Skip to main content
Did you know Ross Med has a 
98% first time residency 
attainment rate?1

Learn what else you may not know about Ross Med.

See the Ross Med Difference

First-time residency attainment rate is the percent of students attaining a 2025-26 residency position out of all graduates or expected graduates in 2024-25 who were active applicants in the 2025 NRMP match or who attained a residency position outside the NRMP match.

Home

Main Navigation

  • Admissions
    • ADMISSIONS
      • Admissions Overview
      • Admissions Requirements
      • Admissions Assessment
      • MCAT
    • FEES AND FUNDING
      • Tuition and Fees
      • Scholarships
      • Financial Aid
      • Student Finance
      • Partnerships
      • AIM Partnerships
    • APPLICANTS
      • How to Apply
      • Canadian Applicants
      • Transfer Applicants
      • International Applicants
      • Career Changers
  • MD Program
    • PROGRAM
      • Program Overview
      • Program Objectives
      • Hospital Affiliates
      • Simulation Institute
      • MD-MPH Combined
    • CURRICULUM
      • MD Curriculum
      • Medical Sciences - Years 1 & 2
      • Clinical Education - Years 3 & 4
      • Clinical Home Offer
      • MedOrigin
    • ACADEMIC RESOURCES
      • Academic Calendar
      • Resources and Student Support
      • Career Advisement
      • Residency Appointments
      • USMLE Information
  • Student Life
    • STUDENT LIFE
      • Student Life Overview
      • Housing
      • Campus Tour
    • STUDENT CULTURE
      • Explore Barbados
      • Teaching Facilities
      • Clubs & Organizations
      • White Coat Ceremony
    • STUDENT SUPPORT
      • Campus Services
      • Safety & Security
  • About
    • ABOUT
      • RUSM Overview
      • Why Ross Med?
      • Facts & Figures
      • Community Impact
      • Accreditation & Approvals
    • IN THE MEDIA
      • Newsroom
      • News
      • Blog
      • On-Demand Webinars
    • LEARN MORE
      • Faculty & Staff
      • Dean
      • Mission & History
      • FAQs
      • Testimonials
  • Apply Now
    • Start Your Ross Med Application
    • Submit Your Common Application

Secondary Mobile Menu

  • Incoming Students
  • Events & Webinars
  • Information for
    • Alumni
    • Admitted Students

Utility Navigation

  • Request Info
  • Apply Now

Secondary Navigation

  • Incoming Students
  • Events & Webinars
  • Information for
    • Alumni
    • Admitted Students
    • Current Students
Search
Cancel Search
Home Home

RUSM Main navigation

  • Admissions

    Explore Admissions

    Are you a strong candidate?

    Take an Admissions Assessment
    Take the Admissions Assessment
    • ADMISSIONS
      • Admissions Overview
      • Admissions Requirements
      • Admissions Assessment
      • MCAT
    • FEES AND FUNDING
      • Tuition and Fees
      • Scholarships
      • Financial Aid
      • Student Finance
      • Partnerships
      • AIM Partnerships
    • APPLICANTS
      • How to Apply
      • Canadian Applicants
      • Transfer Applicants
      • International Applicants
      • Career Changers

    Information For...

    Admitted Students

    Parents

    Premed Advisors

    MERP

  • MD Program

    Explore MD Program

    Do you have a question?

    student asking question
    Speak to Admissions
    • PROGRAM
      • Program Overview
      • Program Objectives
      • Hospital Affiliates
      • Simulation Institute
      • MD-MPH Combined
    • CURRICULUM
      • MD Curriculum
      • Medical Sciences - Years 1 & 2
      • Clinical Education - Years 3 & 4
      • Clinical Home Offer
      • MedOrigin
    • ACADEMIC RESOURCES
      • Academic Calendar
      • Resources and Student Support
      • Career Advisement
      • Residency Appointments
      • USMLE Information

    Related Links...

    MCAT Information

    Why Ross Med?

    Match Day

  • Student Life

    Student Life

    img for new Mega Menu
    Overview
    new Mega menu Square 5
    Housing
    New Mega Menu Image 6
    Campus Tour
    • STUDENT LIFE
      • Student Life Overview
      • Housing
      • Campus Tour
    • STUDENT CULTURE
      • Explore Barbados
      • Teaching Facilities
      • Clubs & Organizations
      • White Coat Ceremony
    • STUDENT SUPPORT
      • Campus Services
      • Safety & Security

    Related Links...

