When Do You Take The Mcat

So, when is the right time? The best advice we can give you is to take the exam when you feel most prepared; there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution that works for every examinee. But when making that decision, ask yourself three questions:

When is the Right Time to Take the MCAT® Exam? Three Questions to Ask Yourself.

It’s not surprising that one of the questions we’re asked most frequently is, “When should I take my MCAT® exam?” Between class, extra-curricular activities, a job, and remembering to relax and have fun every now and then, it may seem hard to find time to also prepare for your MCAT exam.

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So, when is the right time? The best advice we can give you is to take the exam when you feel most prepared; there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution that works for every examinee. But when making that decision, ask yourself three questions:

1. When do I want to attend medical school? Whether you decide to go straight from your undergraduate program to medical school or take time off in between, it’s a good idea to think about when you want to matriculate to medical school and then work backwards. Often, students will choose to take their MCAT exam in the same year they are applying to medical school. For example, if you are thinking about attending medical school in fall 2023, you might consider taking your exam during 2022.
2. Will I need to take my exam more than once? We don’t like to think about this either, but many examinees take the MCAT more than once. If you think you may re-take the exam, and you want to leave yourself that option, you may think about taking the exam earlier in a testing year. This will give you the opportunity to receive your scores, make a decision about whether to re-test or not, and find another seat on a preferred date and location later in the year.
3. Have I mastered the content tested on the exam? The MCAT exam tests content found in introductory-level courses at most undergraduate institutions, including biology, general and organic chemistry, and physics, as well as first-semester biochemistry, psychology, and sociology. While there aren’t specific courses you have to take to be able to register and take the exam, it’s important to feel comfortable with the content and skills tested. If you feel that additional coursework or studying is needed to help you prepare, think about testing at a later point in the year to have additional time. Consult your pre-health advisor or a faculty member to assist with course selection, as courses vary by institution.

A few other things to keep in mind:

• There are testing limits. There is a limit on the number of times you can attempt the exam. You can take the exam three times in a single testing year, four times over two consecutive testing years, and you have seven overall lifetime attempts. Note: choosing to void your exam or not showing up on test day will count toward your overall attempt limits.
• Medical schools see all of your exam scores. This isn’t to scare you! Taking the exam more than once does not put you at a disadvantage, but it’s important to remember as you prepare for your exam that medical schools will see all of the exams you chose to score. Each program has their own policies and procedures for how they view and evaluate multiple scores.

As you think about your exam, remember to talk with your pre-health advisor or a faculty member to help you plan and prepare. Also, be sure to check out the resources available from the AAMC to help you understand, study, and practice for the exam.

When Should You Take the MCAT?

The MCAT exam is offered in January & March through September, and there are thirty MCAT test dates to choose from. Aim to take the MCAT as early in the year as possible, preferably no later than mid-May before AMCAS application submissions begin in early June. Completing the exam earlier will allow you to complete your AMCAS application early, and the earlier you submit your application, the better.

Choosing Your MCAT Date

Of course, not all applicants’ academic schedules realistically allow them take an early bird test. If you have coursework to complete or more studying to do, it’s fine take the MCAT later in the year when you are prepared. Consider these questions to choose the right date for you.

1. Where are you in the application process?

AMCAS begins submitting applications in early June. It is important to submit AMCAS applications as soon as possible because most schools offer rolling admissions. Keep in mind that MCAT scores are released about a month after the test date. Many schools will not look at your application until your MCAT scores are available.

2. Have you finished your pre-reqs?

If you have not finished most of the prerequisites for the test—two semesters each of biology, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry—you probably should not sit for the exam. Take advantage of The Princeton Review’s free MCAT practice test and find out how you would score on a practice exam before you take the real thing!

Free MCAT Practice Tests & Events

Evaluate and improve your MCAT score.

3. How will you make time to prep?

It is possible, although it’s certainly not the best idea, to take the last semester of one of the required science courses concurrently with studying for the MCAT. If you find yourself in this situation, it is vitally important to lighten your course load so that you will be able to adequately study for the exam while maintaining a strong GPA . Pre-meds might choose a summer test date if they want to concentrate on their studies and give themselves part of the summer to prep.

4. Will you take the MCAT more than once?

If you think you might end up retaking the MCAT , it’s best to schedule your first MCAT as early as possible. That way you will have time to receive your MCAT scores, make a plan to prep for MCAT #2, and register for a seat. If you did not take the MCAT earlier or need to improve your MCAT scores , aim to take take the MCAT as early in the summer as possible

5. Where will you take the MCAT?

Keep in mind that there is a limited number of testing locations and seats for each MCAT date. Seats fill up quickly!

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The Staff of The Princeton Review

For more than 40 years, students and families have trusted The Princeton Review to help them get into their dream schools. We help students succeed in high school and beyond by giving them resources for better grades, better test scores, and stronger college applications. Follow us on Twitter: @ThePrincetonRev.