Medical College Admission Test
| Acronym | MCAT |
|---|---|
| Type | Computer-based standardized test |
| Administrator | Association of American Medical Colleges |
| Skills tested | Physical sciences, biological sciences, verbal reasoning |
| Purpose | Admissions to medical colleges |
| Year started | 1928 |
| Score range | 118–132 for each of four sections, totaling 472–528 |
| Score validity | Usually 2 to 3 years |
| Offered | 25 times from January 2017 through September 2017 |
| Restrictions on attempts | Maximum of three times in a one year period; four times in a two-year period; and seven times for life |
| Regions | Mainly United States and Canada, in addition to 19 other countries |
| Languages | English |
| Prerequisites | Preparing to apply to a health professional school (fluency in English is assumed) |
| Fee | US$310–US$460 ("Fee Assistance Program" available to U.S. citizens, permanent residents or refugees, demonstrating financial need.) |
| Used by | Medical colleges (mostly in United States and Canada) |
| Website | students-residents |
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT; /ˈɛmkæt/ EM-kat) is a computer-based standardized examination for prospective medical students in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean Islands. It is designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, written analysis and knowledge of scientific concepts and principles. Before 2007, the exam was a paper-and-pencil test; since 2007, all administrations of the exam have been computer-based.
The most recent version of the exam was introduced in April 2015 and takes approximately 7+1⁄2 hours to complete, including breaks. The test is scored in a range from 472 to 528. The MCAT is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).