MCAT Score Percentiles 2026: What Your Score Really Means
Understanding MCAT scores is confusing. The test is scored on a scale from 472 to 528, with four sections each scored 118-132. But what does a 512 actually mean? How does it compare to other test-takers? And what do medical schools really look for?
How MCAT Scoring Works
The MCAT has four sections, each scored on a scale of 118-132:
- Chemical and Physical Foundations (CP): 59 questions, 95 minutes
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS): 53 questions, 90 minutes
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations (BB): 59 questions, 95 minutes
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations (PS): 59 questions, 95 minutes
Your total score is the sum of all four sections: 472 (lowest) to 528 (highest). The median score is approximately 500.
2026 MCAT Percentile Chart
This table shows what percentage of test-takers scored at or below each score:
| Total Score | Percentile | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 524-528 | 99-100% | Elite — top 1% of all test-takers |
| 520-523 | 97-98% | Exceptional — competitive for top 20 schools |
| 518-519 | 95-96% | Excellent — strong for any MD program |
| 515-517 | 90-94% | Very strong — above average for matriculants |
| 512-514 | 83-89% | Good — at or above median for MD matriculants (~511.9) |
| 510-511 | 78-82% | Competitive — solid for most MD programs |
| 508-509 | 73-77% | Average for MD applicants |
| 506-507 | 66-72% | Below average for MD, strong for DO |
| 504-505 | 58-65% | Competitive for DO programs |
| 500-503 | 48-57% | Median — consider retaking for MD |
| 496-499 | 35-47% | Below median — retake recommended |
| 492-495 | 23-34% | Significantly below average |
| 490 or below | <20% | Retake strongly recommended |
Section Score Percentiles
| Section Score | Percentile | Section Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 132 | 100% | 125 | 56% |
| 131 | 99% | 124 | 40% |
| 130 | 97% | 123 | 27% |
| 129 | 95% | 122 | 16% |
| 128 | 90% | 121 | 9% |
| 127 | 82% | 120 | 5% |
| 126 | 72% | 118-119 | 1-2% |
What Score Do Medical Schools Want?
The answer depends on the school:
- Top 20 MD programs (Harvard, Johns Hopkins, etc.): Median ~521 (99th percentile)
- Mid-tier MD programs: Median ~512-515 (85-92nd percentile)
- Average MD program: Median ~510 (80th percentile)
- DO programs: Median ~504-506 (60-68th percentile)
How to Interpret Practice Test Scores
Practice test scores from third-party companies (including ours) are approximations of your actual MCAT score. Here's how to use them:
- Your first FL will be lower than your eventual score. Expect to improve 5-10 points with dedicated studying.
- Average your last 3 FLs for the best prediction of your actual score.
- AAMC FLs are most accurate — take these in the final 4 weeks of studying.
- Third-party tests tend to be slightly harder than the real MCAT — a 510 on DoctorMCAT likely means 512+ on the real thing.
Track your scores over time using our performance analytics to see your trajectory and identify persistent weak areas.
Should You Retake?
Consider retaking if:
- Your score is more than 3 points below your target school's median
- You had a bad test day (illness, anxiety, technical issues)
- You can identify specific gaps that more studying would fix
- Your score increased significantly between practice tests (upward trend)
Do NOT retake if your practice test scores were consistently in the same range as your actual score — more studying won't help unless you change your approach.