2026 MCAT Test Dates and Score Release Dates

As a hopeful premed, you already know the MCAT is a big deal—it is arguably the most heavily weighted objective measure for medical school acceptance. You need a good score to even be considered by top schools, which means you need to schedule plenty of time for dedicated studying before your test date. So, what are the MCAT test dates for this year, and when are MCAT scores released?

As much as you may want to see your MCAT score as soon as possible, MCAT score release dates are not until many weeks after you take the test. In addition to sharing all of the dates for 2026 below, we’ll also cover what to do while you wait for your results, how to access your MCAT scores, and how to determine whether or not you have a high enough score.

2026 MCAT Test Dates

In 2026, between the months of January and September, you can expect anywhere from one to six opportunities to take the MCAT each month, with the lowest being one in February and July and the most being six in May. Note that no MCAT test dates are available in October through December 2026.

What Are the 10-Day, 30-Day, and 60-Day Deadlines?

The 10, 30, and 60-day deadlines represent the standard change fees. The initial registration for the MCAT costs $355, and if you need to change your test date or testing center, additional fees will apply.

60 or more days before your exam: It costs $55 to change the date or the testing center, and your cancellation refund is $175.

30-59 days before your exam: Changing the date or testing center costs $110, and your cancellation refund is $175.

10-29 days before your exam: Changing the date or testing center costs $210, and you will not receive a refund.

The 10-day deadline represents the final opportunity to schedule your test, change your test date, or change your testing center. It’s also the last day you can edit your registration information. You cannot make any changes less than 10 days before the exam, and all deadlines are at 11:59 pm local test center time on the day of the deadline.

2026 MCAT Score Release Dates

Official MCAT scores are released 30-35 days after an exam date. If this seems like a long time, keep in mind that it takes about a month to scale and equate each form after test day, and the process is taken very seriously to ensure everything is above board.

Plus, this is when students can submit any complaints about specific questions or test conditions. If anything out of the ordinary or inappropriate happened on test day, students are encouraged to submit a report, which can be done so anonymously. Any reports of this kind are taken seriously and require time to investigate.

Even if the reasoning makes sense, it still feels like a long time. Here’s how long you’ll have to wait to receive your MCAT score based on the date you take the test.

What Time Are MCAT Scores Released?

MCAT scores are released by 5 pm ET on the scheduled score release date. So, if your test date is September 3, 2026, you can expect your MCAT score to be released by 5 pm on the scheduled score release date: October 6, 2026.

Does AAMC Ever Release MCAT Scores Early?

While there may have been occurrences of this in the past, MCAT scores are generally not released early, so don’t count on it.

You can stay up-to-date on when scores are available by following AAMC on X @AAMC_MCAT. At the same time, remember that the MCAT is only one piece of your medical school application. You do yourself no favors by continually checking whether your score is available before the deadline. As difficult as it may be, put the MCAT behind you until your score release window so that you can focus on other essential aspects of your schooling, medical experience, and application preparation.

What to Do While You Wait for MCAT Results

Waiting for your MCAT score results is undeniably stressful. After all that hard work, you just want to know how you did, so you can move on with the rest of your application or decide whether to take the MCAT again. But for better or worse, your MCAT score is out of your hands for a month or more after you take the test.

Regardless of your results, you’ve just crossed a significant milestone in your medical education and future career. Visit friends and family, spend some time on your hobbies, eat good food, practice mindfulness, exercise, and do whatever you need to do to relax and find some balance.

Once you’ve taken a short break to rejuvenate yourself, you can turn your attention back to the other essential components of your medical school application, such as building relationships and gaining extracurricular experience.

If you are a traditional student taking the MCAT in your final premed years, you’ll still have a lot on your plate afterward. Find solace in knowing one aspect of your application is complete, but remember that your MCAT results are now outside of your control. You can’t change how you did on the test, so put your effort into the areas you do have control over, such as your extracurricular experiences and GPA.

How to Access Your MCAT Score Once It’s Released

On the day your test scores are released, you can access the MCAT Score Reporting System on the AAMC website. Click the Get Your Scores button, enter your Username and Password, and, hopefully, find the score of your dreams.

Regardless of whether or not you are happy with your score, save it to a PDF. Save everything you can, as you never know what can happen. It’s possible you’ll face a technical or login issue, so it’s imperative to make a record for yourself and keep it somewhere safe so that you know the date and your score and do not have to keep logging into the website.

What’s a Good MCAT Score? Is Your Score Good Enough?

Your MCAT score isn’t everything, but it is a heavily weighted factor in medical school applications. However, you don’t necessarily need a perfect 528 to get into a top-tier school.

Right off the bat, if you want to be a competitive candidate, you need to aim for a higher-than-average MCAT. According to the AAMC, the average MCAT score for med school applicants is 506.50, and for successful matriculants, 511.90.

Admissions committees see each applicant as an investment, and they don’t want to take risks. Your MCAT score is considered the best indicator admissions committees have of whether or not you can handle the massive academic challenges that come with medical school. So, the higher the score, the better. But just how high does your score need to be?

The answer depends on your specific situation and a couple of key factors. Namely, how strong are the other aspects of your application, and what were the MCAT scores of previous matriculants at your top-choice schools?

The Med School Insiders Medical School Chance Predictor was created to make your selection of the right medical schools easier. By analyzing your stats, you can create a personalized and optimized school list, saving time and money. And the best part? It’s absolutely free.

If you have a low GPA compared to other matriculants, you’ll need to make up for that in different areas, such as your MCAT score. If you have a low MCAT score, you will need to ensure you build a cohesive, compelling narrative that ties your entire application together.

While you have the option to retake the MCAT, it’s a draining process that will take time and energy away from other essential aspects of your application.

How to Know If You’re Ready to Take the MCAT

No one likes waiting for their results, but you can ease your post-MCAT stress by entering the test prepared and confident.

Knowing whether or not you’re ready to take the MCAT comes down to three key factors.

• How well your MCAT studying is going
• Your results on practice tests
• Your personal state of mind (your confidence level, timeline, etc.)

Keep in mind that delaying your MCAT could be a costly mistake, as the longer you spend studying, the more likely you are to forget previous material.

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