    Merchandise Store

    Community Impact

    Mission & History

  • About

    About RUSM

    Start Your Road to Residency

    medical students
    Request More Information
    • ABOUT
      • RUSM Overview
      • Why Ross Med?
      • Facts & Figures
      • Community Impact
      • Accreditation & Approvals
    • IN THE MEDIA
      • Newsroom
      • News
      • Blog
      • On-Demand Webinars
    • LEARN MORE
      • Faculty & Staff
      • Dean
      • Mission & History
      • FAQs
      • Testimonials

    Related Links...

    Contact Us

    Campus Location

  • Apply Now
    • Start Your Ross Med Application
    • Submit Your Common Application
  • Request Info
  • Apply Now
    • Start Your Ross Med Application
    • Submit Your Common Application

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About
  3. Blog
  4. How is the MCAT Scored?
Medical School Tips & Resources

How is the MCAT Scored?

Thu, 04 Nov 2021
  • MCAT Score Breakdown
  • How is the MCAT Scored According To Each Section
  • MCAT Scores and your Medical School Application
  • Related Resources
  • Get Started Today

    You'll submit your completed Ross Med application online in our application portal.

    Apply Now
  • MCAT Score Breakdown
  • How is the MCAT Scored According To Each Section
  • MCAT Scores and your Medical School Application
  • Related Resources
  • If you plan to apply to medical school, you will want to prepare for and take the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®), a standardized, multiple-choice exam administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The score you receive on this exam will help determine your chance of acceptance into an accredited medical school—such as Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM)*.

    Students often ask: how is the MCAT scored? and what is the MCAT score breakdown? Read on to find answers to those and other questions, but visit the AAMC’s MCAT page if you want to know the detailed scoring scale or other MCAT information.

    The MCAT covers information learned in such undergraduate courses as biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, psychology, and sociology. The information tested is at the introductory level, but you will need to be proficient in all the subjects and skills associated with those disciplines. Taking an MCAT preparation course and studying independently can help improve your chances at a good score.

    After taking the test, if your score is not up to par, you may decide to take the MCAT again. Many students take the MCAT more than once to see if they can improve their score as well as their chances of getting into a desired medical school. It is important to note, however, that you can only take the MCAT three times within one year, four times within two years, and up to seven times total. Medical schools will be able to see all MCAT results, bad or good, but they will also notice any noted improvement.

    MCAT Score Breakdown

    No matter when or where or how often you take the MCAT, your scores will be scaled and equated the same every time. The MCAT score breakdown focuses on the number of correctly answered questions and the scaled score for each MCAT section. 

    Your MCAT results are first tallied by the number of correct answers in each of the test’s four sections. Students should know that wrong answers and unanswered questions count the same. There is no additional penalty for wrong answers, so don’t leave anything blank. It is a multiple choice exam, so your best guess is better than no guess at all.

    Your raw correct answer tally is then put through the MCAT score scale, which converts each section score into a range from 118 (the lowest you can get on each section) to 132 (the highest). The scale does not operate on a one-to-one basis with your raw score, but rather on a range scale. For example, answering 15 or fewer answers correctly (out of 59) on one section may net you the lowest score of 118, while getting 57 to 59 correct answers in a section may earn the maximum 132. A 118 in each of the four sections equals “try again,” while four scores of 132 will earn you a perfect 528 MCAT score.

    The raw scores are converted to scaled scores because—to prevent repetitiveness or cheating—the MCAT test comes in many forms. The different versions of the exam all measure the same medical science concepts and skills, but each form asks different sets of questions. Each form is about the same in difficulty, but one may be slightly more or less difficult than another. The conversion of number correct scores to scaled scores, then—through a process called equating—compensates for small variations in difficulty.

    How is the MCAT Scored According To Each Section

    Your final MCAT score is the sum of your scores from each of the MCAT’s individual sections. The MCAT section scores come from these four categories: 

    • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (CPBS)
    • Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
    • Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (BBLS)
    • Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (PSBB)

    Each MCAT section has between 53 and 59 questions for you to answer. As noted above, the number of correct questions are weighted to equate between 118 and 132. The average score for each MCAT section is usually around 125. Your mastery of the topics tested will reflect in your final score.

    MCAT Scores and your Medical School Application 

    The total MCAT score range is between 472 and 528. The average MCAT score is around 500. You will want to try to have the strongest MCAT score possible. When preparing to apply for medical schools, you should research your desired school’s average MCAT score for admission. This AAMC table measures acceptance rates for medical school applicants by crossing GPA with MCAT scores.

    As you might expect, a high percentage of students with both a good GPA and a good MCAT score are accepted to schools of medicine. But students may excel at one to make up for a deficiency in the other. A student with a lower GPA may be admitted with an outstanding MCAT score, or a student with a great GPA may make it even with a below average MCAT.

