How To Improve Your MCAT Score: The 2026 Guide

You are studying hard, but your MCAT practice scores are not budging. Your test date is approaching, and you are starting to wonder if you are doing something wrong.

You are not alone. Score plateaus are one of the most common frustrations among MCAT test-takers, and the good news is that the problem is almost always fixable. Dramatic improvements are possible — students routinely report jumps of 10 to 20+ points after changing their approach.

This guide covers everything you need: section-by-section strategies, proven study methods backed by high scorers, timeline-based plans, retake advice, and the most common mistakes to avoid.

Key takeaways

• The MCAT tests reasoning and critical thinking, not just content recall — your study methods must reflect that.
• Practice questions and full-length exams are the single most impactful activity for score improvement.
• Thorough post-exam review (every question, not just wrong ones) is where most of your learning happens.
• Spaced repetition tools like Anki are near-universal among high scorers (517+).
• Save all AAMC official materials for your final 30–50 days of prep.
• Burnout prevention is a real strategy — rest, sleep, and exercise directly affect test-day performance.
• Improvements of 10–20+ points are realistic within 1–3 months with the right approach.

Why Your MCAT Score Isn't Improving

If your score is stuck, the issue is rarely a lack of effort. Here are the most common reasons scores plateau:

• Too much passive content review. Reading textbooks and highlighting notes feels productive but does not build the reasoning skills the MCAT demands. Students who break through plateaus almost always credit the shift from passive reading to active practice.
• Not enough practice questions. The MCAT is a reasoning test, not a recall test. You cannot improve without doing hundreds of passage-based practice questions.
• Shallow practice exam reviews. Taking a full-length exam without thoroughly reviewing every question — right and wrong — wastes most of its learning value.
• Cramming instead of spacing. Studying 6 hours on 3 days per week is less effective than studying 3 hours on 6 days per week, even though the total hours are the same. This is the spacing effect, and it matters for long-term retention.
• Ignoring weak sections. Many students over-study their strong areas while avoiding the sections that need the most attention.
• Using only third-party materials. Third-party question banks are useful for practice volume, but AAMC materials are the gold standard for understanding how the real exam tests concepts.

If any of these sound familiar, the strategies below will help you fix them.

How To Improve Your Score In Each MCAT Section

The MCAT has four sections, each requiring a slightly different approach. Understanding what makes each section hard is the first step toward targeted improvement.

How To Improve Your Chem/Phys (C/P) Score

The C/P section integrates General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, and Biology. It demands both content knowledge and the ability to reason through experimental data under time pressure — plus fast mental math without a calculator.

Content foundations:

• Know your formulas cold. Physics equations, chemistry constants, and unit conversions need to be automatic. Make flashcards and drill them daily.
• Draw connections between subjects. Physics is applied math; chemistry is applied physics; biochemistry is applied organic chemistry. Understanding these links helps you reason through unfamiliar questions.

Practice strategy:

• Do 30–50 passage-based C/P practice questions daily.
• Learn to skim passages for relevant information. In most C/P passages, you only need the graphs and data if a question specifically asks about them.
• Practice mental math: unit conversions, scientific notation, rounding, and estimation. This is a trainable skill.

Start untimed, then add time pressure. Learn to solve problems accurately first. As your reasoning improves, switch to timed practice to work on pacing.

During MCAT prep, try to do 45–60 minutes of C/P content review every other day alongside your practice questions.

How To Improve Your CARS Score

CARS has no prerequisite content knowledge — it tests your ability to read complex passages critically, identify arguments, and evaluate how new information would affect those arguments. This makes it the hardest section for many science-focused students to improve.

Build your reading muscles:

• Read 30+ minutes daily from dense non-fiction: literary essays, opinion pieces, philosophy, social science journals, and long-form journalism. The goal is not enjoyment — it is building your ability to absorb complex text quickly and think critically about it.
• Read like a skeptic. For every argument the author makes, mentally form a counterargument. This trains the critical reasoning the CARS section demands.

Practice active reading during passages:

1. After each paragraph, identify its main point in one sentence.
2. Note the author's tone and stance — are they arguing for something, analyzing neutrally, or critiquing?
3. Before reading the questions, summarize the passage's central argument in your own words.

Watch out for trap answers. There is usually one answer that is too broad, one that is too narrow, one that is just right, and one that is clearly wrong. The trap answers often sound more impressive than the correct one. The only way to get better at spotting them is consistent practice.

Important CARS-specific tip from high scorers: AAMC CARS logic is different from third-party CARS materials like Jack Westin. Use third-party resources for timing and stamina practice, but do not rely on them as score predictors. Save AAMC CARS practice for your final study phase.

