Is 496 a Good MCAT Score?

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If you’ve scored 496 on a practice or official MCAT exam, or are thinking of making 496 your goal MCAT score, below is an objective analysis and recommendation on how to move forward.

Is 496 a Bad MCAT Score?

A 496  on the MCAT is a below-average score. According to recent AAMC stats:

*AAMC MCAT Data for 2026 to 2027

Every percentile on this page comes from the AAMC's percentile ranks in effect May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027, which combine all MCAT results from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 testing years. The mean total score across those exams is 500.6. The matriculant averages come from AAMC FACTS Table A-16, which covers the class that entered medical school in fall 2025.

MCAT Score Percentile Conversion

Find your score in the AAMC table below. Each rank is the percentage of test takers who scored at or below that score.

Consider the Distribution of 496 MCAT Score | How Does MCAT Scoring Work?

Another factor in determining if 496 is a good MCAT score is the score’s distribution among the four sections:

If you have taken the free AAMC unscored sample test and want to know whether your raw answers land at 496, the MCAT score calculator converts them into a scaled score and percentile. It links you to the test if you have not sat it yet.

Each section has a score range from 118 to 132. 

A balanced MCAT score is always preferred.

For a 496, a balanced distribution would be 124, 124, 124, and 124. Or individual section scores very close to those numbers.

Any section score that is much lower than the other sections acts as a red flag for medical school admission committees. 

Also, the MCAT uses a scaled scoring system. It is not graded on a curve, so it doesn’t matter when you take the exam and who takes it with you.

More details are in the following articles:

• MCAT Test Scoring Complete Guide
• How Do MCAT Scoring Percentiles Work?
• What are MCAT RAW Scores?
• What are MCAT Score Confidence Bands?

• What are Score Profiles in MCAT Scoring?

Is 496 a Good MCAT Score?

If you scored a 496 on the MCAT, this means you placed at the 36th percentile according to most recent AAMC statistics, and are 15 points away from a competitive 511.

Therefore, if aiming to maximize chances of admission into most North American medical schools, a 496 is not the best score as most applicants will be scoring around this mark.

Without knowing which medical school(s) you’re applying to, it’s difficult to determine if a 496 is a good or bad MCAT score for your unique situation.

Below we’ll look further into that factor.

Which schools does a 496 reach? Add the schools on your list to our MCAT target score tool and it works out the total your list asks for, the section split that gets you there, and how far a 496 leaves you from each school.

Can I Get Into Medical School With A 496 MCAT Score?

Medical schools have different cutoffs for students based on being in-state, out-of-state, in particular programs, socioeconomic backgrounds, and more. 

Considering that a 496 is a below-average score, it is improbable to be competitive for med-school admission with that score. 

Once you know which medical schools you aim to get into, you’ll better understand whether a 496 will get you accepted. 

You will need to go to your target medical school’s website and see their MCAT score cutoffs and average MCAT scores for matriculants. 

To make your search a little easier, in the articles below, you’ll find lists of the top medical schools in the US and Canada and their average MCAT scores:

• Average MCAT Score & GPA for Top 100 Medical Schools (Complete List)

• MCAT Scores for Top Medical Schools & Universities in Canada

• Which Schools & Universities Accept the MCAT?

What Is A Good MCAT Score?

According to recent AAMC data, a score above 501 will put you in the above-average category of testers.

A score above 511 will make your application competitive. The average matriculant scored 512.1 with a 3.81 GPA in 2025-2026, according to AAMC FACTS Table A-16.

That said, a good MCAT score depends on several factors, including your target med-school and the score distribution among the MCAT sections. 

For example, some medical schools automatically accept students from specific programs if they hit certain scores.

Additional reading: 

• What Are The Highest MCAT Scores? How To Be In The Top 10% of Test-Takers

• What Is A Competitive MCAT Score? How To Be In The Top 25% of Test-Takers

• What Is A Good MCAT Score? How To Be In The Top 50% of Test-Takers

Should I Retake The MCAT If My Score Is 496?

Yes, if you want to maximize your chances of achieving medical school acceptance, we recommend you retake the MCAT if your score is 496. 

Seeing how a 496 on the MCAT is significantly below the average MCAT score of 501, it will be in your best interest to improve your score, as most medical schools seek students with above-average credentials.

Many of us on The MedLife Mastery Team are retakers and struggled to improve our MCAT scores. 

Today we all have 515+ scores, and we’ve helped hundreds of students with improving their scores as well. 

So we know you can improve your MCAT score with the right strategies and guidance

To get you started with improving your MCAT score, we’ve created a lot of free resources on this website to help you with your MCAT strategy.

MCAT Mastery Free Strategy Crash Course

Additional Reading: 

• How To Improve Your MCAT Score Fast
• How To Improve Your CARS MCAT Score
• How To Improve Your Chem/Phys MCAT Score
• How To Improve Your Bio/Biochem MCAT Score
• How To Improve Your Psych/Soc MCAT Score

Additional FAQ - Is 496 a Good MCAT Score?

Additional Reading: