MCAT Percentile Lookup

The median MCAT total sits around the 50th percentile (roughly a 501). Competitive applicants to US MD schools typically score in the 80th percentile or above — around 510 and up — and applicants to the most selective programs often land in the 95th percentile or higher (about 519+). Percentiles are only one lens, though: schools evaluate your total, section balance, GPA and the rest of your application together, so benchmark against per-school MSAR data rather than a single cutoff.

On the AAMC table in effect from May 1, 2026, a total score of 511 is the 82nd percentile — meaning 82% of test-takers scored at or below 511. It is a solidly above-average score, competitive at a broad range of US MD schools. As with any score, whether it is "enough" depends on your target programs and the strength of the rest of your application.

On the current AAMC table, a 515 is the 91st percentile, a 518 is the 95th percentile, and a 520 is the 97th percentile. Scores of 525 and above reach the 100th percentile. These upper-range scores are competitive across nearly all US medical schools, though above roughly the 90th percentile the admissions benefit of additional points diminishes at most programs.

The AAMC computes percentile ranks empirically from actual score data across the three most recent testing years — not from a fixed curve. Each score’s percentile is the percentage of examinees who earned that score or lower. Because it is based on real cohorts, the mapping shifts slightly each year and is refreshed every May 1.

Both, but the scaled score (472–528) is what you report and what schools list in their MSAR profiles and class statistics. Percentile rank is the interpretive layer — it tells you and the admissions committee how your scaled score compares to the national pool. Committees generally think in scaled scores when building a class but use percentiles to contextualize an applicant against peers.

Because the AAMC updates percentile ranks every May 1 using the latest three years of data, the same scaled score can map to a slightly different percentile over time. Your scaled score never changes, but its percentile can drift by a point or two as the test-taking population shifts. This tool always reflects the most recent table (effective May 1, 2026).