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Reviewed by:
Third-Year Medical Student, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Reviewed: 4/11/24
Taking the MCAT is an important step on the road to medical school. If you’re wondering when your perfect time is to take the MCAT, read on!
The MCAT looms over your shoulder, an exam that determines your success in the medical field. You’ve heard horror stories from other med students detailing the torture of this test. It’s the last obstacle in your path before your entry into medical school.
You’ve probably already started preparing, but you might be wondering, “When should I take the MCAT test?” You may also ask if a certain time grants you a better chance at a high score or whether you should take it in the summer or the fall.
We’ve put together a simple guide to help you through the scheduling process so you can truly begin your med school journey.
The MCAT is offered in January and March until September with thirty test dates to decide. Take the MCAT as early as you can, no later than mid-May. This is because AMCAS application submissions start in June.
You should aim to take the MCAT during your sophomore year of undergrad. This timing allows you to have completed most prerequisite courses, giving you a solid foundation for the exam.
If you plan to attend medical school in 2025, plan to take the MCAT in 2024 to allow ample preparation time. Most medical schools start accepting applications in June, so taking the MCAT no later than May ensures that your scores are available for timely review by admissions committees.
Take a look at the 2024 MCAT Testing Calendar to ensure you choose a date that fits your schedule and leaves you plenty of time to get ready.
It takes about 30-35 days after your exam to receive your MCAT score, so taking the exam during your sophomore year of college allows plenty of time to get your scores and gives you time to prepare for a retest if you don’t meet your target score.
You shouldn’t wait until the last minute to take the MCAT. Doing so could result in receiving your score too late or realizing your score does not meet your dream medical school’s requirements.
The best time to take the MCAT is early. Give yourself plenty of time to study and prepare for the MCAT so you can earn a high score and devote the rest of your time to your personal essays and letters of recommendation for medical school.
Here is a table to give you an idea of when you should complete certain med school application tasks, depending on your plans after graduation:
Remember not to wait too long to apply after taking the MCAT. Your MCAT scores are valid for a long time, but they may expire after a few years depending on your target med school.
The MCAT is offered from January and March to September, with multiple testing dates available within each month to give you plenty of opportunities to take the exam. Additionally, the MCAT is offered at a variety of testing centers. Understand that testing centers fill up fast, so you want to schedule your medical school exam as soon as you find one in an area that’s convenient for you.
The MCAT testing schedule changes from year to year, so make sure you find the testing dates of the year you wish to apply to medical school.
When you look at the MCAT testing schedule, you’ll notice that there are different zone deadlines: gold, silver, and bronze.
The gold zone gives you the largest deadline to schedule your exam (29 days before the exam), the best exam price, and the lowest rescheduling price. It’s also the only zone that gives you a partial refund in the event you need to cancel your MCAT date.
The silver zone gives you an MCAT registration deadline of 25 days before the MCAT date, and you still receive the best exam price, but you cannot receive a refund if you need to reschedule, and the fee to reschedule increases.
The bronze zone gives you a small window of a registration deadline, only eight days before the exam date. The exam fee increases, and you no longer have the opportunity to cancel or request an MCAT reschedule.
The list of testing dates also provides the date when you’ll receive your MCAT score, so make sure you test during a time when your score will be available by the time you apply to medical school.
Deciding when to sign up for the MCAT hinges on your medical school timeline. Medical schools begin accepting applications in June, so you want to make sure your MCAT results are available before June to know which schools you can apply to.
You don’t have to jump right into medical school after graduating from undergrad. It’s perfectly normal to take a minute to catch your breath before diving into your career. Just make sure you keep your mind sharp so you stay prepared for the exam.
If you're wondering when to take the MCAT, let us share some factors to help you decide.
It’s not something you want to think about, but the MCAT is a strenuous exam that you might have to face more than once. It doesn’t mean that you’re a failure or that you won’t be a successful doctor. The MCAT is a comprehensive test for med school admissions that covers various topics and requires devoting most of your free time to studying.
We recommend taking the MCAT as early as possible to give yourself enough time if you need to retake the MCAT.
You also may need to re-take the MCAT in the case of MCAT score expiration. MCAT scores may expire if it has been over three years since you last took the exam, so if you find yourself with outdated MCAT scores, you’ll need to re-take the test.
Make sure you plan your MCAT date around the time you want to apply to medical school. The AMCAS application opens at the beginning of May, so you’ll want to spend your free time working on your application and essays so you’re ready to submit in June.
If you want to be among the first to apply to medical school, we recommend taking the MCAT no later than the end of May, so your score is available when you apply. This also helps to guarantee that there are MCAT seats available at that time.
Med school is competitive, so you want to submit your application within the first week of June. But if you don’t feel prepared at that point, don’t push yourself. You can always submit your application at a later date. Just understand that if you wait to apply until the last minute, it may decrease your chances of acceptance.
There’s nothing worse than taking a test you’re unprepared for. The MCAT covers many topics in varying detail, and you want to make sure you understand the material before you take the exam.
The MCAT costs $320 to take, so why take the risk of spending money on an exam if you’re not ready? Make sure you’ve taken all of the prerequisites and that you have a good understanding of this material before you take the MCAT.
This is one of the most important exams of your career, so give yourself the best chance possible. Spend your time studying material that’s still fresh in your mind, as well as information you learned during your freshman year. The MCAT will test you on all of it.
You can also decide when you want to take the MCAT based on your performance on the practice tests. The practice exams closely mimic the actual exam, so you might feel prepared enough to schedule your real MCAT date if you do well on the practice test.
