How Long Does it Take to Get MCAT Results?
Many believe the hardest part of taking the Medical College Admission Test is waiting for the results. Until you see your scores, there’s no telling if you did well on the test. Because your result could determine whether or not you get into med school, you have a lot riding on it.
It’s normal to ask: how long does it take to get MCAT results? Thankfully, there’s a clear answer to that question.
It takes 30 to 35 days after the exam date to get MCAT results. This delay will allow the AAMC to score and grade all of the tests fairly. It also provides enough time to address any concerns or issues test-takers may have had at their testing centers.
Don’t let the long wait make you anxious. This article will not only explain the MCAT scoring process but also provide ways to engage yourself and keep anxiety away.
Let’s get started.
The MCAT Scoring Process
Scoring an MCAT test is not as straightforward as some people might think. The AAMC does not simply run your answers through software that counts how many questions you got right. The administrators take their time to process each candidate’s data using the process below:
Section Scoring:
The first step is to find the raw scores for each of the four MCAT sections:
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems – 59 questions
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior – 59 questions
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems – 59 questions
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills – 53 questions
Your raw score for each section is determined by the number of questions you answered correctly. The MCAT doesn’t use a negative marking system. That means you don’t have to worry about getting penalized for incorrect answers.
At the end of this process, you’ll have four section scores. Each one indicates the number of correct answers you got. For example, your raw scores could look like these:
BBFLS: 36
PSBFB: 46
CPFBS: 42
CARS: 39
Scaled Scoring:
The MCAT may be a standardized test, but every exam comes with different questions. To ensure balance so that one test isn’t more favorable than the other, AAMC employs a scaled scoring system.
The scaling formula is not constant. However, the examiners will determine the weight of each question set based on difficulty.
The process is done in such a way that two students on the same knowledge level will get a similar score, even though their tests are different.
The combined MCAT scaled score for each section has a maximum value of 132 and a minimum value of 118. Hence, a raw score of 46 might be scaled to 128.
Total Scoring:
After compiling all of the four section scores, the next step is to combine them. Adding all four scores will create a total score, which is the final and most important MCAT score.
The maximum value of your total score is 528, and the minimum value is 472. Below is a brief example:
Scaled Section Scores:
BBFLS: 123
PSBFB: 128
CPFBS: 126
CARS: 124
Scaled Total score: 501
Performing the entire process for all the test units can take several weeks. It requires careful analysis and review to get the most accurate MCAT results possible.
There’s also a window for students to send in their concerns about the exam and their testing centers. Everything takes roughly a month to resolve.
No sooner than 30 to 35 days after your exam, your MCAT results will be released on the AAMC website. Before that time, you may check your potential score release date. Read on to find out how to do that.
How to Check Your MCAT Score Release Date
You can check your potential score release date even before you take the MCAT. The process is quite simple.
Step 1: Visit the website www.aamc.org.
Step 2: Click “Students & Residents” at the top of the page.
Step 3: Find “Applying to Medical School” on the resulting page and click it. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 4: Click “Register for the MCAT Exam” from the menu.
Step 5: Find this link on the resulting page: “U.S. Testing Calendar, Scheduling Deadlines, and Score Release Dates” or “Canadian Testing Calendar, Scheduling Deadlines, and Score Release Dates.” Click on whichever applies to you.
Step 6: You can check and download the test schedule and MCAT score release dates on the resulting page.
The report will show you the full list of MCAT test dates and along with their expected result release day.
If you find your release date, you can expect to see your results by 5:00 p.m. ET on that day.
What to Do While You Wait for Your MCAT Scores
The following are the recommended activities for people waiting on their MCAT results.
Rest
Take some time to relax after the MCAT exam. You should allow yourself a few days before returning to work or school.
MCAT preparation can be stressful. You spend a lot of hours studying and taking practice tests. The actual exam is also tasking as you’ll be in the test center for several hours.
If you’re still in school, you may have to make some adjustments. Sure, the lectures and tests won’t wait for you. However, try to find a way to take things slow, at least for a couple of days.
Once you’ve had enough rest, you can work towards catching up with the rest of the class.
Handle Your Anxiety
Like we said earlier, it can feel like you have a lot riding on your MCAT results. This feeling is the major cause of anxiety for students waiting for their scores.
If you allow yourself to give in to anxiety, you’ll end up in a dark place for several weeks. The only way out would be to see a good MCAT score, but even that is not guaranteed.
For the sake of your mental health, do not allow yourself to feel overly anxious while you wait for your MCAT score.
There are several ways to control your emotions and keep anxiety away. We’ll discuss three of them:
- Therapy
Talk to a therapist or mental health professional. Their insights and advice will help you to cope with the anticipation. See if your school or workplace has a funded medical center. You can also pay to see a therapist if you can afford the costs.
