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Is the MCAT very hard?

Yes, the MCAT is hard. Its purpose is to ensure that the students who get accepted to medical school not only have a good foundation of scientific facts and relevant formulae, but also the mental agility to look holistically at the sciences (take in the big picture), and yet be comfortable at critically analyzing scientific data with the depth of perception (focus on the necessary details).

How long is the MCAT?

The MCAT is 7 hours and 30 minutes long, including breaks. The image below shows the detailed breakdown of the four MCAT sections, the subjects included, the time allocated to each section, as well as the breaks. Before the exam: sign in, present a valid ID, have your palms digitally scanned, and have your test day photo taken.

Who can take the MCAT?

Individuals seeking admission to certain programs are eligible to take the MCAT.

When should you take the MCAT?

Prospective students usually arrange to take the MCAT a year before their intended matriculation into medical school. For example, if you are eyeing medical school in 2026, then you can take the MCAT in 2025 or before. Since there are no academic prerequisites for the MCAT, you can take the MCAT as early as your freshman, sophomore or junior year of undergraduate studies as long as you feel that you are ready.

How many times can you take the MCAT?

You can take the MCAT up to three times in a single testing year, up to four times in a two consecutive-year period, and up to seven times in a lifetime. Obviously, you want to minimize the number of times you need to take such a rigorous exam, and that is clearly the value of good preparation. Furthermore, medical schools will not review your application until they receive all your scores from the AAMC.