How Many Times Can You Take the MCAT? A Guide to Attempts and Retakes

You can take the MCAT up to three times in a single testing year, four times across two consecutive testing years, and seven times in your lifetime. These are the AAMC's official limits. A voided exam or a no-show can also count as an attempt.

But having another attempt available does not mean you should use it. If your score is lower than you hoped, look at what happened before signing up again. Did you run out of time? Were there content gaps you never fully addressed? Did your practice scores show that you were ready for the exam?

How Many Times Can You Take the MCAT?

These limits apply simultaneously, so reaching one limit can prevent you from testing again even if you still have attempts available under another limit.

The lifetime limit applies to MCAT exams taken beginning with the April 2015 test dates. The AAMC’s MCAT testing attempt limits also explain that voids and no-shows count toward your testing limits. You can also hold only one MCAT exam appointment at a time.

Here is what these rules can look like in practice.

Example: Three Attempts in One Testing Year

Suppose you take the MCAT three times in the same testing year. You have reached the three-attempt limit for that year. You may still have attempts available under the two-year and lifetime limits. However, you cannot take the MCAT a fourth time during that testing year.

Example: Four Attempts Across Two Consecutive Testing Years

Suppose you take the MCAT twice in one testing year and twice in the following testing year. That gives you four attempts across two consecutive testing years. You may still have lifetime attempts remaining, but you cannot take the MCAT again if doing so would exceed the four-attempt limit for those two consecutive testing years.

What Counts as an MCAT Attempt?

You do not have to receive an MCAT score for an attempt to count. A voided exam or no-show still uses one of your available attempts, even though medical schools do not see a score for either one.

Voided Exams and No-Shows

If you finish the MCAT and void it, the attempt still counts. You will not receive a score, and medical schools will not see a voided score. You have still used one of your attempts. The same applies to a no-show. If you do not appear for your scheduled exam, the AAMC counts that appointment toward your testing limits. Arriving too late to test can also result in a no-show. For example, if you have already taken the MCAT twice in one testing year, a third exam that you later void still counts as your third attempt. You cannot take a fourth exam that year.

Canceling Before Test Day

Canceling or rescheduling before the applicable deadline is different. If you know you are not ready, you can change your appointment before the deadline without using an MCAT attempt. Check the MCAT testing calendar for the current scheduling, rescheduling, and cancellation deadlines.

Deciding When to Retake the MCAT

The best time to retake the MCAT is when your recent practice scores show that you can realistically improve on your previous result. Before you register, look at what happened on your last exam and whether your preparation has changed enough to address it.

• Your official score was well below several recent full-length scores. Figure out what changed on test day and whether you can prevent the same issue next time.
• Your official score was close to your practice average. You may need more preparation or a different approach before expecting a meaningful increase.
• One section was much lower than the others. Focus on the content or strategy weakness and confirm that your practice scores improve.
• Your practice scores have stayed around your official score. Your current approach has not produced enough improvement, so changing how you study may be more useful than scheduling another exam.
• Your recent practice scores are consistently higher than your official score. You may have stronger evidence that you are ready to retake, especially if the improvement holds across several full-length exams.
• Your scores have stayed nearly the same across multiple attempts. Identify what has remained unchanged before taking the exam again.

You should also consider whether a higher score would actually change your school list or competitiveness. If you expect only a small increase, compare your current score with the schools you are targeting and decide whether those additional points would meaningfully strengthen your application.

Finally, make sure your retake fits your application timeline. Check your schools' deadlines and MCAT score-release dates so your new score will be available when your application is reviewed.

The Bottom Line

You can take the MCAT 3 times in one year, 4 times across two consecutive years, and 7 times in your lifetime. Voids and no-shows count as attempts. If your score is lower than you expected, don't register for the next available date just to have another shot. Give yourself time to figure out what happened and whether you can realistically fix it. A retake makes sense when your practice scores have moved up, and the higher score would matter for the schools on your list.

If neither has happened yet, waiting is probably the better move.

Work With an MCAT Coach

Getting an MCAT score you are not happy with can sting, especially when you have spent months studying and thought you were ready. The frustrating part is that the score tells you where you landed, but not always what went wrong or what you should change before trying again.

That is where a coach can be useful. Leland's MCAT Test Prep Coaches can help you make sense of what happened and build a retake plan that fits your goals.

If you are not ready for one-on-one coaching, join our livestream or read student reviews from people who have worked with Leland coaches.

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• Top 15 Medical School Acceptance Rates & Class Profiles
• The 20 Best Medical Schools in the US (T20): Acceptance Rates, MCAT Scores, & GPA

FAQs

How long do you have to wait before retaking the MCAT?

• The AAMC does not specify a universal minimum waiting period between MCAT attempts. You must stay within the testing limits and can hold only one exam appointment at a time. Before registering again, allow enough prep time to address weaknesses and use full-length practice tests to assess whether you are adequately prepared.

Do medical schools see all your MCAT attempts?

• Medical schools can see all your scored MCAT attempts from April 2003 onward. Voided exams and no-shows do not appear in score reports available to medical schools, although both count toward your testing limits. Check your target schools’ policies to understand how they evaluate multiple scores.

Is it bad to take the MCAT multiple times?

• Not necessarily. The AAMC states that taking the MCAT more than once does not automatically put you at a disadvantage. However, admissions committees evaluate multiple scores differently. Before retaking the exam, review your practice tests and identify what you can change to improve your retake score.

Can you retake the MCAT if you get a lower score?

• Yes. You can retake the MCAT as long as you remain within the AAMC’s limits: three attempts in one testing year, four across two consecutive testing years, and seven in your lifetime. Before paying another registration fee, assess your preparation and practice scores to determine whether another attempt is likely to help your med school application.