2026 MCAT Test Dates & Score Release Dates

The MCAT is offered on about 30 dates each year, from January through September. For the 2026 testing year, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC, the test-maker) scheduled 31 dates, running from January 9 to September 12, 2026. The exam is not offered in October, November, or December.

Picking the right date matters more for the MCAT than for most exams. Unlike pre-health tests like the OAT and DAT, the MCAT is not offered year-round, and the dates fill in around the medical school application cycle. On top of that, MCAT scores take about a month to arrive, so your test date and your score release date are really one decision, not two.

Below you’ll find every 2026 test date, registration deadline, and score release date, plus tips on how to choose. Planning for 2027? The AAMC typically publishes the next year’s calendar in the fall, so expect 2027 dates around October 2026.

Table of Contents

• 2026 MCAT Test Dates, Score Release Dates & Registration Deadlines
• When do MCAT scores come out?
• MCAT Test Dates and Registration Tips
• A Final Word on Choosing an MCAT Test Date

2026 MCAT Test Dates, Score Release Dates & Registration Deadlines

Each test date has three registration deadlines (60-day, 30-day, and 10-day) and one score release date. The 10-day deadline is the last day you can schedule, reschedule, or cancel a seat, or edit your registration details. All times are based on local test center time, and the standard start time is 8:00 a.m.

Pro tip: Register early. Popular dates and nearby test centers fill up fast, especially the spring dates that line up with the application cycle. You can find step-by-step instructions in our MCAT registration guide.

When do MCAT scores come out?

MCAT scores are released about 30 to 35 days after your test date. The AAMC posts each score by 5:00 p.m. ET on a set score release date, which you can find in the table above. So if you test in early May, you can expect your score in early June.

Why the wait? The AAMC needs time to process and equate every exam before scores are finalized, so you don’t get a score at the test center, and there’s nothing you can do to speed it up. The good news is the date is known in advance, so you can plan around it.

That score release delay drives a key planning rule: if you want your application reviewed among the earliest, you generally need to test by May. Medical schools review applications on a rolling basis, so an early, complete application is an advantage. Counting back from a May test date, your score lands in June, right as the application cycle opens.

Once your score arrives, the next question is usually whether it’s competitive. Our guides to MCAT score percentiles and what counts as a good MCAT score can help you read your results in context and decide whether to apply or retake.

MCAT Test Dates and Registration Tips

Which MCAT test date should I choose?

Wondering when to take the MCAT? You’re not alone. Each student has a slightly different timeline. If you know you need more time to prepare than your friends do, register for the MCAT at a later date. The goal is to take the MCAT as few times as possible, so pick a date you genuinely feel ready for.

Work backward from your application deadlines. Because it takes about 30 days to get your scores back, you’ll want to factor in score release dates when you choose. As noted above, students who want their application among the earliest reviewed typically test by May.

To submit a complete medical school application, you’ll need your MCAT score, academic transcripts, a personal statement, a description of activities and awards, letters of recommendation, and any additional essays a school requires. Applications come in two phases:

• Primary applications go through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). You’ll need your personal statement, transcripts, and activities. Once submitted, your primary application has to be verified by AMCAS, which itself takes time.
• Secondary applications are sent out after a school receives your primary application. AMCAS begins transmitting verified primary applications to schools on the last Friday of June. In 2026, that date is June 26. Students with verified applications by then start receiving secondaries, and schools begin reviewing complete applications.

Where can I find MCAT registration tips?

For how to register, current fees, and more, see our full MCAT registration guide. You can also confirm the latest details directly on the AAMC’s official MCAT calendar.

When should I start studying for the MCAT?

The MCAT is a long test that covers a lot of material. After all, it lasts about 7.5 hours! That means you’ll want to start early. Three to six months of dedicated prep is ideal. In a perfect world, that looks like this:

• January test date: Start prep between August and October of the year before
• March test date: Start prep between October and December of the year before
• April test date: Start prep between November of the year before and January
• May test date: Start prep between December of the year before and February
• June test date: Start prep between January and March
• July test date: Start prep between February and April
• August test date: Start prep between March and May
• September test date: Start prep between April and June

If you don’t have that much runway, you can still get the prep you need. Magoosh’s MCAT study schedules cover everything from organic chemistry and physics to psychology and CARS, whether you have one month or six (or even one week).

Pro tip: Before you lock in a date, take a practice test to see where you stand. A free MCAT practice test gives you a realistic baseline, which makes it much easier to judge how many months of prep you actually need.

A Final Word on Choosing an MCAT Test Date

Registering for the MCAT can feel stressful, but a little planning goes a long way. Line up your test date with your target score release date and your application deadlines, give yourself enough runway to prepare, and lean on a good study plan and a few anxiety-relieving mindfulness techniques. If you’d like structured prep with high-yield lessons and practice, Magoosh MCAT prep can help you get there. Good luck!