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Posted:
January 29, 2013
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MCAT Test Dates 2013

The MCAT is offered on 25 different test dates. On three dates (one in June, one in August, and one in September) the test is offered in both a morning and afternoon slot. On every other date, it is offered either in the morning or afternoon.

 

There’s no single best time to take the MCAT. Every administration is a scaled exam – that means even if you get a harder version of the MCAT, your grade will be “curved up” and vice versa for an easier one. Thus every single MCAT test-taker is graded on an even playing field. It’s important to note you’re not being “curved” against the other people taking the test that day but rather your score will be “curved” based on the difficulty of the test itself.

 

To decide on an MCAT test date, you’ll want to consider two major factors – deadlines for the programs you’re applying to, and your own study schedule. It can take anywhere from two to five months to prepare thoroughly for the MCAT. The most important question to ask yourself is, “When can I devote time every day to MCAT prep?”

 

Test DateRegistration DeadlineLate ResgistrationScore Release Date
January 24January 10January 17February 26
January 26January 12January 19February 26
March 23March 9March 16April 23
April 4March 21March 28May 7
April 26April 12April 19May 29
April 27April 13April 20May 29
May 11April 27May 4June 11
May 18May 4May 11June 18
May 23May 9May 16June 25
May 30May 16May 23July 2
June 20June 6June 13July 23
July 2June 18June 25August 6
July 13June 29July 6August 13
July 25July 11July 18August 27
July 26July 12July 19August 27
August 2July 19July 26September 4
August 3July 20July 27September 4
August 9July 26August 2September 10
August 15August 1August 8September 17
August 16August 2August 9September 17
August 22August 8August 15September 24
August 28August 14August 21October 1
September 7August 24August 31October 8
September 11August 28September 4October 15
September 12August 29September 5October 15
Posted:
December 10, 2012
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MCAT Scores: How the scoring system works in 2013

MCAT Scores

If you are planning on taking the MCAT in 2013 or 2014, you might have heard that the scoring scale will be a little different this year. Read on to find all the information.

2013 MCAT Score changes

If you have friends who have studied for past MCATs, you probably know their scores were reported as a number with a letter. This year, the numbered scoring system stays exactly the same, but the letter goes away.

For each of the three multiple choice sections (physical sciences, biological sciences, and verbal) you will be assigned a grade between 1 and 15. The average scores are between 9 and 9.8 on each section. Then your 3 scores are added up.

The letter grade used to be a human-scored writing sample. The writing sample has been eliminated. In its place, at the end of the test, is now an “optional” trial section at the end of the exam. The purpose of this section is for AAMC to test questions that will go into a new section in 2015.

Your score on the trial section is not counted and will not be seen by medical college admissions committees. However, you do get a $30 Amazon card from AAMC if you “put in a good faith effort” and you get to see how your scores compare to other applicants. All this is a way of saying that you should try your best while you are working through the trial section, but you do not need to prepare for it in any way.

2015 MCAT Changes

In 2015, as you might have heard, the MCAT will be changing again. The 2013 changes are really just a way of phasing in the bigger changes in 2015. In 2015 the MCAT will have 4 scored sections:

  • Physical sciences
  • Biological sciences
  • Critical analysis and reasoning — an updated version of today’s verbal section
  • Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior — a completely new section

You will receive 4 scores for each of the 4 sections. AAMC as of this writing has not released the new scoring scale. It will likely be a similar scale (1-15 for each section), though that would create confusion since a very good score on the current MCAT, like 35, could easily be confused for a mediocre score if the test is scored out of 60 instead of out of 45.

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