Highest Possible MCAT Score: How the MCAT Is Scored
By
30 Day MCAT Team
·
Published
·
Updated
The highest possible MCAT score is 528. You earn it with a perfect 132 in each of the four sections, since every section is scored from 118 to 132. The lowest possible total is 472, and the midpoint of the scale is 500. This guide shows you how the scale works and how to use it to set a realistic target.
Key Takeaways
The maximum total score is 528. It requires the top section score of 132 in all four sections.
The scale starts at 472, not zero. The total runs from 472 to 528, with a midpoint of 500.
Wrong answers cost nothing. Scores are based on the number of questions you answer correctly, so a guess is always better than a blank.
A top score is rare by definition. A 520 is already about the 97th percentile, so a target well below 528 can still be a very strong one.
What Is the Highest Possible MCAT Score?
If you've seen the numbers 472 and 528 and wondered what they mean, you're in good company. They are the two ends of the scale. The total score ranges from 472 to 528, and 528 is the highest score anyone can earn.
You receive five scores from the exam: one for each of the four sections and one combined total. Because the total is the sum of the four section scores, it helps to think of the MCAT as being "out of" 528, with a floor of 472 rather than zero.
How the Section Scores Add Up
Each section is scored from 118 to 132, with a midpoint of 125. Your total is the four section scores added together, so the highest and lowest totals come straight from the section limits.
Result | Section scores | Total score |
|---|---|---|
Lowest possible | 118 in every section | 472 |
Midpoint | 125 in every section | 500 |
Example mixed result | 128, 125, 129 and 127 | 509 |
Highest possible | 132 in every section | 528 |
The four sections are Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, and Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior. A perfect total needs the top score in all four, which is why a single weaker section keeps a total below 528.
How the MCAT Is Scored
The score starts with a simple count. Each section is scored on the number of questions you answer correctly, and wrong answers are scored exactly the same as unanswered ones. That means there is no penalty for guessing.
That count is then converted to a scaled score from 118 to 132. The conversion uses a process called equating, which adjusts for small differences in difficulty between sets of questions so that a score means the same thing no matter when you test. The exam is not graded on a curve, so your score does not depend on how well the other people in the room did.
For scale, the four sections hold 59, 53, 59 and 59 questions, which is 230 questions in all. Every one of them is a chance to move a section score up.
What a Top Score Looks Like in Percentiles
A percentile rank shows the percentage of scores that were equal to or less than a given score. Here is how the upper part of the scale looks.
Total score | Percentile rank |
|---|---|
500 | 48 |
510 | 79 |
515 | 91 |
520 | 97 |
524 | 99 |
525 to 528 | 100 |
Percentile ranks are rounded, so several of the highest scores share the same rank. These ranks come from the results of three recent testing years combined, and they are refreshed every year, so check the current table before you rely on one number.
How to Use the Top of the Scale When Setting a Target
Knowing the maximum is useful, but a target works best when it is tied to your goals. Here is a simple way to set one.
Find your starting point. Take a full-length practice exam before you study and note your total and each section score.
Place it on the scale. Use the table above to see where your score falls between 472 and 528.
Look at the schools on your list. Students who start MD programs average about 512, and each school has its own range, so a target comes from your list and not from the maximum.
Work on the weakest section first. Because the total is a sum, lifting your lowest section is often the quickest way to raise it.
Compare your target with your calendar. Our guides on what counts as a good MCAT score and on the average MCAT score help you judge the gap, and our guide on how long to study for the MCAT helps you plan the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest possible MCAT score?
The highest possible total score is 528. It requires a score of 132 in each of the four sections.
What is the lowest possible MCAT score?
The lowest possible total is 472, which comes from a score of 118 in every section. The midpoint of the total scale is 500.
What is the highest score on each MCAT section?
Each section is scored from 118 to 132, so 132 is the highest score on any one section. The midpoint for a section is 125.
How much is the MCAT out of?
The total score tops out at 528, but the scale starts at 472 instead of zero. That gives a range of 56 points from lowest to highest.
Do wrong answers lower your MCAT score?
No. Wrong answers are scored the same as unanswered questions, so there is no penalty for guessing. Answer every question.
Is the MCAT graded on a curve?
No. Raw scores are converted to scaled scores through equating, which keeps a score meaning the same thing across different test dates.
Put It Into Practice
The top of the scale is a useful landmark, but your own number is the one that matters. A practical place to start is to take a full-length practice exam, write down your total and four section scores, and mark the section with the most room to grow.
If you're planning to take the MCAT and want help turning that starting point into a target and a schedule, take our qualification quiz. Qualified students can book a free strategy call with one of our MCAT instructors to talk through their study goals, timeline, and preparation strategy.
