Bad SAT/ACT but good MCAT score

[Columbia09]

Is there anyone out there who did poor or terrible on their SAT/ACT but did well on their MCAT ? People say that there is a correlation between the tests. I don't know why that is since the MCAT tests different material and a lot could change in a couple of years. Since I didn't do well on my ACT, I fear for the MCAT 🙁

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[TheLadyVanishes]

I got a 1320 (out of 1600, one of the last to take the old test) on the SAT with an unbalanced 600/800 in math and 720/800 in verbal. I took a few practice tests and just wanted to do ok.

I took many practice AAMCs and did months of prep work for the MCAT and earned a balanced 37 (12PS-13VR-12BS).

 

[Columbia09]

I got a 1320 (out of 1600, one of the last to take the old test) on the SAT with an unbalanced 600/800 in math and 720/800 in verbal. I took a few practice tests and just wanted to do ok.

I took many practice AAMCs and did months of prep work for the MCAT and earned a balanced 37 (12PS-13VR-12BS).

Those are not bad scores in my opinion though hahahaaa. I'm talking about someone getting in the low 20s on the ACT and getting into the high to mid 20s on the MCAT.

 

[MMa23]

I got a 21 on my ACT and a 25 on my MCAT... but I think I can hit >30...

 

[kgpremed11]

I got a 21 on my ACT and a 25 on my MCAT... but I think I can hit >30...

22 on ACT

24 on first MCAT

Hopefully in March I'll get higher at least 28. Why are you asking this? I don't think there is much of a correlation between high school and college numbers. My HS GPA was 2.0. My college GPA was 3.5

 

[MMa23]

22 on ACT

24 on first MCAT

Hopefully in March I'll get higher at least 28. Why are you asking this? I don't think there is much of a correlation between high school and college numbers. My HS GPA was 2.0. My college GPA was 3.5

This is true... I had a 1.8 high school GPA but a 3.8 college GPA (3.7 sGPA).

 

[brrenters]

let's see... the SAT was a while back, but I believe my scores were 1550 or 1650, and then 1990 on my retake. I did manage to get a 32 on my ACT, though, which I remember being pretty happy about.

fast forward a number of years and I just got my MCAT score back about a month ago. got a 36! so yes, it is possible!

 

[MusicalMed]

I only had a 25 on my ACT, but ultimately ended up with a 31Q (after a few tries and much strife). Definitely possible!

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

I got something like 1720/2400 (550 math, 670 verbal, 530 writing I THINK) on my SAT. The essays I wrote on it got scored 3/6 each for a whopping 6/12 total. On the ACT I got 27 (it might have been higher, can't remember for sure), with verbal and science both being 30, math being 25, and I forget what the other section was but it was close to 30 too. Can't remember what I got on my writing sample on that exam (did it have one? I don't remember lol).

On my MCAT I ended up with a 39S. So yes, it's definitely possible to perform vastly better on the MCAT. However, I really should add that I was a terrible student in high school. I didn't study at all for the SAT and ACT, and my math background was absolutely atrocious (I remembered almost nothing from algebra; like, I literally learned about FOILing again the night before my ACT, and long after I had taken the SAT). I was much more serious in college, so a large part of the disparity between my SAT/ACT scores and MCAT score is due to the massive improvement in my academics overall.

Anyway, you really can't compare the SAT/ACT to the MCAT anyway. They're nothing alike, and the demographics of the people taking the tests are also nothing alike. The SAT only covers math and verbal, and while the ACT also has a science section, that section is more like a science-themed reading comprehension section test than an actual science test. In addition, both tests are taken by people who struggled to not fail out of high school, and are even taken by middle schoolers. Meanwhile the MCAT is an unabashed science exam and taken only (okay, usually) by people who successfully completed the med school pre-reqs. So your competition is much more competent and the test is totally different. Because the test is so different there are many reasons why a person might before better or worse on the MCAT than they did on the SAT/ACT.

 

[TheLadyVanishes]

Those are not bad scores in my opinion though hahahaaa. I'm talking about someone getting in the low 20s on the ACT and getting into the high to mid 20s on the MCAT.

According to this chart, a 1320 is between the 88-93rd percentile. Plus, it is really unbalanced - a 600 in math is the 74th percentile and a 720 in verbal is the 95th percentile. I'm not saying a 1320 is a bad score and in fact I had no problems getting into the flagship state university.

A 37 is in the 97-98th percentile on the MCAT. The percentiles for a 12-13 on any section are at least >88-89th percentile.

I'm also sure that there are some people who got extremely high SAT scores and low MCATs. And I'm giving myself as an example of someone with a meh SAT and a good MCAT. I haven't read any studies on this, but I imagine the correlation is not perfect.

