{"id":6708,"date":"2021-11-29T17:25:21","date_gmt":"2021-11-29T14:25:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/auto-draft\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T15:40:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T12:40:53","slug":"how-hard-is-the-mcat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the MCAT Hard? SPOILER: It is NOT EASY!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_56_1 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#What_Makes_the_MCAT_Challenging\" title=\"What Makes the MCAT Challenging?\">What Makes the MCAT Challenging?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#Standardized_Test_with_Diverse_Subjects\" title=\"Standardized Test with Diverse Subjects\">Standardized Test with Diverse Subjects<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#Passage-Based_Exam\" title=\"Passage-Based Exam\">Passage-Based Exam<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#Test_Takers_Race_against_Time\" title=\"Test Takers Race against Time\">Test Takers Race against Time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#Standalone_Questions\" title=\"Standalone Questions\">Standalone Questions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#How_is_the_MCAT_Scored\" title=\"How is the MCAT Scored?\">How is the MCAT Scored?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#Scoring_Example\" title=\"Scoring Example\">Scoring Example<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#How_Hard_is_the_MCAT\" title=\"How Hard is the MCAT?\">How Hard is the MCAT?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#How_Hard_Will_the_MCAT_Be_for_Me\" title=\"How Hard Will the MCAT Be for Me?\">How Hard Will the MCAT Be for Me?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#Preparing_for_the_MCAT\" title=\"Preparing for the MCAT\">Preparing for the MCAT<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#Start_Preparing_Even_Before_You_Register\" title=\"Start Preparing Even Before You Register\">Start Preparing Even Before You Register<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#Choose_the_Best_Study_Books_and_Materials\" title=\"Choose the Best Study Books and Materials\">Choose the Best Study Books and Materials<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#Research_and_Practice_to_Get_the_Best_Score\" title=\"Research and Practice to Get the Best Score\">Research and Practice to Get the Best Score<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#How_Much_Time_Must_You_Spend_Studying_for_MCAT\" title=\"How Much Time Must You Spend Studying for MCAT?\">How Much Time Must You Spend Studying for MCAT?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#How_Hard_is_It_to_Get_a_500_on_the_MCAT\" title=\"How Hard is It to Get a 500 on the MCAT?\">How Hard is It to Get a 500 on the MCAT?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#Who_Can_Help_Me_with_MCAT_Prep\" title=\"Who Can Help Me with MCAT Prep?\">Who Can Help Me with MCAT Prep?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#Key_Takeaways\" title=\"Key Takeaways\">Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>The MCAT or Medical College Admission Test is your one-way ticket to prominent medical schools in USA and Canada. This exam tests your critical thinking skills along with knowledge in science-oriented subjects.<\/p>\n<p>However, test-takers require a straightforward answer to the question, \u2018are MCAT tests hard?\u2019 In a nutshell, this exam is definitely hard.<\/p>\n<p>Take a look at the latest MCAT scores &#8211; The average MCAT score for medical school applicants was a\u00a0staggering 506.4! So, it\u2019s apparent that this test accompanies massive competition.<\/p>\n<p>As a student, it\u2019s vital to have detailed info about this exam and find out why is the MCAT so hard? Let\u2019s delve deeper and know more about this prominent medical standardized test.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Makes_the_MCAT_Challenging\"><\/span>What Makes the MCAT Challenging?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>MCAT requires immaculate planning due to its overall structure. Compared to other standardized tests, this exam is strikingly lengthy in duration.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some common full-length exams and their test duration. You will therefore get an idea about the test day challenge.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>MCAT: 7.5 hours<\/li>\n<li>GRE: 3.75 hours<\/li>\n<li>ISAT: 3 hours<\/li>\n<li>LSAT: 3.5 hours<\/li>\n<li>GMAT: 3.5 hours<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Thus, to get into a reputed med school, you need to have a solid determination to begin your MCAT prep. Let\u2019s take a look into some other challenges that prove why is the MCAT so hard. Want to ace the MCAT and get into medical school? <a href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/test-prep\/magoosh-mcat-review\/\"><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Magoosh MCAT review&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:4737,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}\">Magoosh MCAT review<\/span><\/a> is here to help you ace the MCAT, and get you into medical school.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Standardized_Test_with_Diverse_Subjects\"><\/span>Standardized Test with Diverse Subjects<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You need to have excellent critical reasoning and knowledge of multiple subjects to score high in this medical exam.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the subjects test-takers need to study.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>General Chemistry<\/li>\n<li>Organic Chemistry<\/li>\n<li>General Biology<\/li>\n<li>Sociology<\/li>\n<li>Psychology<\/li>\n<li>Physics<\/li>\n<li>Reading Comprehension<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Basically, the test gives the students questions ranging from a wide array of subjects. On one end, you need to have a thorough knowledge of scientific subjects, whereas on the other, sociology and psychology make it a hard test.