How To Improve Your Bio/Biochem (B/B) Score

The B/B section covers a massive range of topics and requires you to reason about experimental design and scientific literature. The research-style passages can be intimidating if you lack experience with peer-reviewed journal articles.

Master high-yield content:

• Amino acids: Know all 20 — one-letter codes, three-letter codes, structures, and chemical properties.
• Metabolic pathways: You do not need to memorize every enzyme. Focus on the irreversible enzymes and how the body regulates them.
• Lab techniques: Be familiar with PCR, gel electrophoresis, Western/Southern/Northern blots, and transduction.

Get better at analyzing experimental passages:

• For each figure or graph, quickly identify the independent variable, dependent variable, and any standout results.
• For dense data tables, understand the experiment and treatments, but wait to analyze specific data until a question asks about it.
• When passages present unfamiliar pathways, draw a quick signaling diagram to map what activates and inhibits what.

Pro Tip: One mini-drawing per paragraph helps you see the system being described in chronological order, making the big picture clearer by the end of the passage.

How To Improve Your Psych/Soc (P/S) Score

P/S is heavily vocabulary-based, but the MCAT treats psychology and sociology as hard sciences — expect research-based passages with data tables and experimental design questions. Being the last section of the 7.5-hour exam, fatigue is also a major factor.

Memorize aggressively:

• Use flashcards (Anki is ideal here). The P/S section has more terms and names to memorize than any other section. Carry your flashcards everywhere — commuting, walking, waiting in line.
• The community-created 300-page P/S document and dedicated P/S Anki decks are widely recommended by high scorers.

Understand experimental design:

• Know how to read results tables, identify trends, and interpret statistical significance.
• Beware of trap answers that use fake psychology terms. If a term is unfamiliar, it is almost always wrong.

Know the influential figures: Be able to match names to their major experiments, findings, and schools of psychology (Cognitive, Behavioral, Evolutionary, Biological, Psychosocial, Functionalist).

Fight fatigue strategically. Build stamina by taking full-length MCAT practice tests under realistic conditions. Analyze whether your errors cluster in the later hours — if so, your problem may be endurance, not content.

Proven Strategies To Boost Your MCAT Score

These strategies are consistently recommended by students who achieved significant score improvements — and confirmed across a community analysis of 81 high-scoring study plans.

1. Prioritize Practice Questions Over Passive Review

This is the single most consistent piece of advice from high scorers. If you are spending most of your time reading textbooks or watching videos, flip the ratio. Practice questions should make up the majority of your study time.

Quality question banks like UWorld force you to apply content in the way the MCAT actually tests it. Start integrating practice questions early — do not wait until you feel "ready."

2. Master the Post-Exam Review Process

Taking practice exams matters, but how you review them matters more. A thorough review accounts for the majority of your score improvement.

For every question — right and wrong — ask yourself:

• Did I get this right because I understood the concept, or did I guess?
• If wrong: Did I misread the passage, misapply a concept, or not know the content?
• What is my concrete takeaway for next time?

Track your errors systematically. Some high scorers create spreadsheets that log every wrong answer by section, error type, and content area. Over time, patterns emerge that reveal exactly where to focus your study.

3. Use Spaced Repetition (Anki)

Anki is near-universal among students scoring 517+. It uses spaced repetition to optimize long-term retention, and it works especially well for content-heavy areas like amino acids, metabolic pathways, and P/S vocabulary.

Tips for using Anki effectively:

• Use Q&A-style cards, not cloze deletions — cloze cards can be answered using context clues without real understanding.
• Pair Anki with content review: read a chapter, then immediately do the matching Anki cards the same day.
• Popular community decks include the Captain Hook deck (concise, organized by chapter) and MileDown (lighter, good for quick review).
• Spend time learning proper Anki settings — incorrect settings waste valuable study time.

4. Build a Two-Phase Study Plan

High scorers consistently structure their prep into two distinct phases:

The logic: third-party resources are great for building knowledge and volume, but AAMC materials mirror the actual exam's reasoning style. Save them for when you can get the most out of them.

Create a detailed MCAT study schedule that maps out daily activities for both phases.

5. Simulate Real Testing Conditions

Taking full-length practice exams under realistic conditions is essential for building stamina and pacing skills. This means:

• Timing every section strictly
• Taking only the official break times
• No phone, no music, no interruptions
• Starting at the same time you would on test day

Learn how many MCAT practice tests you should take and space them to leave room for thorough review between each one.

6. Focus on High-Yield Content

Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Psychology make up roughly 80% of the MCAT. Within those subjects, certain topics appear far more frequently:

• Amino acids, peptides, and proteins
• Acid/base chemistry
• Mendelian genetics
• Fluid dynamics
• Metabolic pathways (glycolysis, Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation)
• Cell biology (prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic)
• Psychological disorders and sociological theories

Mastering these high-yield topics gives you the most score improvement per hour of study.