    While the MCAT score is extremely important in the medical school application process, some medical schools—including Ross Med—practice a “holistic review” of applications, which looks at more than just MCAT and GPA. A holistic approach to admissions will also weigh a student’s background, life and work experiences, application essays, and more. Being well-rounded is very important.

    Now that you have an answer to how is the MCAT scored?, dig in deeper and begin studying well in advance—anywhere from three to six months before test day. Ross Med’s MCAT page has more information on this important test, and you should also check out the MCAT FAQs. Learn more about Ross University School of Medicine’s MD program, take the MCAT, and apply for admission to RUSM to put all that knowledge to good use and begin your education to becoming a physician.

    Related Resources:

    • Medical School Admissions Requirements
    • MCAT Prep: How To Study For The MCAT
    • What Is A Good MCAT Score For Medical School?

    *Ross University School of Medicine is accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP, www.caam-hp.org).

    CAAM-HP is the legally constituted body established in 2003 under the aegis of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), empowered to determine and prescribe standards and to accredit programs of medical, dental, veterinary and other health professions education on behalf of the contracting parties in CARICOM.

    Accreditation by CAAM-HP is a rigorous, peer review process which examines all aspects of a medical program. The CAAM-HP board, an independent and autonomous body of professionals, only certifies medical schools which are operating at the highest levels of industry standards.

    Through this accreditation, the CAAM-HP provides assurance to medical students, graduates, the medical profession, healthcare institutions and the public that programs leading to qualifications in medicine meet appropriate national and international standards for educational quality, and that the graduates have a sufficiently complete and valid educational experience.

    Get Started Today

    Ross Med has the tools to get you working with patients in weeks, not months.
     

    Request More Information

    Share This Article

    • facebook
    • tiktok
    • twitter
    • linkedin
    • email

    The information and material contained in this article and on this website are for informational purposes only and should not be considered, or used in place of, professional medical advice. Please speak with a licensed medical provider for specific questions or concerns. Ross Med is not responsible for the information maintained or provided on third-party websites or external links.

    Related Blogs

    Group picture of Ross University School of Medicine students
    Medical School Tips & Resources
    Innovations in Medical Education at Ross University School of Medicine
    Students working together in classroom
    Medical School Tips & Resources
    Why You Should Start Medical School in May
    Students learning in classroom
    Medical School Tips & Resources
    Will Grades in High School Affect Your Med School Application?
    Ross University School of Medicine
    Apply Now
    Contact Admissions

    Campus Address:

    Two Mile Hill St. Michael
    BB11093
    Barbados

     

    Admissions Address:

    10315 USA Today Way,
    Miramar, Florida, 33025
    Phone: +1 754.707.5547
    Email: Admissions@Rossu.edu

    RUSM Footer Sub menu

    • Information For
      • Admitted Students
      • Career Seekers
      • Current Students
    • Navigate
      • About RUSM
      • MD Program
      • Admissions
      • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Student Life
      • Contact Us
    • News & Events
      • Blog
      • News & Press
      • Events & Webinars
      • On-demand Webinars
      • Academic Calendar
    Branded Element

    © 2025 Ross University School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

    Hands-on From the Start®

    Academic Catalog | Student Handbook | Student Consumer Information | Online Cookie Policy | Accessibility Statement | Office of Nondiscrimination and Access | Cost of Attendance | Privacy Policy

     

    Policy on Non-discrimination

    Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) is committed to providing an education conducive to the personal and professional development of each individual and to maintaining an academic environment free of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy or parental status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law in the admission to, access to, or treatment, or employment in any of its programs or activities. RUSM will not tolerate, condone, or allow discrimination or harassment, whether engaged in by fellow students, faculty members or non-faculty colleagues.

    Connect with Ross Medical School

    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    Ross University School of Medicine is accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP, www.caam-hp.org).

     

    CAAM-HP is the legally constituted body established in 2003 under the aegis of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), empowered to determine and prescribe standards and to accredit programs of medical, dental, veterinary and other health professions education on behalf of the contracting parties in CARICOM.

    Accreditation by CAAM-HP is a rigorous, peer review process which examines all aspects of a medical program. The CAAM-HP board, an independent and autonomous body of professionals, only certifies medical schools which are operating at the highest levels of industry standards.

    Through this accreditation, the CAAM-HP provides assurance to medical students, graduates, the medical profession, healthcare institutions, and the public that programs leading to qualifications in medicine meet appropriate national and international standards for educational quality, and that the graduates have a sufficiently complete and valid educational experience.

    CAAM-HP logo - transparent