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Passage-Based_Exam\"><\/span>Passage-Based Exam<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>How hard is MCAT? Well, it contains passage-based questions. In addition, the sections are integrated. Thus, you need to have strong critical thinking skills to perform well in this multidisciplinary test.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the breakdown of the passage sections.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Chemical and physical foundations: 44 passages<\/li>\n<li>Critical analysis and reasoning skills: 53 passages<\/li>\n<li>Biological and biochemical foundations: 44 passages<\/li>\n<li>Psychological, social foundations: 44 passages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Overall, you need to read, understand, and assess individual passages before answering. Thus, a medical student also needs analytical skills to perform well on the MCAT.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Test_Takers_Race_against_Time\"><\/span>Test Takers Race against Time<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most students complete several MCAT practice tests before appearing on the actual exam. Why? To get a test of their speed.<\/p>\n<p>As MCAT contains many questions in a short time, you need to be quick to assess the test questions. However, this challenging test doesn\u2019t have negative scoring.<\/p>\n<p>Thus, test takers can design a well-laid strategy to cover maximum questions in the given tenure. Therefore, MCAT tests a student\u2019s knowledge as well as quick decision-making skills.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Standalone_Questions\"><\/span>Standalone Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You need to ace complete length practice tests before appearing for the admission exam. The reason is simple. In addition to passage-based questions, some sections have standalone questions.<\/p>\n<p>These questions add variety to the already tough medical test. Here\u2019s a quick breakdown of the standalone questions in each section.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Chemical and physical foundations: 15<\/li>\n<li>Biological and biochemical foundations: 15<\/li>\n<li>Psychological, social foundations: 15<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Thus, a mixture of passage-based and standalone questions is another challenge that justifies the saying, \u2018why is the MCAT so hard!\u2019<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_the_MCAT_Scored\"><\/span>How is the MCAT Scored?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Enough with the challenges. It\u2019s evident that it is hard. Still, there is no need to feel intimidated. You can get a good score with proper planning, solid MCAT prep, and practice exams.<\/p>\n<p>AAMC follows a step-by-step process to determine the scoring.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The evaluation body counts the number of correct answers in each section<\/li>\n<li>Next, these correct answers are converted in equivalent MCAT scale score<\/li>\n<li>Finally, scaled scores of each section are added to determine the total scale score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The AAMC has a\u00a0well-set explanation\u00a0of MCAT test scores. Here\u2019s the range in a nutshell.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6712 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-is-the-MCAT-Scored.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">MCAT test sections scoring details<\/p>\n<p><strong>Section Score Range:\u00a0<\/strong>118 (Low) to 132 (High)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Midpoint<\/strong>: 125<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Score Range:\u00a0<\/strong>472 (Low) to 528 (High)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Midpoint<\/strong>: 500<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Scoring_Example\"><\/span>Scoring Example<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Let\u2019s take the case of a medical school aspirant, Michael. This test taker scores the following scale in each section:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Chemical and physical foundations: 122<\/li>\n<li>Critical analysis and reasoning skills: 129<\/li>\n<li>Biological and biochemical foundations: 130<\/li>\n<li>Psychological, social foundations: 123<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Thus, his final score will be 122 + 129 + 130 + 123 = 504<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Hard_is_the_MCAT\"><\/span>How Hard is the MCAT?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The difficulty of this challenging exam can be well-adjudged from statistics. The\u00a0AAMC data\u00a0for applicants and matriculating students reveal some eye-opening numbers.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6713 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-Hard-is-MCAT.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"980\" height=\"446\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">MCAT Test Mean Scores Data<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Total Mean Score (2020-21): 506.4<\/li>\n<li>CPBS Mean Score: 126.5<\/li>\n<li>CARS Mean Score: 125.9<\/li>\n<li>BBLS Mean Score: 126.8<\/li>\n<li>PSBB Mean Score: 127.2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: Here, CPBS, CARS, BBLS, and PSBB stand for Chemical Foundations, Critical Analysis, Biological Foundations, and Psychological Foundations, respectively.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Hard_Will_the_MCAT_Be_for_Me\"><\/span>How Hard Will the MCAT Be for Me?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Scoring high in MCAT will definitely open the doors of many renowned medical schools. However, some school admissions accept students with low scores as well.<\/p>\n<p>Importantly, this exam requires students to cover as many practice questions as needed. In addition to background knowledge of the science field, you need to be well-prepared for sociology as well.