Retake MCAT?

[Vineyard Vines]

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[QofQuimica]

What were your practice test scores? Did you study properly the first time around, or is there something specific in your prior study plan that you know you can fix? Be honest with yourself. If you went all out with studying and were scoring below 35 on all your practice tests, then this score is probably the result of your best effort, and a retake may not be the wisest of plans. Because as bad as one mediocre score is, two mediocre scores are worse. But if you know you didn't give studying your best effort last time, and if you have a realistic study plan for bringing your score up, then retaking may work out for you.

 

[Vineyard Vines]

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[URHere]

I agree with QofQuimica.

I took the MCAT twice. The first time I got a 31 and the second time I got a 32. For me, the retake wasn't worth it, especially since I landed several acceptances anyway. You can get in somewhere with a 32, and you should only retake if you are certain that you will improve. Otherwise, just knock the rest of your application out of the park.

I should also note that even through I felt like I studied harder the second time around, my practice scores (and actual scores) weren't much different. If you can't get your practice scores into the high 30s, you probably shouldn't retake.

 

[Vineyard Vines]

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[mercaptovizadeh]

I got a 34 on the first attempt and a 40 on the second. So your score can rise significantly. Second time I dedicated a month of full-time study. I think it's worth it if you think you can get it up into the 36+ range. If you're sure it will stay in the 30-34 range, probably not worth the retake and just work with what you have.

 

[ilikeargyle]

Unless nothing will make you happy except Harvard or Stanford (a better MCAT wouldn't necessarily up your chance anyway), and you have the time to study and significantly improve, forget about it and focus on your AMCAS and secondaries.

 

[Vineyard Vines]

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[QofQuimica]

Thanks for the reply. If I cannot average at least a 35 on my practice AAMCs, I should just forget about it?

Right, if you aren't averaging 35+ on practice tests, you should not retake. The score you got on the real test is exactly what you'd expect to see based on you having five practice tests averaging around a 30. Now, if you were averaging 35-40 on your practice tests but then wound up with a 32 on the real test, that's a different story.

Retakes can be a double-edged sword, and whether to do it is something you really have to consider carefully based upon how likely you think you are to show significant improvement. In spite of mercapto's and my anecdotal experiences with raising our scores to 40+ when we retook, increasing your score by 5+ points isn't such an easy thing to do. They call the MCAT a standardized test for a reason. Statistically, if you retake, your next score is most likely to fall in the range between three points above to three points below the score you already have (i.e., 29-35). So while if you retake and get a 35, that would be great, getting a 29 on the retake....not so much. Remember, you are statistically just as likely to score a few points below your average as you are to score a few points above it. This is why you don't want to retake a 32 unless you are consistently hitting the 35+ range on your practice tests.

 

[Vineyard Vines]

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[catzzz88]

Thanks, you state a very valid point. I am prepared to try my hardest and, if I don't hit the 35+ range on practice tests, I will gladly forget about it, knowing that I tried my best. I have realized through my week of MCAT death that I do enjoy preparing for the MCAT, so no loss to me either way.

I just wanted to add my experience into the mix: I got a 9/9/9 the first time I took the MCAT, then a 12/9/12 the second time around (a year later). HOWEVER, my first score was not reflective of my practice test scores. Thus, I decided to retake knowing that the first score did not reflect my abilities as defined by the practice exams.

So, I agree with others here... If you aren't seeing significantly higher practice test scores, I would nix the re-take and apply broadly!