registration process is as follows:

1. First, create an AAMC account. You can visit the official website to register. You will be redirected to the (auth.aamc.org) page, where you can create a new account.
2. Check the testing dates:. Check the exam testing dates and the availability of exam centres near you. 
3. Ensure you have your ID: Before registering, ensure that you have your government ID with you.
4. Log in to your account: Thereafter, log in to your account and start filling out your registration form.
5. Select exam centre and date:  At this point, you can choose the exam centre and the exam date.
6. Pay fees and submit the form: Pay the required fees and submit the form. Thereafter, take a printout of the confirmation email.

Which Universities Accept MCAT?

Almost every University in the USA requires you to clear the MCAT exam as a part of their admission process. This means that all universities recognise the Medical College Admission Test scores. On the other hand, in Canada, most universities require you to clear the MCAT. However, it is not a mandatory requirement in certain universities in Quebec, like the Université de Montréal and McGill University.

Top Universities in the USA Accepting MCAT

The following are the universities in the USA that accept the test scores. The QS World Ranking 2026 is provided for your reference.

S. No.	University	QS 2026 Ranking
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	1
2	Stanford University	3
3	Harvard University	5
4	University of Chicago	13
5	University of Pennsylvania	15
6	Cornell University	16
7	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	17
8	Yale University	21
9	Johns Hopkins University	24
10	Princeton University	25

Top Universities in Canada Accepting MCAT

What are the MCAT test score-accepting universities in Canada? The following are the top universities in Canada accepting the exam scores. The QS World Ranking 2026 is provided for your reference.

S. No.	University	QS 2026 Ranking
1	McGill University	27
2	University of Toronto	29
3	University of British Columbia (UBC)	40
4	University of Alberta	94
5	University of Western Ontario (Western)	151
6	Université de Montréal	168
7	McMaster University	173
8	Queen’s University at Kingston	191
9	University of Calgary	211
10	University of Ottawa	219

What Time Do MCAT Scores Come Out?

The Medical College Admission Test results are usually released after a month. You will receive your results after 30-35 days of taking the test. You can view your results by logging into the AAMC MCAT Score Reporting System on the AAMC website. The scoring is available by 5:00 p.m. ET on the results declaration date. 

The exam results and their interpretation for college admissions are provided in the table below:

S. No.	Total Score Range	Approx. Percentile Range	Interpretation for Admissions
1	Below 492	≤ 25th percentile	Not competitive for admissions
2	492–508	25th – 74th percentile	Limited chances (mostly DO schools)
3	509–514	75th – 89th percentile	Competitive for many MD schools
4	515–517	90th – 94th percentile	Strong chance at top schools
5	518+	≥ 95th percentile	Excellent, highly competitive

MCAT Exam Centres in India 

Now you know what’s MCAT test is. Let’s understand the exam testing centres. The Medical College Admissions Test can only be taken in the USA, Canada, or other international testing locations. Unfortunately, the international testing locations do not include India. This means if you are an Indian national, you will have to travel to either the USA, Canada, or visit an international testing centre to take the exam. Remote proctoring is not available.

International Testing Centres 

The following are the countries where you can take the exam (excluding the USA and Canada, as they are obvious). You can choose an international testing centre in any of the following countries.

1. Singapore
2. Lebanon
3. United Kingdom
4. Germany
5. China (Hong Kong)
6. Japan
7. Ausralia
8. Turkey
9. France
10. Israel
11. South Africa
12. Taiwan
13. Qatar
14. Thailand
15. Jordan (testing delayed indefinitely)

How Difficult is the Medical College Admission Test?

The Medical College Admissions Test is an extremely difficult examination. Usually, exams focus on memorisation. However, the MCAT exam emphasises the application of factual knowledge in complex, analytical ways. The exam content is extensive. Therefore, you need to have a solid understanding of subjects like biology, chemistry, psychology, and sociology. Moreover, your reading comprehension must also be strong. Your knowledge must be at an undergraduate level. The examination is also considered difficult because it tests your problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, and knowledge application.

Also Read: What is GAMSAT? Exam Format, Scoring, Registration, and Top Universities Explained

Is MCAT Harder than NEET?

The difficulty level is subjective. However, in our opinion, the Medical College Admission Test is more difficult than the NEET exam. This is because the exam takes 7 hours to finish, the content is at the undergraduate level, and the questions are analytical. Your factual knowledge is not asked, but how you can apply it is tested.

S. No.	Category	NEET	MCAT
1	Exam Structure & Duration	3 hrs 20 mins, paper-based; 180 Qs (out of 200) to attempt. Fast-paced, high-pressure.	~7.5 hrs (with breaks), computer-based; 230 Qs. Tests stamina, focus, and endurance.
2	Syllabus & Content	Based on the Indian Class 11–12 Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology. Factual recall is heavy.	Broader: Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Biochemistry, Psychology, Sociology + CARS section.
3	Question Style	Direct, fact-based, testing recall and quick calculation.	Passage-based, analytical; requires application of knowledge, reasoning, and data interpretation.
4	Scoring & Penalties	Out of 720. Negative marking (-1 for wrong answer).	Out of 528. No negative marking; scaled scoring.
5	Difficulty Perception	Hard due to speed, negative marking, and competition (1 exam for all India).	Hard due to length, interdisciplinary content, and reasoning-heavy questions.

To learn about the exam difficulty level, watch this interactive video:

5 Tips to Prepare for the Medical College Admission Test

Here are five tips that you can use to prepare for the MCAT examination. These tips will help you score well on your paper.

1. Understand the exam structure, the question types, and the timing allocated for each section, and create a study plan.
2. Build a strong foundational knowledge of the core subjects and cover your undergraduate syllabus thoroughly.
3. Use official AAMC resources and trusted exam preparation books.
4. Most of the questions asked are passage-based. Hence, practise trying to interpret the data, analyse experiments, and apply knowledge.
5. Simulate real-life testing conditions and then take the exam. This will help you to learn time management and build endurance.
6. Review every wrong answer, and understand why you opted for the wrong choice. Thereafter, refine your approach to avoid repetition of the mistakes.

The MCAT is a mandatory entrance exam. It is difficult, has a vast syllabus, and tests your scientific problem-solving skills and critical thinking skills. It also tests your subject knowledge. Nevertheless, you ned to take this test entry into medical schools for the MD programme in the USA or Canada. The test results are considered part of your overall admission application process.

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