7. Build Mental and Physical Stamina

The endurance required to perform well across 7.5 hours of testing is a skill set most students underestimate.

• Analyze your fatigue patterns. Break up practice exam results by hour. If your accuracy drops in hours 4–7, your issue is stamina, not content.
• Train your body. Exercise regularly, eat well, and get 7–8 hours of sleep. High scorers consistently describe body care as a study strategy, not a luxury.
• Take the day before the exam completely off. The MCAT rewards a calm, rested brain — not a crammed one.

How To Improve Your MCAT Score By Timeline

Different timelines require different strategies. Here is what to prioritize based on how much time you have.

How To Improve Your MCAT Score In 1–2 Weeks

With 1–2 weeks left, massive content review is off the table. Focus on:

1. Mindset first. Half the MCAT battle is mental toughness. Let go of the pressure — stress actively hurts your recall and reasoning ability.
2. Take 2–3 full-length practice tests (leave 2–3 days between each). Do not take one right before the real exam — you will not have time to review it.
3. Review aggressively. For each practice test, analyze your timing, thought process, and specific error patterns.
4. Drill high-yield content gaps identified from your practice exam reviews.
5. Practice passage navigation. Getting faster at extracting relevant information from passages is one of the highest-impact skills you can sharpen in a short window.

Do not panic. Students who focus on test-taking strategy and mental preparation in the final weeks often outperform their full-length averages on test day.

How To Improve Your MCAT Score In 3 Weeks

With 3 weeks, you have enough time for a structured push:

1. Complete at least 4–5 full-length practice tests, spacing them 3 days apart.
2. Use a spreadsheet to track results by section, content area, and error type.
3. Focus content review on your weakest 2–3 topics — not everything.
4. Train passage navigation and the process-of-elimination technique.
5. Work on timing: if a question takes more than 90 seconds without progress, flag it and move on.

How To Improve Your MCAT Score In 1 Month

A month gives you meaningful room for improvement. Many students report 10+ point increases within this window.

• Week 1: Diagnostic full-length + identify your top 3 weaknesses per section.
• Weeks 2–3: Targeted content review + daily practice questions (50+ per day) + Anki for weak areas.
• Week 4: AAMC materials only — full-lengths, section bank, question packs. Thorough review after each.

If you feel stuck, consider whether professional guidance might help. An experienced MCAT tutor can identify blind spots you may not see on your own.

How To Improve Your MCAT Score In 2–3 Months

This is the optimal window for a significant score jump. Students routinely report 15–20+ point improvements over 2–3 months with a structured two-phase approach:

Phase 1 (Weeks 1–6): Build your foundation

• Content review with Kaplan, Princeton Review, or similar books
• Daily Anki reviews
• UWorld question bank (aim to complete it)
• 1 full-length practice test per week (third-party is fine here)

Phase 2 (Weeks 7–10+): AAMC materials + test simulation

• Switch to AAMC full-lengths, section banks, and question packs exclusively
• 1–2 full-lengths per week under strict test conditions
• Thorough post-exam review with error tracking
• Fill remaining content gaps identified from AAMC practice

Read more about whether MCAT prep courses are worth the investment if you want more structure during this timeline.

How To Improve Your MCAT Score On A Retake

Having to retake the MCAT can feel discouraging, but retakers have a significant advantage: you already know the exam format and have data on exactly where you fell short.

1. Analyze What Went Wrong

Be brutally honest with yourself. Common retake scenarios:

• Content gaps. You did not know the material well enough. Solution: targeted content review on your weakest areas.
• Poor test-taking strategy. You knew the content but struggled with passage reasoning, timing, or trap answers. Solution: more practice questions and full-length exams.
• Stamina issues. Your accuracy dropped significantly in later sections. Solution: more full-length practice under real conditions.
• Anxiety or mental state. You froze, panicked, or could not focus. Solution: practice simulating test conditions, and work on stress-management techniques.
• Insufficient practice. You spent too much time on content review and not enough on practice exams. Solution: flip the ratio.

2. Change Your Approach

If you studied the same way and expect a different result, your score will not change. Specific adjustments that help retakers:

• Increase practice volume. More practice exams and questions, with more thorough reviews.
• Switch up resources. If you only used one question bank, add another. If you did not use Anki, start.
• Get outside perspective. Consider working with a tutor or joining a study group. MCAT tutoring services can provide the accountability and expert feedback that self-study lacks.
• Be strategic with AAMC materials. If you have already used all AAMC materials, they still have value on a retake — you will not remember specific questions, and the reasoning practice is still useful.

3. Address the Mental Game

Retaking carries emotional weight. Acknowledge it, but do not let it define your preparation. You now know what the exam feels like, what the testing center is like, and what your weaknesses are. That is valuable information first-time test-takers do not have.