Other people have alluded to it here, but for me, I am a completely different person compared to who I was when I took the SAT. (I'm an old nontrad so it's been almost 10 years). My discipline and study habits are far superior to what they used to be. I made B- in quite a few courses my freshman and sophomore years, almost got a C in organic chemistry, but as a senior made the dean's list for an entire year and graduated with a 3.7.

 

[chemistdan]

Those are not bad scores in my opinion though hahahaaa. I'm talking about someone getting in the low 20s on the ACT and getting into the high to mid 20s on the MCAT.

I made a 23 on my ACT (took it twice and made the same score). I matured a lot in undergrad and made a 34N on my first (and only) try.

I definitely wish that I would have matured academically earlier in life, but I have been accepted to 2 med schools so far this cycle so it all worked out.

Bottom line, if you work hard you can make a good score on the MCAT! Don't give up if you're ACT or SAT wasn't where you wanted it.

 

[DrMeows]

I think it depends on the person. Don't let how you did on the ACT freak you out about the MCAT (though I got a 27 on both tests lmao). Just study your butt off as you should anyways 🙂

 

[MedPR]

Is there anyone out there who did poor or terrible on their SAT/ACT but did well on their MCAT ? People say that there is a correlation between the tests. I don't know why that is since the MCAT tests different material and a lot could change in a couple of years. Since I didn't do well on my ACT, I fear for the MCAT 🙁

~1100/1600 SAT
28 ACT
33 MCAT

No correlation at all.

 

[UoCfin]

~1100/1600 SAT
28 ACT
33 MCAT

No correlation at all.

bump:
most of you guys who mentioned your scores should see that there is a correlation in your scores. Though scored at different levels, for eample MedPR...a 28 ACT score is a good ACT score...a 30 ACT score gets you into Yale if you are a minority or underpriv...n the sorts...
A 33 Mcat score is a good range score...Univ of Chicago says they had Mcat scores ranging from 28-40+ not long ago *check their website*...
These two figures show you that correlation, and lookin at the percentile values also helps,,,you will have to correct for infancy on that *kinda like inflation* you cant grade high school seniors the same way you grade med apps.
I see a correlation right away...28ACT score compared to a 33 MCAT score shows a dedicated student. You are just shy of Ivy league with these scores,,,but pretty much you can get into your schools of choice. With a 28ACT...Northwestern, IL will take you in ...and with a 33MCAT score...you will be in good standing to get in as well.

 

[Columbia09]

bump:
most of you guys who mentioned your scores should see that there is a correlation in your scores. Though scored at different levels, for eample MedPR...a 28 ACT score is a good ACT score...a 30 ACT score gets you into Yale if you are a minority or underpriv...n the sorts...
A 33 Mcat score is a good range score...Univ of Chicago says they had Mcat scores ranging from 28-40+ not long ago *check their website*...
These two figures show you that correlation, and lookin at the percentile values also helps,,,you will have to correct for infancy on that *kinda like inflation* you cant grade high school seniors the same way you grade med apps.
I see a correlation right away...28ACT score compared to a 33 MCAT score shows a dedicated student. You are just shy of Ivy league with these scores,,,but pretty much you can get into your schools of choice. With a 28ACT...Northwestern, IL will take you in ...and with a 33MCAT score...you will be in good standing to get in as well.

So if you got a 21 on your act, you'll get in the teens on your mcat?

 

[survivordo]

Obviously anything is possible but what this comes down to is your ability to take standardized tests which clearly will correlate between your SAT and MCAT. My suggestion is to read up on how to succeed on standardized tests and take some of those suggestions to heart. Then do as many practice questions as you can for the MCAT (this is the real key to success) to help really engage your brain.

Survivor DO

 

[Columbia09]

Obviously anything is possible but what this comes down to is your ability to take standardized tests which clearly will correlate between your SAT and MCAT. My suggestion is to read up on how to succeed on standardized tests and take some of those suggestions to heart. Then do as many practice questions as you can for the MCAT (this is the real key to success) to help really engage your brain.

Survivor DO

Ok so chances are if you didn't do well on your act/sat you're not going to do well on your mcat

 

[kmp0410]

If you tried really hard on the SAT/ACT then maybe.

For me there was a ton of maturing (especially studying/school wise) in between those two tests so there would be absolutely no correlation. I took the SAT once, didn't study one bit, didn't prepare, anything. I just didn't care about it, I hadn't really even started thinking about college when I took it.

 

[Lambda Phage]

if you tried really hard on the sat/act then maybe.

For me there was a ton of maturing (especially studying/school wise) in between those two tests so there would be absolutely no correlation. I took the sat once, didn't study one bit, didn't prepare, anything. I just didn't care about it, i hadn't really even started thinking about college when i took it.

