MCAT® Test Dates & Score Releases 2020-2021

A Note on Early MCAT Registration—and What You Need to Do to Register

With so many MCAT test dates coming up, you may be tempted to put MCAT registration on the back burner, but don’t fall into that trap. Lots of longer-term decisions—like when to schedule your test prep—depend on your MCAT test date. So taking the time now to determine your test date and register for the MCAT can put you ahead of the game and help you develop a strong study plan.

In addition to exact instructions on how to register for the MCAT, the AAMC also offers some tips to help you make sure MCAT registration goes off without a hitch:

• Know when registration opens for your desired test dates.
• Determine your top three testing locations in advance.
• Have your government-issued ID available at the time of MCAT registration, make sure it is valid, and use the same one as your ID on MCAT Test Day.

When to take the MCAT

Selecting the best date to take the MCAT is an important decision. You will want to make sure you give yourself adequate time to prepare for the exam, yet select a date that gives you the best advantage in the admissions cycle. Ideally, you will want to budget between 300 and 350 hours in total for your MCAT preparation, this includes your content review, lots of question practice, and of course time to take and review full-length exams. Depending on how much time you have to study each week, this will mean spending 3 to 5 months studying for the MCAT. If your class load or workload allows, testing in January is a good option, as you can complete the MCAT, and then shift focus to the other aspects of the medical school admissions application. But this will mean starting your preparation in the fall, and studying through the winter holidays. If you want to spread your preparation out, then the spring test dates of March, April, and May are a good choice. These test dates still allow you to have your MCAT complete before submitting your primary application in June. However, it is perfectly acceptable to test in June and throughout the summer. Just remember, you will be balancing not only your MCAT preparation, but also your applications, so you will want to budget adequate time to do so. The most important thing to consider is that you want to take the MCAT when you will be the most prepared, do not rush into a test date just to get the test out of the way. Build a solid plan, and stick to it. Kaplan can help you map out your schedule for studying for the MCAT. 

How to register for the MCAT

Registration for the MCAT is available through aamc.org. Registration for the January through June test dates usually opens in October, with the summer test dates opening in February. Seats fill up quickly for the MCAT, so register early. But be sure to map out your study plan well in advance, so you can be ready for test day. When you register, you will not only need to select your date, but also the testing location. In some areas, these seats are limited, so early registration is very important. Also, the later you register, the higher the fees, as the AAMC has a tiered registration fee schedule that is dependent on how far out from the test date you are registering for.

Can you change your MCAT test date?

While the AAMC does allow you to change your test date, you will have to pay a rescheduling fee. But plans sometimes have to change, and you do have the option to switch to a new test date. The AAMC site has very specific instructions on how to go about changing your test date. From a preparation perspective, it’s a good idea to have a test date in mind, and to work towards that goal. Building a solid MCAT study plan is the first step in selecting the best test date for yourself, so you can avoid having to change your test date.

When to start preparing for the MCAT

Preparing for the MCAT can take anywhere from 3 to 5 months (though you could do it in a shorter amount of time if you study every day). Generally speaking you will want to make sure you have completed your prerequisite coursework:

1 year of General Chemistry
1 year of Organic Chemistry (everyone’s favorite:))
1 year of Physics
1 year of General Biology
A semester of upper division Biochemistry
Coursework in Psychology and Sociology

And while we recommend between 300 and 350 hours of MCAT preparation, in many ways, you started preparing for the MCAT as soon as you began your premedical coursework. Some students like to get a jump start (and work at a more manageable pace) in reviewing the content that is tested on the exam, but you also don’t want to start too early to avoid burnout. If you are planning to begin medical school immediately following completion of your undergraduate degree, then you will need to start studying for the MCAT in your junior year, because you will be taking the MCAT by the end of spring in your junior year and starting the application process over the summer before your senior year. Of course, everyone has different timelines, but your MCAT preparation should begin approximately 18 months before the date you plan on beginning medical school. 

How to prepare for the MCAT

Kaplan has a wide range of options for MCAT preparation from books that will review all of the content, to study packs for getting practice with questions and full-length exams, to our comprehensive course and tutoring options. But keep in mind that the MCAT rewards you for knowing content and being able to apply it to the passages and questions it presents. Therefore, it is imperative to get a solid review of the tested content, but also to follow that up with acquiring the critical reasoning skills and practice of the application of that content, and the ability to execute and demonstrate that mastery in the timed and marathon conditions of the MCAT.