MCAT
Offered by Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is the standardized exam used by U.S. and Canadian medical schools. It is a computer-based, passage-heavy test of natural, behavioral, and social science reasoning plus critical analysis — not a memorization quiz of isolated facts.
EXAM AT A GLANCE
Format
230
Testing time
15
minutes
Sections
4
Delivery
Pearson VUE test center (no at-home option)
Passing score
No pass/fail cut score
Cost
$355 USD standard registration ($145 with AAMC Fee Assistance Program)
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What the exam covers
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
59 questions / 95 minutes
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
53 questions / 90 minutes
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
59 questions / 95 minutes
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
59 questions / 95 minutes
About the MCAT exam
The 2026 testing year uses the same four sections, question counts, and 472–528 score scale as recent years. There is no remote MCAT; you sit at a Pearson VUE center.
Who it’s for
Applicants to M.D. (and many D.O. and other health-professions) programs.
- Format
- 230 multiple-choice questions across four sections; most items are passage-based, with some independent questions
- Testing time
- 6 hours 15 minutes of content time; about 7 hours 30 minutes seated including optional breaks
- Passing score
- Each section is scored 118–132; total score ranges from 472 to 528.
- Validity
- AAMC reports scores for three years; medical schools set their own recency policies.
- Prerequisites
- None; typically taken after completing prerequisite science coursework
Official exam page· Details verified August 2026
Exam details can change. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and exam policies with the certification provider before registering.
How to prepare
01
Read The MCAT Essentials for Testing Year 2026 — required before you register.
02
Content-review the four sections, then shift to AAMC official practice exams and question packs.
03
Treat CARS as a daily skill, not a last-month cram.
04
Sit full-length timed exams to build stamina for a 7.5-hour test day.
05
Use AAMC percentile ranks (updated each May 1) to interpret practice scores.
FAQ
Did the MCAT change in 2026?
No structural change. Same four sections, 230 questions, 472–528 scale, and ~7.5-hour seated day.
Can I take the MCAT at home?
No. The MCAT is delivered only at Pearson VUE test centers.
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