<\/p>\n<p>This exam will be hard for you in the following cases.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lack of preparation<\/li>\n<li>Improper time management<\/li>\n<li>Lack of attention to details<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Many students struggle to score well as they overlook the importance of practice exams. Thus, it is highly beneficial to sign-up for MCAT test prep techniques to reduce the difficulty level.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Preparing_for_the_MCAT\"><\/span>Preparing for the MCAT<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The MCAT is easy for students who prepare well in advance. Now, this statement might be over-optimistic, but in reality, preparation does help.<\/p>\n<p>To adequately prepare for the MCAT, you need to devise a \u2018Preparation Timetable.\u2019 Here\u2019s what you can follow.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Start_Preparing_Even_Before_You_Register\"><\/span>Start Preparing Even Before You Register<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>First, try to streamline your approach by selecting your favorite med schools. Next, similar to other tests, try to shortlist the online practice exams.<\/p>\n<p>These free online tests help you set a base for further improvement. Review the\u00a0AAMC outline\u00a0for MCAT. Focus on sections that you find difficult to understand.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, early MCAT preparation is the key to performing well in the final exam.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Choose_the_Best_Study_Books_and_Materials\"><\/span>Choose the Best Study Books and Materials<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>An MCAT prep course will save considerable time compared to textbooks from college courses. Usually, specialized MCAT study books contain streamlined information of all sections for preparation.<\/p>\n<p>You can even opt for MCAT materials with answer explanations to get a better understanding of the syllabus. Investing in <a href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/test-prep\/\">test preparation materials<\/a> is a wise decision to get ready for a practice exam.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, you can even take the help of MCAT tutors who guide test-takers and provide a few more questions to cover all aspects.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Research_and_Practice_to_Get_the_Best_Score\"><\/span>Research and Practice to Get the Best Score<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To best prepare for this standardized test, you need to have a clear idea of the following factors.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Exam scoring structure<\/li>\n<li>Duration<\/li>\n<li>Challenges<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We have already covered these parameters to save time for your research. Your duty is to concentrate on test questions and subjects like reading comprehension, organic chemistry, sociology, etc.<\/p>\n<p>It does help to pursue science courses to get a solid base for the MCAT exam. However, due to its diverse syllabus, you need to prepare in the following areas adequately.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Accounting<\/li>\n<li>Literature<\/li>\n<li>Humanities<\/li>\n<li>Psychology<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Overall, a well-planned undergraduate course will prove beneficial for pre-med school students.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Much_Time_Must_You_Spend_Studying_for_MCAT\"><\/span>How Much Time Must You Spend Studying for MCAT?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Study time for any medical school aspirant is subjective. Some test-takers need an average of 10 hours\/week to study. On the contrary, some might need more than 15 hours\/week.<\/p>\n<p>Although a set duration to perform well in standardized tests can vary, you need to allocate certain hours.<\/p>\n<p>On average, cumulative exam testing experts suggest an\u00a0<strong>approximate 250 hours<\/strong>\u00a0of MCAT prep study. Still, we recommend you to balance your science courses or any other studies wisely.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:\u00a0<\/strong>If you are an undergraduate medical student, plan your science classes and MCAT study proportionately. Doing well on the MCAT requires high focus and determination.<\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;check our review&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:4224,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/test-prep\/magoosh-mcat-review\/\">Check our review<\/a> on MCAT to know more about the test.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Hard_is_It_to_Get_a_500_on_the_MCAT\"><\/span>How Hard is It to Get a 500 on the MCAT?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cI attribute my success to this &#8211; Never give or take any excuse.\u201d &#8211; Florence Nightingale<\/p>\n<p>If you follow Florence\u2019s advice, scoring a 500 isn\u2019t a highly daunting task. However, in reality, you can face practical challenges. Here are some common issues with medical school applicants.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Nervousness on test day<\/li>\n<li>Improper test prep<\/li>\n<li>Unrealistic goals<\/li>\n<li>Fear of giving wrong answers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To get a 500 score, you need to address the above issues. First, MCAT does not have negative markings. Thus, the fear of giving wrong answers is totally invalid.<\/p>\n<p>Next, early preparation can boost your confidence and help you reach the 500 score mark. However, the real question is &#8211; \u2018Will 500 be sufficient for my medical school application?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>At this time, US Medical Schools require\u00a0high MCAT scores\u00a0for admissions. Here are some notable stats of the new average MCAT scores.