Correlation Between ACT/SAT and MCAT Success

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Originally posted by BKadow
I just want to thank everyone for their info.. Appears to me that there isn't really any definite correlation as of now, although we only have a very small sample of info. I'm just curious what is considered a "good" MCAT Score. I've seen numerous times that 29-30 is an average MCAT.
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I believe the average MCAT of matriculating medical students is 29-30, but the mean of test takers is about an 8 on each section or a 24.


here are the percentiles for the August 2002 MCAT:

ScaledScore
Verbal Reasoning/ PhysicalSciences/ BiologicalSciences
15 - / 99.9-99.9/ 99.9-99.9
14 - / 99.1-99.8/ 99.4-99.8
13 98.7-99.9 / 97.0-99.0/ 96.9-99.3
12 96.3-98.6 / 93.2-96.9/ 93.6-96.8
11 87.4-96.2 / 86.2-93.1/ 83.9-93.5
10 74.3-87.3 / 73.6-86.1/ 68.6-83.8
9 58.9-74.2 / 60.4-73.5 / 49.6-68.5
8 45.8-58.8 / 43.0-60.3 / 34.0-49.5
7 32.1-45.7 / 26.3-42.9 / 22.3-33.9
6 17.4-32.0 / 13.8-26.2/ 13.2-22.2
5 10.2-17.3 / 05.4-13.7 / 07.1-13.1
4 04.5-10.1 / 01.5-05.3 / 03.4-07.0

Mean = 7.8 Std Dev. = 2.4 / Mean = 8.0 Std Dev. = 2.3 / Mean = 8.3 Std Dev. = 2.4
 
My pre-health dean had told me something like that too but it didn't quite work for me. You should post the results of your study.

ACT: Never took
SAT: 1550 the first time, 1580 the second time
MCAT: 32 🙁
 
The difference is that the MCAT requires actual knowledge that you have to study. I mean, you can study vocab for verbal and maybe some techniques for math for the SAT, but it's really not the same.
 
Originally posted by Random Access
The difference is that the MCAT requires actual knowledge that you have to study. I mean, you can study vocab for verbal and maybe some techniques for math for the SAT, but it's really not the same.
Click to expand...


The significant difference between the MCAT and the SAT aside from the information tested is the length of the exam. The MCAT is an endurance test. Not many people realize this.
 
I think it's safe to say, from looking at these scores, that there is a rough correlation between MCAT and SAT; there's a lot of people posting >1400 SATs and corresponding >33 MCATs. I don't think that surprises anyone; unless there's a rash of folks who are blowing away these standarized exams but can't accomplish other intellectual tasks with similar aplomb, it's safe to say: smart people will score well on both SATs and MCATs.

I would imagine that schools that are asking for both SATs and MCATs do so because they've probably an idea that if they can identify candidates who clearly can prepare for long standarized tests, these are probably the same people who will have above average success on the boards. I.e., two kids from the same school with functionally identical courseloads etc., the kid with 3.98/1350/31O (just not a good test-taker) is probably not going to do as well on the boards as the 3.45/1560/35S.

I'd be willing to go out on a limb and say that the MCAT may be one of the better predictors of success in doctoring, though; a grueling test of recall and problem solving ability under time pressure? Sounds like the intellectual qualities of the practice of medicine, at least.
 

I'd be willing to go out on a limb and say that the MCAT may be one of the better predictors of success in doctoring, though; a grueling test of recall and problem solving ability under time pressure? Sounds like the intellectual qualities of the practice of medicine, at least.
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There is actually a study on this in JAMA, I think. The MCAT is a good predictor of pre-clinical grades and USMLE Step 1 scores but not of clinical grades. How well you do on the wards has much to do with personality and effort.
 
Originally posted by BKadow

If everyone who has taken the ACT/SAT and then the MCAT could post their scores in some sort of order like this:

ACT:XX
SAT:XXXX
MCAT:XX

I would greatly appreciate it.. I also know that this isn't necessarily a great prediction, but I'm just practicing some research for my Psychology AP class. Thanks!😎
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Northwestern's Honors Program in Medical Education's (7 year BA/BS-MD program) average SAT score of its matriculated students was 1460 before the test was re-centered in the mid-90s. I don't know what it is now.

What kind of research is it? By the way, why are you taking AP Psych? Psych should be an easy course to ace in college, especially for pre-meds.
 
One of the lower SATs here...

SAT 1120

MCAT 31

Paying attention in high school probably would have helped.
 
i'd just like to say that this has to be the longest thread ever started by a first-time poster. well done, BKadow!! happy posting!
 
SAT: 1300

ACT: 29

MCAT: 37

all of these numbers are making my head spin......correlation my @$$! 😉
 
SAT 1240 (zero prep)

MCAT 35 (lots of prep)

prepping makes a difference i suppose! =)
 
SAT 1450
MCAT 33

I have a record of being in the twilight zone between good and great. It sucks.
 
ACT: 27 first time (middle school), 34 second time
MCAT: 41
 
The last 24 values for SAT and MCAT scores posted on SDN (considering the first MCAT score in cases where it was taken more than once) renders the following statistical values:

There is one pair of scores (1400 on SAT and 27 on MCAT) that is really out of whack. It has a standardized residual of -2.21R. I will display statistics for the set of values including and excluding this extreme outlier.

Including the 1400/27 score couple:

Pearson correlation of SAT and MCAT = 0.342
P-Value = 0.102

The regression equation is
MCAT = 21.0 + 0.00976 SAT

scatter1.jpg


Excluding the 1400/27 score couple:

Pearson correlation of SAT and MCAT = 0.396
P-Value = 0.062

The regression equation is
MCAT = 20.8 + 0.0102 SAT

scatter2.jpg
 
I got an 800 verbal on the SAT and have been getting between a 13 and 15 on my verbal MCAT practice tests.. if that counts for anything...
 
majahops said:
The regression equation is
MCAT = 20.8 + 0.0102 SAT
Click to expand...