Common Mistakes That Hold Your Score Back

Based on patterns from SERP competitor analysis and student forums, these are the most frequent mistakes:

1. Spending too long on content review before starting practice. Many students spend weeks or months reading before touching a practice question. Start practice early — even if you are still learning content.
2. Not reviewing correct answers. You need to know why right answers are right, not just why wrong answers are wrong. Did you get it right because you understood it, or because you guessed?
3. Ignoring CARS. Science-focused students often deprioritize CARS, thinking it cannot be improved. It can — it just takes consistent practice and a different approach than the science sections.
4. Over-testing without reviewing. Taking 3+ full-length exams per week without thorough review is counterproductive. Space your full-lengths to leave 2–3 days for review between each one.
5. Constantly switching study methods. Find a method that works for you and stick with it. Jumping between study plans because of what someone else recommended wastes time.
6. Neglecting sleep, exercise, and breaks. Studying 14 hours a day leads to burnout, not higher scores. Rest is a strategy, not wasted time.

What Students Actually Struggle With

Based on recent discussions in MCAT study communities, here are the real-world challenges students face — and how to address them:

Information overload and analysis paralysis. There are hundreds of "how I scored 520+" posts with conflicting advice. The truth is that the core strategies (practice questions, Anki, AAMC materials, thorough review) are consistent across nearly all high scorers. The specific resources matter less than the method.

The Anki learning curve. Anki is powerful but has a steep initial setup. Incorrect settings can waste weeks. Spend an hour watching setup tutorials before diving in — it will save you significant time later.

Balancing study with work or school. Many students study while working or taking classes. If this is you, focus on efficiency: shorter, more focused study sessions with active practice are better than marathon passive review sessions.

CARS frustration. CARS improvement is slower and less linear than the science sections. Expect gradual progress over weeks, not sudden jumps. Track your CARS errors in a journal to identify patterns in your reasoning mistakes.

The emotional toll. MCAT preparation is genuinely stressful. Build in regular downtime — exercise, socializing, hobbies. Students who maintain balance consistently report better test-day performance than those who sacrifice everything for study hours.

FAQs About How To Improve Your MCAT Score

Why Is My MCAT Score Not Improving?

The most common reasons include relying on passive study methods (reading without practicing), not reviewing practice exams thoroughly, cramming instead of spacing study sessions, using low-quality study materials, and avoiding weak sections. Identify which of these applies to you and address it directly.

Can I Improve My MCAT Score By 10 Points In A Month?

Yes. A 10-point improvement in one month is achievable if you shift to a practice-heavy study approach, review every practice exam thoroughly, focus on your weakest content areas, and use AAMC materials in your final weeks. Many students in online communities report similar or larger jumps in this timeframe.

How Do I Increase My MCAT Score By 20 Points?

A 20-point increase typically requires 2–3 months of focused, structured study. You will need to overhaul your study approach: prioritize practice over content review, use spaced repetition (Anki), take regular full-length exams under test conditions, and systematically eliminate your content gaps. Students have gone from sub-500 to 520+ using this kind of disciplined approach.

Is It Possible To Improve My MCAT Score In 2 Weeks?

Meaningful improvement in 2 weeks is possible but requires a laser focus on strategy over content. Take 2–3 full-length practice tests, review them exhaustively, drill your weakest high-yield topics, and work on passage navigation speed. Do not attempt large-scale content review — focus on test-taking skills and filling specific gaps.

What Is a Good MCAT Score?

The MCAT is scored on a scale of 472–528. The median score is approximately 500. A score of 508 is at the 72nd percentile and competitive for many medical schools. A 510+ puts you in a strong position for most MD programs, and a 515+ is competitive for top-tier schools. Use the MCAT score calculator to see where your practice scores fall in terms of percentiles.

What Are The Best Resources For MCAT Score Improvement?

The most consistently recommended resources among high scorers are:

• AAMC official materials (full-lengths, section banks, question packs) — the gold standard
• UWorld — widely considered the best third-party question bank
• Anki — spaced repetition flashcard app (popular decks: Captain Hook, MileDown)
• Kaplan or Princeton Review books — for structured content review
• A quality MCAT prep course if you prefer guided study

How Many Practice Tests Should I Take?

Most experts and high scorers recommend 5–10 full-length practice tests during your preparation. Space them to allow 2–3 days of thorough review between each one. Read our full guide on how many MCAT practice tests to take for a detailed breakdown.

Should I Retake The MCAT?

Consider a retake if your score is significantly below the median for your target schools and you can identify specific, fixable reasons why you underperformed. The AAMC allows up to 3 attempts per calendar year, 4 over a 2-year period, and 7 total in a lifetime. A retake with the same study approach will likely produce a similar score — you need to change something meaningful.