The best way to decide when to take the MCAT is to work backward from when you want to start medical school, allow time for score release and a possible retake and choose a date that follows a realistic preparation period. Your ideal date is when you are ready to complete the exam, not simply the earliest date that fits your calendar.
Your coursework, work schedule and other commitments can change the answer. You also need to consider when schools will receive your score, whether the score will remain current for your intended application cycle and how much uninterrupted study time you can protect before test day.
Choosing When to Take the MCAT at a Glance
- Start with your intended medical school enrollment year and work backward through the application cycle.
- Allow approximately 30 to 35 days for score release and additional time if you may want to retake the exam.
- Wait until you are comfortable with the tested content and can complete a realistic preparation period.
- Compare your planned exam date with school-specific score policies rather than relying on one universal deadline.
Three Questions to Ask Before You Pick an MCAT Date
In its guidance on choosing an MCAT date, the AAMC says its best advice is to take the exam when you feel most prepared. There is no single date or college year that works for every examinee. The AAMC also advises taking the exam when you are ready rather than when you think you should take it.
To evaluate your timing, ask when you want to attend medical school, whether you might need to take the exam more than once and whether you have mastered the tested content. These questions connect your test date to three practical constraints: your application schedule, the time available for another attempt and your academic readiness.
Consider all three together. An early date may leave room for a retake but provide too little study time. A later date may improve your preparation but delay when schools receive your score. The best time to take the MCAT is the point at which your preparation and application schedule reasonably align.
When Do You Want to Start Medical School?
Choose your intended medical school enrollment year first, then work backward. The AAMC suggests this approach whether you enter directly after college or take time off, and it reminds applicants that the medical school application process is longer than the undergraduate one.
If you want to begin medical school immediately after graduation, the AAMC says you would need to take the MCAT and begin the application process during your junior year, or during the year before you intend to enroll. Students often take the MCAT in the same year they apply, but that general pattern does not determine whether a particular date is right for you.
Review the AMCAS 2027 application timeline as you work backward. That guide lists the cycle’s AMCAS dates, so you can compare your intended application schedule with your study period and expected score release without treating the MCAT as an isolated deadline.
Match Your Test Date to Score Release and Your Application
The AAMC releases MCAT scores approximately 30 to 35 days after the exam and are available by 5:00 p.m. ET on the scheduled release date. Account for that interval when deciding how early you should take the MCAT, especially if you want to see your score before making later application decisions.
In the AAMC’s 2027 U.S. calendar, for example, a March 19 exam has an April 20 score release, a May 1 exam has a June 2 release, a June 26 exam has a July 27 release and an Aug. 14 exam has a Sept. 14 release. The 2027 U.S. testing year begins Jan. 15 and ends Sept. 11. Some dates are offered only at select testing centers, so availability can affect your plan.
Registration for the entire 2027 testing year opens Oct. 20 through 22, 2026, based on testing center location. The registration system remains open afterward if you are not ready to schedule during the opening period. Use IMA’s MCAT registration and test dates guide for the complete calendar and current scheduling details rather than relying only on the examples here.
The 2027 AMCAS Applicant Guide says AMCAS does not need your MCAT scores to verify your application. You may submit your AMCAS application before or after the scores are released. However, medical schools set their own timelines for how late you can test and remain under consideration, so check the policies of each school on your list.
Score age matters as well. According to the AAMC MCAT scores FAQ, schools generally accept scores from exams taken two to three years ago, although each school decides its own policy. The 2027 AMCAS Applicant Guide says most medical schools require scores to be no more than three years old.
Leave Room for a Possible MCAT Retake
If you think you may retake the MCAT, consider testing earlier in the testing year. The AAMC notes that this can give you time to receive your score, decide whether another attempt is appropriate and look for an available seat at your preferred date and location later in the year.
The AAMC limits examinees to three attempts in one testing year, four across two consecutive testing years and seven during a lifetime. Voids and no-shows count toward those attempt limits. Medical schools see every exam you choose to have scored, and each program sets its own approach to multiple scores. IMA’s guide to retaking the MCAT explains these rules in greater detail.
Have You Mastered the Content?
You should take the MCAT after you are comfortable with the content and skills the exam tests. The material reflects introductory-level coursework commonly offered by undergraduate institutions, including biology, general and organic chemistry and physics, along with first-semester biochemistry, psychology and sociology.
The AAMC does not require you to complete particular courses before taking the exam. Even so, you need enough knowledge to work with the tested material. Reviewing the MCAT sections can help you identify the subjects that need further attention before you commit to a date.