Genius. :idea: My 1490 predicts a 35.998 MCAT; I actually got a 36.

(The only problem being that I studied like hell for the MCAT and kind of waltzed through the SAT.)

Wonder what my 1540 GRE should have predicted, though :laugh:
 
Act - 28
Sat- 1230
Mcat - 31
 
I deviated from the predicted value by 6 points!🙁
still don't get why i did bad on verbal-i thought it would be my strongest section
 
Last edited:
Verbal is the freak nasty man. The freak nasty.

. said:
1320 SAT with 690 verbal
28 MCAT with 8 verbal

I deviated from the predicted value by 6 points!🙁
still don't get why i did bad on verbal-i thought it would be my strongest section
Click to expand...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
SAT: 1360 630V & 730M
MCAT (1st): 9V, 8PS, 7BS
MCAT (2nd): 11V, 14PS, 11BS
 
6 years...? 😱

Anyway, what's a "good" SAT score? I think I scored in the high 1300s/low 1400s after no prep. All I know is it wasn't high enough to make me consider applying to US undergrads, but I wasn't depressed about it either.

-> 34 MCAT
 
stixx said:
6 years...? 😱

Anyway, what's a "good" SAT score? I think I scored in the high 1300s/low 1400s after no prep. All I know is it wasn't high enough to make me consider applying to US undergrads, but I wasn't depressed about it either.

-> 34 MCAT
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Id say a 1200+ is a good score...I know plenty of ppl who scored less than that who got into my state school which is top 20 I think.
 
Sat: 1350
Act: 31
Mcat: 37
 
SAT: didn't take
ACT: 26 (didn't study)
MCAT: 25 and 36 (studied like crazy both times)
 
Good test-takers... do well on standardized tests.

Majahops, nice work.

What's the business with the ranges? Is it for the verbal 13-15 thing (Columbia still does this)? In that case, I'm sending PreMedPrincess a PM about my 15 on the verbal reasoning section.

Here's another data point:
SAT: 1590
MCAT: 39-41
 
SAT 1330 (660 V, 670 M)
ACT 28 (35 Sci, 31 Math, ~23 Read, ~23 Eng)
MCAT 28R (8 PS, 10 V, 10 BS)
 
majahops said:
The regression equation is
MCAT = 20.8 + 0.0102 SAT
Click to expand...

Shoot, I'd take that. I got a 1560 on the SAT (January of my junior year... good Lord, that was 2001), 790 Math 770 Verbal. That equation predicts a 37 (rounded from 36.7) for me. That'd make me very happy.
 
ACT 31 (did not study)
MCAT 35 (studied)

I'm sure you'll find a broad correlation, but its by no means a good predictor (with probably an error of +/- 5.) That's because intrinsic test-taking skills are only a small factor in the MCAT score.
 
Hmmmmmm

SAT: 1480 (780 Verbal, 700 Math)
SAT II's: 800 English Writing, 800 English Lit, 700 Bio (haha)
ACT: 33 Composite, no idea what the breakdown was
MCAT: 35S (11 PS, 11 BS, 13 VR, S WS)

Clearly, I should have been an English major, not pre-med.
 
SAT: 1360
MCAT: 34
but, i studied for the mcat and not at all for the SAT...so i don't think there really is any correlation? well...except for LET who's a freakin genius in verbal!
 
dienekes88 said:
What's the business with the ranges? Is it for the verbal 13-15 thing (Columbia still does this)?
Click to expand...
the mcat people never gave a score for the high ranges. it didn't distinguish between a 13, 14 or 15 and just gave a score of 13-15. and, since this post is 6 years old, everyone's score has a range.
 
jgberken said:
the mcat people never gave a score for the high ranges. it didn't distinguish between a 13, 14 or 15 and just gave a score of 13-15. and, since this post is 6 years old, everyone's score has a range.
Click to expand...

??? So any section 13+ was considered 13-15?

In that case...

MCAT: 39-42

I'm PMing PreMedPrincess about my Biological Sciences score too (she seems to have an obsession with large... MCAT scores). :laugh:
 
dienekes88 said:
??? So any section 13+ was considered 13-15?

In that case...

MCAT: 39-42

I'm PMing PreMedPrincess about my Biological Sciences score too (she seems to have an obsession with large... MCAT scores). :laugh:
Click to expand...
I think so...some med student should confirm this, but that's the story i heard.
but you really dont need any more points. a 39 is awesome enough as it is 👍
 
jgberken said:
SAT: 1360
MCAT: 34
but, i studied for the mcat and not at all for the SAT...so i don't think there really is any correlation? well...except for LET who's a freakin genius in verbal!
Click to expand...

Hahaha thanks, honestly, it looks nice on paper but its not all that impressive.
Case in point: when I was little, my parents made me skip a couple of grades cause I learned how to read like 3 years before I was really supposed to. When I got to the age for it, my mom insisted that I try to get into MENSA, CONVINCED that I'd be able to do it. I applied, took this never-ending IQ test and stuff. The people of MENSA told me basically that I couldnt be in it cause they'd never seen such an insanely skewed score in their lives. Basically, while my verbal intelligence was definitely within their highest range, my spatial intelligence was something 30X worse. I blame my lack of depth perception, but either way I'm so not surprised, as I am ALWAYS lost.
So yeah, the verbal thing came in handy when I had to learn a language in 3 months, but I wouldn't mind a somewhat better distribution, intelligence-wise....
 
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