In most cases, if you want to study medicine in the US, the journey to medical school starts with the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), a standardized exam administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). This exam is required to apply to most medical graduate programs in the United States.
This day-long standardized test evaluates a test taker’s conceptual understanding and analytical skills necessary to practice medicine.
Here is everything prospective medical students need to know about this competitive grad school test. We will go over questions including eligibility for international students, medical schools that accept international students, and more.
What Is the MCAT?
This computer-based standardized test measures various scientific inquiry and reasoning skills as they relate to biological functions. Critical thinking and logical reasoning are primarily what is measured in this multiple-choice exam. You can visit AAMC.org to learn more.
How Hard Is the Test?
Since medical school in the United States is very competitive, scores on this exam factor heavily into admission decisions. Deep knowledge of biology, physics, psychology, sociology, general and organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and biochemistry is crucial.
Can International Students Take the Exam?
If the US medical school you are applying to accepts international students, you will be eligible to take the test as part of the admissions process.
Keep in mind there are many US medical schools that accept international students, but some only accept international applicants on a conditional basis. When searching for a medical school for international students, you should carefully research each option to find out if you meet its requirements.
MCAT Application Process and Requirements
When Is Registration?
The exam is offered at least 30 times per year at certified Pearson VUE centers. Find a designated testing center near you and register at AAMC.
How Much Does Taking the Test Cost?
The standard registration fee begins at $345. Those testing outside the US, Canada, or US territories will be charged a $120 international fee in addition to the initial registration fee. Rescheduling and cancellation fees range between $50-$200, depending on the date of registration.
Students with financial limitations are also eligible to register through the Fee Assistance Program (FAP). The benefits of the program include discounted fees, complimentary access to the MSAR online database, free test prep products, and more.
How Many Times Can I Take the Test?
The test can be taken three times per testing year, four times over two consecutive testing years, and up to seven times in your lifetime. Test-takers may register for one test date at a time and wait 24 hours after testing before re-registering. You have the option to void your score on the day of the exam, after completing each section of the exam, or during a three-minute window after the end of the exam.
In case you need to leave the exam midway due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances, you must submit a Test Center Concern so the AAMC may void your exam for you. You can submit the request form through the official registration system no later than five calendar days after your exam. If you do not submit a Test Center Concern, your exam may be scored.
Are There Special Requirements for International Students?
As a general requirement, you must have or be currently pursuing a pre-med course, such as a bachelor of medicine or bachelor of surgery — also known as a MBBS degree.
Because medical school admission processes vary, the exact requirements to enroll in a medical school in the US will be different depending on each school. The application process usually involves the following steps:
Primary Application
The primary application is your first step in applying to medical schools in the US accepting international students. In this stage, you provide information about yourself and your academic qualifications as part of a medical school’s applicant screening process.
The required information will depend on the school you are applying to, but usually include:
Your MCAT scores
Your academic transcripts (undergraduate plus any post-bachelor’s work)
Information about important experiences (e.g., academic, clinical, and extracurricular activities)
Background information (identifying information, schools attended, and biographic information)
A personal statement
Letters of recommendation
If your primary application is accepted, you will be invited to submit a secondary application, which typically requires essay responses to prompts.
When submitting your primary application, keep in mind that many medical schools in the US use the American Medical School Application Service (AMCAS) during the application process. This is important as the AMCAS does not accept coursework transcripts from foreign countries, unless the courses were accredited by a US, US Territorial, or Canadian postsecondary institution.
Request Transcripts
If you have completed US, US territorial, or Canadian-accredited postsecondary courses at a school in your home country, you will need to provide the official transcript to the medical school you are applying to. The AMCAS will verify your courses and calculate your grade point average (GPA).
If the medical school cannot verify the accreditation of the courses on your transcript, they may not be able to calculate your AMCAS GPA. This can affect your applications for a scholarship, extracurricular activities, or when you apply for graduate programs in the US.
Identify Your Citizenship and Visa Status
When applying to medical schools, you will have to provide information about your US citizenship and visa status either in the primary or secondary application. Remember to clearly and accurately identify your status, as this can determine if the school is able to accept you.
Language Proficiency
As part of the AMCAS application, you will need to highlight all the languages you speak and how well you speak them. A medical school for international students may also require you to take an English language proficiency test, such as TOEFL, and meet a required score.
How Is the MCAT Structured?
The exam consists of four multiple-choice sections, administered in the following order:
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems covers 59 questions over a 95-minute testing period. Questions focus on the functions of biomolecules and the organization of biological systems in living organisms. Having deep knowledge of biology and biochemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry, as well as scientific inquiry and reasoning, research methods, and statistics skills are important for this section.
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems which is 59 questions covering organic and inorganic chemistry and physics as they relate to biological processes and biochemistry. Scientific inquiry and reasoning, research methods, and statistics skills are important in this section. Test takers have 95 minutes to complete this section.
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior is also 59 questions administered over 95 minutes. Test takers must prove they understand how behavior, behavior change, and sociocultural factors impact human health. Again, scientific inquiry and reasoning, research methods, and statistics skills are required for these questions.
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills features 53 questions and test takers have 90 minutes to answer them. This section is similar to many verbal reasoning tests you have taken; it tests your comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills through 500–600-word passages on topics in the social sciences and humanities, sometimes written with a bias that challenges students to consider and evaluate differing perspectives.
How Is the MCAT Scored?
Each section is scored from 118 to 132 with a median score of 125. Test-takers will be called upon to demonstrate four identified Scientific Inquiry and Reasoning Skills that are important to science and medicine:
Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and Principles: Identify and demonstrate the understanding of relationships between scientific concepts and principles, rather than just memorizing scientific facts.
Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving: Examine scientific principles, theories, and models to analyze and evaluate scientific explanations and predictions.
Reasoning about the Design and Execution of Research: Demonstrate an understanding of important components of scientific research in the context of experiments and be able to reason about the ethical issues surrounding research.
Data-based and Statistical Reasoning: Interpret patterns presented in tables, figures, and graphs to make evidence-based conclusions.
How Long Is the Test and When Will I Get My Score?
The exam takes around seven-and-a-half hours to complete, including the optional break and other administrative tasks. Scores are released on a predetermined date, usually 30 to 35 days after the exam date.
TEST TIP
No calculators, timers, mobile phones, or other electronic devices are allowed in the testing room. Wallets, purses, hats (and other non-religious head coverings), bags, coats, jackets, eyeglass cases, books, and/or notes, pens, or pencils are also not allowed in the testing room.
What Is a Good Score for International Students?
The total MCAT score is a sum of the scores from the four sections, and ranges from 472 to 528, with a median score of 501.3.
How Do I Prepare for the MCAT Exam?
Like many standardized tests, students spend an average of 12 weeks preparing for the test, usually studying 20 hours per week or more. The AAMC sells official study materials including practice exams, which the majority of students use for test prep. Additionally, free online prep materials are available through Khan Academy. Commercial test prep alternatives include Kaplan and The Princeton Review.
Studying for the Medical College Admissions Test is challenging, but it is an important step toward medical careers. Best of luck to you!
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