+1 caps

1700/2400 SAT
35 MCAT

 

[MMa23]

,=.

 

[indianjatt]

I feel like these sorts of posts are pointless. It does nothing but give someone a false sense of security or lack of. Why does it matter if there was a correlation or not, honestly? You can find correlation for many things; the amount of time playing violent videogames and crime rates, but does that mean YOU will end up commiting crimes if you play a lot of videogames? No, it's simply a statistic. Don't let a statistic like this define you. Just go out there and give the MCAT your best shot.

 

[HesitantManatee]

I feel like these sorts of posts are pointless. It does nothing but give someone a false sense of security or lack of. Why does it matter if there was a correlation or not, honestly? You can find correlation for many things; the amount of time playing violent videogames and crime rates, but does that mean YOU will end up commiting crimes if you play a lot of videogames? No, it's simply a statistic. Don't let a statistic like this define you. Just go out there and give the MCAT your best shot.

+1 to this


But on my SAT I got a 450/800 in math and 400/800 in verbal ended up getting a 36 (13PS-9VR-14BS) on the MCAT.

 

[Lambda Phage]

I feel like these sorts of posts are pointless. It does nothing but give someone a false sense of security or lack of. Why does it matter if there was a correlation or not, honestly? You can find correlation for many things; the amount of time playing violent videogames and crime rates, but does that mean YOU will end up commiting crimes if you play a lot of videogames? No, it's simply a statistic. Don't let a statistic like this define you. Just go out there and give the MCAT your best shot.

It gives hope to those who believe that SAT is predictive of MCAT scores.

 

[Columbia09]

+1 to this


But on my SAT I got a 450/800 in math and 400/800 in verbal ended up getting a 36 (13PS-9VR-14BS) on the MCAT.

This gives me hope

 

[Jepstein30]

A high SAT score indicates good test-taking skills.. which are a big help on the MCAT.. but..

A high SAT doesn't necessarily mean a high MCAT score and a low SAT score doesn't necessarily mean a low MCAT score.

Certainly does help to have a history of doing well on standardized tests though. Just don't think your previous history is set in stone and either not do enough work cause you're confident or not bother doing enough work cause you're discouraged.

 

[494110]

I scored a 25 on the ACT after minimal studying but recently scored an even 33 on the MCAT in July after working my butt off for it. The only other standardized test I performed well on was a 5 on the AP Calc AB exam. If there is material involved, a recap always helps. The biggest key however, is to keep pushing yourself if you fall below the standards but are dedicated to the profession!

 

[pyrrion89]

I got a 2080 SAT, 28 ACT and got a 38 MCAT.

 

[Columbia09]

There should be a spread sheet that shows the ACT/SAT score vs the MCAT score

 

[Shjanzey]

.

 

[BamaNicole]

I took the SAT when it was out of 1600 (yeah.....I'm old) and I got 1000.

I got a 30 on my MCAT...which is a descent score. So I'd say its possible to do iffy on your SAT and then well on your MCAT. Makes sense because you would have more testing experience under your belt for the MCAT.

 

[Redpancreas]

1960 sat, 29 act, 34 mcat

 

[nOchemallday]

Is there anyone out there who did poor or terrible on their SAT/ACT but did well on their MCAT ? People say that there is a correlation between the tests. I don't know why that is since the MCAT tests different material and a lot could change in a couple of years. Since I didn't do well on my ACT, I fear for the MCAT 🙁

As many other people have pointed out already things like having good test taking skills on the SAT will inevitably transfer over to taking the MCAT. This is evident in a correlation of r=0.64 between SAT and MCAT scores for Black Males in 1987: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2625543/

That can be seen as either a weak correlation for those willing to put in the effort on their MCAT and improve study habits and test taking skills OR as a helpful reminder to those who did well on their SATs that the MCAT is just another test.

 

[Apache1618]

I do have to admit I was a little surprised to see TMDSAS wanting my ACT/SAT scores. The worst part was that I had to reorder them ($30) just to type in a couple numbers.....who knew!

 

[shoehornlettuce]

I took the ACT twice and got an 18 and a 22. Never did any prep for it though cause I was a loser and didn't care. I got a 32 on my MCAT although I didn't do particularly well on the verbal (PS:13, VR:07, BS:12).

 

[Columbia09]

I took the ACT twice and got an 18 and a 22. Never did any prep for it though cause I was a loser and didn't care. I got a 32 on my MCAT although I didn't do particularly well on the verbal (PS:13, VR:07, BS:12).

Nice !!!!

