Deciding whether to retake the MCAT is a major strategic decision. While most medical schools consider your highest score or evaluate score trends favorably, retaking without a clear strategy risks yielding a similar score.
AAMC MCAT Testing Limits
| Limit Type | Maximum Allowed Attempts | Important Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Single Testing Year | Up to 3 Times | Cannot test more than 3 times in one calendar year. |
| Two Consecutive Years | Up to 4 Times | Maximum 4 attempts across two consecutive testing years. |
| Lifetime Maximum | 7 Times Total | Lifetime maximum limit across all years. |
When SHOULD You Retake?
- Your score is significantly lower than your AAMC practice test average (by 5+ points).
- You experienced severe test-day illness or technical disruption during the exam.
- You have completed substantial new content review and your practice test scores are consistently higher.
- One individual section score (e.g. CARS 121) falls below the hard screening cutoffs of your target medical schools.
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Do medical schools see all my MCAT attempt scores?
Yes, medical schools see all previous MCAT official test scores on your AAMC score report, but most focus on your highest or most recent attempt.