The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized, computer-based, multiple-choice examination developed and administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Most U.S. medical schools and many Canadian medical schools require MCAT scores for admission, while some other health-profession and graduate programs also accept the examination.

The MCAT covers biological and biochemical sciences, chemical and physical sciences, psychology and sociology, as well as critical reading and reasoning skills. The examination has four sections and about 7 hours 30 minutes of seated testing time, excluding check-in. Click Here for More Details and Latest Updates.

MCAT Exam 2026–2027 Quick Overview

The AAMC currently lists the standard 2026 registration fee as $355, with an additional $130 international fee for examinees testing outside the United States, Canada and U.S. territories.

What Is the MCAT?

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is designed to assess knowledge and reasoning skills considered important for entering medical students.

The examination is divided into four multiple-choice sections:

1. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
2. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
3. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
4. Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

The AAMC states that the exam tests scientific knowledge together with scientific inquiry and reasoning skills. The CARS section focuses on comprehension and analysis of passages from the humanities and social sciences and does not require specific outside content knowledge.

MCAT Exam Sections and Content | MCAT Exam 2026

1. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

This section examines concepts from areas such as:

• General chemistry
• Organic chemistry
• Physics
• Biochemistry
• Biology

Questions require students to apply scientific knowledge and reasoning to biological and physical situations.

2. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

The CARS section measures the ability to:

• Understand written passages
• Identify central ideas
• Analyze arguments
• Draw conclusions
• Evaluate information
• Apply reasoning to new situations

Unlike the science sections, CARS does not depend on specific science content knowledge.

3. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

This section covers concepts related to:

• Biology
• Biochemistry
• General chemistry
• Organic chemistry

Students are expected to apply scientific concepts to biological systems rather than simply recall individual facts.

4. Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

This section examines concepts from:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Biology

It focuses on how psychological, social and biological factors influence behavior and health.

How Is the MCAT Scored?

The MCAT provides five scores:

• One score for each of the four sections
• One total score

Each section is scored from 118 to 132, while the total score ranges from 472 to 528. The midpoint of the total score scale is 500. There is no penalty for guessing. AAMC explains that raw scores are converted to scaled scores through an equating process designed to account for small differences in difficulty between different test forms.

MCAT Exam Fees 2026 | Check MCAT Exam 2026 Fee

For the 2026 testing year, the AAMC lists the following standard fees:

The international fee applies to candidates testing outside the United States, Canada and U.S. territories. The AAMC states that this international fee is non-refundable when an exam is cancelled.

Therefore, a candidate testing at an international location would generally pay $485 USD in registration and international fees before considering any applicable changes or other charges. The fee can change for future testing years, so candidates should check the AAMC fee page before registering.

AAMC MCAT Scheduling Fees

MCAT Test Dates 2026

The MCAT is offered multiple times from January through September. The exact dates available depend on the country and test center.

For international locations, the AAMC’s 2026 calendar lists dates including the following:

Important: Not every international country offers every date. For example, the AAMC lists different schedules for Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Thailand and other international locations. Candidates must check the availability for their specific country and test center.

AAMC 2026–2027 International MCAT Testing Calendar

MCAT Test Dates 2027

The AAMC has published the 2027 testing calendar. The 2027 MCAT testing year runs from January through September, and registration for the testing year opens regionally on October 20, 21 and 22, 2026.

2027 U.S. MCAT Dates

*The AAMC identifies January 30, May 14, July 9 and August 28 as dates available only at selected U.S. testing centers.

International availability is different. For example, the AAMC’s international calendar lists January 15, February 12, March 19, April 9, May 7, June 11, July 23, August 20 and September 2 for Australia, while other countries have additional dates.

When Does 2027 MCAT Registration Open?

The AAMC has announced that registration for the 2027 MCAT testing year will open October 20–22, 2026, depending on the testing-center location.

The regional opening schedule is:

• October 20, 2026: Group A testing centers
• October 21, 2026: Group B testing centers
• October 22, 2026: Group C testing centers

Registration opens at 12 p.m. Eastern Time for the applicable groups.

Candidates should check the AAMC registration page for their specific location before registration opens.

AAMC MCAT Registration

How to Register for the MCAT

Students can register through the AAMC’s MCAT Registration System.

Step 1: Create or Find Your AAMC ID

• Candidates need an AAMC ID, username and password to register.
• If you already have an AAMC ID, the AAMC says you should continue using the existing account rather than creating another one.

Step 2: Log In to the MCAT Registration System

• Use your AAMC account credentials to access the registration system.

Step 3: Complete the Registration Questions

Before selecting a test appointment, you will need to provide required information concerning your:

• Contact information
• Background
• Education

You must also agree to the MCAT Examinee Agreement and applicable policies.

Step 4: Select a Test Date

• Choose an available examination date that fits your medical-school application timeline.

Step 5: Select a Test Center

• Choose an available test center.
• Seats are limited and are generally reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

Step 6: Review Your Information

• Check your name carefully before completing registration.
• The name used for registration should match the name on the MCAT-accepted identification document that you will use on test day.

Step 7: Pay the Registration Fee

• Complete payment to confirm the appointment.
• After successful scheduling, AAMC says candidates should receive an email confirmation. If confirmation does not arrive within 24 hours, the appointment may not have been successfully scheduled.

