MCAT Percentiles: Full Statistics

Q: How is the MCAT scored?

The MCAT has four sections, and each section is graded on a scale from 118-132. The sums of the four section scores are then added up to calculate the total score. According to the AAMC, students who score about 125 in each of the four sections and have a total score of 500 are strong contenders to succeed in medical school. Past MCAT exam research shows that students who score 500 or higher will likely get accepted into medical school, graduate in 4-5 years, and pass their licensing exams on the first try.

Q: What will an MCAT score profile tell me?

Section scores highlight an applicant's strengths and weaknesses. Medical schools look at an applicant's reported scores for each section and compare them with their course grades and courses taken. This way, the institutions gain a better sense of what a prospective student might find to be more or less challenging during their graduate studies. Section scores can also be compared with national percentiles to see how a student compares to other test takers of the same year. Are they in the top half of test takers? Are they in the 90th percentile? Since the 2015 revision of the exam, more questions have been added to give what the AAMC claims to be more reliable scores.

Updated on June 20, 2025

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• Fact-checked by Marley Rose

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While the national average MCAT score is 500.5 for the 2025-2026 academic year, prospective students need to score 512 — closer to the 85th percentile — to have a real shot at getting into medical school.

Female Middle Eastern medical student sitting at a table in a university building atrium. She is typing on her laptop while studying for her MCAT.

Credit: Image Credit: The Good Brigade / DigitalVision / Getty Images

Data Summary

To land in the 90th percentile of any given MCAT section, you’ll need to score at least 128-129, depending on the section.
To score in the 75th percentile, you must earn greater than 508.
To have an MCAT score in the 50th percentile, you must score greater than 500.
Scoring 492 or below means you are in the 25th percentile or below.

Medical schools use the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) to evaluate prospective medical students’ readiness for graduate school. Schools use MCAT scores, along with GPAs, to compare applicants.

This article focuses on test takers pursuing medical degrees (MDs) at medical school, but podiatry school, MD/PHD programs, and osteopathic schools also use the MCAT for admissions.

Read on to find out more about national MCAT percentiles, broken down by total scores and section scores.

MCAT Percentiles

The MCAT score ranges from 472-528. The average MCAT score is 500.5. Percentile rankings are based on MCAT results from the 2022, 2023, and 2024 testing years combined. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) uses these scores to calculate percentile rankings through April 30, 2025, until the next update on May 1 of the following year.

To be in the 75th percentile, you must score greater than 508.
To be in the 50th percentile, you must score greater than 500.
To score in the 25th percentile, you must achieve a result of 492.
Scoring below 492 means you are in the bottom quarter of test takers.

MCAT Total Scores and Percentiles, 2025-2026
Total Score	Percentile Rank
524-528	100
522-523	99
521	98
520	97
519	96
518	95
517	94
516	92
515	91
514	89
513	87
512	84
511	82
510	79
509	77
508	74
507	71
506	68
505	65
504	62
503	58
502	55
501	52
500	49
499	46

Source: AAMC

The average total MCAT score has increased since 2015, when a new version of the exam was released. This means that the 50th percentile, which reflects the median score of test takers, has gone up. In 2015, a score of 500 was the 50th percentile, whereas in 2025-2026, the number is 500.5.

MCAT Percentiles Broken Down by Section

The MCAT exam has four sections, each scored on a scale from 118-132.

The only section score averages that have increased since 2015 are the biological and biochemical foundations of living systems (BBLS) section and the psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior (PSBB) section.

Since 2015, the average section scores for the chemical and physical foundations of biological systems (CPBS) and critical analysis and reasoning skills (CARS) sections have remained the same.

MCAT Percentiles for the CPBS Section

To land in the 50th percentile for the CPBS section in 2025-2026, you need a score of 124.9.
To land in the 90th percentile, you need a score above 128.