 

[TriagePreMed]

If it makes you feel better, I scored in the low 30 percentile for the SAT and in the low 60 percentile (27) in the MCAT. I hate saying "correlation doesn't equal causation" because it's something college freshmen regurgitate thinking they sound smart, but it's still true. Don't let a correlation make you think that's your destiny.

 

[RC4L]

I made a 30 on my ACT with no studying and then made a 21 on my MCAT using the same method haha. On my second MCAT, I made a 30 and I am currently waiting for my third scores to come in. I always heard +1/-1 on the ACT vs. MCAT but that is absurdly situational.

 

[Aerus]

Anyone who says that there is absolutely no correlation between the SAT/ACT and MCAT needs to take a statistics class...badly.

 

[Copernicium]

I got something like 1720/2400 (550 math, 670 verbal, 530 writing I THINK) on my SAT. The essays I wrote on it got scored 3/6 each for a whopping 6/12 total. On the ACT I got 27 (it might have been higher, can't remember for sure), with verbal and science both being 30, math being 25, and I forget what the other section was but it was close to 30 too. Can't remember what I got on my writing sample on that exam (did it have one? I don't remember lol).

Are you me? I also got 1720 & 27 on my SAT/ACT

 

[ciestar]

I did TERRIBLE on my ACTs, I didn't prepare for a second though (if you think at 26 is terrible, I do.)
1800 on my SATs (1220 if you're going by the old scale)

Haven't taken the MCATs yet, but crossing my fingers that there is no correlation.
I also agree here though, I learned a lot of things through college.
I take things more seriously and learned how to study. I also have zero intention of walking into the MCATs without preparing

 

[Columbia09]

Apparently most students score within two points of their ACT score

 

[gettheleadout]

Apparently most students score within two points of their ACT score

According to?

 

[Aerus]

According to?

Wow, nice job getting a 44 on the ACT. 100th percentile. 😎

 

[The Helpful Aye Aye]

I got a 34 on my ACT and a 1410 (2090) on my SAT. First MCAT was 24 (9/8/7), get my retake score on the 24th The former two were without prep, but I don't think you can garner anything meaningful from this topic... the ACT and SAT are aptitude tests, while the MCAT is a test to see if you can actually apply the things you've learned during your premedical studies (or if you can afford test prep). In retrospect, it's that I came into college thinking I was "good at tests" when in actuality I was only good at specific kinds of tests at the right time to be good at them.

 

[ian128]

The better question for this thread is if there is a high correlation between the critical reading of the SAT and the Verbal of the MCAT.

 

[RC4L]

The better question for this thread is if there is a high correlation between the critical reading of the SAT and the Verbal of the MCAT.

I made a 35 on my ACT critical reading section(which I believe converts to 770 on sat critical reading) and a 6 on my first mcat verbal... Perhaps it was due to lack of prep and too many years of undergrad bio classes? I made a 13 on my second MCAT verbal. Whether your SAT/ACT was good or bad, it should not dictate what your potential is on the mcat.

 

[ian128]

True, I was only wondering because many people have said that verbal and critical reading are the hardest sections to improve.

 

[RC4L]

Yea that is the prevailing thought. I feel like it just takes a very dynamic approach to improve as opposed to PS and BS which have pretty straightforward methods. If you think about it, it is the only section where everything you need to know is right there in front of you. No formulas, concepts, exceptions, etc. All there for the taking. Much less daunting to think about it like so.

 

[inycepoo]

It would be more plausible that a high SAT/ACT could correlate with a good MCAT score, as the motivated individual who studied smartly and effectively enough for a high school standardized exam definitely has a skill set that is directly transferable to other standardized exams like the MCAT. Since people generally "get better" at studying throughout college (PURE supposition based on own experience and observations, so don't bash me), it would make sense that those students would tend to perform well on the MCAT barring severe lack of content knowledge needed to make the grade.

e.g., I got 2280/35 back in the day; got the 36 three years later. Many of my peers at school have similar splits.

Any other combination of SAT/ACT and MCAT correlation would depend a lot on the student himself, making most other assumptions moot points, imo. e.g., work harder, study smarter, etc., and a low SAT/ACT has nothing to do with MCAT performance.

 

[Gauss44]

Two factors to consider:

1. Preparation factor (how much you prepared)
2. Differences between MCAT and SAT/ACT that correspond YOUR major strengths or weaknesses

Another good question: Is there a correlation between MCAT scores and/or preparation time and IQ, http://www.cambridgebrainsciences.com/browse/

Is there anyone out there who did poor or terrible on their SAT/ACT but did well on their MCAT ? People say that there is a correlation between the tests. I don't know why that is since the MCAT tests different material and a lot could change in a couple of years. Since I didn't do well on my ACT, I fear for the MCAT 🙁