MCAT Scheduling Deadlines

• The AAMC uses 60-day, 30-day and 10-day deadlines for scheduling changes.
• The 10-day deadline is the final date to schedule, reschedule or cancel an appointment and to make certain registration changes. Deadlines occur at 11:59 p.m. local test-center time.
• Candidates should therefore avoid waiting until the final deadline if they need to change their test date or location.

MCAT Practice Questions

The following questions are original practice questions created for this article. They are not official AAMC questions.

Practice Question 1 — Biology

A researcher observes that a cell placed in a solution with a lower solute concentration than the cell’s cytoplasm increases in volume.

What is the most likely explanation?

A. Water moves into the cell by osmosis
B. Solutes move into the cell by active transport
C. Water leaves the cell by osmosis
D. Proteins leave the cell through facilitated diffusion

Answer: A

Water moves across a semipermeable membrane toward the area with greater effective solute concentration. Therefore, water enters the cell when the surrounding solution is hypotonic relative to the cell.

Practice Question 2 — Chemistry

A solution has a hydrogen ion concentration of 1×10−31 \times 10^{-3} M. What is its approximate pH?

A. 1
B. 3
C. 7
D. 11

Answer: B

pH is calculated as:

pH = −log[H⁺]

Therefore:

pH = −log(10⁻³) = 3

Practice Question 3 — Physics

An object initially at rest accelerates at a constant rate. If the acceleration remains constant and the time of motion doubles, what happens to the object’s final velocity?

A. It becomes half as large
B. It remains unchanged
C. It doubles
D. It becomes four times as large

Answer: C

For an object initially at rest:

v = at

If acceleration remains constant and time doubles, final velocity also doubles.

Practice Question 4 — Psychology

A student begins studying regularly after receiving positive feedback from a professor. The student continues studying because the feedback increases the likelihood of the behavior occurring again.

Which concept best describes this process?

A. Classical conditioning
B. Positive reinforcement
C. Observational learning
D. Negative punishment

Answer: B

Positive reinforcement involves introducing a desirable consequence after a behavior, increasing the likelihood that the behavior will occur again.

Practice Question 5 — CARS-Style Reasoning

Passage:
A city introduces a public transportation system designed to reduce traffic congestion. During the first year, public transportation use increases substantially, but traffic congestion changes very little. City officials conclude that the program has failed.

Which criticism most directly challenges the officials’ conclusion?

A. Public transportation is generally expensive to operate.
B. Increased public transportation use may have prevented congestion from becoming worse rather than reducing existing congestion.
C. Some residents prefer private vehicles.
D. The city has many different neighborhoods.

Answer: B

The officials’ conclusion assumes that the only successful outcome is an observable reduction in congestion. The passage does not establish what congestion would have been without the program. Increased transit use could have prevented a larger increase in traffic.

How to Prepare for the MCAT

A strong preparation plan should cover both content knowledge and reasoning skills.

1. Learn the MCAT Content Areas

Start by reviewing the AAMC content outline and identifying the subjects tested in each section.

2. Practice Passage-Based Questions

The MCAT is not simply a memorization test. Many questions require candidates to interpret information, analyze data and apply concepts.

3. Take Full-Length Practice Tests

Full-length practice exams can help candidates become familiar with the long testing day and identify areas that require additional study.

4. Review Mistakes

Instead of simply counting correct answers, review why each incorrect answer was selected and why the correct answer is supported.

5. Practice Under Timed Conditions

Time management is important because each section has a fixed time limit.

6. Use Official AAMC Resources

The AAMC provides official MCAT preparation resources, including content-review materials and practice questions. The AAMC has also announced additional official preparation resources for the 2027 testing year.

AAMC MCAT Official Preparation Resources

MCAT 2026–2027: Important Points to Remember

• The MCAT has four multiple-choice sections.
• Total seated testing time is approximately 7 hours 30 minutes.
• The total score ranges from 472 to 528.
• Individual sections are scored from 118 to 132.
• The standard 2026 registration fee is $355.
• An additional $130 international fee applies to candidates testing outside the U.S., Canada and U.S. territories.
• The 2027 testing year runs from January through September.
• 2027 registration opens October 20–22, 2026, according to testing-center location.
• Test-date availability varies by country and testing center.
• Candidates should confirm medical-school requirements before choosing an MCAT test date.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MCAT?

The MCAT is a standardized, computer-based, multiple-choice examination used in medical-school admissions, particularly in the United States and Canada.

How long is the MCAT?

The MCAT has approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes of seated testing time, excluding check-in.

What is the MCAT score range?

The total MCAT score ranges from 472 to 528, with each section scored from 118 to 132.

How much does the MCAT cost in 2026?

The standard 2026 registration fee is $355 USD. Candidates testing outside the United States, Canada and U.S. territories pay an additional $130 international fee.

When does 2027 MCAT registration open?

AAMC has announced regional registration openings on October 20, October 21 and October 22, 2026, depending on the testing-center location.

Can international students take the MCAT?

Yes. The AAMC offers MCAT testing at selected international locations. However, available dates and countries vary, so candidates must check the international testing calendar for their location.

Is there a penalty for guessing?

No. The AAMC states that there is no penalty for guessing on the MCAT.

Official MCAT Information

For registration, current test dates, fees, test-center availability and official preparation materials, candidates should use the AAMC’s official resources.

AAMC MCAT Registration and Test Dates

AAMC International MCAT Testing Calendar

Click Here for More Details and Latest Updates.

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