Each section on the MCAT – Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, Biological Sciences – is scored on a scale from 1 to 15. Your score is based only on the number of questions you got right. Unlike the SAT, there’s no guessing penalty on the MCAT. So you should answer every single question, even if you have to guess randomly.

Your three section scores are then added up to get an overall score of 3 to 45.

The averages for med school applicants in 2011 break down as follows:

Verbal Reasoning:       9.0

Physical Sciences:       9.4

Biological Sciences:    9.9

Total:                           28.2

Total Applicants:         43, 919

The average MCAT score ranges scores for students who got into at least one medical school are, understandably, a bit higher:

Verbal Reasoning:       9.8

Physical Sciences:       10.4

Biological Sciences:    10.8

Total:                           31.1

Total Matriculants:      19,230

The most recent test data (for the 2012 MCAT) shows us a slight upward trend in the average scores for all test takers, but we obviously don’t yet know the average scores for applicants or matriculants. For all test takers, the average 2012 MCAT scores were:

Verbal Reasoning:       8.1

Physical Sciences:       8.4

Biological Sciences:    8.8

Total:                           25.2

Total MCATs Administered:   89,452

The data continue to show a long-term slight upward trend in scores – med school applications are getting more and more competitive. To see where you stand, start your MCAT practice right away with a free practice exam. You can also set up a free consultation with an MCAT tutor to get your questions answered.