We recommend using our free MCAT practice tests to ensure you're fully prepared for the exam! Be sure to review your answers thoroughly and take note of any sections you find challenging so you can focus on them futher.
If you don’t meet your target score with the practice exams, take some time to study harder and identify the areas of the exam in which you struggle. Don’t let a low practice score discourage you from pursuing a medical career. View this as an opportunity to improve.
How does one prepare for a test so important?
You might find yourself feeling stressed at the idea of studying for the MCAT. There’s so much material you have to not only memorize but understand. The MCAT exam covers all of the material you’ve learned throughout your undergrad. How does one successfully study for an exam that decides their fate?
The MCAT encompasses a tremendous amount of material, manipulated into questions that may trip you up. But don’t let that scare you away. The MCAT is a monster, but we’ve devised the perfect guide to mastering the MCAT exam requirements to help you slay the beast successfully.
When scheduling your MCAT exam, you should take into account several factors. First, you’ll need to know how much time you’ll need to study. If you schedule your exam too soon, you may not be able to study as thoroughly as you need to.
You should also consider the possibility of re-taking the MCAT. While this is nothing to be ashamed of, it is something that you need to think about. Allow for enough time to retake the test before medical school applications close.
You’ll also need a valid MCAT-accepted ID for your test day, so make sure that you renew your identification well before your test date.
You should also meet with an MCAT tutor for proven strategies that help you excel. This will guarantee you get a score of 515+.
MCAT scores are generally valid for two to three years. However, this depends on the medical school you’re applying to. Make sure to check requirements and application policies for each of your desired schools.
If you’re wondering when you usually take the MCAT or have other questions, these FAQs have you covered.
If you feel you’ll be more prepared for the MCAT once you’ve reached your junior or senior year, you can definitely take the MCAT then. This gives you a shorter time period to retake the MCAT, but you may feel prepared enough at this point that you won’t need to retake the exam.
Don’t compare yourself to others. Some may feel prepared to take the MCAT after their sophomore year, while others need more time. You decide when is the best time to take the MCAT. Every student is different, and as long as your MCAT score is ready by the time you apply to medical school, taking the MCAT senior year or earlier is fine.
Taking the MCAT senior year is usually the last time students will take the test. If you’re wondering when to take the MCAT with no gap year, medical schools normally begin accepting applications in June, so you can take the MCAT anywhere from January to May of your application year.
If you’ve decided to take a break after college before applying to medical school, you can take your MCAT after you graduate.
While you technically can apply to medical school before you take or retake the MCAT, it’s risky and not typically recommended for a couple of reasons:
Medical schools are highly competitive. It’s in your best interest to take the MCAT before you apply to medical school.
You receive your MCAT scores anywhere from 30 to 35 days after your exam date. Keep this in mind as you prepare your application to medical school. You want to make sure your score is available by the time you submit your application so you don’t delay your acceptance.
Unfortunately, the difficulty of the MCAT doesn’t vary based on the month you take the exam. The test will be strenuous whether you decide to take it in January or if you wait until May.
You should aim to take the MCAT in the month you feel most prepared. If you spent Christmas studying, you’re probably prepared for the MCAT in January or February, though you may have less study time because you’re still in class.
Taking the MCAT during the spring or summer allows you to study for the MCAT without worrying about the rest of your classes, but keep in mind that it might be more difficult to find testing dates during this time. Testing centers fill up fast. You decide when you’re ready to take the MCAT, but don’t procrastinate.
You have plenty of opportunities to take the MCAT if you don’t meet your target score. In one year, you can take the exam three times. You can take the MCAT four times in a consecutive two-year period.
You can only take the MCAT a total of seven times in your lifetime, so make sure when you finally commit to an exam date that you’re fully prepared.
Understand that medical schools can access all of your MCAT scores, but don’t let that discourage you from retaking the exam when necessary. By seeing all of your scores, the schools can track your growth.
You can take a gap year before medical school, but make sure you weigh the pros and cons before you decide. Don’t go into this decision lightly. If you feel you aren’t as prepared for the MCAT, by all means, take a gap year. Just make sure you spend your free time studying so you don’t forget the material you learned during undergrad.
Also, keep in mind that taking a gap year puts you further away from your career, but sometimes breaks are necessary. When in doubt, trust your gut.
You can take the MCAT whenever you feel ready, although it is recommended to wait until the summer after your sophomore year.
The latest you should take the MCAT is in April/May of your application year. Remember to give yourself enough time to retake the test if necessary.
Most medical schools accept MCAT scores two to three years after it was taken, although you should check your specific school’s requirements.
This depends on your personal MCAT schedule and target score, but generally speaking, it’s a good idea to start your MCAT studying at least three months in advance.
It depends on whether you’re planning to take a gap year or not. If not, you should apply during the spring or summer after your junior year. If you are taking a gap year, you should apply in the summer after your senior year.
The MCAT is one of the factors that determine your success in the medical field. It’s a test you should regard with the utmost seriousness. You want to make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare and study everything you’ve learned throughout your undergrad so you have a strong foundation for medical school.
There’s no magical time period where the MCAT is easier. It’s a challenging exam no matter the month you choose. Some feel prepared to take the MCAT after their sophomore year, while others decide to wait until their senior year of undergrad. Every student is different, and it’s up to you to decide when you’re fully prepared.
Make sure you give yourself ample time to study, as well as ample time to retake if necessary. The MCAT isn’t a test on which you should procrastinate. We know this exam terrifies you, but we hope this guide will help you in the process of scheduling your exam.
Reviewed by:
Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Physician, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
We’ll send you a 100+ page MCAT practice test created by one of our expert 99th percentile tutors. No strings attached.
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