If you still need relevant coursework or substantial review, testing later in the year may give you necessary preparation time. Discuss your course sequence with a prehealth advisor or a faculty member who understands your academic record. If you do not have access to a prehealth advisor, the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions can connect you with one at no cost.
Build a Prep Window Before Your Test Date
Set your test date only after estimating how much consistent study time your schedule permits. IMA’s guidance on how to study for the MCAT suggests about three months for someone who can study full time, four to six months for someone balancing a job and about eight months for someone managing many other commitments.
These ranges are planning guides, not fixed requirements. Translate them into the hours and study sessions you can protect each week. A shorter calendar period may not suit you if classes, work or family responsibilities regularly interrupt your study blocks.
Use an MCAT prep timeline to place content review, practice and progress checks before your intended exam. If the resulting plan appears rushed, moving the exam can be more sensible than compressing essential preparation into an unrealistic window.
Use Full-Length Practice to Check Your Readiness
A practice exam can show whether your planned date still matches your readiness. The AAMC recommends beginning with the free Unscored Sample Test to establish a baseline and using its Content & Skills Breakdown to identify gaps. This sample has 230 questions and mirrors the actual exam’s look, length and functionality, but it does not provide a scaled score or percentile rank.
The AAMC also recommends taking Practice Exam 1 under test-day timing conditions. It contains 230 questions from previously administered exams and provides a scaled score and percentile rank. The AAMC offers two free full-length practice exams and five low-cost exams. IMA’s MCAT practice test guide can help you decide how to place these exams within your study plan.
Because the Unscored Sample Test gives no scaled score, IMA’s MCAT score calculator can estimate section and total scores from the number of questions you answered correctly. Treat that information as one readiness check alongside your content gaps, timing and consistency. A single practice result does not remove the need to judge whether you can sustain your performance under full testing conditions.
Fit the MCAT Around Your Other Commitments
Your prep window should account for courses, employment and any major summer plans. If you are considering pre-med internships, place the experience and your MCAT schedule on the same calendar before choosing a test date. Protect enough time for focused preparation rather than assuming you can fit full study sessions around every other obligation.
If two commitments compete for the same period, adjust the test date or begin preparing earlier. The goal is not to select the earliest possible exam. It is to build a schedule you can follow without sacrificing the coursework or preparation you still need.
Choose a Date You Can Prepare For
Work backward from your intended enrollment year, compare your date with score release and school policies and leave enough time to prepare well. If you want individual help connecting your MCAT plan with the rest of your application, you can explore IMA’s medical school admissions consulting.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should You Take the MCAT?
You should take the MCAT when you have mastered the tested content, can complete a realistic study plan and will receive your score in time for your target application cycle. Work backward from when you want to enter medical school, then account for the score-release period and the possibility of another attempt.
Should You Take the MCAT the Same Year You Apply to Medical School?
You can take the MCAT in the same year you apply, and students often do so. Whether that timing works depends on your readiness, the score-release date and each school’s policy for accepting scores during the application cycle. Do not choose the same-year option if it leaves too little preparation time.
Can You Submit Your AMCAS Application Before MCAT Scores Come Out?
Yes. The 2027 AMCAS Applicant Guide says AMCAS does not need your MCAT scores to verify your application, and you may submit before or after your scores are released. Medical schools still set their own timelines for receiving and considering scores.
How Long Does It Take to Get MCAT Scores Back?
MCAT scores are released approximately 30 to 35 days after the test. On the scheduled release date, scores are available by 5:00 p.m. ET. Check the release date associated with your specific exam when planning your application or deciding whether a later retake would be possible.
Is It Better to Take the MCAT Early in the Testing Year?
Taking the MCAT early can be helpful if you may want another attempt. It can leave time to receive your score, make a retake decision and find another available seat. An early exam is not better if it forces you to test before you are ready.
How Long Are MCAT Scores Valid?
Policies vary by school. The AAMC says schools generally accept scores from the last two to three years, and its AMCAS guide notes that most schools want scores no older than three years. Check the rule for each school on your list.
How Many Months Should You Study for the MCAT?
Your study period should reflect the time you can consistently devote to preparation. IMA’s planning guidance suggests about three months if you can study full time, four to six months while balancing a job and about eight months if you have many other commitments. Adjust the range based on your baseline and content gaps.
Do You Need to Finish Certain Courses Before Taking the MCAT?
No specific courses are required before you take the MCAT. However, you should be comfortable with the introductory-level science and social science content and the skills the exam tests. If you need more coursework, consider a later date and discuss your course plan with a prehealth advisor or faculty member.
