When Should I Take The MCAT? A Guide To Scheduling Your Exam

The Ideal Time to Take the MCAT and Apply to Medical School

The ideal time to take the MCAT is in March of your junior year. Since roughly one quarter of medical students retake the MCAT, this gives you time to receive your score and prepare for another test date if necessary. 

The absolute last time you should take the MCAT is April of your application year, as the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) opens in early May and scores take 30-35 days to release.

Why You Should Take the MCAT in March of Your Junior Year

While many students agree that taking the MCAT late isn’t a good idea, the same applies to taking it too early. Don’t take the MCAT in January of your junior year (the earliest scores become available) if you’re not ready to ace the exam. 

You need ample time to prepare for the MCAT, and a lot happens in January. Take the MCAT in March (ideally during your spring break) in case you need to retake the exam. 

If you didn’t receive your target MCAT score, an early test date allows time for a second MCAT attempt before application season arrives. You can take the MCAT up to three times in a single testing year, four times across two consecutive years, and seven times total in your lifetime.

However, the most important thing to remember is to take the MCAT when you’re ready. If you’re not fully prepared by March of your junior year, taking the exam will just be a waste. 

In Inspira Advantage’s Plan Ahead: Your Medical School Application Timeline webinar, Dr. Munoz, a resident at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and expert advisor at Inspira Education, emphasizes that practice exam scores are highly predictive of actual performance. 

Don’t take the MCAT if you haven’t reached your target score on practice exams. Dr. Munoz highlights that this is a major financial and tactical decision. That’s why aiming for March in your junior year is ideal, as this gives you ample time to hit your target score.

The When to Take the MCAT: The Best MCAT Timeline for Med School video below explains the ideal time to take the MCAT in greater detail.

Meet with one of Inspira Advantage’s expert MCAT tutors with proven strategies that help you prep for the exam efficiently. Our experts can help you secure a guaranteed 515 MCAT score to increase the competitiveness of your application.