MCAT exam questions are divided into 4 separate sections:
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Biological Systems Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

The MCAT is scored out of a possible 528 points. Each of the 4 MCAT sections receives a score on a scale of 118-132, meaning you'd need to earn 132 points on each portion of the exam to get a perfect score. Of the thousands of applicants who take this test every year, roughly 30 achieve a 528 score.

Students who have already completed the MCAT but want to try and earn higher test results can retake the exam up to 3 times in a single test year or 4 times over a consecutive 2-year period. Within their lifetime, students can attempt the MCAT exam a total of 7 times if necessary.

Every medical school sets its own guidelines for acceptable MCAT scores, so a good score at one institution may be inadequate at another. However, most schools in the United States require applicants to receive an MCAT score of at least 500 before applying to a medical degree program.

Although eager test-takers have multiple opportunities to take the MCAT, testing before you're ready could result in a lower score than you had hoped for. Taking the MCAT a calendar year before you plan to enroll in medical school gives you time to retake the exam if you're unsatisfied with your first MCAT test results.

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