
As soon as the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is done, the waiting game begins. The most pressing question every student has is: When will the MCAT results come out?
The waiting time can be nerve-wracking, but one thing that can help is knowing the exact MCAT score release date.
I’ve helped countless students get ready for the MCAT, and I’ve been following the score release dates for a while now.
Here’s everything you should know about MCAT scores, including score release dates and times.
How Long Does It Take To Get MCAT Results?
- MCAT scores are released by 5:00 p.m. on score release date.
- The scores are sent about 30 to 35 days after the test day, and can be seen on the official AAMC website.
- The final results candidates get aren’t graded on a curve, but are scaled and equated.
When Do MCAT Scores Come Out?

Standard MCAT exams begin at 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at every testing location in the US, while scores are released by 5:00 p.m. ET on the scheduled score release date.
The MCAT scores are released 30 to 35 days after the test day.
The AAMC can sometimes release the MCAT scores one or two days earlier, but don’t count on it, as it rarely happens.
So, why does it take so long for the MCAT score release? It’s because the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) scales and equates MCAT exams after each MCAT test date, and this takes about a month.
This is done to account for differences in the difficulty of the test questions in various MCAT versions.
Also, the AAMC offers enough time for students to submit any concerns about exam questions and test conditions. They need to review each concern, which takes some time as well.
2021 MCAT Test Dates
Here are all the MCAT test dates and dates of releasing the scores [1].
2021 MCAT Test Dates | Score Release Dates |
Friday, January 15 | Tuesday, February 2 |
Saturday, January 16 | Tuesday, February 2 |
Thursday, January 21 | Tuesday, February 9 |
Monday, January 25 | Tuesday, February 9 |
Saturday, March 13 | Tuesday, April 13 |
Friday, March 26 | Tuesday, April 27 |
Saturday, April 10 | Tuesday, May 11 |
Friday, April 23 | Tuesday, May 25 |
Friday, April 30 | Tuesday, June 1 |
Saturday, May 1 | Tuesday, June 1 |
Friday, May 14 | Tuesday, June 15 |
Saturday, May 15 | Tuesday, June 15 |
Thursday, May 20 | Tuesday, June 22 |
Friday, May 28 | Tuesday, June 22 |
Friday, June 4 | Wednesday, July 7 |
Friday, June 18 | Tuesday, July 20 |
Saturday, June 19 | Tuesday, July 20 |
Saturday, June 26 | Tuesday, July 27 |
Wednesday, June 30 | Friday, July 30 |
Saturday, July 17 | Tuesday, August 17 |
Friday, July 30 | Tuesday, August 31 |
Saturday, August 7 | Wednesday, September 8 |
Friday, August 13 | Tuesday, September 14 |
Saturday, August 21 | Tuesday, September 21 |
Thursday, August 26 | Tuesday, September 28 |
Thursday, September 2 | Tuesday, October 5 |
Friday, September 3 | Tuesday, October 5 |
Friday, September 10 | Tuesday, October 12 |
Saturday, September 11 | Tuesday, October 12 |
Once the AAMC releases the scores, you’ll be able to see them through the MCAT score reporting system on the AAMC official website.
To make sure you see the scores as soon as they’re released, follow the AAMC MCAT Twitter account for announcements.
How are MCAT Scores Graded?

On the scheduled date for score results, students will receive the score report with five scores.
Four scores are for each of the multiple-choice sections, and the fifth is the total score.
The MCAT isn’t graded on a curve; it’s scaled and equated.
“There is no curve associated with the MCAT exam. Instead, the MCAT exam is scaled and equated so that scores have the same meaning, no matter when you test.”
- Official AAMC website
Here’s how AAMC scales and equates the exam [2]:
- They count the questions you answered correctly in all four sections, so the score for each section is based on the number of correct answers.
- The number of correct answers is converted to an MCAT scaled score, which goes from 118 (the lowest) to 132 (the highest).
- The scaled scores for each section are added together to get the total score, ranging from 472 (lowest) to 528 (highest).
Pro tip: Answer all the questions on the exam, as there’s no penalty for wrong or unanswered questions.
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How to Register for the MCAT

If you want to take the MCAT, you can register online through the MCAT Registration System on the AAMC official website.
Here are the registration steps:
- Create an account on the AAMC website before registration opens.
- Write down your username, password, and security questions, as you’ll need them when you log in next time.
- Fill in all the personal info so it matches your government-issued ID.
- Choose a test date and location.
- Click on “find seat” to see the availability.
- If there are available seats, you can register. If not, look for other locations or test dates.
- Pay the initial MCAT registration fee.
Note: Don’t put off the test registration, or you may not find an available seat since the seats fill up very quickly.
Registering as soon as possible and knowing your test date way ahead will allow you to start your MCAT preparation early.
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When Should You Take the MCAT?

When you should take the MCAT depends on a few different factors. Think about these questions:
- Are you applying to medical schools immediately after the fourth year of college, or are you taking a gap year?
- How much MCAT prep you’ll need?
- Do you have solid biological and biochemical foundations?
Make sure to choose a date that gives you enough time for solid MCAT preparation. Also, check if the score date gives you enough time to submit the scores to your desired medical school.
If you don’t think you have sufficient knowledge in all the courses to ace the medical school application, schedule the exam at the end of the third year. This way, you’ll have enough time to take the exam again if you’re unhappy with the results.
When Will You See Your MCAT Scores?
You’ll see your MCAT scores about a month after the exam date, by 5:00 p.m. on the score release date. Check when the scores are released in the table above, and follow AAMC channels to get notified when the scores are out.
Try not to worry too much about the scores after the exam is finished; rather, focus on the proper MCAT prep before the exam.
Make sure you have sound biological foundations and physical foundations of biological systems and work on your critical analysis and reasoning skills.
After the exam, you have to be patient and wait between 30 and 35 days to receive your MCAT score.
References:
- https://students-residents.aamc.org/media/11336/download
- https://students-residents.aamc.org/mcat-scores/your-questions-answered-mcat-scoring-process
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