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Stanford University School of Medicine: 519<\/li>\n<li>New York University School of Medicine: 522<\/li>\n<li>Yale School of Medicine: 521<\/li>\n<li>Boston University School of Medicine: 517<\/li>\n<li>Weill Cornell Medical College: 518<\/li>\n<li>Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine: 518<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Thus, to apply for school admissions in prominent US medical colleges, it is beneficial to score around the 508 mark. Remember, high scores are always advantageous.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_Can_Help_Me_with_MCAT_Prep\"><\/span>Who Can Help Me with MCAT Prep?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Preparing for entrance and college exams can be expensive. Thus, you can explore inexpensive and free material from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).<\/p>\n<p>The AAMC provides\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/students-residents.aamc.org\/prepare-mcat-exam\/practice-mcat-exam-official-low-cost-products\" rel=\"nofollow\">various MCAT materials<\/a>\u00a0to prepare you for the test day.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Official prep bundles<\/li>\n<li>Question pack bundles<\/li>\n<li>Online practice questions<\/li>\n<li>Flashcards<\/li>\n<li>Full-length practice exams<\/li>\n<li>Section-wise question pack<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Furthermore, you can even purchase offline printed resources for better usability.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:\u00a0<\/strong>If you are weak in a particular section, it is beneficial to study from custom materials. For instance, if you want to understand specific concepts in organic chemistry, purchase an in-depth guide on the same.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, you can <span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;read on our blog&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:4224,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/test-prep\/princeton-review-mcat\/\">read on our blog<\/a>, where we give a precise info about MCAT preparation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So, the clear answer to the common question, \u2018how hard is the MCAT?\u2019 is &#8211; It is relatively harder than other college or competitive exams. It is lengthy, covers a wide array of intricate subjects, and demands high analytical skills.<\/p>\n<p>This exam tests additional traits like time management, patience, perseverance, and planning. Having said that, you can always plan in advance to perform well.<\/p>\n<p>Aim to devise a strategy by considering the test date, planning at least 2 &#8211; 3 months in advance. Practice is the key to scoring in the high 500s. However, it is essential to realize that you need other elements to establish your candidature.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The MCAT or Medical College Admission Test is your one-way ticket to prominent medical schools in USA and Canada. This exam tests your critical thinking skills along with knowledge in science-oriented subjects. However, test-takers require a straightforward answer to the question, \u2018are MCAT tests hard?\u2019 In a nutshell, this exam is definitely hard. Take a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[36],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Hard is the MCAT: Complete Guide - EduReviewer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s common for medical school aspirants to face an inevitable question \u2013 \u2018Is the MCAT exam really that hard?\u2019 Let\u2019s find out in-depth.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Hard is the MCAT: Complete Guide - EduReviewer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It\u2019s common for medical school aspirants to face an inevitable question \u2013 \u2018Is the MCAT exam really that hard?\u2019 Let\u2019s find out in-depth.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"EduReviewer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EduReviewer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-11-29T14:25:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-06T12:40:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-Hard-Is-The-MCAT.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"251\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@edureviewer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@edureviewer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"EduReviewer\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EduReviewer\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/edureviewer\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/edureviewercom\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@EduReviewer\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/edureviewer\"],\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/#logo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/edureviewer.png\",\"width\":130,\"height\":30,\"caption\":\"EduReviewer\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/#logo\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/\",\"name\":\"EduReviewer\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/#organization\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-Hard-Is-The-MCAT.jpg\",\"width\":500,\"height\":251},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/\",\"name\":\"How Hard is the MCAT: Complete Guide - EduReviewer\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-11-29T14:25:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-06T12:40:53+00:00\",\"description\":\"It\\u2019s common for medical school aspirants to face an inevitable question \\u2013 \\u2018Is the MCAT exam really that hard?\\u2019 Let\\u2019s find out in-depth.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/blog\/how-hard-is-the-mcat\/#webpage\"},\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/edureviewer.com\/#\/schema\/person\/e4b67529d18013a04d022e0c9e484da5\"},\"headline\":\"Is the MCAT Hard? 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