Understanding the AAMC MCAT and GPA Grid for Medical School Admissions

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) are critical components of the medical school application process. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) provides data and tools to help both applicants and admissions committees understand how these factors relate to success in medical school. This article will delve into the AAMC's resources, particularly the MCAT/GPA grid, and explain how to interpret and utilize this information.

The Significance of MCAT Scores

MCAT scores play a crucial role in the medical school admissions process. This page is dedicated to providing you with comprehensive information about MCAT scoring, including details on average, good, and high MCAT scores. A good MCAT score is typically considered to be 128 out of 132 in any one of the four sections, or a total of 511 out of 528 for all four sections combined. The latter represents the average score of students admitted to medical schools across the nation during the 2021 admissions cycle. However, it's important to understand that what constitutes an average, good, or high MCAT score can vary depending on perspective, the specific cohort of applicants, and the medical school to which you are applying. Additionally, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) may provide useful information about past trends and average scores for medical school admissions.

Decoding MCAT Scoring

Your MCAT score in each section is based on the numbers of questions that you answered correctly (note: there is no penalty for wrong answers). Considering that each section of the exam has different sets of questions and level of difficulty, a student's performance on the MCAT is more likely to be accurately assessed by converting raw scores to scaled scores. There is no simplistic way to convert a percentage to a scaled score. It is a complex calculation that is dependent on the cohort and cannot be replicated with precision for any random practice exam. For example, a 50% raw score (i.e. the percent of correct answers) in a section does NOT represent 125 (a midpoint MCAT scaled score). Note: A score of 80% correct for each of the 4 exam subsections translates to an MCAT scaled score of 127, which further underlines the fact that the relationship between percent correct and scaled scores is not straightforward and the changes are not consistent across exam sections (there is a correlation, but they are not proportional). Again, the numbers above only apply to this one exam and cannot be blindly applied to other practice materials. For example, a student will have a total MCAT score of 515 after scoring 131 on the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section; 127 on the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section; 130 on the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section, and 127 on the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section. Yes, achieving the highest possible scaled MCAT score (528) is possible.

Multiple MCAT Scores: What Medical Schools Consider

How do medical schools handle your multiple MCAT scores if you have taken the exam more than once? Contact the medical schools you intend to apply to determine how they would handle your multiple scores. The higher rates of admissions with higher MCAT scores are nothing new. However, it is of value to note that a score of 500 has a rate of admissions just over 20% and lesser scores may still result in admissions. Note: Individual circumstances may vary. Past patterns do not guarantee future admissions patterns.

AAMC Resources for Understanding Admissions Data

The AAMC provides several tools and reports to help applicants and medical schools understand the relationship between MCAT scores, GPAs, and student success. These include:

Integrated Admissions Reports: These reports, accessible through AMCAS for Schools, offer customizable data on how students with different MCAT scores and GPAs performed at specific medical schools. From the top menu bar, select AMCAS Reports, then Integrated Admissions Reports.
MCAT/GPA Thresholds Explorer: This tool allows users to analyze how different MCAT score and GPA cutoffs would impact their applicant pool. The MCAT/GPA Thresholds Explorer is a scenario-planning tool that helps you analyze how different MCAT score and GPA cutoffs would impact your applicant pool.
MCAT Score/GPA Grid: Student Success Report: This customizable report shows how students with different MCAT scores and GPAs performed at your school. The MCAT Score/GPA Grid: Student Success Report is a customizable report showing how students with different MCAT scores and GPAs performed at your school. To access these tools, log in to AMCAS for Schools.

Interpreting the MCAT/GPA Grid

The MCAT/GPA grid is a visual representation of the relationship between these two metrics and various measures of student success in medical school. These measures can include performance on the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK exams, on-time progression to year three, progression to year three with an extra year, and graduation rates. The data describe how well undergraduate GPAs (total and BCPM) and MCAT scores predict medical student performance on the Step 1 exam (first attempt and ever), the Step 2 CK exam (first attempt and ever), on-time progression to year three, progression to year three with an extra year, and graduation from medical school within four or five years.