MCAT Scores and Percentiles for the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Section, 2025-2026
Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	99
130	96
129	91
128	85
127	77
126	67
125	57
124	46
123	35
122	25
121	16
120	9
119	4
118	2

Source: AAMC

MCAT Percentiles for the CARS Section

The average MCAT score for the CARS section was 124.6 in 2025-2026.
To land in the 90th percentile, you need a score of 128 or higher.

MCAT Scores and Percentiles for the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Section, 2025-2026
Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	99
130	98
129	95
128	90
127	83
126	73
125	62
124	50
123	37
122	25
121	15
120	8
119	3
118	1

Source: AAMC

MCAT Percentiles for the BBLS Section

The average MCAT score for the BBLS section has increased by just 0.1 in the past 10 years.

To land in the 50th percentile for the BBLS section in 2025-2026, you need a score of 125.1, up from 125.0 in 2015.
To land in the 90th percentile, you need a score of at least 129.

Note the drastic percentile drop from getting a section score of 130 versus 129. Although just a one-point difference, the percentile drops from 96th to 90th. Another big drop occurs between a section score of 127, which puts you in the 75th percentile, and a section score of 126, which puts you in the 65th percentile.

MCAT Scores and Percentiles for the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems Section, 2025-2026
Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	99
130	96
129	90
128	84
127	75
126	65
125	54
124	43
123	32
122	23
121	15
120	8
119	4
118	2

Source: AAMC

MCAT Percentiles for the PSBB Section

The average MCAT score for the PSBB section has gone up the most.

To land in the 50th percentile for the PSBB section in 2025-2026, you need a score of 125.9, up from 125 in 2015.
This is a 0.9 point increase in 10 years.
The PSBB section has the highest average score, meaning that test takers tend to score the highest in this section.
To land in the 90th percentile, you need a score higher than 129.

MCAT Scores and Percentiles for the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior Section, 2025-2026
Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	97
130	93
129	85
128	76
127	66
126	55
125	44
124	34
123	25
122	17
121	11
120	6
119	3
118	1

MCAT Percentiles: Full Statistics

Data Summary

MCAT Percentiles

MCAT Percentiles Broken Down by Section

MCAT Percentiles for the CPBS Section

MCAT Percentiles for the CARS Section

MCAT Percentiles for the BBLS Section

MCAT Percentiles for the PSBB Section

Frequently Asked Questions About the MCAT

How is the MCAT scored?

What will an MCAT score profile tell me?

Sources

Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	99
130	96
129	91
128	85
127	77
126	67
125	57
124	46
123	35
122	25
121	16
120	9
119	4
118	2

Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	99
130	98
129	95
128	90
127	83
126	73
125	62
124	50
123	37
122	25
121	15
120	8
119	3
118	1

Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	99
130	96
129	90
128	84
127	75
126	65
125	54
124	43
123	32
122	23
121	15
120	8
119	4
118	2

Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	97
130	93
129	85
128	76
127	66
126	55
125	44
124	34
123	25
122	17
121	11
120	6
119	3
118	1

Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	99
130	96
129	91
128	85
127	77
126	67
125	57
124	46
123	35
122	25
121	16
120	9
119	4
118	2

Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	99
130	98
129	95
128	90
127	83
126	73
125	62
124	50
123	37
122	25
121	15
120	8
119	3
118	1

Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	99
130	96
129	90
128	84
127	75
126	65
125	54
124	43
123	32
122	23
121	15
120	8
119	4
118	2

Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	97
130	93
129	85
128	76
127	66
126	55
125	44
124	34
123	25
122	17
121	11
120	6
119	3
118	1

Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	99
130	96
129	91
128	85
127	77
126	67
125	57
124	46
123	35
122	25
121	16
120	9
119	4
118	2

Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	99
130	98
129	95
128	90
127	83
126	73
125	62
124	50
123	37
122	25
121	15
120	8
119	3
118	1

Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	99
130	96
129	90
128	84
127	75
126	65
125	54
124	43
123	32
122	23
121	15
120	8
119	4
118	2

Section Score	Percentile Rank
132	100
131	97
130	93
129	85
128	76
127	66
126	55
125	44
124	34
123	25
122	17
121	11
120	6
119	3
118	1