- Meditation
Some mindfulness techniques, like meditation, can also help. Meditation requires you to take deep breaths, remain in the present, and focus on your body’s sensations. It can help to calm you quickly.
Check out Mindful.org’s article about how to meditate with anxiety. You may learn the techniques you need to control your emotions better.
- Mindset Switch
One of the major causes of MCAT score anxiety is the immense importance placed on it by the general public.
You may believe having a poor MCAT score would lead to criticism from friends and family. You may also feel like it shows you’ll make a bad doctor. Those feelings are wrong and greatly exaggerated.
Let’s picture a scenario where you didn’t do well on the test. Your loved ones will continue to support you. Also, you can retake the test.
Having a bad MCAT result is definitely not the end of the world. Even if you’ve exhausted your retakes, there are several other ways to get into med school without taking the MCAT.
Talk to Someone
Whatever your feelings are while you wait for the results, you don’t have to bear their weight alone. Find someone you trust and talk to them about your fears and hopes.
The conversation may reveal that your situation is not nearly as bad as you think. It will also give you a new perspective.
You can talk to your friend, parent, or even a consultant. It’s best to speak to people who have had similar experiences in their lives. They may give you the strength you need to live a normal life while you wait.
Do Simple Activities
One of the reasons why waiting for test results may be difficult for some people is the lack of control they have over their situation.
If you feel this way, there’s a simple fix you can try. Do activities that make you feel like you have some control. This could be any of the following:
- Solving puzzles
- Exercising
- Cleaning your home
- Organizing your room
Do What You Love
You’ve spent several months on MCAT prep. Now that it’s done, you may feel like there’s a void in your life.
Fill that void by doing the activities you love. They will keep you busy and distract you from thinking about the results.
Consider what you’re into and do it to your heart’s content. So long as it’s healthy and safe, it will make you feel like yourself once more.
Some of these activities could range from watching movies to playing video games. Make a list and do some of them every day.
Avoid Toxic Behavior
Some activities are toxic and will only make your life worse. Examples include alcohol abuse, doing drugs, and excessive gambling. Avoid them at all costs.
If you turn to these things to distract yourself from the MCAT, you may be disappointed to find that your problems are still there when you sober up.
Also, the aftereffects of these vices could have serious repercussions on your daily life.
Avoid MCAT Forums
MCAT-centered forums can be very helpful before and after the exam. The info they provide will help you in several ways. However, these forums may not be the best place to be immediately after the exam.
Reading the posts will only make you more anxious. If you’re not careful, you may find yourself browsing through these forums more often than you should.
When you do visit these forums, keep in mind that not every story you read applies to you. Someone may claim that they were unable to get into their dream school with a seemingly high score, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get in with less.
How to Check Your MCAT Result Upon Release
So the long-awaited day arrives. Your test scores are ready. You have confirmed that they have been released via the AAMC’s newsletter and Twitter account.
The only thing left for you to do is to check your results. You’ll find them in a report posted on the official website. The result-checking process is easy if you follow the following steps:
Step 1: Visit the website www.aamc.org.
Step 2: Click “Students & Residents” at the top of the page.
Step 3: Find “Applying to Medical School” on the resulting page and click it. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 4: Click “About the MCAT Exam” or “Prepare for the MCAT Exam.”
Step 5: Find and click “Get Your Test Scores” on the right-hand side of the resulting page.
Step 6: Log into the MCAT score reporting system using your username and password.
What’s in an MCAT Result
Once you have your score report or result, you may need help figuring out what all that data means. Understanding each component will help you to make key decisions regarding your admission into medical school.
We will explain every important info you should know.
Section Scores:
The four sections of the MCAT will have their scaled scores attached to them. Admission boards will see this and know where your strengths lie.
MCAT Total:
There’s a component called MCAT total. It’s the sum of all of the section scores. This is the score most US medical schools consider before accepting applications.
Percentile Rank
The MCAT percentile is a percentage metric that shows how many test-takers got the same or lower scores than your score.
The higher your percentile, the higher your chances of getting med school admission. Both sectional and total scores have percentile ranks attached to them.
Confidence Bands
The confidence band is a range of scores that shows how accurate your result is. It’s your actual score when you take accuracy into account.
These bands are typically 2 points apart for sectional scores and 4 points apart for total scores.
Score Profile
The score profile highlights your capabilities for all four sections of the exam. It splits the maximum score into four equal parts and places your confidence band in the right spot.
Bottom Line
Now that you know that you have to wait a month after your MCAT test date to see your score, you don’t need to be nervous. Always remember that no amount of worry or anxiety will change your score.
The only thing you can do is make the best of the time you have before they release the MCAT results.