The grid typically displays GPA ranges on one axis and MCAT score ranges on the other. Each cell in the grid represents the performance of students who fall within that specific GPA and MCAT score range. The cells are often color-coded to indicate different levels of success.

Example of Color Coding:

Green (●) = pass rates or progression/graduation rates of 90%-100%
Yellow (■) = pass rates or progression/graduation rates of 80%-89%
Blue (▲) = pass rates or progression/graduation rates of 70%-79%
White (♦) = pass rates or progression/graduation rates of 69% and lower
Cells with dashes = fewer than 10 observations
Blank cells = zero observations

For students who took the MCAT exam multiple times, the most recent MCAT total score was used in this analysis.

Using the Grid to Assess Your Chances

Applicants can use the MCAT/GPA grid to get a general sense of their competitiveness for medical school. By locating the cell that corresponds to their GPA and MCAT score, they can see the historical success rates of students with similar credentials.

It is important to remember that the grid provides average statistics and does not guarantee admission to any particular medical school. Individual medical schools may weigh the MCAT and GPA differently, and they will also consider other factors such as personal experiences, letters of recommendation, and interview performance.

Read also: MCAT Exam Preparation

Holistic Review and Beyond the Numbers

Scoring highly on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)-one of the primary measurements used in consideration of medical student admission by medical schools-doesn’t mean you’ll become a great, or even a good, doctor. But historically it has portended success on the licensing exams-the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2 exams-that one takes as a medical student. The importance of those exams may be taking on a different meaning, however, with the Step 1 exam moving to pass-fail scoring.

Medical schools are increasingly adopting a holistic review process, which considers a wide range of factors beyond academic metrics. This includes an applicant's experiences, personal attributes, and potential to contribute to the medical profession.

Tonya Fancher, MD, MPH, is the associate dean for workforce innovation and community engagement at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine (UC Davis). UC Davis has a strong commitment to holistic selection-looking beyond test scores and grades to consider how an applicant’s life experience and perspectives will contribute to their ultimate success as a physician. “We value the experiences that students bring to medical school,” Dr. Fancher said. “While we want students to be smart and adaptable, we also value their diverse backgrounds, which can enrich our learning environment and improves our ability to care for all patients.”

The aforementioned AAMC study includes a list of the most important factors admissions offices considered when looking at potential medical students.

Additional Considerations

Trends Over Time: Keep in mind that admissions patterns can change over time. It is important to consult the most recent data available from the AAMC.
School-Specific Data: If possible, research the average MCAT scores and GPAs for matriculants at the specific medical schools you are interested in. This information can often be found on the school's website or through resources like the MSAR (Medical School Admission Requirements).
The Impact of COVID-19: The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected admissions trends in recent years. Be aware of any potential changes in how medical schools are evaluating applicants.

The Predictive Value of MCAT and GPA

The AAMC has conducted research on the predictive validity of MCAT scores and GPAs in relation to medical student success. A study published in the journal Military Medicine indicates that by the time medical students became residents, their MCAT score was far less of a predictor of success than it was early in medical school.

An MCAT score assesses intellectual knowledge. That matters: In medical school, the knowledge comes at a furious pace. Still, it is unlikely that any standardized test can ever fully measure competencies beyond medical knowledge that the successful physician possesses, such as empathy, communication skills and teamwork. Overreliance on just one measure of performance, such as the MCAT, risks missing a pool of candidates with other valuable attributes to contribute to the health care system. The MCAT itself was redesigned in 2015 to include sections that required test-takers to have an understanding of the social and behavioral sciences.

Addressing MCAT/GPA Thresholds

Medical schools sometimes use MCAT and GPA thresholds as part of their initial screening process. These thresholds are minimum scores or GPAs that applicants must meet to be considered for further review. In this video, representatives from three medical schools who participated in the inaugural MCAT Learning Lab discuss their approach to exploring and changing MCAT/GPA thresholds for their medical school admission processes. The initiative sought answers to pivotal questions: What issues are addressed by MCAT/GPA thresholds? Is reform feasible? What steps initiate change? Which levers can be used to drive this change and sustain a successful transformation?

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