MCAT Score Ranges: Competitive Targets for MD and DO (2026)

How the MCAT Is Scored

The MCAT is scored on a scale of 472–528, with the midpoint at 500. It has four sections — Chemical and Physical Foundations (C/P), Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS), Biological and Biochemical Foundations (B/B), and Psychological/Social/Biological Foundations (P/S) — each scaled from 118 to 132 (midpoint 125).

Your total score is the sum of the four sections. AAMC also reports your percentile rank, which is what adcoms typically reference. Percentiles are updated annually based on rolling three-year test populations.

Score Percentiles (AAMC Data)

MCAT total score percentiles (AAMC, recent published cycle)
Score	Percentile	Context
528	100th	Maximum possible
522	99th	Top MD programs
518	96th	Competitive top-20
515	90th	Competitive top-50
511	81st	MD matriculant average
506	65th	Applicant average
504	57th	DO matriculant average
500	45th	Median scaled score

Target Scores by Program Tier

Practical targets, based on AAMC matriculant data and program-published medians:

Top-10 MD (Harvard, Hopkins, Stanford, etc.): Median MCAT 519–522.
Top-30 MD: Median MCAT 516–518.
Top-50 MD: Median MCAT 513–516.
State MD (mid-tier): Median MCAT 509–513.
DO programs: Median MCAT 504–508.

These medians are not minimums. Half of matriculants at each program scored below the median — admissions is holistic, and a 510 at a "top-30 by MCAT" program is feasible with strong application context.

Section Balance Matters

Many top programs explicitly look at section-level performance. A 515 total with 132/120/132/131 reads worse than a 512 total with 128/128/128/128 at programs that screen for minimum section scores. CARS is the most common section to be flagged — several programs publicly cite CARS below 125 as a soft screen.

If your practice scores show a deep section weakness, prioritize closing that gap over pushing your strongest section higher. Balanced is better than peaky for most adcoms.

When to Retake

Retake only when your most recent practice exam average is meaningfully higher than your real score (4+ points) and you have addressed the specific reason for the underperformance. Retaking after a 510 to "see what happens" can backfire — adcoms see every score, and a downward retake (510 → 508) is a worse outcome than the original.

Safe retake conditions:

Your real score was outside your AAMC practice exam range (you can identify what went wrong on test day).
Your current practice scores are consistently 4+ points higher than your real score.
You have a clear additional study plan, not just "study more".

Frequently Asked Questions

A 511 puts you at the MD matriculant average. A 515+ is competitive at top-50 programs. A 504+ is competitive for most DO programs. Any score must be read in the context of your GPA and the schools you are targeting.

Yes, for many adcoms. A 512 with 128/128/128/128 reads better than a 514 with a 122 in CARS. Several top programs publicly state they look at section-level performance and may screen out applications with very low CARS scores.

You can take the MCAT up to 3 times in a calendar year, 4 times across 2 consecutive years, and 7 times in your lifetime. Voided and no-show attempts count toward the lifetime cap.

Yes. Medical schools see every score, including voids and cancellations. Most schools focus on your most recent score, but some calculate an average or look at score trends.

Generally no, unless you applied last cycle without success or are targeting top-20 programs where the matriculant average is 518+. A 510 is solidly above the matriculant average and a retake carries downside risk if you score lower.

MCAT Score Ranges: What Is Competitive in 2026